From the Principal

Need to Know

Thank you to our parents and families who supported staff attending Ms Natasha Roberts' funeral last Friday.  We greatly appreciate you facilitating your child's early finish so that staff could make their way to Wonthaggi.    

 

I am asking for your continued patience as we navigate staff shortages due to a local increase in Covid related absences.   It may take staff a bit longer to get back to you regarding issues, as we are all covering for colleagues who are absent due to having Covid, or being a close contact of a Covid case.

 

Upcoming events

  1.  Year 7 Sports Day on this Thursday 31/3.  Our first Year 8 sports day was held last week with really high participation rates - students had a great time being active with their friends.  
  2. College Showcase for prospective parents Tuesday 29/3.
  3. 1.00 pm finish on the last day of Term 1 (Friday 8/4)
  4. Year 11 Debutante Ball 1  8/4/22
  5. STRIVE conferences Term 2 Week 2:   5/5/22
  6. VCE Interviews Term 2 Week 3 11/5/22
  7. First day of Term 2 is a PUPIL FREE DAY.  Students commence on Wednesday 27/4/22.  

Progress Reports

Were released via Compass last week.  If you have any issues accessing your child's report, or any questions, please address to AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au

Debutante Balls

We are excited to hold the first Debutante Ball for year on Friday April 8th.  I'd like to wish all our students and their partners a magical night .

Expressions of interest for the 2023 Debutante Balls are open for current Year 10 students, and close on 17th April 2022.   An information evening will be held on May 3rd 2023 and those who express interest will receive an invitation with details closer to the event.  

Register here:  https://forms.office.com/r/vg7uas9CdE

 

Building Works

Our beautiful new Science block is open for business!  Demolition started on the last of our horrible old toilet blocks, and the new Senior School toilet is also open.

There has been a bit of confusion from students regarding who "owns" which toilet block.

Junior School:  Year 7 toilets at the end of H block

Middle School:  Year 8 and 9 toilets at the end of the Technology block

Senior School:  Toilets opposite the side entrance to the general office, and the portable toilets.   Once the "old" senior toilets are finished, Senior School will have access to both the toilets opposite the general office, and the "old" senior toilets.

 

Gender neutral cubicles are available at First Aid and in the library foyer.  

 

End of Term 2

I will be on leave from Friday 1st April until the first day of Term 2, hopefully visiting family in the UK (Covid willing).  For the last week of term, Simon Braknys will be Acting Principal, with Shaun Isbister and Vittoria Saliba Acting for Weeks 1 and 2 of the school holidays respectively.

Contact with Leadership directly is still through AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au

 

Covid Update

We have seen a significant increase in local cases with 20 student cases reported today.

The wearing of masks at school is not mandatory, but I encourage students and staff to do so.   This virus, although not severe in people who are triple vaccinated, is still nasty enough to lay you low for several days.

I ask students to keep using hand sanitiser, and be mindful of not sharing drink bottles etc.

Teachers will continue to open doors and windows, and of course we have air purifiers in nearly all rooms.  

Please ensure your child tests twice weekly with the supplied RATs; at this stage we don't know whether the supply will continue into Term 2.  Even if they are asymptomatic, isolation will prevent them passing the virus to a student or staff member who may have immuno-compromised family or friends.  The following change to testing advice was released by DET this week:   “Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake screening for 8 weeks. This was previously 30 days.”