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FATHER'S DAY
In crazy times I am sure children will find crazy ways to celebrate their dad this Father’s Day. One less crazy way for all of us to celebrate our dads who are with us, or who have passed away, is to pray. I hope this prayer can help you do this.
END OF STAGE FOUR RESTRICTIONS - For your information
With the knowledge that Stage Four restrictions may end on the 13th of September a number of questions are being asked about what this means for schools. Rumours abound but throughout this year when dealing with the implications of COVID-19 I have stayed focused on facts not rumours.
You can be assured that plans are being made for a number of options around the possibility of students returning to school and what that may look like. I will keep you informed of plans as they develop and they will develop keeping the safety of students and staff at the forefront of my mind.
My only advice at this point in time is not to get too caught up with what you hear but wait for the official line and particularly wait for the plan for St Peter’s. It will be well thought out and reflective of detailed thought and planning.
My next communication with the whole school community is planned for next Monday, 7th September.
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
MESSAGE FROM CHURCHES OF VICTORIA
Please click on the following link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i8y9ynNDnPqOCe6N0eukD9DeoSDeU8Om/view?usp=sharing
FAMILY WELLBEING
Please find a link to a youtube prepared by Alex Parker, mother of Aislin (6KM), of Victoria University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWKQsdtAOU4&t=4s
THE BIG ISSUE INCURSION - Year Six
Our Year Six students accessed an online excursion as part of their current unit focusing on Social Justice with the overarching theme being ‘Justice Begins with Me’. Here are some of the observations made by students.
The Big Issue incursion was great. Even though we had it online, we still found it AMAZING! We talked about homeless people and what they do and how they get fed. We all found it very interesting. A lady named Cheryl came in and talked about her experience being homeless. She talked about how she got fed, showered, shelter and where she is today. Everyone felt really sad but also really lucky that we have homes and family to care and look after us.
Matilda Downes 6SH
On Thursday, the 27th of August, Year Six had a very special ’Virtual Incursion’ with THE BIG ISSUE. It was very informative. Netta, the host, talked to us about homelessness issues around Australia and how ‘The Big Issue’ is trying to help with this.
Phil, who used to be homeless, talked about his homelessness experiences and how THE BIG ISSUE helped him. Phil now has everything he needs.
THE BIG ISSUE is a magazine. They ask homeless people to sell it for them. A magazine costs $9.00 and the homeless person gets $4.50 for each magazine sold. That’s $450 for 100 magazines!
I think THE BIG ISSUE are doing a great job in helping Australians and that they should keep doing what they are doing.
Chelsea Carr 6KM
On the Twenty Seventh of August, all of the Year Six classes, using an online classroom, met a spokesperson from THE BIG ISSUE magazine and asked a formerly homeless person some questions.
After entering the eClassroom, we met our host, Netta. She was extremely kind and polite despite the few technical difficulties that were bound to happen. She started off by asking us what we thought a person would need to have a happy, healthy and full life. We then worked on discovering what made a person homeless and the different experiences people could have when homeless. We talked about the difficulties that could create homelessness and about how things that lead to a good life are like building blocks.
After talking about homelessness stereotypes and much more, we were introduced to a formerly homeless person, Phil. We learnt all about his story and how THE BIG ISSUE magazine helped save his life and bring him out of poverty. We then had the privilege of asking Phil some questions and managed to get a real grip on how hard homelessness is.
Overall, it was a really enlightening experience and I personally really enjoyed it. A big thank you to THE BIG ISSUE and of course to Netta and Phil.
Aislin Parker 6KM
This term, the Year Six students were given the privilege to go on a webex meeting to have an online incursion about the Big Issue and learn about homelessness. As time progresses, things like bills and fees may increase and therefore the need for money intensifies. For many people the struggles to get a job are in financial, health and mental illness. This is where the Big Issue comes in. The Big Issue makes magazines for people that don’t have a job, have a disability or are homeless to sell and gain profits to spend on necessities such as food, water and shelter. These magazines sell for $9 each and have a $4.50 profit for the seller/vendor.
We had the privilege of meeting Dave, a person whose life changed after enrolling to sell the Big Issue magazines. Dave was diagnosed with a mental illness about 25 years ago. After receiving such news, his wife left him and his life fell apart. Living from paycheck to paycheck, he soon lost his job and place of residence, making his home the streets of Australia. He travelled all around Australia, from Brisbane to Adelaide, Darwin to Victoria when he eventually realised things had to change. One day, he came across a flyer advertising the Big Issue and took an interest in selling them for money. It has now been several years and Dave is living in a boarding house and has reconnected with his children and grandchildren.
The Big Issue helps many people such as Dave help themselves. During the online excursion, references were made that really made us reflect on life as a whole. My favourite and main reference was that of a jenga tower. We had to imagine our lives as the jenga tower and the key components were the jenga blocks the building comprised of. Blocks were removed from this tower thus making its support and build weaker. This represented someone’s life coming apart. The more blocks removed, the easier it was to completely destroy and the harder it is to rebuild. I imagined my life being destroyed and crumbling to bits, I reflected on the morals I had created for myself and thought about the things I take for granted. Life is a precious gift in which we need to live to the fullest, but some people cannot do such luxuries with some illnesses, lack of money or lack of support. This is why what the Big Issue does is so important and life changing. I believe that during this excursion, well really incursion, we learnt to value our lives and assist others in making theirs the best they could possibly have.
Anastasia Djukic & Adriana Tzolakis 6VCT
WORLD TEACHERS DAY VIDEO
Catholic Education Melbourne is creating a Diocesan wide video for World Teacher’s day in October. If your child or children would like to create a short video clip of saying ‘Happy World Teachers Day’ and briefly (for around 15 seconds each) speaking about the qualities of a good teacher without naming the teacher. Videos can be filmed on mobile devices or laptop computers and sent through to me at feedback@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au by Friday, 4th September.
DAYS OF NO ONLINE LEARNING
Even while we are in this period of lockdown we are continuing our School Review process to enable us to evaluate the last four years and to plan for the next four years of our strategic plan. Staff will be working in teams online on Friday, 11th September. There will be no online or onsite learning for students on this day. OSHClub will be offering a full day program for children of permitted workers.
SCHOOL FEES
When we are clearer about when the current restrictions end and what implications this has for Term Four I will work with our School Board to look at what changes need to be made to Fees and Levies this year and in 2021. In the meantime if the new restrictions have added to your financial pressure and you require assistance please email fees@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au so that I can assist you in responding to your needs. This email address is only viewed by me and Loretta Ballas, our school Finance officer. All correspondence is confidential.
NEXT COMMUNICATION
My next whole school communication will be next Monday, 7th September.
PREMIERS' READING CHALLENGE
Good reading everyone!
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge has been extended by two weeks and will now close on Friday, 18th September.
Please make sure you enter all your books by Wednesday, 17th September so we have a chance to verify them by the closing date.
If you have any problems entering the books you have read, because they don’t seem to be on the list, please email me and I can enter them.
Happy Reading,
Sue O’Mahoney (St. Peter’s VPRC Coordinator)