Dear Parents and Carers,

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers one of our families who had a father pass away. This is always a difficult time for families as they come to terms with grief and coping with no longer having the family member in their life.

The School Advisory Council will be sending home a survey in the near future as part of the planning process for the school's new four-year Strategic Plan. Your input into this survey will provide valuable information for the the strategic planning process that will take place this year.

The junior students have had a great start to the Term with the loose parts play at lunchtimes in the undercover area. There have been some marvelous opportunities for creative play, communication and fun while using the loose parts. They are now recognised worldwide as a valued addition to every play program. Thank you to our Yr 6 students who have enabled this to happen by providing supervision of the equipment.

For a few inspirational ideas about loose parts play, see the following link

http://playgroundology.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/in-praise-of-loose-parts/

Next week I will be away on Friday, 26 May at a principal's meeting. Mr Yock will be in charge while I am away.

Please note that families are not to park in the church car park at drop-off and pick up times. This parking is reserved for staff and parishioners. A reminder that families are not to exit the church carpark via the Forrest Street entry during drop off and pick up due to the one way traffic for Kiss and Drive exiting onto Alexandria Street.

Friday, 2 June will be a pupil free day and a reminder, students will finish this term on Friday, 30 June.

God Bless and keep safe.

Allen McMahon

Principal

Now in its 24th year, National Walk Safely to School Day(WSTSD) is an annual event when all Primary School children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school.

It is a Community Event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment.

All information can found at: walk.com.au

The event will be held throughout Australia tomorrow on Friday, 19 May 2023.

The objectives of WSTSD are:

• To encourage parents and carers to walk to school with primary school age children and reinforce safe pedestrian behaviour.
• To promote the health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age.
• To ensure that children up to 10 years old hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.
• To help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.
• To reduce the car dependency habits that are being created at an early age and which will be difficult to change as children become adults.
• To promote the use of Public Transport.
• To reduce the level of air pollution created by motor vehicles.
• To reduce the level of traffic congestion.

On Friday 19 May 2023, we encourage everyone to get involved with Walk Safely to School Day. If you can't walk all the way, combine a walk with public transport. If you must use a car, try leaving it a good distance from school and walk the rest of the way.

Year 6 leaders will be at the gates tomorrow morning with stickers for any students who walk to school.

Week 5 will see our staff and students enter Wellness Week for Term 2. This week (Mon 22/5 – Fri 26/5) will see our students explore different aspects of their wellbeing (physical, mental, social/emotional and spiritual) as well as providing opportunities to practise some self-care habits.

Students will not have set homework during Week 5 and may wear their sports uniform for the week. Parents are asked to only book meetings with teachers for urgent matters.

As part of our Wellness Week experience for students we would love to offer a ‘Hair and Self Care’ workshop for any interested participants from Years 3-6. Run by our own resident hairdresser Ms Burnett the class will teach students the basics about how to care for, style, brush and braid their own hair, equipping them with the skills to be able to master this part of their morning routine as well as instilling respect and pride in their appearance. Any interested students from Years 3-6 are asked to bring to school a brush and elastics to use in the workshop. Ms Burnett will select a ‘demo’ student each class who will be the hair model for remaining students. All equipment used by Ms Burnett will only be utilised for one student each day before being routinely cleaned and sanitised. The hair styling workshops will be run for interested students in Years 3-4 on Tuesday, 23 May and for Years 5-6 on Wednesday, 24 May at lunchtime in the Art/Music Room. Should there be sufficient student interest additional workshops may be added in the future. We are excited to be able to offer these workshops to our students and thank Ms Burnett for her time and organisation as well as sharing her passion with us.

Parents are also welcome to purchase from the Coffee Van that will be parked in the Staff Carpark on York Street from 7.45am-9:00am on Wednesday, 24 May. Who doesn’t like a coffee to start their morning on the right note!

We look forward to exploring our wellbeing and building our knowledge and skills in this space.

We are excited to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with our Year 6 candidates next Saturday, 27 May at 6pm in the St Columba’s Church.

Please keep our candidates in your prayers as they complete their final preparations, including a Retreat Day next Wednesday, 24 May.

We are excited to announce that students from Year 1-6, will be participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term. This program will run for 6 weeks, until the end of term.

Jump Rope for Heart is a fantastic physical activity and fundraising program that has been run by the Heart Foundation for 40 years. It’s a great way for your child to keep fit and learn new skills, but it also helps raise funds for vital heart research and education programs.

Over the remainder of the term, students from Year 1-6, will be skipping as part of class daily fitness. Each week, your child will learn new skills, increase their physical activity, and learn about heart health.

You are welcome to register your child online. By doing this you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help give your family a great reason to get away from the screens and get outdoors. Register and create your own secure webpage at jumprope.org.au/parents

By signing up online, you and your child can:

• Easily raise funds online
• Track skipping skills progress and earn virtual badges along the way
• Post updates to your page so family and friends can follow their progress
• Access additional skipping resources

Your child should have a ‘fundraising guide’ flyer to take home, which includes further information on the program. If you didn’t receive this, visit jumprope.org.au/parents for all the information that you need.

In alignment with our Catholic school identity, we have decided that all donations and prizes will be collected as a whole school effort. Together we can make a big difference! All prizes earned will be donated to CARITAS and be shared with underprivileged children. All money raised will be given to the Heart Foundation.

Thank you for getting involved in Jump Rope for Heart!

Our Year 6 students will be bringing out play pods on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during lunchtime to provide additional play options to students.

We would love some additional items to add to the pods to evoke imaginary play – if you have any items at home that are no longer needed, please bring them to school. Ideas include:

• Old phones
• Steering wheels
• Keyboards
• Plastic bowls/Pots/Pans
• Brooms
• Sheets
• Cushions

This framework of nine elements combine supporting a child safe culture, healthy and respectful relationships and extended guardianship in school communities, based on the latest research and recognised best practices. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring each of the nine elements. Please view the video below for an introduction to the framework.

https://childsafe.cewa.edu.au/introduction-key-concepts/

What is the Element - Investigating and Reporting?

Following, or developing and implementing where required, processes that are transparent, fair and clearly understood by the community.

What does this Element look like?

1. CEWA Student Safety, Wellbeing & Behaviour Executive Directive and other CECWA policies are understood and used in investigative, reporting and recording procedures

2. School and CEWA staff recognise the roles of external agencies (such as police, Department for Child Protection and Family Support)

3. Teachers, staff and principals understand their responsibilities in all forms of child abuse, whether sexual, physical, emotional and/or psychological

4. When handling complaints, the wellbeing of the child or young adult is the priority and confidentiality is observed

May is traditionally devoted to Mary, our Mother. This Christian custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin arose at the end of the 13th century. The practice of honouring Mary during the month of May has been especially recommended by the Popes. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of the Church and therefore the example, as well as the guide and inspiration, of everyone who, in and through the Church, seeks to be the servant of God.

• Setup from 3pm on Saturday 20th May.
• Dinner and Breakfast will be provided.
• Dinner – Sausage and bun, with juice and salad
• Breakfast – Bacon and egg sandwiches, with milo, coffee, tea or juice
• We are planning on having a coffee van from 7am
• Camping items to bring – Tent, sleeping bags, mattress/air bed, warm clothes and torches
• Plus water bottles, snacks and any drinks you might want.
• There is a power point at the bottom of the oval, available for pumping up air beds. Please bring your own pumps.

If you require any further information please contact Alan Godinho on 0423 840 411 or

Mel Naso on 0419 924 216

Cash payments are no longer accepted. Payments can be made by credit card - Visit scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app. Your order will be electronically linked to the rest of your school's order. You do not need to complete the order form.

Term 2: Wednesday, 26 April to Friday, 30 June 2023

Term 3: Monday, 17 July to Friday, 21 September 2023

Term 4: Monday, 9 October to Friday, 8 December 2023

Term 2: Friday 2 June

Term 3: Friday 22 September

Term 4: None

Confirmation: Saturday, 27 May at 6pm

Reconciliation: Saturday, 11 November at 10am