Filter Content
- From Francine ...
- Term Four School Operations
- Preparing Your Child for the First Day Back at School
- Video - preparing Your child
- 'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds' - Book Week Thursday 22nd October
- New Governance Arrangements
- Wellbeing Workshops Photos
- Uniform
- Term 4 - 'No Hat, Shaded Area'
- Public Holidays and School Closure Day
- Compulsory Dates for 2021 Foundation Families
There are a couple of changes to the way that the school will operate and many of the initial guidelines remain in place. Please read the following information and as always be ready for an update!
- We will stagger dismissal times with F - Year 2 ending their school day and ready for collection at 3.15 pm and Years 3 - 6 at the usual time of 3.30 pm. If there is a family who has children in both groups the infant children will join the senior child for the 3.30 for pickup.
- Both Exits and Entrances (Wynnstay Rd and A'Beckett Street) will be accessible at both ends of the day. There will be a manned hygiene station in the foyer and at the back gate where hand sanitiser will be applied before entering the school. The side gate will not be open in the morning so that all students must pass through one of these points. This means that students with bikes/scooters will have to enter and leave by the back gate (A’Beckett Street).
- We did have an issue last time where parents were congregating at the front gate which makes it both unsafe hygienically and difficult to run speedy pickup. Please ensure you are distancing while you wait for your child and allowing for speedy pick to be safe and efficient.
- As previously outlined, no parent is to enter the school except by appointment. As the guidelines are very strict about 1 person every 4 meters and 1.5 metres apart so we ask that parents do not stay any longer than required on or near school grounds once they have collected their child from school.
In this eight-minute film, Dr Jess Richardson. principal clinical psychologist (National & Specialist CAMHS and Maudsley), provides straightforward, important suggestions for parents and teachers to deal with any potential apprehension or anxiety children may experience on returning to school. This video was produced for English students returning to school from the summer holidays but Dr. Richardson's advice is none-the-less pertinent.
'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds' - Book Week Thursday 22nd October
There are going to be many things that are not 'normal' about this term. So we have decided as a staff that one thing we CAN do is celebrate Bookweek! Everybody loves a dress-up day, I think the teachers enjoy it more.
We will be celebrating Book week on Thursday 22nd October and it is a dress-up day! The theme is 'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds' so you can dress with the theme or a favourite book character. This gives everyone loads of scope to dress up. This Thursday occurs just before the Grand Final Holiday which is on Friday 23rd October.
A consultation process is currently underway with stakeholders to establish the form of those arrangements.
A Steering Committee comprising stakeholder representatives is leading the process and aiming for a seamless transition to minimise the impact of the governance change. While the change in governance will not disrupt the work of schools, it is important to keep teachers, parents and staff informed about the project.
Why now?
A number of factors have led to the need for a change in governance arrangements. These include recommendations that have been made from a royal commission and a parliamentary inquiry. More importantly, the new governance arrangements will need to preserve and strengthen the Catholicity of our schools in the future.
With legislative and compliance requirements rapidly becoming more complex for our schools, a governance model based on one person in which the school is unincorporated, as currently found in our parish schools and regional colleges, is no longer viable. The new governance model seeks both to ease the administrative burden on our schools and parishes, and to allow the parish priest more time to focus on the mission of education in the parish.
While the governance model will change one aspect of the relationship between parish and school, it is essential that parishes and schools continue to be partners in the faith development of students. The connection between parish and school enables our young people to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist and the sacraments: the ‘source and summit’ of our Christian lives. It is the essence of an educational experience that is truly Catholic.
What difference will it make?
The governance reforms will enable schools to continue delivering an outstanding faith and valuesbased education, without being burdened by the increasingly complex legislative and regulatory requirements.
Proposed governance reforms will also preserve the critical pastoral role of the parish priest in the school community.
Who will be affected?
Not all Catholic schools in Melbourne will be affected by the governance change, as congregational and ministerial public juridical person (PJP) schools fall outside the group of schools in the archdiocese governed by the new model. They will however continue their service relationship with Catholic Education Melbourne.
Seamless employment transition
There will be a seamless transition to the new governance arrangements for teachers and other employees within parish, regional and archdiocese owned schools.
As schools transition to new arrangements, employees will receive new offers of employment on the same terms and conditions, with their prior service being recognised.
There has been consultation with the union and the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) to ensure this transition will be smooth.
The parish and the school
The central role of parish priests and the value of their leadership to the mission of Catholic education within the wider context of the parish community will continue. A charter will be developed with input from priests, principals and other stakeholders to ensure that the roles, rights and responsibilities of all are properly understood and safeguarded.
An important part of the model will be to provide an opportunity at each school for parents – as partners in the education of their children – to have a voice, and a forum for the school community to work effectively with parishes and Catholic Education Melbourne.
Change
While acknowledging the complexity of the legal and operational issues involved in moving to a new governance model, this change process is a positive opportunity to further enhance the evangelising and educative ministry of Catholic education. We will continue to focus on being faithful to God’s mission, with the school as an educational expression of that mission within the parish.
Dear Families,
This is a final call for any photos of the Wellbeing Workshops. I've heard some beautiful feedback about how much your children enjoyed and valued these activities, but unfortunately do not have enough photos to create a presentation.
If you would like to share some photos, please send them to: angelique.gabriel@olprahraneast.catholic.edu.au by Friday 9th October.
Many Thanks,
Angelique Gabriel- Wellbeing Leader
Term 4 - 'No Hat, Shaded Area'
Please remember that Term 4 means time to start wearing hats again on the playground. The school sun policy is “No Hat, Shaded Area”. Please ensure that your child comes to school wearing their hat each day! Please also ensure that your child’s hat has their name clearly marked on it.
If your child has lost their hat, they can be purchased from the office for $15.00.
Public Holidays and School Closure Day
Please note Extend do not operate on public holidays. They will, however, be offering care on Monday 2nd November, please contact Extend to book.
Compulsory Dates for 2021 Foundation Families
Parent Information Night (This maybe a zoom meeting)
Tuesday, 10th November 2020 : 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Orientation Days (Children Only)
Thursday, 12th November 2020: 9.15 am - 11.30 am
Thursday, 19th November 2020: 9.15 am - 11.30 am
Thursday, 26th November 2020: 9.15 am - 11.30 am
"Welcome Mass" for 2021 Families (If we are allowed)
Sunday, 29th November 2020 at 11.00 am
Our Lady of Lourdes Church,
631 High Street, Prahran East
First Day of School
Friday 29th January 2021: arrive 8.30 am - 8.45 am