May 6th, 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

Prayer

A Note from our Principal

Ngata Families & Friends,

Warrnambool has had a busy week with the May races back with full force. Hopefully you were able to enjoy the local public holiday either at the races or somewhere warm and dry. At school we have had our annual cross country carnival, held at the Deakin course for our Yr 3-6 students and onsite at school for our junior students. Thanks to all families who were able to come along and support the children at both venues. Thanks also to Mr Matt Alexander for his organisation, assisted by trainee Olivia Lindsay.

This Sunday we show special gratitude for our mums and all who are like mums to us. We remind our school community of the invitation to join us for Mass with our parish on Monday morning, to give thanks for our mums and special women. We look forward to welcoming these visitors into our classrooms after Mass.

Please consider joining our crisis meals roster. The meals that are shared through this system are always gratefully received by families experiencing hardship or loss. A link to join the roster published later in the newsletter.

Joe Ewing

Principal

School Enrolments for 2023

All schools in the Warrnambool Catholic Schools Network are beginning the process of enrolling preps for the 2023 school year. In May we will be inviting new families into our school for formal tours and information sessions on:

May 25th: 10.00am & 6.30pm

May 26th: 10.00am

Prior to receiving any outside enrolments we would like to ensure we have enrolments for any intended Preps of current families.

If your family has a child beginning Prep in 2023 we would like to receive their enrolment form as soon as possible. Hard copies of the form are available from the school office or can be downloaded from the school website:

Please note, the download can be filled in digitally and returned via email, or alternatively can be printed out and filled in by hand. 

Confirmation

Thanks to families who were able to attend last week’s Confirmation formation evening. After our large groups of the past 12 months, we have a smaller group who will be confirmed this year. We offer our support to:

Alfie Parkinson

Annabella McInness

Kate Martin

Mason Halloran

Jimmy Van Rooy

Indie Kermond

Those families who have not collected their Confirmation resources need to speak to Mr Ewing as soon as possible.

Jungle Book Kids

During 2021, we began planning and rehearsing a school production; The Jungle Book Kids. Due to COVID regulations we were not even able to perform to an empty hall! The production has been switched to Term 3 of this year and will be held on the evening of September 14th. Keep this date free!

RAT Kits

RAT kits were given out to families at the end of last term, which should be enough to see families through to the beginning of the third week of term. More kits will be distributed soon to enable this testing to continue until the end of the fourth week of term.

Any families who missed receiving a kit at the end of last term can contact the office to ensure they receive their supply.

School Cross Country

On Wednesday our students participated in the school Cross Country.  Our years 3-6 students competed at Deakin University  in the morning, whilst our Juniors raced on the school oval in the afternoon.  The top placegetters are as follows.

NAPLAN

From next week NAPLAN (National Assessment Programme for Literacy and Numeracy) assessment will be begin. These annual assessments for Yr 3 and Yr 5 will be held over two weeks. We ask families to keep this time as normal as possible, as anxiety around these assessments is counterproductive.

A parent information leaflet is published on the newsletter. If you have further questions regarding NAPLAN, please contact the school office.

Skoolbag to Schoolzine

Monday will see St Pius X using the Schoolzine app exclusively for school updates, instant messaging. If you have not downloaded the app, we urge you to do so today. The app is available from the App Store or Google Play.

Below is an app with step by step instructions for downloading and using Schoolzine. During the process you will be asked to enter an email and devise a password. You will also be asked for a school passcode. Our school passcode is 3675.

Bike Week 15-22 May

Thinking of going bike riding with your kids? Want to know the best way to teach them to have fun and be safe? Then the Social Bike Ride is for you. Cycling Safe has trained Bike Ed instructors for the past decade; learn the best way to manage roundabouts for your skill level, how to share the path, and other great “Bike Hacks”. Sunday May 15 join us for an hour long ride and explore Warrnambool by bike. There is a 11.00 and 3.00 sessions: small group ride.

Parents & Friends

School Advisory Council

Mother's Day

Sunday May 8th is Mother’s Day. We would like to invite any mums, grandmothers and special women to a morning Mass this coming Monday May 9th at 9.30am to give thanks for these special women. After Mass, we would love these mums, grandmothers and special women to visit our classrooms.

Sympathies

We offer our deepest sympathy to Mrs Emily Dennis (Sensei Dennis) whose grandmother passed away at the end of the school holidays. Mrs Dennis’ grandmother was also the aunt and godmother to Madeleine Woodward. 

We also share our condolences with the Karnajaya family on the death of Andin’s grandfather in Indonesia.

Japanese

Congratulations to the following students on taking up the role of Class Captains in Japanese classes. I look forward to working with you all.

JP1 JP2 - Leo Johnson & Emmy Ramage

JP3 - Liam Coles & Addison Le Cerf

JP4 - Arlie Edwards & Aerica Kandhari

JP5 - Jayden Farley & Tully Williams

MP1 - Luke Reilly & Charlotte van de Camp

MP2 - Chelsea Brisbane & Levi Delany

MP3 - Kosta Maglaras & Lulu Martin

MP4 - Mia Kent & Mia Kermond

SP1 - Andrew Mugavin & Charlie Williams

SP3 - Benji Balash & Ollie Miller

SP4 - Maya Anderton & Charlie Kent

Crisis Meals

Thanks to those community members who have put down their name to contribute to the crisis meals bank. If your family would like to participate, please use the form below to register your interest.

When we have received names of more volunteers, a roster will be created with a reminder each week for the rostered family. Ideally meals should be easy to freeze & serve, and should be labelled so that the type meal can be easily identified.

Winter Uniform Term 2

Amother reminder that all students should be wearing their full Winter uniform as we begin Term 2. Please see the link below for further details.

Second Hand Uniforms

Families seeking low cost uniform items are welcome to contact Angela Verspay (mum to Dylan and Finn) who has stock of many donated uniform items. Ph: 0477660119.

Recently we have had a call on  second hand uniforms.  We are desperately in need of larger sizes to replenish our stock.  If you have any school uniform clothing in reasonable condition we would very much appreciate your support.  Please contact Angela if you are in a position to assist.

Grade 1/2 Excursions Term 2.

Our Yr 1/2 classes have another small excursion coming up and we ask all families with a child attending to ensure that consent has been given on PAM (Parent Access Module). 

A prominent PAM button is featured on our new app.

Breakfast Club

Every Wednesday from 8:15 breakfast will be available in the function room for any students that would like to have some breakfast before the school day starts! Everyone is more than welcome to come along, even if they have already had breakfast at home. It is a great initiative supported by FoodShare who provide fruit, yoghurt, cereal and yummy toast. 

Thanks  to our parent volunteers Maddy and Tracey.

Footy Tipping

Isaiah Dawson was the top tipper for last week. 8 winners was a remarkable effort in a round that seemed to have its fair share of upsets - but doesn't every round these day? MarkMac1 continues to burn brightly at the top of the table - but we're unsure how much longer the joker fuelled run can last! There is good depth in the Dawson tipping talent and MoverDemons is expected to move up the placings soon.

Good luck with Round 8.

Thanks to our generous sponsors:

Bojangles Pizzeria Restaurant

61 Liebig St

Warrnambool

5562 0666

Parish Contact

Sunday Mass 10.30 @ St Pius X Church. School families are always welcome.

The Parish office can be contacted on 5562 2231

Other information and contact details can be found on the Star of the Sea South West Coast website: https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/parish/southwestcoast/ 

Student Medical Details

At the end of last year we asked parents to use the Parent Access Module (PAM) to add and adjust medical details. This information is vital to the wellbeing of our students and we ask parents to prioritise the maintenance of this information.

Upcoming Dates

May 8 Mother’s Day

May 9 Mass to celebrate our Mums 9.30am

May 10 NAPLAN assessments begin

May 12 District cross country

May 16 Yr 1/2 excursion: Warrnambool

May 20 Catholic Education Week begins

May 25 Prep enrolment tours: 10am & 6.30pm

May 26 Prep enrolment tour: 10am

May 30 Pupil Free Day (Teacher professional training)

Jun 6 Sacrament of Confirmation 7.00pm

Jun 13 Queen’s Birthday public holiday

Jun 21 Learning Conversations

Jun 22 Learning Conversations

Jun 23 Learning conversations

Jun 24 Final day of Term 2

School Canteen Roster

A Mother's Love

It's interesting to consider the dominant memories of childhood. Strong emotions of happiness, great trauma and sadness can often be part of a particularly enduring memory. 

I remember vividly my first week of school. I especially remember being driven to school by my mother on the first couple of days, being walked in and sharing the new experience.

I remember less fondly, being sat down by my parents on about day three and told I’d have to catch the bus from now on.

I remember the feeling of upset at this news. It felt like I was being pushed out to fend for myself.

What I didn’t know at the time, and only found out recently, was that my mother drove behind the bus for the remainder of the first term to watch me get off the bus safely at school.

Like most mums, her love was about protecting but also enabling growth in her child. 

This week we thank God for the blessings of our mothers, and also importantly those who fill the role of mother in our lives. We pray for all those mums who have died and are now with God. The memory of their love will live with us always.

COVID 19 Arrangements

The following settings were communicated with families earlier this week:

Vaccination 

Triple vaccination status will continue to be a requirement for all staff onsite with students and will be required for any volunteers and visiting workers. This will include:

• Parents assisting in classrooms
• Canteen volunteers
• Parents performing tasks on behalf of the Parents and Friends.
• Visiting medical and allied health professionals.
• Visiting speakers, presenters and performers.
• Student teachers.

Parents visiting the school to attend school events (ie sports, performances, classroom visits) will not be required to declare their vaccination status.

Rapid Antigen Tests

Staff and students are invited to continue RATs twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday mornings before attending school. Staff or students who have previously had a positive COVID test are not required to test for 12 weeks after their initial positive result.

Managing a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 

As soon as a staff member or student becomes aware of being a suspected case - that is symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste:

1. The suspected case is required to leave the school site, or be isolated on-site until they are able to leave.
2. The suspected case is required to be tested with a rapid antigen test. A positive test result must be reported to the Department of Health
3. Positive cases must be isolated for 7 days, testing again on day 6.

In the event that school receives notification that a staff member or student was infectious while onsite:

1. All staff must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
2. All students must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
3. Staff and students will be strongly encouraged to use rapid antigen tests for the following 5 days if they don’t have symptoms.

Where a positive case is recorded from a staff member or student who has been on site, the school community will be notified. Personal information will not be released in this communication.

If a staff member or student tests positive with a rapid antigen test but does not have symptoms or has not been in contact with a positive case, a PCR test is recommended. If a subsequent PCR shows a negative result the staff member or student can return to school.

Close Contacts

A close contact (a person who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID 19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility) is no longer required to quarantine, as long as they follow the additional safety measures:

• Notify the school if returning within the 7 day period.
• Undertake RAT testing on school days within the 7 day period (unless the 12 week exemption applies)
• Wear a mask indoors if an adult or a student Yr 3-6.
• Not visit hospitals or care facilities.
• Avoid contact with people at higher risk of infection.
• If symptomatic take a RAT or PCR test.

Masks

Masks are no longer required to be worn by students, staff or visitors. However the wearing of masks continues to be a recommended practice which will still be required in certain circumstances including bus travel or a period of high levels of prolonged transmission.

Any staff of students who are identified as close contacts must wear a mask indoors.

Warrnambool Table Tennis Association

Invitation for any students and parents to have training / fun time at the Warrnambool Table Tennis Centre on Wednesday afternoons from 5.30pm - 6.30pm.

The invitation is open to all, the cost is free, but for regular attendees we would expect you to join the club as a social member to cover insurance costs.

For more information contact Pat Nicholson 0418 173 854.