School News 

Donations for Christmas  Hampers

There is now a box in the front office for donations of non-perishable food or Christmassy items suitable for a Christmas hamper, which St Vincent de Paul Society will collect at the end of term. Please think about those people less fortunate than ourselves and pop an extra item in your trolley when you are shopping.

SRC news 

Thank you everyone for donating to the RSPCA for today's SRC Casual Day. We raised $208.90!

 

The pots and pans people donated a while ago are really popular. In fact, we need more! Please donate old pots and pans, plastic or metal cups and wooden spoons for our play. 

We will be very grateful! 

A Note from Emily

Over the weekend I bought some new shoes , a task I don’t really enjoy doing. But as I have been wearing them in this week it has got me thinking about change, how it can be uncomfortable at first, may even give you some blisters, but finally you come to a comfortable place where you can feel a sense of accomplishment. Term 4 brings lots of changes, with Kindy and younger kids transitioning into Receptions next year, new classes start forming for next year, teachers/ staff coming and going and this year’s seniors transitioning into high school.  There may also be changes in the home or family, changes we aren’t even aware of until they happen suddenly. However uncomfortable, excited, nervous, scared we may feel at the time of the change, it will soon pass, and we are able to grow, feel strengthened and have more courage to take on the next change or challenge. 

 

Resilience is a mindset that we must learn and grow in, it needs constant teaching and strengthening, and changes help this happen. If for any reason you need some help to walk through some of these changes or just need someone to talk to, my door is always open. As a school we also have resources which can provide additional support for various needs. I find the best thing for me to do when faced with change is to know who I can talk to and who is supporting me through the change. I encourage you to think about who around you already supports or can support you during this time of change? There are often a few once we start thinking about it.

Don’t forget to look after YOU and take care!

 

Emily Morgan, Pastoral Care Worker 

School Banking Update

A message from the Commonwealth Bank

 

You may be aware that in past months, a number of state and territory governments have announced bans on banks delivering programs in their schools, and the NSW Government announced a similar decision recently, because of a report from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). We are disappointed with the position taken by ASIC and subsequent decisions by some state and territory governments to take the choice to participate away from individual schools and parents. Because of the ASIC review and these government decisions, we are unable to continue providing programs in schools and we have had to make a difficult decision to close our School Banking program nationally. As a result, the CommBank School Banking program will not be returning to schools beyond 2021.  

To continue banking see your local branch.

Uniform reminder 

We have noticed students wearing a few items that really aren't part of our school uniform: 1. Leggings are ok to wear under dresses, but not on their own, as part of our school uniform. Students can wear navy track pants or any other plain navy pants. 

2. Coloured hair accessories are not part of the uniform - school colours only please. 

3. Boots and lightweight sandals are really not suitable for school wear. Sneakers are the best choice for school, since classes participate in physical activity every day.  

 

We understand it is a busy time of year and it's not always easy to find alternatives,  so organising these changes for the beginning of next year is fine. Thank you! 

Notice of Annual General Meeting

We will be holding our AGM in term 4 this year, so that we are ready for the start of the new year. If you are interested in joining the Governing Council, please ring me at school on 8390 3209 so I am aware about your intention to nominate prior to the meeting.

The AGM will take place on Monday November 29 at 7pm in the staff room of the school, followed by our final Governing Council meeting of the year.  

COVID restrictions

Some COVID restrictions have now been lifted. Yay! 

Here are the current recommendations from the Department for Education:  

  • Parents, volunteers and visitors are welcome in schools and preschools providing COVID safe measures are in place and followed.
  • All parents and visitors are required to COVID-Safe check in when entering buildings and practise physical distancing from other adults.
  • It’s recommended that parents and other visiting adults wear masks when entering school or preschool buildings. This includes volunteers.
  • Masks are not required outdoors if adults can physical distance. This is consistent with community mask use requirements.

What does this mean for us? 

 

Pick up and drop off

  • In the morning please continue to drop children off at one of the entrances to the school grounds, and allow them to make their own way to their classrooms. If you need to speak to your child’s teacher, please make contact through the SeeSaw app.
  • You are welcome to come to the front office at this time for school business (with the COVID restrictions outlined above), but please do not visit teachers or students in their classrooms so they can get ready for the school day ahead.
  • As long as you socially distance from others as outlined above, you are welcome to come back into the school grounds to meet your children at the end of the day, and children are now once again allowed to play after school until you come to collect them.

Assemblies 

  • We are now able to invite all parents to attend our assemblies.  Please wear masks, physically distance from others and QR code as above.

 As always, students and staff must stay home if they are unwell. Please err on the side of caution. 

 

Students are being asked to fill up their drink bottles from taps in preference to drinking directly from the taps, so please make sure they have a labelled bottle every day.