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Fantastic Foundations Return to School
Foundation SA and HS have returned to school with huge smiles on their faces! The children have settled back into school routine very well and have certainly grown both physically and academically! We asked a few students what they missed about school, while remote learning was happening.
Gina and Huddy said they missed their friends.
Robert and Harrison said they missed Sport.
Emilya and Kaliese said they loved coming into school when their parents had to work.
Manny and Amber missed their teachers.
Foundation HS happy to be back in the classroom
Foundation AS are all smiles being back in the classroom.
Fantastic Foundation have been working hard over the last two weeks on their new Inquiry Unit on Living and Non-Living things, with a focus on Bees. Children have labelled the parts of a Bee, learnt about the roles of Queen Bee, Drones and Worker Bees and the habitat of a Bee.
Evie's Bee Harlow's Bee Finn's Bee
Foundation have also been working hard on their SMART Spelling. This week’s word was ‘queen.’ The children make castles with queens inside. Children have been completing wording building tasks, sound box tasks and handwriting tasks.
Sophie and April with their Queens in their castle
Dear Parents,
A very warm welcome back to school. We are all very excited to have all of the children back at school and we are looking forward to a wonderful and productive Term 4.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding throughout this challenging year. Your support continues to remind us of what a wonderful community we have and how lucky we are to be part of St Mary’s school.
During remote learning, and since returning to school, we have been challenged by the effects COVID-19 has had on many of our students, particularly with the use of online gaming and online chat rooms. Throughout remote learning and now with the children back at school, the gaming and chat that the children have been engaged in is concerning, and is damaging relationships the children have with each other both at school and from home. I have personally spent countless hours with many students and families since school has returned, discussing with them the challenges they face when chatting and gaming online. Some of the negative and derogatory comments going between the children have resulted in great distress and damaged friendships at school. I know that online activities have increased for many families as a result of being at home, however it is continuing now that the children have returned to school. I bring this up because your children’s wellbeing is of the utmost importance to myself and my staff. I ask you to please monitor what your children are being exposed to while online and what they are saying and doing when interacting with others. The online world has its advantages, however it also has many challenges and risks, particularly for children who are engaging in activities and conversations they are not mature enough to be a part of, and saying things that they admit are not a reflection of the person they want to be. For children to honestly and openly admit to me that the person they become online is not the person they would like us to see, hear or know, and that they are one person online and a completely different person at school, is really concerning both for them and for us. Please speak to your children and monitor their online behaviour as we only get one chance to help our children to develop to be the people they have the potential to become and this is one way to support them as they grow and develop.
I thank our families for trusting us with the conversations we have needed to have and for supporting your child by removing harmful online practices from your children’s lives.
As a staff, we are providing a strong and consistent focus on cyber safety, particularly this term. We are providing an extensive education about online practices to the children in the middle and senior classes as this is where the majority of our concern lies.
We hope and pray that this term will enable us to continue to be at school together and to finish the year in a positive, healthy and happy environment.
Kind regards
Lisa Broeren
School Attendance guidelines specify that all schools must contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the day of an unexplained student absence.
Protecting the safety and well-being of children through the reporting and monitoring of absenteeism is the responsibility of both parents/carers and schools. Parents/carers have an obligation to notify the school of their child’s absence and schools are required to notify parents/carers on the day of an unexplained student absence.
If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify the school as soon as possible on the day of absence, by:
- Online: via the school website, Absentee Form; https://stmnewbor.schoolzineplus.com/absentee
- Telephone: the school office on 51272342 and let the staff know your child’s name, class and reason for absence.
- Email: the school at sprekop@stmnewbor.catholic.edu.au and provide your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason.
- SMS: send a text message to the school mobile 0476 002 825. Please include child’s name, class, date of absences and reason.
- School App: send a message using our School App; SZapp
Notifying the school of your child’s absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility.
If your child is absent and you have not contacted the school, we will let you know by SMS, initially, followed by a phone call or email. If you can’t be reached the school will attempt to make contact with any emergency contact/s nominated on your child’s file held by the school. Where possible, this contact will be made on the same day of the unexplained absence.
Attached is a copy of the schools Attendance Policy which outlines the school’s processes and procedures for monitoring, recording and following-up of student absences. Attendance_Policy.pdf
School Closures
- Friday October 23rd (Grand Final public holiday)
- Monday 2nd November
- Tuesday 3rd November (Melbourne Cup Day)
School Fees
Families experiencing financial hardhsip (meeting their school fee committments) due to COVID-19 are encouraged to contact the office to discuss how we can support you.
Parent_Letter_Financial_Support.pdf
Moe Little Athletics
Newborough Tennis Club
Noah's Ark
Berry Street Saver Plus Program
Berry_Street_Saver_Plus_Program.pdf
Parent Zone - Anglicare Victoria
All Ability Cricket
Kids Help Line Ph; 1800 55 1800