SCHOOL INFORMATION

Before School Drop Off - Students are not to be dropped off any earlier than 8:20am in the morning. Supervision starts at 8:20am.

Entering the school: All students are to enter via the Hamilton St gates where sanitization will be available as per our usual practice. NO parents are permitted onsite or in classrooms for the first 4 weeks. An exemption for the first day will be made for the Foundation students and families where students will commence at 9:30am on Tuesday 1st Feb and parents can walk their children to the foundation classrooms. Our well-being team, senior leaders and teaching staff will be at the Hamilton gates Tuesday morning to welcome and assist students to their classrooms.

End of day pick up: Our end of day pick up will remain the same as per last year’s procedures for Kiss and Go / Hamilton St gates.

Rapid Antigen Tests: RAT test kits have arrived at school and will be sent home with students on Tuesday. Further details for the use of RAT tests is provided below under Covid Specific Information.

School Uniform and Hats: Students will be required to wear their Summer Uniform and hats are compulsory for the first term. It is important that particularly during these warmer months, that the students stay well hydrated so please ensure each student has a water bottle with them each day.

Please ensure all clothing and drink bottles are clearly named.

Our feast day is this Sunday 6th February

Newsletters and Assemblies 2022

Our newsletter will be emailed / circulated each fortnight on odd weeks (eg: weeks 1, 3, 5 etc).

School assemblies will be held on alternative odd weeks and will be online while we cannot have gatherings onsite. Our first school assembly will be next Friday afternoon 2:45pm.

Kiss and Go Reminder…

Our new families may not be aware that our ‘kiss and go’ zone simply means you: don’t stop and wait for a space to become free. You must always allow traffic to move freely and not congest Hamilton Street. Some people are not obeying the road laws and as a consequence are making it unsafe for all, including morning drop off. Last year, for some people the lack of consideration for fellow drivers, by stopping when they should not, has resulted in fines being issued. Hopefully this doesn’t become a major issue this year. From what I am witnessing it’s about being patient with another and being safe.

A detailed explanation of the ‘Kiss and Go’ zone in operation has been included in this weeks newsletter.

Kiss and Go dashboard and visor sign ~ For all those who pick their children up from Hamilton St.

I have noticed some people have already adopted this as a way for us to quickly identify families and children. Let me say this is a brilliant idea ~ thank you.

To help staff (especially our new staff) quickly identify families picking up children in the Kiss and Go zone could you please click on the link below, fill in the attached form and return to the school so we can create your very own, personalised Dashboard & Visor sign.

Once created, completed signs will be sent home with your child, please place these on the left hand side of your vehicle. Your assistance with this is greatly appreciated.

Meetings with Staff… Some reminders to help you

Staff generally attend meetings at school on Tuesdays 3:45-5:00pm and Wednesday from 3:45-5:15pm.

We certainly encourage parents to catch up casually with staff as the need arises, but please be aware that we will need to excuse ourselves for these compulsory meetings. Parents are encouraged to make a meeting time with us to hold longer discussions, as this will also ensure we can give you our full attention.

Please be aware meetings with staff are encouraged to be online or via phone calls.

St Mel’s OSHC is accepting enrolments & bookings for 2022

Welcome to St Mel’s OSHC. We understand that placing your child in childcare is an important decision and as such, we feel privileged to play an integral role in your child’s learning and development.

Our aim is to function as an extended family in order to provide your child with the security, warmth and love which are essential to their development and growth.

Our professional and dedicated educators provide a program that enables children to learn through exploration and stimulating experiences. We aspire to create an environment that provides enjoyable and creative learning. This is achieved through activities designed to support your child in all areas of growth. Please call us on 0438213163 or visit our section of the schools web site for further information.

School Uniforms

Thank you to the way families have ensured your child has returned to school wearing the correct uniform.

Wearing the correct uniform expresses pride and value in our school and of our expectations.

Student Absences

Please ensure you inform the office if your child is away or will be away from school. Resulting changes to the attendance guidelines implemented last year now state…

‘Schools must advise parents/guardians of unexplained absences, on the same day, as soon as practicable, including for post-compulsory aged students’.

If your child has been away through illness, holidays or for any reason please contact the school / child’s teacher via a phone call, note or personal visit. Thank you in your anticipated adherence to this important information. St Mel’s endeavours to keep all children safe at all times.

A few house keeping items…Lost Property

~ Please name all school items. Hats, jumpers, drink bottles are the usual things that go missing. A lost property box is located out the front of the main building if you’re on the hunt for lost items.

Celebrated Birthdays

Happy Birthday to everyone that has celebrated their birthdays this week and during the holidays:

Sunny Walker, Malaila Currey, Alessio Natalizio, Annelyse Johnson, Charlie Campbell, Stella Campi, Audrey Gacus, Livinia Lay, Dilpreet Pannu, Kristen Feata, Aami Patel, Jen Amadei, Maria Makin and Natalie Witchen.

Volunteering at St Mel’s

A school volunteer is anyone who helps at school supervise, assist student learning or attends camps / excursions. As part of our commitment to keeping all students safe, all volunteers MUST have a current Working with Children’s Check (WWC), have signed a parent code of conduct and volunteer’s application form.

Due to current COVID restrictions we are unable to have volunteers on site but will send out further information in future newsletters.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at St Mel’s in the future and don't as yet have a WWC you can apply online by visiting : www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

Kiss and go ~ A detailed explanation

Kiss and Go. What is that you may ask? Simply it is a quick, efficient and safe way to drop off and pick up your children. The zone from the school library to the hall in Hamilton Street has been zoned as the ‘kiss and go’. There are few steps we need to follow to make this work:

2 minute parking between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Move forward so that other cars can park
Stay in the car to let your child out or collect your child
Always let your child in form the passenger side – never the drivers side
If there are no places to park go around the block until a park is available
Use other long term parking that is within a short walking distance to the school
When picking up your child – get the duty teachers attention and let them know who you are picking up e.g. the Smith Family or Johnny Smith
Be patient
Observe and follow the rules
Safety before convenience

We ask parents and drivers to consider the following:

Do’s	Don’ts
1. Plan your travel time to school at the start and end of the day, especially where it is going to take time to assist your children.	1. Do not rely upon the ‘Kiss and Go’ zone if you are running late in the morning. Travel safely and use the designated parking in neighbouring roads, regardless if you are late.
2. Choose to park at the St Mel’s Parish car parks and/or along the neighbouring roads. Walk to collect your children. The distance at any car park around the school area is no more than 250m (a slow 2-3 minute walk).	2. Do not rely upon a car park being available at the school, along Hamilton Street, if you arrive at the school drop off 8.45- 8.55am and pick up time between 3.20-3.30pm. Use alternative parking available or travel around again, safely.
3. Let your children know if you will be late for school pick up. Remember, the children are happy and safe within the school grounds. There is teacher supervision.	3. Do not stop at or across the school crossing at any time to wait for a park in the ‘Kiss and Go’ zone.
4. Plan your direction of travel along Hamilton Street prior to approaching the school. Avoid travelling along the length of Hamilton Street if it looks busy and congested. Go around the block, or turn off into St Andrew’s road before the “Kiss and Go” zone is preferable.	4. Do not park at or along yellow marked zones. Areas of roadside marked with yellow lines means NO STOPPING ANYTIME!!!!

When in the ‘Kiss and Go’ drop off zone DO:

Travel to the further most car park available to enable a flow of traffic, even if you are the only vehicle there and do not leave your vehicle to go into the school.
Ensure your children enter the vehicle from the footpath. Do not have children entering/leaving the car from driver’s side of the vehicle.
Move along the zone whilst waiting, when safe to do so, looking in all blind spots.
Respect and adhere to the directions of the teachers supervising the “Kiss and Go” system.

Prayers and Thoughts

Keep In your Prayers and Thoughts....