School News
Staffing News
Daniela Wingrave (School Psychologist) has decided to reduce her working hours at CatholicCare and as such, won't be returning in Semester Two. We thank Daniela for the work that she has done with our children this year.
CatholicCare has indicated that they will do their best to find a suitable and qualified replacement for this important position at our school. Further details will be provided to families in due course.
Extra Pupil Free Day MACS directive
Friday 2 September
This week, Marwin Austerberry (Regional General Manager Eastern Region) - Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) contacted Principals to acknowledge the incredible job all schools have done to minimise disruption for staff and students despite the high number of COVID-19 and flu cases within our community.
Principals were also advised that as a result of the challenges faced this term with staff shortages (impacting school budgets and professional development time for staff members), that the MACS Executive Leadership Team have approved an additional pupil free day for MACS Primary Schools in Term 3.
As a result of this directive, Friday 2 September will be our extra Pupil Free Day next term.
As a school we are most grateful for this extra pupil free day. This day will assist us to meet our professional practice obligations as we continue to deliver improved educational outcomes for all children in our care. Thank you for your support and understanding of this additional Pupil Free Day.
New Child Safety Standards (which come into effect on 1 July 2022)
There are 11 new Victorian Child Safe Standards which come into effect on 1 July 2022. As part of these changes, all Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) are required to amend a number of policies and practices as we continue to comply with Ministerial Order No. 1359 (MO 1359) - Implementing the Child Safe Standards - Managing the risk of child abuse in schools and boarding premises.
Some of these amended policies include:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy *
- Child Safety Code of Conduct *
- Recruitment Policy
- PROTECT: Identifying and Responding to abuse - Reporting Obligations *
- Reportable Conduct Policy
- Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy *
- Procedure for Ensuring that staff are informed about Mandatory Reporting Obligations
- Child Safety - Support Resources
- MACS Pastoral Care of Students Policy *
- MACS Attendance Policy *
- Student Behaviour Policy *
- Anti-Bullying Policy (including Cyber-Bullying) *
- Supervision Policy *
- MACS Duty of Care Guidelines *
- Anti-Bullying Policy Checklist for Schools
- MACS Complaints Handling Policy for Schools
- School Complaints Handling Policy *
- Complaints Form for Initial point of contact
All of the above policies have now been amended.
The policies marked with * can be viewed on our School Website (along with a number of our other school policies) which are required to be uploaded/visible to the public - see link below.
https://www.shkew.catholic.edu.au/ourschool
Semester 1 Reports
As per last year, you will be receiving your child’s Semester 1 Report online via the nForma Parent Portal. Instructions on how to access the nForma Parent Portal will be sent out to the email addresses that have been previously supplied to the school. These emails were sent out earlier today.
It is very important that you have updated your email addresses with the school, as an automated email containing instructions and login details will come from no-reply@nforma.com.au and not the school. Please ensure that you check your junk/spam folder for an email from that address. For security purposes, all passwords have been reset since 2021.
It is highly recommended that you use a computer to access your child’s reports for the first time. Subsequent logins can be made on a mobile device if preferred.
Once you have followed the instructions, you will be able to view your child’s report online.
You can also use the following link:
https://parent.nforma.ct.com.au/app/index.html?schooldomain=skew#/login
Once in the portal you will need to choose your child (if you have more than one at our school) and then choose 'Assessment and Reporting'. Then select the year/semester.
Forgotten passwords:
If you have forgotten your password, please follow the 'forgotten password' link. Please note that your new password needs to be at least 7 characters long and must include at least one non alpha-numeric character, e.g. *, - / or similar.
If you have requested a password reset and the email does not appear, please look in your junk/spam folder for an email from no-reply@nforma.com.au.
Please wait at least 15 minutes after you have reset your password before logging in again.
Parent/Teacher Chats
As previously mentioned, our Parent/Teacher Chats will be held on Thursday 14 July, 2022. All children will finish school at 12.45pm on this day, and the first interviews will commence at 1.30pm. If you are unable to pick your child(ren) up there will be supervision provided by staff not engaged in the Parent/Teacher Chats. After School Care will be provided as usual from 3.15pm onwards. A separate Operoo form has been sent out regarding this.
The purpose of these chats is to meet with your child's classroom teacher, discussing with them, your child’s learning progression and achievement in Semester One. Your child's Semester One Report which will be uploaded via the nForma Parent Portal next Friday, will assist with these Parent/Teacher Chats. If you have more complex issues or concerns about your child please organise an additional meeting with the teacher.
The format of these Parent/Teacher Chats will be a hybrid model this time around. Parents have the option of attending either 'face to face' or 'remotely' via Google Meet as we continue to cater for the many different illnesses (and isolation periods) within our school community.
From 1.30pm to 6pm, parents will be able to attend these chats 'face to face' with Prep - Year Two classroom teachers located in the MPR and Year 3 - 6 classroom teachers located in the School Hall. During this time, parents can also attend this meeting remotely, via Google Meet if they wish.
From 6.30pm - 7.30pm, there will be no 'face to face' meetings offered, only 'remote' meetings via Google Meet will occur during this time.
If teachers are sick or in isolation due to Covid or other illness, interviews may take place remotely (or these may have to be rescheduled to another time). This information will be communicated to parents closer to the time.
When booking your child(rens) interview time, if you wish to access this remotely, please type 'remote' after your child's name. If there is no 'remote' after your child's name, this will mean that the interview will be 'face to face' at school (1.30 - 6pm).
To book in your Parent/Teacher Chat time - please go to the following link
http://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/7s788
Or visit the website link below (and use the code 7s788)
Bookings are now open. Bookings will close on Wednesday 13 July at 3.15pm.
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Today we celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The feast day is celebrated nineteen days after Pentecost, on the Friday after Corpus Christi. Today’s feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is also a celebration of our Parish Feast Day. It is a reminder that by belonging to our parish faith community we celebrate our faith as God’s people.
We celebrated our feast day with a Mass in the morning and follow up activities in the classroom. Thank you to Mr James Millane for organising the day.
Thank you to all the families who contributed to the Food Drive to support the Brigidine Asylum Resource Centre this year. Your continued generosity, kindness and compassion is very much appreciated.
A big thank you also to the Phan family for making delicious heart shaped cookies for our celebration.
Zart Art Student Art Competition
For more information about prizes go to https://zartstudentartcomp.com.au/