Week 1 Term 4 2018

Principal's News Jenny Hawkins

Welcome back to Term 4. Our term has got off to a great start. We are trialing new bell times (see below for more information) and practice for Sports Day has already begun. 2019 Prep Orientation sessions are also underway.
The future is looking promising for Catholic primary schools with both major political parties providing a remarkable vote of confidence in Catholic education. They have not only endorsed the quality and strength of our school system, but its significance to the state. This will be helpful for us going forward when we apply for funding to contribute towards the refurbishment of our school as part of our Masterplan.

Family Mass Sunday 21st October
We welcome Fr Leenus Neetany to St Patrick's as our Parish Priest during Fr Paul's leave. Fr Leenus has met with both Mrs Mullan and myself about class, family and school masses going forward. We are looking forward to our next Family Mass on Sunday 21st October and hope that as many of you as possible can join us.

October is the month of the Holy Rosary. Is is a special time to pray the Hail Mary to Our Lady

Here is a message from Fr Leenus: Our Parishes of Murrumbeena and Ormond are blessed with two Schools, namely St. Patrick’s and St. Kevin’s. We can all be proud of them and thank God for them. The 4th and the last Term of the School Year has just commenced. As a large family, we ask God for his continued blessings upon all of us. May, everyone involved in the life of our Schools experience an unfailing guidance of the Lord in teaching, learning and other extra-curricular activities as well. 

New Look Community Event for 2019 Meeting Tuesday 16th October 6:30pm
Due to a shortage of volunteers to run our traditional St Pat's fete for 2018 (see the fete review meeting recommendations at this link), the fete committee decided to postpone and instead create a new look event for 2019. It was agreed that the fete in its current capacity needed to be reinvigorated and scaled down. The aim is to create a different community event with the same positive outcomes.

We are grateful to Michaela Kelly and the wonderful team of organisers and helpers who worked hard during past years to make the original fete such a success.

Nadine Power has kindly volunteered to lead the coordination of a new event. We are looking for volunteers who are keen to make plans going forward. We invite you to join us in the staffroom this Tuesday 16th October at 6:30pm for our first meeting.

Yr 5/6 Camp Information for 2019 Wednesday 24th October 6:15pm

There will be a change of venue for the 2019 camp which will take place from the 11th -13th February. You are invited to come to an information session to learn more on Wednesday 24th October at 6:15pm. You will receive more details closer to the time.

Bell Times

This term we have altered the bell times to create two equal play break sessions during the day. Many schools have moved to this option over the last few years with positive outcomes for both learning and play. 

Instead of the traditional twenty minute morning break and a fifty minute lunch play break, we have two forty minute play breaks. There is still a ten minute supervised eating time before each break. Some children are choosing to eat their lunch before the first break and their snack before the second and vice versa. As the trial continues, we will review the delivery of lunch orders to ensure this suits all children. 

The times are as follows:

8:50              First bell to enter classrooms (supervision in the school grounds begins at 8:40)

9:00 - 11:15  Learning Sessions 1 & 2

11:15- 11:25  Eating Time 1

11:25 - 12:05 Play 1

12:10- 1:40    Learning Sessions 3 & 4

1:40 -1:50      Eating Time 2

1:50- 2:30      Play 2

2:35 - 3:30     Learning Session 5
At the end of play breaks, the children are lining up in different areas to ensure safe entry after play into school.We value your feedback around these changes. Please email principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au

Flexi Buzz Absences

As we continue to ensure the safety of all children arriving at school, it is important that you use the Flexi Buzz app to notify the office of your child's absence. This will ensure that the automated SMS messages only get sent to families who have not notified the school of the absence.

Garden Group Meeting Monday 15th October 2:30pm Staffroom

Special thanks to one of our parents Francoise Tran who has volunteered to coordinate our Garden Group. Francoise and any other parents who are willing to become involved in this group, will be meeting this Monday at 2:30 pm in the staffroom with our Year 6 Environment Leaders to make some plans going forward. You are welcome to join us.

Share the Dignity #itsinthebag charity drive

This term one of our parents, Liz Cosgrave, is collecting handbags for "It's in the Bag" charity drive for Christmas.

This is run by Share the Dignity, an Australian charity that aims to improve the quality of life of women who have experienced domestic violence in a number of ways.

Please see their website for more details:www.sharethedignity.com.au

Each November, Share the Dignity run the #itsinthebag charity drive where they collect handbags filled with personal care products and distribute them to vulnerable women who are homeless, at risk or experiencing domestic violence.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?
Choose one of your handbags that’s in good condition that you no longer use.
Fill it with personal care and sanitary items that would make a woman feel special and pop in a thoughtful note or Christmas card. Items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, sanitary items would be great - anything useful and/or little luxuries. Please see the website if you’re looking for inspiration!

Drop the bag in at the front office by WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28 and Liz will deliver all handbags to one of the Share the Dignity drop off points so they can be distributed to women in need

Important Term 4 Dates:
Monday 15th October              Assembly (presentation by 4W)
Tuesday 16th October              Prep Orientation for Group 2 @ 2.15pm
                                                 Community Event Meeting @ 6:30 pm Staffroom
Tuesday 23rd October              Prep Orientation for Groups 1 & @ @ 2.15pm
Wednesday 24th October         Yr 5/6 Camp Meeting 2019 @ 6:15
                                                  Parish Education Board Meeting @7pm
Monday 29th October              Catholic Missions Week commences
Monday 5th November            School Closure Day
Tuesday 6th November            Melbourne Cup Day
Tuesday 13th November          Prep Information Night @ 7pm
Wednesday 21st November      School Closure Day
Monday 26th November          Swimming Program  commences (P-4)
                                                 Year 5/6 Beach/Sailing program commences
Wednesday 5th December        Booklist collection
Friday  7th December               Music Melodies Concert
Wednesday 19th December      Last day of term 4 (children dismissed @ 1pm)

COMMUNITY NEWS