Newsletter #12 April 28
Principal News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome back for Term Two. I hope you all had a great Easter break, took the opportunity to catch up with family and friends, and didn't over indulge in too many chocolate treats. Today's shortened newsletter has lots of important information for you regarding the coming week.
ANZAC DAY- Once again we acknowledge and celebrate the amazing people who have served and continue to serve our country in peace keeping missions and conflicts internationally. It is important that we never forget the sacrifices made by so many to ensure that our freedoms and way of life are kept sacred and attainable for all. The crowds this year were warmly welcomed around the district and clearly showed how important this day is for all Australians. Lest We Forget!
COVID UPDATE-Finally we are (almost) back to normal with minimal COVID restrictions remaining. Changes to restrictions are as listed below.
Face masks: From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in Grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.
Screening requirements: Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation.
Household contacts: Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine. They can return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period and wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above unless they have a valid exemption. If any household contact returns a positive RAT result during this period, that person must then isolate for 7 days and not attend school.
Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools: Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
RAT screening program extension reminder: Students and staff are asked to test twice a week. Rapid Antigen tests can now be collected from the office at any time. Please call in and seee Loretta or Beth at a time that is convenient to you. If you can not make it into the office please contact the school and we will arrange to get the RATS to you via your children.
Google Form COVID Notification -Please continue to fill in the google form to notify us of a positive case or household contact. The google form has been updated to reflect the new government guidelines.
CROSS COUNTRY: Tomorrow, Friday 29th April, we will be holding our annual cross country event at school (weather permitting). Parents are welcome to attend and watch their children run. Students can wear a top in their house colour (click on student's profile picture on App and house is included in the Current Enrolment Details). If you don't have t-shirt in your child's house colours please don't go out and buy one - they simply wear their school sports uniform. They can wear appropriate sports clothes eg runners, hat, and shorts under trackpants if the weather is cold etc. Don't forget sunscreen and a drink bottle. If it rains the event will be postponed to Monday 2nd May. The proposed schedule of running times is as follows:
9.10am Year 5 Girls and Boys
9.40am Year 6 Girls and Boys
10.10 am Year 3 Girls and Boys
10.30am Year 4 Girls and Boys
12.30pm Foundation Girls and Boys
12.50pm Year 1 Girls and Boys
1.10pm Year 2 Girls and Boys
ENROLMENTS 2023- Next week we will commence our Open Day Discovery Tours. They will be held on Tuesday 3rd May, Wednesday 4th May and Thursday 5th May at 9.30am, 12.30pm and 6.00pm. The following week on Wednesday 11th May and Thursday 12th May at 9.30am and 12.30pm only. Flyers are being distributed to the Kinders and child care centres with information for attending a tour . Please check the school website as well for more details.
MOTHERS' DAY MASS- Next Friday 6th May we will be celebrating our Mothers Day Mass in the hall at 12.15pm. All mums, grandmas, aunties and special ladies in our childrens lives are most welcome to attend.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: Thank you to those parents who attended the information meeting last night at Sacred Heart Church. If you were unable to attend please contact the parish office as soon as possible.
JUNIOR PLAYGROUND: The new works have begun with the removal of the old hill on the Mercy Oval. A new junior playground will be installed this year. There has been quite a lengthy process involved in getting to this stage. There will be more updates as the works progress. Once the new junior playground is operational, the old junior playground will be removed.
HATS- Please be aware that children are still required to wear hats when outdoors.
CHAFFEY SECONDARY COLLEGE- Year 6 students and their families are invited to attend the Open Night on Tuesday 3 May from 6 – 8 pm. For families unable to attend on the night, they may contact the college directly and arrange for a tour at another time.
CONGRATULATIONS- a very special congratulations to Rebecca McVean in J8 who was married last Friday. On behalf of the St Paul's community I wish her and Dave all the best for the future. Rebecca will now be known as Rebecca Bugden.
As always,
Keep the faith
Vince Muscatello
Mother's Day Stall
Learning Diversity - NCCD
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) takes place every year by all Australian schools. The aim of the NCCD is to provide the Australian Government with information about the number of students with disability in Australian schools and the type of adjustments they need in order to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students. Funding allocated from the Australian Government to support students with disability is based on the NCCD.
Your child will be included in the NCCD if they require ongoing adjustments at school due to a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the DDA). This is a very broad definition of disability, which includes physical and intellectual disabilities, learning disorders such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
If you are a parent or carer of a child with disability who requires ongoing adjustments at school, the school will consult with you to understand your child’s needs through regular Program Support Group (PSG) Meetings. This collaborative approach ensures the most appropriate adjustments are chosen to support your child’s learning and participation at school. In some cases, a Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) may be developed to document specific educational goals and to review your child’s progress over time.
NAPLAN - Years 3 & 5
NAPLAN 2022 - Will be held on May 10th, 11th and 12th. Please read the information sheet attached and sent home with your child. If you have any questions or concerns, please see Melissa Sutherland or your child's teacher.