Community Update #3.2

Let's continue to keep our families in extended quarantine in our thoughts and prayers. We also pray for all of the families in New South Wales and in other parts of the world affected by coronavirus.

We are grateful to the South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) Contact Tracing Team and Public Health Officers for all of their hard work in following up clearances for our school community in an efficient and effective manner. In particular we thank Dr Simon Crouch and Professor Rhonda Stuart for answering all of our questions and being available to support and guide us through our quarantine period. We wish them well as they continue to keep everyone safe in the coming weeks.

Safe Entry into School 

Thank you to all of our families for your patience while we checked the children into school this morning.

Fortunately, apart from the children in extended quarantine, and those families awaiting their final clearance, everyone is able to return to school.

On Monday, the front and back gates will open from 8:45am until 9:15am.

We ask that the children DO NOT arrive before 8:45am and congregate early at the back yard gate.

School will finish at the usual time of 3:25pm.

We will return to our usual 8:45am - 8:55am entry time on Tuesday unless anything changes.

NCCD National Consistent Collection of Data

Here is a link to a letter for parents

Parents & Friends Update

 

The P&F committee has been delighted to witness the many acts of kindness and support across the entire school community over the past few challenging weeks. Thankyou for pulling together as a group of wonderful families to support others.

 

P&F Meeting – Thursday 5^th August at 7.30pm - online

The Parents & Friends committee will be holding their next meeting on Thursday 5^th August at 7.30pm online via WebEx. Among other things, we will be will making plans (again) to schedule our trivia night, which we are very keen to hold in-person where restrictions permit it. All members of the school community are welcome to join us online. For those who haven’t used the WebEx online meeting platform before – you may need an additional few minutes to login at the start – just click on the link below.

 

https://coles.webex.com/coles/j.php?MTID=mc117271b1222962d4aa368ccb4be0f74

Or join by meeting number:

Meeting number (access code): 154 620 0544

Meeting password: 5575

2021 Term Dates

Term 3

100 Days of Prep Celebration                      July 26  Postponed date tbc

Year 4 First Reconciliation                           July 28 at 6pm Postponed to 14 September

School reopens                                             July 30

Year 3 Information session Reconciliation Aug 11 at 6pm online (if needed)

Closure Day  Staff PL Day 4                         Aug 20 tbc

School Concert                                              Aug 24 Postponed to 5 October

Dendy Athletics                                             Sep 7

Year 3 First Reconciliation                         Sep 8 at 6pm Postponed to 19 October

Book Week Dress Up Day                           Sep 9

Year 4 First Reconciliation                         Sep 14 at 5:30pm

Rugby Gala Day                                             Sep 15                                

End Term 3                                                     Sep 17

Term 4

Beginning Term 4                                          Oct 4

School Concert                                              Oct 5

Prep 2022 Parent Evening                            Oct 12 7pm-8pm

St Pat's Sports Day                                       Oct 14 

Year 3 First Reconciliation                           Oct 19 at 5:30pm

Year 4 Reconciliation                                    Oct 20 6pm

Year 4 First Communion                               Oct 23 9:15am (4R) 

Year 4 First Communion                               Nov 6 9:15am  (4M)

Closure Day Assessment                             Nov 1

Closure Day Planning 2022                          Nov 19

School Swimming                                         Nov 29 - Dec 10

End of term                                                    Dec 15 at 1pm

Covid Update #16 Back to school Key Points, Activity links & Message from Vance Joy !!

Dear wonderful St Pat's community,

It is Day 14 for most of us and we (children, staff and families)  are almost out of quarantine. It hasn't been easy but our resilience and community spirit has shone through. Each and every one of our children deserve a gold medal !!

Our hearts go out to our children and families in extended quarantine and we can't wait to see you online in our classrooms very soon. We all wish the affected members of our community a speedy and safe recovery.

One person who heard of our plight where he is currently residing in Barcelona has sent us a very special message. Thanks to the Ellis family (Maeve and Emily Year 4) and their Uncle Mark and best friend Caleb for organising this message. I am sure it will give all of you a much needed boost.

Go to this link to view the message

I have summarised key information for tomorrow's return and hopefully covered everything for you.

Again, if there is a query pertinent to you and your family, please send it through to me.

I wish to say a very special thank you to Liz Hills, Kerryn Oliver, the whole of my leadership team and all of our staff for their dedication to our school community during this challenging time.

I am blessed and proud to be part of such a caring and supportive community and a thoughtful and generous wider community who have helped to keep us all going in so many ways.

We look forward to welcoming your children back to school in the morning,

Stay safe and well,

Jenny Hawkins

Principal

Key Information for Entry to and Exit from school.

Please note: Due to the late start there will be NO lunch orders Friday 30 July. Lunch orders will resume Monday 2 August.

Team Kids will not be open before school Friday 30. It will resume after school and before and after school from Monday 2 August.

Before School Staggered Start Friday 30 July

The school will reopen to all children cleared by DH from 10am this Friday 30 July.

There is a staggered start for all children based on family surnames.

Front gate entry for the junior children ( Prep, Years 1 and 2)

Back gate entry for the senior children ( Years 3, 4, 5 and 6)

10:00 A - H

10:20 I - P

10:40 Q - Z

Parents are asked to remain outside the school gates.

Children will line up and remain within the cones at the front or back gates.

Staff will check children off from the official Department of Health clearance list.

Please understand that we are making every effort to open the school in a safe and orderly manner.

End of Day Pick Up

Teachers will walk all classes out to the playground.

Front Yard: Parents enter ( face masks ) when their child is ready in the front yard and exit immediately

through the church side gate.

Back Yard: Children exit as usual.

Monday 2 August ( a further update will come out about Monday on Friday afternoon)

Parents collecting children during the day for appointments

Parents will not be able to enter the school office. They must ring the office and arrange for their child

to come out and meet them at the front gate. 

Learning and Wellbeing for Families in Extended Quarantine

Our heart goes out to our families who have to remain in quarantine for a longer period.

We have plans in place to continue learning and wellbeing checks for your children commencing on Monday.

Please email principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic. com.au with the expected time for your children to return to school to help us with these plans.

Deep Clean 

I had a couple of questions around the deep cleaning of the school.

I can assure all families that the deep clean was actioned on Thursday 15 July as per our Covid Safe plan and the Infectious Cleaning Guidelines. You can read about the cleaning process in detail Here is the link

The cleaning service provider engaged by the school is required to commence the infectious clean as soon as possible, so that the school can be made operational again. Once an infectious clean has been completed, the cleaning service provider will need to inform the school in writing with a copy of the report provided to the CECV.

Bluegum Services Group recommended by DHHS gave the school a deep, pandemic clean on July 16.

All certificates, photos and documents were sent through to DHHS.

This evening our normal school cleaners are coming into the school to follow up and prepare the school for everyone to come onsite in the morning.

Glen Eira Council Links for today and tomorrow

Hi Jenny,

Below is the information for the last two days of St Patrick’s TV.

The attendance has really increased over the last few days. Thank you for sharing with the families.

Please forward the links to the families –

Thursday 29 July – 4pm

Sketch like a street artist

This introductory session will take you through easy to follow steps so you can start creating street art inspired sketches! Be introduced to different styles of art and works by famous artists to help inspire you own street style. Gather some paper, sharpen your pencils and join us online at this interactive session.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89550995710

Meeting ID: 895 5099 5710

 

              Friday 30 July – 3pm

              Playgroup VIC – Move it 4 kids

Comedy meets music, meets movement for this wonderful program. We welcome parents/ carers and children to enjoy this active musical comedy experience. Expect to be inspired, all while developing fine and gross motor skills, language skills and social skills.

              https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89554576009

Meeting ID: 895 5457 6009

Passcode: 585087

 

Friday 30 July – 4pm

GESAC Activity

What’s your favourite sport? Join Jack and Rachel from Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre

(GESAC) and get ready for a sports inspired workout. Bring along your brothers, sisters and

family. Wear your favourite sports outfit and get ready to have some fun and get moving.

We look forward to seeing you online.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81888172062

Meeting ID: 818 8817 2062

 

I am sure the children and families that are able to come out of quarantine are super excited.

Please let us know if there is anything we are able to do to support the families that may still have additional quarantine time.

I am sure you are also keen to get back to the school and see everyone back in the classrooms and playgrounds.

All the best

Eliza

 

 

Eliza Levi Children Services Officer

Covid Update #15 Preparing to return to school

Dear parents and carers,

Thank you all so much for your patience and support during the challenges of

the past 11 days. Most of us are almost through the quarantine period.

Please continue to keep all of our children and families in your thoughts and prayers.

Here is the latest message from the Monash Health Team in relation to returning to school:

Primary close contacts require a negative test on day 13 of their quarantine to be

released on day 14.

For most people this test will be on Wednesday 28 July.

Please plan where you will go to get your child tested and head out early on day 13

to ensure a negative result by the following day.

South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) would advise attending Wellington Road in Clayton for testing. Please do not get tested before day 13 as we cannot accept earlier tests when clearing contacts on day 14.

Dr Simon Crouch

South East Public Health Unit

Monash Health Team will endeavour to clear all primary contacts. This usually occurs on day 14 with clearance taking effect from midnight. Sometimes the clearance calls are on day 15. Either way, all families are asked to please be patient.

Monash Health Team will provide the school with a list of all students with a negative day 13 test result on Friday morning.This means that families DO NOT need to email negative test results or confirmation of your child’s clearance to the school.

To allow time for as many results as possible to be processed and an updated list to be sent to the school, the school will reopen to all children cleared by DH from 10am this Friday 30th (if the current lockdown is lifted).

In order to ensure staff can allow entry to the school by children who have been cleared, there will be a staggered start based on family surnames. 

The junior children ( Prep, Years 1 and 2) will enter from the front gate and the senior children ( Year 3, 4, 5 and 6) will enter from the back gate.

Staff members will check children off the official Department of Health list. Please understand that we are making every effort to open the school in a safe and orderly manner.

10:00  A - H 

10:20  I - P

10:40 Q - Z

Due to these extenuating circumstances, attendance to school on Friday will be optional for all families. 

We will continue to keep you informed.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au with any further questions.

Stay safe and well,

Jenny Hawkins

Activities for your children for this week

Hi Jenny,

The children and families must be coming to the end of their quarantine time.

I am sure they will be eager to get out and about (with in 5km) when this happens.

We have a scheduled online activities until this Friday.

If you feel other children, families or early years services would benefit from joining in the online events, please share the information.

I have attached the flyer below, again.

Stay well.

Eliza

 

Eliza Levi Children Services Officer   Glen Eira City Council

Here is the link to this week's activities

Covid Update #14

We continue to keep all of our school families in our thoughts and prayers, especially families with children and loved ones closely affected by coronavirus.

Thankfully, we have no further positive cases to date. The case mentioned during the premier's update today was already included in the numbers shared in Covid Update #13 with you yesterday.

A huge thank you to all of our families who were retested for the second time. 

None of this is easy for any of us but we are all doing our best - parents and carers, your children and our staff.

Every parent who has been in touch with us has been positive and supportive in their communication. In doing so is clearly demonstrating and modelling the core values we focus on with the children at school.

• We respect and value one another.

• We are positive.

• We support each other.

• We treat each other fairly.

• We are open and honest.

Part of our school vision says:

 ..A healthy mindset, coupled with resilience and well-developed social skills ensures all learners are equipped to deal with life’s challenges...

Our teachers and leaders have reported back to me, the immense resilience our children are demonstrating online during this challenging time. 

With all of us isolating for 14 days, we appreciate and understand that when faced with challenges beyond our control, a quite moment of reflection on the blessings that we have in comparison to others who are less fortunate, can help us get through the toughest of times. 

Whilst many of us are half way through our isolation period, some of our families, whose children have returned a positive test result, must quarantine for a further 14 days. We will continue to support those children and families and each other.

Please contact me directly, as many of you have already done, if you or your family require any additional support such as counselling, food deliveries or specific questions for the Department of Health about your family situation.

I wish to say a HUGE thank you for the many messages of support that myself, my leadership team and my staff have received from so many of you during the past week.

We are all truly blessed to be part of such a caring and supportive community and we can be proud to stand strong together.

Stay safe and well,

Jenny Hawkins

2021 Term Dates

Term 3

100 Days of Prep Celebration                      July 26  Postponed

Year 4 First Reconciliation                           July 28 at 6pm Postponed to 14 September

School reopens                                             July 30

Year 3 Information session Reconciliation Aug 11 at 6pm online (if needed)

Closure Day  Staff PL Day 4                         Aug 20 tbc

School Concert                                              Aug 24 Postponed to 5 October

Dendy Athletics                                             Sep 7

Year 3 First Reconciliation                         Sep 8 at 6pm Postponed to 19 October

Book Week Dress Up Day                           Sep 9

Year 4 First Reconciliation                         Sep 14 at 5:30pm

Rugby Gala Day                                             Sep 15                                

End Term 3                                                     Sep 17

Term 4

Beginning Term 4                                          Oct 4

School Concert                                              Oct 5

Prep 2022 Parent Evening                            Oct 12 7pm-8pm

St Pat's Sports Day                                       Oct 14 

Year 3 First Reconciliation                           Oct 19 at 5:30pm

Year 4 Reconciliation                                    Oct 20 6pm

Year 4 First Communion                               Oct 23 9:15am (4R) 

Year 4 First Communion                               Nov 6 9:15am  (4M)

Closure Day Assessment                             Nov 1

Closure Day Planning 2022                          Nov 19

School Swimming                                         Nov 29 - Dec 10

End of term                                                    Dec 15 at 1pm

100 Days of Prep Celebration                      July 26  Postponed

Year 4 First Reconciliation                           July 28 at 6pm Postponed to 14 September

Closure Day  Staff PL Day 4                         Aug 20 tbc

School Concert                                              Aug 24 Postponed to 5 October

Dendy Athletics                                             Sep 7

Year 3 First Reconciliation                         Sep 8 at 6pm Postponed to 19 October

Book Week Dress Up Day                            Sep 9

Rugby Gala Day                                             Sep 15                                

End Term 3                                                     Sep 17

Covid Update #13 Case breakdown, Extra activities from Glen Eira Council

We are half way through isolation  - stay strong 

A huge thank you to our whole community for your continued support for our school and each other.

Thanks to all of our families and staff who have ensured that their children have been retested (2nd test)

It is important to get your children retested for that 2nd test  as a few more positive cases have since been identified.

Here is a breakdown of 9 cases across the school: 

Prep A  - 1

2MS - 1 (sibling)

4R - 5

6L - 1

6G - 1 (sibling)

Please keep these children and families in your prayers and thoughts.

Going forward this is a safety message from the Department of Health for the St Patrick's children returning onsite on Friday 30th July.

A day 13 test is a requirement and anyone not tested will have a further 14 days of quarantine. 

We will let the school know of anyone who is not cleared to return.

Please contact me if you have any further questions.

 

Stay safe and Well,

Jenny Hawkins

Extra Activities from Glen Eira Council and Library book delivery information too  (see further below)

Hi Jenny,

Please see attached information to share with the school community – ( The attachments links are below. )

• St Patrick’s TV Guide including interactive links (there is a great session this afternoon  at 4pm about Endangered Animals)
• Invitation to attend a Cyber Safety Parent talk
• Lockdown Activity booklet
• Invitation for children to submit work into the Youth Art Exhibition
• How to make a friendship band instructions

It has been wonderful seeing the children joining the online activities. We hope to see this continue.

Please let us know if there is anything else we may be able to help with.

Kind regards

Eliza

 

Eliza Levi Children’s Services Officer   Glen Eira City Council

Here is the link to the TV flyer

Here is the link to the lockdown activities

Here is a link to the Cybersafety & Wellbeing parent webinar flyer

Here is the link to the friendship bands information

Here is the link to the flyer about the art exhibition

Library Information (thanks to one of our mums for sharing this)

Hi Jenny, 

I spoke with Jo from Carnegie Library earlier who said if anyone needs books or anything from the library - please ask! 

Anyone from our school community in Glen Eira can phone them direct on 03 9524 3700 and they will courier them out (just not on weekends). 

I’ve shared this with our Grade Fours but thought it might be helpful to add to the broader support list for everyone. (On that both Citizen and the Murrumbeena IGA are doing free delivery if that’s not been spotted yet).

Alicia 

--

Covid Update #11 Monash Forum & Community Activities

Let's continue to keep each and every child, staff member and family in our prayers as we stand together to get through this challenging time for us all. 

Thank you to all of our families who are following up with tests for their children. 

These second  tests are very important.

We will continue to be guided by the Monash Health team and know that we will get through this and be back together very soon.

Here is the video from the latest forum with updates on our most recent developments and answers to questions from the community.

If you have any further questions please contact principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au

Stay safe and well,

Jenny Hawkins

Update on Term 3 dates

100 Days for Prep, Year 4 Reconciliation & School Concert are now postponed. We will share new dates as soon as they are confirmed.

100 Days of Prep Celebration                      July 26  Postponed new date tbc

Year 4 First Reconciliation                           July 28 at 6pm Postponed

Closure Day  Staff PL Day 4                         Aug 20 tbc

School Concert                                              Aug 24 Postponed

Dendy Athletics                                             Sep 7

Year 3 First Reconciliation                           Sep 8 at 6pm

Book Week Dress Up Day                            Sep 9

Rugby Gala Day                                             Sep 15                                

End Term 3                                                     Sep 17

Community Activities

Thanks to our wider community who are continuing to support our families. Pulse 8 has  extended their classes and Glen Eira Council have extra activities for our families. If you know of anyone else who is offering support who need to be thanked then please let me know principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au

Pulse 8 Extension

Pulse8 has extended the online classes to cover the next week or so - below is the new timetable to share with families. 

Glen Eira Council Playgroup and Water Safety online

Hi Jenny,

Just to follow-up with a few activities Glen Eira Council has put together for the St Patrick’s students and families that are in home isolation -

Wednesday 21 July 3pm

Playgroup Vic – Move it for Kids Flyer attached below with Zoom details for session over two weeks.

Wednesday 21 July 4pm

Water Safety with Jack (from your lounge room!) Wear your brightest bathers, put on your goggles (boogie boards optional) and join in with Jack as he guides you through ways to enjoy all things fun in the water. Warm weather is just around the corner and Jack has all the essentials to get you through a summer of fun in the sun. We look forward to seeing you live and online on. No need to register just click the Zoom link and join in the fun https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81944426294?pwd=MmVmYmQ0NGpSTk1UUy9rd2N6NlJSUT09

All these are free to the school community and we want to ensure the families and children continue to feel supported and connected.

Please share through your communication platforms with all families.

I will send through additional activities for Thursday 22 July and Friday 23 July.

Stay well and please reach out if you need anything.

Eliza

 

Eliza Levi Children Services Officer   Glen Eira City Council