Wellbeing  

WELCOME BACK TO TERM 3 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we come to the end of Week 2, we once again find ourselves in the midst of rising COVID-19 cases along with some very cold weather which is also driving up the flu numbers. At the Academy, we continue to follow all required protocols and procedures as outlined in the MACs School Operations Guide. Thankfully, as a result of the united effort of all in our community, we have been able to continue with face to face teaching every day this year as well as focus on the health and wellbeing of all students and staff. Over the next month or so, as we battle with these rising numbers, we will continue to do everything possible to protect all in our community. We will continue with a stringent cleaning routine. Frequent hand washing will be encouraged,  and students have been reminded to practise strict hygiene protocols, use hand sanitiser stations, cough into the crook of the elbow, and use and immediately dispose of tissues.  Students and staff have also been asked to wear masks indoors, unless they have an exemption. Further to this, there are air purifiers in all rooms in the College and in some of the larger areas, there are two. Finally, we have distributed a pack of five Rapid Antigen Tests to all staff and students nine times this year, with a tenth time occurring this week. In all likelihood we will continue with this distribution a few more times before the year is out. 

COVID-19 protocols

As parents and guardians, we ask you to support us in our endeavours and we please ask you to please remember to follow all COVID-19 protocols, including notifying both the Academy Student Office via a phone call – 9412 7111 or email the student office and the Department of Healthor the coronavirus hotline at 1800 675 398 if your daughter or a member of your household tests positive to COVID-19.

Parents are reminded that if your daughter is exhibiting any COVID symptoms, they are not to attend school. If students experience any symptoms whilst they are at school or if we receive a message indicating they are a ‘household contact’, they will attend Student Services, where they will be required to isolate outside, and parents will be asked to come and pick their daughter up. There will be no RA testing of students at school.

Finally, please remember that students need to refrain from returning to school if they remain symptomatic after 7 days, unless it is known that their symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication.

New Victorian Child Safe Standards

At the Academy we have updated policies, documents and practices that are compliant and in line with the new Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359 (MO 1359), Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the risk of child abuse in schools and school boarding premises.  As previously mentioned, this Ministerial Order provides a framework for how schools can action the eleven new Victorian Child Safe Standards and it has come into effect from 1 July 2022. This is an opportunity for us to build on our existing child safety policies and practices to address the new Standards. The key considerations and foci of the new standards remain around upholding the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and in particular empowering families, children, young people and staff to have a voice and raise concerns, whilst implementing rigorous risk management and employment practices.

Further to the above, on Monday 18th July, we had two representatives from MACs come to the College and conduct our VRQA audit. One aspect of this audit was ‘testing’ the new Child Safe Standards, and I am very proud to say that we were able to demonstrate complete compliance in every single area. This is a credit to all members of this community. Child Safety is always at the forefront of our minds in everything that we do at the Academy and over the next four years we will continue to build on the exemplary practices that we already have.

Updated and revised policies and guidelines can all be found on the PAM and the College website .  A Child Safeguarding Committee will also be established, with representatives from the parent, student and staff body being key features. More information and expressions of interest to be called for later in the year.

If parents ever have any concerns around any aspect of Child Safety, please never hesitate to contact me at the College.

General Absence Notification

A reminder that a telephone call from the parent/guardian to the Absence line above or an email  is required if a student is absent from school.  A written explanation from a parent/guardian is also required on the day of return to school.  Such absence notes are to be written by the parent/guardian and not by the student and simply signed by the parent.  Notes in the parent’s first language, if that is not English, are acceptable.  Absence notes are given to the Mentor Group Teacher at Mentor Group. If students are not present when the roll is marked in Period 1, and the school has not been already notified, an SMS message will be sent to parents, who are then asked to contact the College to confirm the absence. 

Mercy Day BBQ Helpers  

Friday 9 September

All staff and students are very excited about being able to celebrate Mercy Day in person again this year. More information will be published about the day in other parts of the Newsletter later this term. However, for the moment I am asking for parent volunteers to come to the College and assist with the cooking of the BBQ on the day. Volunteers need to be available from approximately 7.30am – 2.00pm. Jobs on the day will include setting up BBQs, cooking hamburgers, sausages, chicken strips, etc, keeping the food warm, assisting with serving and then assisting with cleaning up at the end. No implements or experience required, just a WWCC  [Working with ChildrenCheck].  If you are able to lend a hand, can you please email me directly. We are in need of at least 20 helpers. Thanking you in anticipation.

As always, please remember never hesitate to be in touch should you have any queries or concerns.

Mr Sam Di Camillo

Deputy Principal, Wellbeing & Operations