TERM 2 WEEK 8 - JUNE 5, 2020

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

MONDAY 8 JUNEQUEEN’S BIRTHDAY

NO SCHOOL

TUESDAY 9 JUNEYEAR 3-6

BACK TO SCHOOL

THURSDAY 11 JUNEABC MUSIC LESSONSRESUME

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Next Tuesday we welcome back our Year 3, 4 ,5 & 6 children. Our junior children have been back for two weeks and have brought life back to our school but there is something missing! Watch this special message from year P-2 children to their friends Welcome Back Year 3-6 Video

FOLLOW US!

From all St Paul’s Staff to our returning Year 3, 4, 5 & 6

students…

“So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

In this newsletter I have shared two posters from the Australian Childhood Foundation. There are some inspirational words about how our children will remember this time with the support they had from their parents and teachers.

6 June 7 June 10 June 11 June

Jake EAmalie M

Aston D Stacy CEloise S

Panagiotis Z

Isabella I

End Of Day Dismissal Next week we have all the students back at school. We have shared the changes to drop off and pick up with parents in previous weeks. The biggest change will be at pick up time. Dismissal times are 3:15 pm & 3:30pm, parents pick up from three different areas. During the last two weeks we have been practicing the logistics of the three dismissal points and we even had a rainy day practice (with the help of Bunnings Umbrellas) We ask for your cooperation and patience with this change.The procedures are on the next page.

CondolencesPat Villa’s father Luigi passed away on Monday. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pat, her mother Franca and their family.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,and let perpetual light shine upon him.May he rest in peace.Amen.

Reporting and parent teacher interviews will look quite different this term due to these current circumstances experienced by all schools. It is a requirement from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), that a written report is made available to families twice a year. Allowances have been made to modify this report, the format will differ from reports that you have received in the past. Staff are currently working reports and they will be distributed to families in Week 11. These reports will be a summary of learning achieved in Semester 1. We will be holding parent teacher meetings in Term 3.

MORNING DROP-OFFArrival time between 8:30am - 8:50am. Gates will open at 8:30am.

● Entrance via the two school side gates (bike shed gate and restaurant side gate).● Parents drop off children at the entrance of the school to adhere to the social distancing regulations.● Children walk straight into their classrooms.● There will be no morning play or morning gatherings.● Gates close at 9:00am. ● Students arriving after 9am will enter via the front office, receive a late pass and will be marked as late on

the attendance roll.

AFTERNOON PICK-UP Parents have been notified of their collection point via email on Wednesday 27th May, if you are unsure please contact the office and we will advise you the collection point and time. The school will stagger dismissal times for students into two time slots:

○ 3:15pm – Dismissal of students in Years Prep – 2○ 3:30pm – Dismissal of students in Years 3 – 6

● Students will assemble in family groups at one of three collection points:○ Collection Point A – Passive area / bike shed gate○ Collection Point B – Awning area at the front of San Marco Restaurant○ Collection Point C – Junior playground back gate (restaurant car park)

● After Care: Children attending After Care will assemble in a dedicated classroom and await collection at 3:30pm.

● Walkers & Riders: Older children who independently walk or ride home will be dismissed at 3:30pm.● Students who are not picked up by 3:35pm will be relocated to Collection Point A.

We are asking parents to please NOT use San Marco carpark as this is being used as an exit point.

Moreland Council has approved my request to add a 15 minute drop off in the No Parking area. It will take two weeks to have signage up. Please follow signage until this change.The School Crossing Supervisors will be on duty to ensure traffic safety at traffic lights.

Enhanced hygiene practice and cleaning is our main focus. ● Children will wash their hands with soap and water regularly throughout the day, including before going

out onto the playground, before and after recess and lunch.● Children will use hand sanitiser on arrival at school each day and throughout the day. ● Hand sanitiser is available in all classrooms and all areas.● Our school cleaner will disinfect all ‘high touch’ areas such as all handrails, door handles, light

switches, benchtops, reception counters and toilets daily. ● The Adventure Playground high touch areas will be disinfected each day.● Students’ tables will be cleaned every break time, recess, lunch and afterschool.● Laptops, iPads and other technology will be wiped after use.● A cleaner has been employed to clean during the day in addition to the regular cleaner. ● Children to have their own pencil cases to minimise the sharing of writing materials. ● Children will bring their own water bottle to school each day.● Water bubblers will not be used.● NO sharing of food, this means no birthday cakes or cupcakes to be sent to school for a child's

birthday. ● Avoid unnecessary gathering.

Last week we celebrated National Reconciliation Week. This is a time when we celebrate our indigenous culture and Australia’sjourney towards a more just and reconciled nation. This year’s theme is IN THIS TOGETHERThis is very appropriate at this time of COVID-19 asit reminds us, whether in a crisis or in reconciliation, we are all #InThisTogether.

The importance of Reconciliation and actions that can help in healing and uniting us under God’s grace and guidance:

Respect our Truth, our Being, our Worth and each other

Engage with each other in your workplaces, parishes, and schools

Christian faith and beliefs help heal us and move us forward together in harmony as one

Open-mindedness…Be open-minded when learning or listening about First Nations peoples

Network with community, businesses, organisations and corporations

Consider each other’s history, upbringing and feelings and learn and grow from this

Inform family, friends and colleagues of Australia’s spiritual ancient history, culture and peoples

Look, Listen and Learn from each other

Involve yourself in activities, programs and events during National Reconciliation Week

Acknowledge and action

Tolerance…We all need to be tolerant of each other’s views, religions and practices

Imagine what the world will look like if it didn’t include ignorance, racism, intolerance and prejudice

Organise and celebrate National Reconciliation Week

Never too late to change perceptions for a united future as we are all #InThisTogether2020

St Paul’s Acknowledgement of Country created in 2019

Winter Uniform Orders

We understand that ordering through Spartan online is very different to having the shop here, so for the next week don’t worry if you don’t have the correct winter uniform, you can wear your sport or summer uniform. Orders from Spartan are dispatched on a Wednesday and are delivered by courier to school on Thursday.

Second hand uniform can be purchased for $5.00 per item by appointment on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Please call Fiona: 9354 8970.

All ordering through Spartan:

Deliver to school with collection from the office.Or

Home delivery for $7.95 extra

Returns of incorrect sizes can be arranged through Spartan.www.spartanschoolworld.com.au

orCall: 1800 815 557 customer service will help answer any questions.

A Message from Neil…...

★ Please remember when crossing the road at our School Crossings that you adhere to the 1.5 metre social distancing rule.

★ Use your elbow to press the button

Neil and Stephen are here to keep us safe crossing the road, we need to do our bit keeping us all safe.

Welcome to this week’s library news - the favourite place for our St Paul’s readers!

PREMIERS READING CHALLENGE UPDATE

There has been a positive start to this year’s Reading Challenge! Passwords have started to be emailed, however if you do not have your child’s password yet, keep recording the books they have read on paper until your password is received.

Remember! Prep - Year 2 need to have read (or read with their parents) 30 books while Years 3-6 need to read 15 books in order to complete the Reading Challenge. Students can record any books they read in class (or remotely in class) and all books read since January can be included on your reading list.

The feedback to the new Reading Challenge website has been awesome! The students will enjoy logging in with it’s new features!

CBCA BOOK WEEK - OCTOBER 17 - 23

The dates for this week’s Book Week have been confirmed! Due to circumstances surrounding COVID19, Book Week will be held during Term 4 so that allows plenty of time for us all to think about our costumes for Dress Up day- a highlight of Book Week!This year theme is ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’.Keep reading the newsletter for more news on this year’s Shortlisted Books

This week, Julian (Snr M) was snapped reading one of our favourite authors, Anh Do.

Did you know there are 8 books in the Hot Dog series?Anh’s latest release Hot Dog ‘Art Time’ came out last Monday.’

Keep those photos coming in! Thank you!

LOOK! WHO GOT CAUGHT READING!

Keep Reading! It’s one of the most marvellous adventures you can have! Ms Angela

Going back to school after the enforced COVID-19 break is a source of mixed emotions for many children and young people. Some students, who revel in face-to-face interactions, just can’t wait to reconnect with friends and teachers. Others who have appreciated the break from constantly being emotionally switched on when at school may be reticent to return.

Regardless of how your child reacts there’s bound to be a level of anxiety attached to returning to school after such a long break. The following strategies sourced from my book, Anxious Kids, will help your child make a smooth transition back to school.

Park your expectations

School undoubtedly will be a different experience for students post COVID-19. It may require you to adjust your expectations, particularly academically, so patience is definitely required. Education is a long game, so if you are worried about your child missing the educational beat, recognise that this experience has been a blip on the educational curve. It’s worth remembering that anxiety loves company. Park your expectations for a time, so your child won’t pick up your anxieties.

Understand that their anxiety is real

An anxious child desperately wants a parent to understand that they feel anxious and apprehensive. Even if, you can’t comprehend the impact that a return to school has on their state of mind and physiology, recognise that their anxiety is real. “Ah, I see you’re worried that you won’t know what to do when you go to school” is the type of response that an anxious child wants from a parent. Validating your child’s feelings will help them feel safe and secure, putting them in a good position to make a return to school. “Mum/dad know that I’m feeling nervous” is very reassuring for a child.

Prepare them

Worriers and anxious types in particular, like to know what’s ahead. Prepare your child for a return by discussing the safety procedures the school will be implementing. Let young children know that an adult won’t be accompanying them past the school gate. Ask your child what they are looking forward to and check in with how they are feeling about a return. Check in regularly with how they are feeling and correct any misconceptions.

Focus on reconnection

Make reconnection the theme for your child’s return to school. He or she will have to reconnect with friends, teachers and learning, which takes time. In all likelihood, your child’s teachers will use many strategies to help your child connect with their friends, reflect on their time at home and move them back into full-time learning mode. Support these activities and reassure your child that they’ll feel comfortable very soon with their school experience.

Returning to school anxiety free

By Michael Grose

Returning to school anxiety free

By Michael Grose

Stay off the roundabout for a while

This period will mirror the start of the school year when your child had to adjust to new teachers, different classmates and a new year level. Adjusting to change takes a great deal of personal energy, so your child or young person may become tired, grumpy, even moody at home. Make allowances for these personal changes and make sure they have plenty of free time to unwind after school to relax and play.

Take care of yourself

In recent months parents and teachers have been doing significant emotional labour. The learning and adjustment curves have been massive, with little time to relax and take a break. Consider your own emotional resources and make your wellbeing a priority, which will make it easier for you to stay calm if your child experiences difficulties.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown many difficulties, requiring us all to quickly adapt to new situations. Flexibility is a prime characteristic of resilient people, so if nothing else, getting through these times will make us all more resilient.our child make a smooth transition back to school.

Michael Grose

Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s an award-winning speaker and the author of 12 books for parents including Spoonfed Generation, and the bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It. Michael is a former teacher with 15 years experience, and has 30 years experience in parenting education. He also holds a Master of Educational Studies from Monash University specialising in parenting education.

Our thanks to Bunnings Coburg who kindly provided us with ten large umbrellas for afternoon dismissal on rainy days.Given the weather this week they were a must in keeping us all dry!!We are grateful to Bunnings Coburg for their ongoing support.