Inside St Therese's

From the Principal...   

Dear Parents and Friends of St Therese's,

SAVE THE DATE

12TH NOVEMBER, 2019

ST THERESE'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

School Review

Last week, St Therese's School took part in the final part of the School Review. A School Review occurs every four years and the purpose is to examine closely all procedures, policies and the practices in relation to the running of the school from attendance of students to teacher's work programs.

 

The Reviewers then make recommendations that the School is required to act on. St Therese's School had a number of recommendations that need to be addressed.

 

1. Student Attendance

  • Parents are required to sign their children in and out at the front desk if they are dropping their children off late to school (after 9am) and collecting them early (before 3:30pm). Please ensure that if you happen to be late in the morning that you park your car out the front and walk your child/ren to the office to be signed in.
  • After school, teachers are on duty to look after children who are not collected at 3:30pm until 3:45pm. After this time, the children are sent to the office area to wait. If for some reason you are running late as can happen from time to time, please let the school know so that your child does not become anxious.
  • Due to current Child Safety Standards, it is a legal requirement that children who are still at school at 4:00pm must be signed out at the front office, therefore children will no longer be able to run out to meet you after this time.
  • Remember - EVERY DAY COUNTS! If your child is unwell and is unable to attend school, please communication the reason for their absence using the Skoolbag App, phoning the school or writing a note. We are required to provide a reason for each full and part-day absence.

2. Child Safety - Supervision of children

  • We have audited our practices in the area of Child Safety and found that during recess and lunch playtime breaks children were accessing the buildings and classrooms without permission. This is problematic because when they enter the classrooms or buildings without permission they are not being supervised. This has meant that teachers are instructed to lock all external doors at break times. If children do need to go inside they are instructed to speak to the teacher on yard duty and access to the building is then granted. In doing so we can be assured that children are not alone in the buildings and can keep them safe.

3. Medications - prescribed and non prescribed

  • From time to time, parents ask the School to give medication to their child. If your child does require any form of medication (pain killers included) we require parents to fill in and sign our Medications Request Consent Form which you can get from the front desk. We are required to follow the Catholic Education of Victoria guidelines that state 'the School cannot give medication without it being in the original packaging'.
  • Please ensure all medications and health care plans are kept up to date and signed by a doctor (asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes etc).

 

Thank you to all the parents who work in partnership with the school in assisting us to keep each child safe and provide the very best educational outcomes for your children!

Parking issues

There have been a number of complaints regarding the way parents are parking out the front of the school. Please be considerate to other parents when parking and not leave car lengths between cars.  Even more concerning, I have been informed that parents often double park on Endeavour Drive. Please do not double park and encourage your children to jump into the car. This is very dangerous and it would be devastating to have someone hit. 

 

Traffic around schools is always busy and hectic and drivers must act responsibly and follow all road laws at all times! I have been informed that parking inspectors will be on-site over the next couple of weeks and will fine drivers for illegal parking - please beware!

Foundation 2020 & New Family Information Night

On Thursday November 7, we are holding an Information Night for our Foundation 2020 families and for new families who have a child starting in Years 1-6. 

 

On this night we will announce the teachers who will be teaching Foundation next year. We look forward to welcoming our new families! 

Prayer Garden

This week, the St Peter's VCAL students began the construction of the new garden. We look forward to the opening and blessing which will take place on our Anniversary Celebration Day - 12th November. Mass will begin at 12:30pm in the Hall and the Blessing of the garden will take place at 1:30pm - All Welcome!

 

I hope you all have a lovely week and don't forget that Monday November 4 and Tuesday November 5 are School Closure Days! 

 

God Bless,

Michelle Bruitzman