Dear Parents and Carers,

The year has started off very well with students and staff settling into their new classes and routines very well. This week’s 3-Way Converstations consolidated the great start.

At St Brendan’s we publish the our newsletter and email using the Smore application so that all families are informed of what is happening and to provide information that assists you in having the best experience of school that is possible.

It is interesting to note that staff, particularly in the office, by the questioning they receive, know very quickly if you have or haven’t read the information that has already been provided. While they are more than happy to answer any questions you have, they wonder why questions are asked that have already been answered and communicated in the newsletter.

Please take the opportunity to read, or at least check, the newsletter every week.

Next Wednesday, we commence the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The Echidnas (Years Prep& 1), Wombats (Year 2) and Platypuses (Year 3) classes will hold a liturgy and receive a cross on their forehead. Our senior students will participate in their liturgy at camp in the evening.

In the early Christian church, it was the practice for people to begin their period of public penance on the first day of Lent in preparation for their restoration to the sacrament of the Eucharist. They were sprinkled with ashes, dressed in sackcloth, and obliged to remain apart until they were reconciled with the Christian community on the Thursday before Easter. Today, we symbolize this by placing ashes on our foreheads.

We are entering a time of reflection, a time to acknowledge the impact, be it positive or negative through our words, thoughts and actions on others. Consider how we can improve on being the best we can to and for others so that others can see and experience the gift of faith that God has bestowed upon us.

Parents and carers are invited to join our junior classes here at school at 9:00 am for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy of the Word.

Sadly, recovery continues in Turkey and Syria with the occasional rescue as emergency services race to search for people from beneath the rubble of crumpled buildings, working in freezing temperatures. The earthquake on Monday 6 February has resulted in over 41,000 deaths.

In response, and in discussion with our senior students, tomorrow Friday 17 February will be a House Colours Day. Students are encouraged to wear their house colours and bring along a gold coin or note donation to help support the providing relief and aid to the victims to meet their survival needs of food, warm clothing, blankets and hygiene kits.

Our new parents and carers had their child’s house and colour confirmed at last night’s 3-Way Conferences. Children may wear clothing that has some or all of their house colour present.

Yesterday’s 3-Way Conferences were reasonably well attended, providing the opportunity to start the year off on the ‘right foot’. The conferences provided an avenue for information sharing involving parents, students and teachers in the learning process.

I thank those who did attend as it provided important insights for all, especially our teachers.

As depicted in the 2 donkeys sketch above, when we work together, we achieve our goals. In this case, when we work together, our children are the big winners. The conferences provided a foundation to begin this journey together.

For those who missed the opportunity, I strongly recommend that you reach out to your child’s teacher to ensure all is in place for a great year of learning.

Birthdays are significant milestones in a child’s life. At St Brendan’s we celebrate and acknowledge this special occasion for our students both at a whole school and class level. Within the class, special mention is made of their birthday as well as being included in classroom prayer.

Whilst it is not necessary to celebrate birthdays at school, we understand that parents often want to celebrate their child’s birthday with their class. We do not object to this but must consider the implications when providing treats in the form of food for students be it for birthdays or other special days.

Concerns regarding allergies and anaphylactic reactions to various foods highlights how careful we must be. You would notice that if, as a school we offered students food, we would always first seek parental permission and provide a list of ingredients so the decision by a parent is informed.

Together with issues regarding food allergies and parental consent regarding what food their child is to eat, the matter within this community has been widely discussed with often differing views.

After much discussion and consultation, and taking the above matters into consideration, we ask that parents refrain from providing food treats for the class. This decision is based upon ensuring the health and safety of all our students.

Purpose

This Code of Conduct has a specific focus on safeguarding children and young people at St Brendan’s School, against sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse or neglect. It is intended to complement other professional and/or occupational codes.

All staff, volunteers, parents, contractors, clergy and board/school council members at St Brendan’s are expected to actively contribute to a school culture that respects the dignity of its members and affirms the Gospel values of love, care for others, compassion and justice. They are required to observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards and in the company of children, as noted below.

Acceptable Behaviours

All staff, volunteers, parents, contractors, clergy and board/school council members are responsible for supporting the safety of children by:

• adhering to the school’s child safe policy and upholding the school’s statement of commitment to child safety at all times

• taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse

• treating everyone in the school community with respect

• listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused or that they are worried about their safety/the safety of another child

• promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (for example, by never questioning an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child’s self-identification)

• promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds (for example, by having a zero tolerance of discrimination)

• promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a disability (for example, during personal care activities)ensuring as far as practicable that adults are not alone with a child

• reporting any allegations of child abuse to the school’s leadership (or child safety officer if the school has appointed someone to this role)

• understanding and complying with all reporting obligations as they relate to mandatory reporting and reporting under the Crimes Act 1958

• reporting any child safety concerns to the school’s leadership (or child safety officer if the school has appointed someone to this role)

• ensuring as quickly as possible that the children are safe if an allegation of child abuse is made

• reporting to the Victorian Institute of Teaching any charges, committals for trial or convictions in relation to a sexual office by a registered teacher, or certain allegations or concerns about a registered teacher.

Unacceptable Behaviours

All staff, volunteers, parents, contractors, clergy and board/school council members must not:

• ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse

• develop any ‘special’ relationships with children that could be seen as favouritism (for example, the offering of gifts or special treatment for specific children)

• exhibit behaviours with children which may be construed as unnecessarily physical (for example, inappropriate sitting on laps)

• put children at risk of abuse (for example, by locking doors)

• initiate unnecessary physical contact which children or do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes

• engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children (for example, personal social activities)

• use inappropriate language in the presence of children

• express personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of children

• discriminate against any child, including because of age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability, sexuality, ethnicity or disability

• have contact with a child or their family outside of school without the school’s leadership or child safety officer’s (if the school has appointed someone to this role) knowledge and/or consent or the school governing authority’s approval (for example, unauthorised after hours tutoring, private instrumental/other lessons or sport coaching). Accidental contact, such as seeing people in the street, is appropriate.

• have any online contact with a child (including by social media, email, instant messaging etc.) or their family (unless necessary e.g. by providing families with e-newsletters or assisting students with their school work)

• use any personal communication channels/device such as a personal email account

• exchange personal contact details such as phone number, social networking sites or email addresses

• photograph or video a child without the consent of the parent or guardians

• work with children whilst under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs

• consume alcohol or drugs at school or at school events in the presence of children.

I have received reports from parents and carers that they have been unable to access the Google Doc to participate in the fundraising event. A poster will be available before and after school to enable all to nominate a time slot top to support the event.

In anticiaption,

THANK YOU!

We have been extremely fortunate to have been added to the Bunnings sausage sizzle roster. Planning for our allocated day, Saturday 4 March, is well underway. The next step is to fill the roster with volunteers to cook and serve the sausages and drinks. There are a number of operational procedures to be aware of however two of the more significant ones are:

• No persons under the age of 18 are permitted to cook or operate any equipment.
• A minimum of three people are required each shift to conduct a BBQ. Each shift is required to have a Cook, Order and Serve person.
• No children under the age of 15 are permitted at the BBQ.

FYI.

St Brendan’s has been provided with a $1.4 million grant to refurbish the:

• Art Room
• Internal toilet facility
• Drainage infrastructure upgrades.

The refurbishment will see the closing of the lower yard, junior playground, for 6 - 8 months. The works are expected to commence in Term 3 and the funds raised will go towards the purchase of additional playground resources for our students.

I may be contacted on principal@sbflemington.catholic.edu.au

Best wishes,

Peter