From the Principal's Desk

Winter Uniform

The cold weather is now well upon us so all children are now expected to be wearing their winter uniform-

BOYS: Long grey trousers, grey socks, plain white skivvy (or blue school shirt), royal blue jumper, black shoes.

GIRLS: Winter skirt or navy slacks, plain white skivvy (or white blouse), royal blue jumper, dark navy tights or white socks, black shoes.

If you are still unsure  of what the requirements are, check out our Year 3/4 'models' below:

A reminder that while students are more than welcome to wear coats, gloves and beanies while travelling to and from school, these are not to be worn during class times.

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) in our school for the remainder of Term 2.

RATs will continue to be distributed to you as they have been throughout this school year for the remainder of this term.

However, from Monday 23 May 2022, we do not recommend that your child complete a RAT twice a week as previously advised.

RATs will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (five negative tests over a seven-day period) or who have symptoms.

The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers have tests should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms.

Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts.

Thank you to all families who have had their child vaccinated. Vaccination continues to remain the best way to protect students and staff in our school.

Getting vaccinated is easy and bookings can be done via the Department of Health’s website https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au. If you have any questions about the vaccines, I encourage you to speak to your GP or a health practitioner.

Keeping Our Community Safe

With borders opening and the arrival of colder weather, cases of influenza (the flu) are increasing throughout Victoria. Our community is at risk of higher rates of students and staff affected by the flu or COVID-19 this season.

What to do if your child gets sick

To help keep your child and our school community safe, please take the following steps if your child has any cold or flu-like symptoms:

• take a COVID-19 test and follow the current Department of Health isolation requirements if a positive result is shown
• keep your child at home until their symptoms pass 
• common flu-like symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, loss of appetite, body aches and feeling extremely weak and tired
• diagnosis of the flu can only be confirmed by a doctor after a nose or throat swab
• encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and ask them to cover their nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing. 

COVID-19 vaccination 

COVID-19 vaccines are available free of charge to everyone aged 5 years and over in Australia.

It is important that children and young people have the best possible protection against the flu and COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.

Ensuring your children are protected against serious illness helps to protect everyone in our community, including older family members who may be at higher risk, along with younger children who can’t receive vaccinations yet.

You can book COVID-19 vaccinations through the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398 or at a participating GP, pharmacy, or community health service. 

Some local schools are also holding walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics on school grounds. Vaccination settings can be found at the Vaccine Clinic Finder.

Flu vaccination

Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.

Some people are more at risk of complications from the flu and are eligible for free vaccination under the National Immunisation Program including: 

• anyone aged 65 years and older
• pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged from 6 months and over
• people 6 months or older with:
  • heart disease
  • chronic lung disease (including people with severe asthma who require frequent hospital visits)
  • chronic neurological conditions
  • impaired immunity
  • haemoglobinopathies (blood disorders caused by genetic changes)
  • diabetes
  • kidney disease
• children on long-term aspirin therapy from 6 months to 10 years
• children aged from 6 months to under 5 years.

Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations. If you would like more information about the flu vaccination, visit the Better Health Channel.

Catholic Education Election Report Card on Major Parties 

Catholic Education has released a federal election report card assessing the responses from the major political parties on education priorities. 

The report card assesses the Coalition, Labor and Green’s responses to the priorities of:

• Genuine school choice through fair funding and ensuring affordable contributions from families
• Enabling faith-based education through religious protections
• Improving capital funding
• Support for delivering national priorities such as quality teaching, early childhood education, mental health and wellbeing programs and closing the gap initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Islander students

National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins said the report card shows the Liberal National Coalition and Labor are on par in addressing Catholic education’s priorities, particularly on school choice. 

“We are fortunate that both major parties continue to support genuine school choice in Australian education and are committed to families who choose a Catholic education for their children,” Ms Collins said. 

Responses sought from key independent candidates are also being evaluated.

The full report card and major party responses is available via www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/federal-election-2022

Fee and Levy Statements

This week families  will receive an up-to-date Fee and Levy Statement.  Please accept our apologies for the delay in sending these out as we continue to navigate our way through the new system.

Please ensure that installments are up-to-date. By now the Pupil Levy and First Term Installment should  have been paid.

Position Vacant

St Andrew's Primary School, Werribee has the following position available:

Job description available on request: 9741 3686 or enquiries@sawerribee.catholic.edu.au

Applications must be made in writing to The Principal, Mr Michael Gavaghan and include an up to date resume/CV, including referees. Applications close May 31.

This position is to begin as soon as possible.

Farewell 

At the end of this week we say farewell to Miss Brianna Reaney who has accepted a teaching position at Old Orchard Primary School in Blackburn. We wish her well as she embarks on her new journey.

God bless

Anthony Hyde

(Principal)