From the Principal
Camp Portsea 2022
Our Year 5 and Year 6 students along with senior staff had a sensational three days at our 2022 camp at Portsea. The weather was glorious and we had the entire camp just for our school. Our children were able to challenge themselves on a variety of activities from the high rope course, the flying fox to the giant swing. Being beside the beach, there were great challenges by the water as well that included swimming, kayaking and fishing off the pier.
Some of our children were delighted to catch a fish or two!! Our students gave their best and had a lot of fun. The day started early and finished late each night and included, a night walk, camp fire and disco.
The highlight was just being together and forming friendships, there was a great positive vibe among our 2022 campers. The food was delicious and plenty of treats were enjoyed all through the day. For some sleeping away from home was a new experience and there were some apprehensive parents, however with some extra care and all night monitoring by staff, every child slept soundly after a full day of fun.
On the return to school the buses stopped at Boneo Discovery Park before returning safely home to the welcoming reception from parents.
I would like to thank our staff who unanimously agreed to mitigate risks and go on the camp as planned, despite many schools cancelling their camps due to the Omicron virus. Our staff, put a lot of work into planning and delivering a great experience for our children. After so many cancelled events in 2020 and 2021, it feels great to get 2022 off to a flying start and provide our students with a memorable experience.
It was lovely to receive this thank you note on Wednesday night from a parent, to our staff .....
"Thank you to you and all the staff who made it happen - I know it comes at a personal cost to you all, time away from your own families, lack of sleep and so much more.
I really appreciate the time and energy you have all put in and I hope you get a great night's sleep tonight. Please pass on our thanks to everyone involved."
COVID Safety
This week, the Victorian Government announced that existing COVIDSafe measures in schools and early childhood settings would continue until the end of Term 1.
Rapid antigen surveillance testing will continue until the end of Term 1. We are expecting that the delivery of rapid antigen tests (RATs) for weeks five and six will start from today, with additional RATs to be delivered in the coming weeks. The testing settings will remain the same, with all primary school students and staff, recommended to test at home twice a week. At St Francis de Sales we will continue with testing each Sunday and Wednesday Night. RATs have proved an important COVIDSafe tool to help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and ensure our schools are as safe as possible. The use of RATS is strongly encouraged to keep our school open to ensure student learning is uninterrupted as a result of staff shortages due to positive cases. At the moment obtaining casual Relief Teachers is not easy. So far we have been able to manage due to the care and vigilance of the entire community.
Reporting your positive test
If your child/children were at school when they were infectious you must let the school Principal or office know. You must also report your positive result to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.
If positive, everyone in your household is a close contact and must isolate for 7 days.
Several changes to the COVIDSafe settings in place in Victoria were also announced.
- From 6 pm on Friday 18 February, QR code check-in requirements will no longer be in place in schools.
Visitors attending any event or activity inside a school building including, but not limited to, tours, graduations, kindergarten transitions and whole-school events are required to show evidence of full vaccination.
Masks must be worn indoors at primary schools by all staff, visitors and students in Grade 3 to 6.
From next Monday 21 February children may play on the two adventure playgrounds before and after school.
School Fees
2022 school fee invoices are going home on Monday.
If you would like to set up a direct debit please fill in the form below
Eligibility for Concessional School Fees
Concessional school fees are available to any family that meets the below eligibility criteria:
- of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage
- holding an HCC and eligible for CSEF
- experiencing severe financial hardship
- holding a DVA Gold Card
- identified as refugees and holding an ImmiCard is strongly encouraged to apply for concessional school fees.
Please complete an application form if you meet the eligibility criteria for Concessional School Fees. Please submit this by Thursday 24 February 2022.
A message from the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)
The PPC is a parishioner-led parish group that seeks to address the pastoral needs of our parishioners. There are ex-officio members (Parish Priest, Assistant Priest, Deacon, School Principals and Deanery Rep) as well as 9 parishioner representatives.
The parishioners represent 5 different 'clusters' in our parish as well as the youth community and the St Francis de Sales community. We work as a team to implement various activities and address various concerns raised by parishioners.
We currently have several vacancies for cluster/community reps. All parishioners in the church and school communities are welcome to nominate themselves or others to take up a role on the PPC.
The PPC election process begins on the weekend of 19/20 February. Please see the parish newsletter for more information (hard copies are in the church foyer or go to the parish website) or email the current chairperson - denisejlyons@gmail.com.
SFS will be a Vaccination Centre
This Sunday February 20, from 2 to 5 pm our school will be a place that our primary aged students to receive the COVID vaccine for children. The second dose will be available on Friday 22/4 also at SFS. We encourage parents to take advantage of the convenient location.
Please use this link to book your child/children's appointment/s. Please note that the venue is at St Francis de Sales 122 Patterson Drive, Lynbrook and NOT at the medical centre in the booking form.
COVID-19 vaccinations for students are not required for them to attend school but vaccination for students is encouraged.
Communication Alert
It is vital that all parents ensure they have communicated updated medical information to the school for 2022. The student profile with medical information MUST be updated with a 2022 date to confirm you have checked and that all the information is correct.
This is important for ALL students.
Please open the Operoo student profile. 1. Click on the name of the Profile.
2. If you need to edit or update something, Click the Edit button on the far right.
3. Update the information. Upload current medical plans. e.g Asthma. Click Save and Continue.
Even if there are NO changes. Click Save and Continue.
4. You will be taken to the Consent section and you will need to re-consent to confirm that the profile has been changed and/or that the medical information contained within is up-to-date.
You will now have a 2022 confirmation date and the school will know the profile shared about your child is accurate.
Consented by: John Brown on 10 February 2022 at 4:42 PM AEDT
Please assist us and avoid a call from the school if the plan has not been confirmed with a 2022 date by the end of this month. The school relies on the accuracy of these records when we are away from school and also when we are at school to care for your child. As a parent it is your responsibility to ensure the details are accurate.
Christine White
Principal