General Notices
Updated fee statements to be sent out next week
We would like to thank the St Anne's College community for its ongoing support and commitment in respect to meeting college fee financial commitments throughout this very challenging year! Next week parents/carers will receive an up-to-date college fee statement from the Finance Team via email. On that statement, and further to our recent communication relating to the 2020 Camps, Sports and Excursion Levy concession, please note that these concessions have now been applied. Families who were also eligible for government support for Camps, Sports and Excursion funding this year will note that those funds have been debited from their account, as the unused amount for this year must be retained by the college and carried forward to 2021. If applicable, they will appear as a credit against next year's statement once 2021 college fees have been processed.
Unless you have discussed other arrangements with us, it is the college's request that your fee statement be finalised and cleared by the end of the school year, providing valuable support to assist us with our financial obligations. If your college fee account is in credit, it will remain and be carried forward into next year. Thank you again for your ongoing support!
- St Anne's College Finance Team
Eligibility date for CSEF extended
The final eligibility date for the Camps, Sports and Excursion Funds (CSEF) in 2020 has been extended from April 14 until October 5, 2020. Families holding a valid Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. Payments will be made at 50 per cent of the standard per student rates for families eligible between April 15 and October 5, 2020.
- Primary students $62.50
- Secondary students $112.50
Please see the CSEF claim form attached below for further information. If you are an eligible family and have not applied for CSEF this year, please complete the CSEF claim form and return it to the college office by November 20, 2020.
- Robyn Parker, Office Manager
Moving on from St Anne's College next year?
As we are finalising 2021 enrolments, families whose child/children will not be returning to St Anne's College next year are asked to please notify the college so that administration can be finalised and arrangements can be made for technology to be returned by the end of the school year. Please call the college office on 4812 2993 or email office@sackialla.catholic.edu.au
Support for the transition back to school
Chill Skills for Kids with Sarah available this term
Coping skills and empowerment tips shared
Biggest autistic youth event coming soon
I CAN Network’s AWETISM 2020 Virtual Expo is scheduled for Friday, November 20. Now in its sixth year, the AWETISM Expo has a proud reputation for providing autistic young people aged 9 to 20 years old with a platform through which they can share their passions, build networks for future study and work and boost their confidence. With the help of the Victorian Department of Education, AWETISM 2020’s virtual format means the expo will reach more autistic young people than ever before and it is entirely free for everyone! Follow this link for more information:
What's on at the expo?
- 50 I CAN talks - Presentations by 50 autistic students from all over Australia.
- 4 panel discussions with featured guests.
- 20 exhibition booths from supporters and partners.
- I CAN showcases of our regions to build our I CAN communities.
- Interest group sessions, quizzes and a scavenger hunt with prizes!
- All-day live discussions and take-home resources.
The Hon James Merlino MP, Victorian Minister for Education, will open AWETISM 2020.
Once you register you will be given your own personal login details to access the event from your computer, tablet or phone. You will enter a virtual foyer just like entering a real expo. There you will be able to choose which sessions you attend, areas you would like to explore and people you want to interact with. Each session will be supervised by qualified I CAN Network staff.
Managing illness during the COVID-19 pandemic
Tips for parents on safe and healthy internet use
Access to the internet has never been more available. Children and adolescents can readily access material using the internet through digital devices like iPads, phones and TVs, as well as with home devices such as ‘Alexa’ and ‘Google Home Mini’. The internet is a major part of life in the 21st century. It is used daily for convenience and now more importantly, for communication. The internet can be wonderful for kids to conduct research, communicate with family, friends and Learning Mentors, and learn and create through interactive games and apps.
Like anything, with all the positives, the internet can have risks including inappropriate content, cyberbullying and online predators. As a parent, it is your job to be aware of the content children are seeing, hearing and sharing by teaching your kids safe and responsible online behaviour, and keeping an eye on their internet use.
Basic guidelines to share with your child for safe internet use:
- Adhere to the family rules for internet use.
- Always talk to a parent or trusted adult about inappropriate material or conversations.
- Always treat others respectfully - “If you can't say something nice, don’t say anything at
all”.
- Never share or trade personal pictures.
- Keep personal details like address, phone number, school name private.
- Never respond to threatening comments or messages - talk to a trusted adult.
- Never agree to meet up with someone you have met over the internet without parent approval.
- Never share passwords.
Basic guidelines for parents:
- Spend time online with your child to teach children appropriate behaviour.
- Keep the devices in an area, where you as the parent, can see and monitor use at all times.
- Bookmark children’s favourite sites for easy access.
- Build positive relationships with your child surrounding internet use so they feel comfortable coming to you if they are having a problem.
- Check your child’s user history regularly.
- Get to know the apps that your child is accessing: Carly Ryan Foundation fact sheets are a great resource for this: https://www.carlyryanfoundation.com/resources/fact-sheets
- Set parameters around the use of devices.
Additional resources:
https://www.carlyryanfoundation.com
- Kate McGrath, School of Wonder/School of Innovation Learning Mentor
Committed to creating a child-safe environment
The Fathering Channel - support for dads
Visit The Fathering Channel at www.thefatheringproject.org/fathering-channel/
The Fathering Channel is a virtual community designed to support dads and ultimately help kids and families to stay healthy, happy and connected in these uncertain times and beyond. The Fathering Channel also helps families connect to a wealth of resources and advice.
SIMON/PAM
The Parent Access Module (PAM) for our learning management system (SIMON) is an important source of communication between the college and families.PAM is the portal through which parents can check on learning areas, send parent notified absences, access school activity permission forms and check daily messages. It is also the portal through which you will access your child's reports. It is important that you log into PAM daily to check any updates or notices. If you have misplaced or forgotten your login details you can contact administration at office@sackialla.catholic.edu.au
Catholic Schools Parents Victoria
To read the current issue of CSPV use the following link:
https://vcspb.schoolzineplus.com/streamnews?nid=6
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support
Schools today are facing intense scrutiny and are under tremendous pressure for improvement compounded by major issues that place significant demands on our schools. Some of the issues are:
- Increasing diversity of student demographics;
- Changing home structures and complex family relationships;
- Decline in students’ social skills, coupled with increased social media issues and cyber safety;
- Antisocial behaviour in schools is on the rise and becoming increasingly more complex;
- Increase in mental health and school attendance concerns;
- Students with special needs and/or complex backgrounds coupled with diminished behaviour management skills of staff and subsequent increased stress levels;
- Stringent academic accountability positioned against low or underperforming student academic achievement;
- Inefficient and ineffective school organisational systems and procedures for the management of student behaviour.
St Anne's College's expectations from all its members are quite simple:
At St Anne's this looks like:
- Calm, quiet and peaceful
- Equipment and materials neatly stored
- Sharing our space
- Returning materials to their place after use
- Waiting for your turn
- Leading by example
- Offering a helping hand
- Being patient, thinking twice, acting once
At St Anne’s College, in faith, wisdom and learning, we:
are wise about what we do, we know our impact.
What does this look like in your home?