Week 8 Term 1 2020

When this is over.....

Good News Story SRC 2020

This morning I met with our school council leaders who discussed ways we could help the elderly and vulnerable people in our parish community during this unsettled time for everyone.

Michael (5S)  came up with an idea which we are going to try next week. We understand that many families will be struggling themselves with supplies of food and necessities. If anyone felt they could possibly spare one can of food or a toilet roll, then please send it to school next week. This is only if you are able to spare something. I have spoken to Fr Leenus and we will invite any elderly and vulnerable parishioners to come into school on Friday when school is closed and collect some supplies to help them out. Thanks to the SRC for a thoughtful idea.

Some of the other ideas included:

• Have the hall open at lunchtime for any children to come and meet with the principal and talk about anything they are worried about (Nina 2MP) 
• Keep reminding everyone to wash their hands (Charley 40)
• Hold a fundraiser to raise money for the hospitals or research for the Coronavirus (Kayden 5J)

Thank you from the Staff

Thanks to the Byrne family who supplied the staff with a delicious morning tea from the 3 Little Bakers today. We are very grateful.

Home Learning at St Patrick's

As promised, the staff have set up some home learning pages on our Learning Community Site.
Here is the link to our Learning Community Site Those of you who are familiar with the site will know that you can access year level timetables, newsletters, curriculum information and much more on the site. Our specialist teachers have also added some ideas to the Music, PE, Italian and Library pages.
The Learning Community site is a google site like a website. It can be opened on any computer including the chromebooks. Just type this address into your browser https://sites.google.com/spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au/learn/home

Step 1 Open the site and go to the Year Levels tab.

Step 2  Then you must click on the drop down arrow beside the Year Level

Step 3 Then you will see the following areas. Click onto the Home Learning page for your year level.

Step 4 Go to the Specialist Programme tab and then drop down to the area you are interested in.
Click on the drop down arrow and find the home learning page.

What happens if the school closes next term ?
In the case of a school closure next term, the staff will update the home learning pages with extra resources until the school reopens. Staff can access the home learning pages and google classroom remotely. We will also set up Google Hangouts to have conversations and meetings where necessary.

Please note, the current resources were prepared for Week 1 and Week 2 of Term 2. We haven't prepared the home learning for the school holidays. We have made the Home Learning resources available now for any of the 90 children and families already in self-isolation.

Please email principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au if you have any problems navigating the site or accessing the Home Learning resources.

Special Message from the Catholic Bishops of Victoria
.....In light of this, all Catholics in Victoria are dispensed from their Sunday obligation until further notice (canon 1248). We encourage you to continue active participation in the life of the Church, through activities such as time in personal and family prayer, reflecting on the Scriptures, making a spiritual communion, or participating in a Mass online (http://bit.ly/MassOnDemand or https://melbournecatholic.org.au/Mass or www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass).....

......All of this is happening during the Season of Lent, a time of preparation for the Easter mysteries. While we are invited to be self-sacrificial at this time, we must remember the words of Jesus upon appearing before his disciples after his resurrection: Again and again he said ‘peace be with you.’ (Jn 20:19)..

....Let us not panic, nor be anxious, nor reduce ourselves to caring only for ourselves. This is a time to be sensible, practical, prayerful, and to share Christ’s peace with those who are struggling to feel calm and safe. Thank you for all your patience, prayers and resilience.....

You can read the full letter at this link.

Message from Department of Health and Human Services - Why are schools still open ?

.......One of the reasons why schools have been kept open by governments across Australia, on the basis of the advice from the health and medical experts, is that people remaining in their routine daily activities, whilst decreasing non-essential social and mass gathering activities, will decrease the opportunities for spread in our community, including those to teachers.....

You can read the full letter at this link

P& F News
Easter Raffle
Thank you for your donations. All the children LOVE the Easter Raffle, and will no doubt boost their morale during this period of uncertainty. The raffle will be drawn and prizes distributed on the last day of school which is Wednesday 25th March, and contingencies are in place should that not be possible. Please purchase your raffle tickets using CDFPay: https://spmurrumbeena.cdfpay.org.au Tickets are $1 each - simply label and cut up the number of raffle tickets you have purchased (your children should already have brought the ticket sheets home) and place in an envelope for return to school. Extra ticket sheets are available from the school office. No cash please!

Barefoot Bowls Social Night - cancelled
Please note that due to uncertainties associated with COVID19, we will not be holding our Barefoot Bowls Social Night. All ticket purchases will be refunded.

Buy an Entertainment Book: $14 from each purchase goes straight to St Pats!
Please consider supporting St Pats by purchasing this year's Entertainment Book. It is now fully online, so your vouchers will also be available from your phone. As usual, it is packed with 1000s of discounts and vouchers. The link to purchase is: https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/180788k

Save the Date - 2020 St Patrick's Primary School Fete - Saturday 21st November
Our new 2020 Fete Committee have confirmed a date for a very special St Patrick's school fete celebration being Saturday 21st November. Please add this date to your diary.

The P&F Committee wish everyone a safe Easter and school holiday period, and thank you for your ongoing support.

Important dates for Term 1&2 2020

25th Mar Parish Education Board AGM (postponed until Term 2 date to be confirmed)
25th March  End of Term 1 1pm finish.

Important Note due to government recommendations, 14th April is now a school closure day for staff to update Home Learning resources. Term 2 is due to commence on Wednesday 15th April until advised otherwise.