Community Update # 3.14 - Hope and Gratitude

Daffodil Day is a day for us all to give hope

Daffodils demand only that we plant them in hope. Planting in hope reminds us to pray in hope, as the Holy Spirit teaches us to do.

“The Holy Spirit… teaches us to pray in hope” says the Catechism. We can pray for hope. One cannot expect to grow in hope without prayer any more than one can expect a blooming daffodil to surface when one did not plant the bulb. Our God is God of hope. It is through prayer and the Holy Spirit that, despite our circumstances or the circumstances of those around us, we can abound joyfully and peacefully in hope. It was St. Paul who prayed: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

We can remember that there is no winter so brutally cold, no situation so wretchedly impossible, that God cannot triumph in it. When the harsh winters of our lives approach, we can think of the triumph of our Lord and in our prayers plant daffodils of hope. And then we can patiently wait for them to bloom remembering that “hope does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:5)

(Thanks Miss Adcock for sharing this reflection).

Thank you to everyone who planted daffodil day messages of hope in our garden and for the Cancer Council donations too. Please continue to keep Mrs Barclay and all family and friends affected by cancer in your prayers.

Let's be hopeful that we will all be back together at school in Term 4.

SRC Gratitude Video

Our Semester 2 SRC leaders are sending a strong message about gratitude in their very first video. Taking the time to reflect on who or what we are grateful for each day, is a way to strengthen and develop a healthy, positive mindset and contributes to our mental wellbeing.

What are you grateful for ?

In case you missed the video on Monday, below is our assembly video for this week.

I have been inundated with Paddy's Pets photos and will share a second album on our school Facebook Page very soon.

Term Dates

Year 6 Father's/Special Friends Zoom   September 4 (further details to be shared on Monday 31st)

Wellbeing Wednesday #2                         September 16

End of Term 3                                           September 18

Beginning of Term 4                                 October 5

Prep Parents Orientation                         October 6

Parent Teacher Meetings.                        October 8

Team Kids Virtual Newsletter

 

Community Update #3.13 Daffodil Day, Wellbeing Wednesday & Paddy's Pets

St Pat's Celebrates Daffodil Day Thursday 27 August 2020

Thanks to the Parr girls for designing this poster.

Daffodil Day

When: Thursday 27^th August

(Please wear Yellow to your class zoom session)

 

How: We would love to create a HOPE garden SPOONVILLE STYLE

Could you please bring a Wooden Spoon decorated to add to the Schools Garden.

You are welcome to bring a gold coin donation for the Cancer society to the school when you drop off your spoon and pick up your next lot of learning packs/resources.

PLEASE REMEMBER that the spoon needs to be decorated to tolerate all seasons of the weather. Please avoid anything that could fly off in the wind.

 

Ideas: Feel free to decorate your spoon anyway you think is appropriate and in line with the Daffodil Day Theme. You could paint your spoon in bright colours, you could put love hearts on it etc, but most of all we would love to see the words HOPE or GRATITUDE written on the Spoon. You could also write a name of someone you know who is currently battling cancer now or a name of someone who has lost their battle. The Brighter the Spoon the better so have fun.

WELLBEING WEDNESDAY

This Wednesday, the whole school will take some time out to focus on their wellbeing. The teachers have shared the challenges on the learning site and the children can choose to do as little or as many challenges as they like. The children will be required to attend the morning Zoom meeting and can choose to wear casual clothes too. 

Virtual Assembly Video #10  Week 6

Look out for the extra special guests who join the Week 7 assembly released on Monday !!

 

Invitation to Parents & Friends Meeting - Thursday 27th August 7.30pm

All parents and friends are warmly invited to join the next P&F meeting (via WebEx) on Thursday 27th August at 7.30pm.

Anyone can use WebEx via their browser without needing a log in or account. The meeting room will be open from 7.15pm to allow people to join a few minutes earlier for those who haven't used this video conferencing platform previously.

Our PatCare coordinator Sarah Luck is hosting this meeting - simply copy this URL into your browser:

https://coles.webex.com/join/sarah.luck 

(if prompted, use meeting code:  579 378 035)

Wishing everyone good health and hope on the cusp of Spring.

Kim Johnston, Jenny Jones and the P&F Committee

Term Dates

Wellbeing Wednesday #1     August 26

Daffodil Day                          August 27

P & F Meeting                       August 27 7:30pm

Wellbeing Wednesday #2     September 16

End of Term 3                       September 18

Beginning of Term 4             October 5

Parent Teacher Meetings.    October 8

Community Update #3.12 100 Days of School for our Preps !

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary 15 August 2020

You can access the full liturgy prepared by our Faith and Community team at this link on the Learning Community Site.

Congratulations to our Preps

Today our Preps celebrated their 100 days of school. They have the honour of being the first prep cohort in history to celebrate in such a manner. They presented at their Zoom Meeting dressed in hundreds of things, or as a 100 year old, or wearing the number 100 prominently. The teachers joined in the fun too! Here is a special message of congratulations from the staff.

Assembly for Week 5

5 Parent Tips #1

Wellbeing Wednesdays

Following on from our focus on Wellbeing, there are two Wellbeing Wednesdays planned into the coming weeks - August 26th (Week 7) and September 16th (Week 10). There will be more news to follow.

Parent Teacher Meetings

Last week the class teachers started contacting the parents of children in their class to have a conversation about progress so far with Flexible Learning. Teachers are fitting these phone calls in amongst their planning, preparation and the daily Zoom meeting interactions with the children. The idea is to make contact with all families at least once before the end of term. Obviously, teachers are also responding to emails on a daily basis.

Formal parent teacher interviews will take place on Thursday 8th October during Week 1 of Term 4. Unless anything changes these will be Zoom meetings. You will receive more details closer to the time.

Parents Support Group meetings have already begun and are taking place every Thursday.

Feedback

During the week, I had a query from a parent around feedback from the specialist staff. This term a roster was prepared to ensure that all classes and children receive feedback from the specialist staff. Some of the specialist teachers are planning for 350 children.

Here is the feedback outline for the specialist teachers.

Breaking News - Thank you !!

I have just heard that some of our parents are so pleased with the amazing work of our staff that they are organising morning tea for us at school. Thank you, just as you are working hard, our staff are trying their best and appreciate all of the positive feedback around Flexible Learning this term. 

We WILL get through this together.

Term Dates

Wellbeing Wednesday #1     August 26

Wellbeing Wednesday #2     September 16

End of Term 3                       September 18

Beginning of Term 4             October 5

Parent Teacher Meetings.    October 8

Community Update # 3.11; 5 Parent Tips #1 to support independent learners

This is an interim update particularly for the Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 parents to share a 5 minute video with 5 tips from Liz Hills to support your children to be independent learners during Flexible Learning.

Please email Liz Hills  lhills@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au or  Jenny Hawkins principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au with feedback or suggestions for future parent education videos.

 

Community Update # 3.10 St Mary of the Cross, Videos & Sacrament News

Feast of our Australian St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 8 August

You can access the special liturgy about St Mary of the Cross on our Learning Site at this link.

This Saturday is the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Her now-familiar words, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’, are a challenge to all of us to think more consciously about our response to those in need.

Assembly video for Week 4

 School Tour Video

School Sacraments - Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation

During this current COVID -19 situation and with Stage 4 restrictions put in place all sacraments continue to be postponed until further notice. 

When we receive any further updates we will let you know. Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

Stay safe and well over the weekend,

Jenny Hawkins

Principal

 

Community Update #3.9 New Criteria for On-site supervision

Permitted Workers Stage 4 Lockdown ; Updated On-site School Intention Details

Dear Parents and Carers,

As of today, August 4 2020, the implications of Stage 4 Lockdown means the criteria for students that can attend school on-site has changed .

All previous bookings have been cancelled.

This is to ensure that there are minimal numbers of students and staff on-site for health and safety reasons.

On-site provision is available only for students in the following categories:

o children whose parents are permitted workers *

o vulnerable children in out of home care, children known to child protection and other agencies and children the school identifies as vulnerable

o children with a disability who also fit one of the above two categories.

*Letters from employers stating both parents are working in a permitted industry (as listed on the Victoria State Government’s official list www. business.vic.gov.au - go to the guide for business Stage 4 restrictions at this link). The letter must state that you are required to work onsite at your workplace during school hours.

In order to apply for a place for your student on-site for tomorrow Wednesday 5 August onwards, please email Jenny Hawkins with the name/s of your child/ren wishing to register.

Please state the occupations and attach the letters* as requested.

Due to this short notice, please feel free to email Jenny Hawkins up until 8pm this evening for a booking for tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Stay safe and well.

Yours sincerely,

Jenny Hawkins

Principal

Community Update # 3.8 Stage 4 Restrictions

Monday 3 August 2020

 

Dear Parents and Carers

The Victorian Government announced that, on the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, metropolitan Melbourne will move to Stage 4 restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The changes to schools’ operations will come into effect from Wednesday 5 August, following a student free day on Tuesday 4 August, and are likely to apply until the end of Term 3.

There are implications for our school, and for families in our school community.

A summary of what the changes mean for our school is below.

·       Prep to Year 6 students will continue with remote and flexible learning.

·       The criteria for students that can attend on-site has changed as follows:

o   children whose parents are permitted workers. The Victorian Government will provide further advice about this today

o   vulnerable children in out of home care, children known to child protection and other agencies and children the school identifies as vulnerable

o   children with a disability who also fit one of the above two categories.

TIMELINE

·       Today, Monday 3 August will be a ‘normal’ day of school under current arrangements, with students attending on site learning asked to take all their necessary learning materials home.

·       Tuesday 4 August will be a student-free day to enable staff to prepare for long term flexible learning. Please note there will be no teacher Zoom meetings or teacher support available tomorrow.

·       Wednesday 5 August will be the first day of new arrangements for schools across Victoria

 

Further information will come to hand today and will be communicated with you.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Stay safe and well. We will get through this together.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Jennifer Hawkins

Principal