Important Announcements

Updated COVID restrictions

Updated School Operations Guide – easing of restrictions

As directed by the Victorian Chief Health Officer, from 11.59 Friday 26 February, face masks are no longer mandatory in all indoor spaces in the broader community. Masks are still required in limited indoor settings, such as public transport, commercial passenger vehicles and some large retail settings.

At schools, this means that face masks are no longer mandatory in all indoor spaces for school staff and secondary school students aged 12 or older.

Requirements for the use of masks are outlined below. Visitors and parents must also observe this guidance.

• Face masks are recommended, but not mandatory, for use by staff, students and visitors when physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained.

We encourage all visitors to the school to carry a mask so that when a distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained, the mask should be worn.

We anticipate that we can open up our assemblies to all parents very soon and we will keep you all well informed when this is the case.

Every Day Counts

Each day of school missed makes a difference, with the effect on learning accumulating over time. From an early age, if children are taught that they need to 'show up' for school and make a commitment, this positive mentality aids academic and career success and brings benefits in adulthood. 

If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the school office on 5950 0400 by 9.00am. Alternatively, you can email the school to notify of your child's absence at info@fatimarosebud.catholic.edu.au or complete an absentee form in the Skoolbag app. If we do not receive notification of an absence by 9.30am we are required under regulations to message you at home or work to follow up the absence. Please notify the school of all absences. Please note that prolonged absences without notification will be followed up. Many days absent from school do impact on student learning and programs designed to support students. 

Operoo

Next week all parents and guardians will receive an email inviting you to enroll in Operoo (formally CareMonkey).  This will be the online space where permission forms, emergency contacts and medical updates will be sent out to parents.  Many local Secondary schools (eg. Padua) already use this and we believe it will enhance our way of getting important information from and to you.

Community in Action (formerly P and F) News

Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools School Advisory Council

‘Parish priests and principals hold distinctive roles of leadership in their parish and school communities, and therefore it is essential that they work collaboratively to ensure that the relationship between parish and school is central to providing the religious leadership necessary for the success of the mission’ - Working Together in Mission p.3

Consultation during the establishment of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) affirmed that the School Advisory Council (SAC) is a living expression of the principle of subsidiarity in action and is informed by the theology and vision articulated in the MACS Statement of Mission and the Working Together in Mission charter. 

In this light the establishment of School Advisory Councils play such a critical role in the system governance framework of MACS that, by the end of 2021, every MACS-governed school in the Archdiocese will have a functioning School Advisory Council. Key to their success is the discernment process so essential at a local level. Such a process will discern that some schools will be required to transition the current advisory board or council by replacing the superseded constitution with the MACS Terms of Reference for School Advisory Councils. Others will require the establishment of a school advisory council to either renew a lapsed council or to initiate a council for the first time.

At Our Lady of Fatima it is an exciting time as we will be forming a brand new School Advisory Council. This process has begun and Fr John Paul and I have started having good discussions around what this will look like in our own context. We are governed by a higher process and I will keep you all informed along the way as we look to forming our own SAC.

Celebrating Mrs. Amanda Heggen

Yesterday we were lucky enough to be able to share a very special birthday with Mrs. Heggen.  The students joined in the celebration doing the 'Chicken Dance' and singing happy birthday. The staff like to pick a theme for the person who is celebrating a special '0' birthday  and our theme for Amanda was the rainbow. Amanda brings lots of colour and positivity to our school just like a rainbow.  We wish Amanda all the best for her special birthday and always.