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WELCOME BACK
While I appreciate that the two weeks of school holidays are not a break for everyone I hope that the last two weeks without the pressure of schooling from home have been some respite in the challenge that we face on a daily basis. We have some certainty about the students returning to school which I have detailed below. There is uncertainty about many plans we had for earlier this year and for Term Four. I have also listed those below and as soon as I know more I will share it with the relevant families. If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or email me at feedback@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au
Let's hope for a smooth return to some normality as quickly as possible.
STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL IN TERM FOUR
We begin Term Four the same way that we finished Term Three with students continuing to learn from home. Teachers have planned for learning at home for the next two weeks and the program for the first week was sent home to families on Friday. At this stage the plans for students returning to school are as follows:
From Monday, October 18th Foundation students will return three days a week, Monday through to Wednesday, Year 1 and 2 students will attend on Thursday and Friday, two days a week.
From Tuesday, October 26th all school students will return at least part-time: On this date, arrangements for Foundation students and Year 1 and 2 students will continue;
Year 3 to 4 will attend on Tuesday and Wednesday;
Year 5 and 6 will attend on Thursday and Friday;
On Friday, 5th of November all school students will return five days a week.
Throughout this period onsite supervision remains in place for children of essential workers or vulnerable students.
These staggered arrangements can be confusing and a detailed plan for each year level will be sent home next week as it will be challenging for families with children across a number of levels and confusing when all students are back over staggered days.
INFORMATION TO FOLLOW
The current operations guide I am working under does not yet provide information in a number of areas that will impact students and families at St Peter’s. Once I have concrete information I will be in contact with the relevant families with full details of what will be happening. Areas we don’t currently have firm details on include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Sacraments - Including Confirmation - Year Six, First Communion for Year 4 and Year 5 and First Reconciliation for some children in Year 3 and Year 4
- Swimming Lessons - Foundation to Year Two - Currently booked for 19th to the 29th of October
- Year Four Camp - Currently planned for 11th and 12th of November
- Foundation 2022 Transition Sessions
- End of Year Mass
- Year Six Graduation
- Excursions that were planned for Term Four
Parents and Friends events including:
- Family Photo Fundraiser
- Year Prep - 3 Disco
- Year 4 - 6 Movie Night
As you would appreciate this next fortnight will be a period of working within restrictions to put in place plans for the remainder of the term. Once these plans are in place with some certainty they will be communicated to you.
MELBOURNE ARCHDIOCESE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS – SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SURVEYS (MACSSIS)
In 2021, our school is participating in the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings students, families and staff have about how their school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
One of the main goals of the Family Survey is to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in our school. MACSSIS data benefits everyone within our school and provides valuable community insights on areas that each school can focus on. At St Peter’s we believe it is important to encourage families to have a voice and contribute to shaping the ongoing improvement of the school.
Families will be selected randomly to complete the survey, these families will be sent a link to the survey next Monday, 11th October which needs to be completed by Thursday, 28th October. Participation is voluntary so if you are chosen and you would prefer not to take the survey can you please email Chris Joplin, who is co-ordinating these surveys at St Peter’s, at cjoplin@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au so that he can pass the survey to a different family.
Families who will be asked to take the survey will be contacted next Monday, 11th October. The survey will be available in English, Arabic, Assyrian, Chaldean, simplified and traditional Chinese, Dinka, Falam, Hakfa Chin, Karen, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Zomi.
SCHOOL FEES
School Fee Statements will be sent home tomorrow, Tuesday, 5th October. The possibility of a rebate is being considered and will be finalised when we have a clear picture of what we are and are not able to complete this year. i.e. Swimming Lessons, Excursions etc. For families who will have children at St Peter’s in 2022 this rebate will come off their 2022 school fees. For families who will no longer have children at St Peter’s in 2022 this rebate will be offered as a refund.
If any family needs support in being able to meet their school fee commitments please email me at fees@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au and I will be in contact to discuss possible options.
AIR PURIFIERS
The Victorian Government will be delivering Air Purifier Units to St Peter's. Hopefully this is in time for the return for students. These units will be utilised in teaching spaces, staff rooms Reception area and sick bays.
REQUIRED VACCINATIONS FOR SCHOOL STAFF
The Victorian Chief Health Officer has determined that the COVID-19 vaccination will be mandatory for staff who work in schools. This includes Principals, Teachers, Administration and Education Support Staff, including Casual Relief Teachers (CRTs) and Pre-service Teachers. All staff who work at St Peter’s will be required to have a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 18th October 2021 or be able to produce evidence of a vaccination booking within that week. All staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by 29th November 2021 unless a medical exemption applies.
SUMMER UNIFORM
When students return to being at school with their classmates they will be required to wear their school uniform. As we are in Term Four the Summer Uniform is to be worn. With the staggered start we will use the month of October as a transition period. Hats will be compulsory from the first day students return.
NEXT COMMUNICATION
My next whole school communication will be with you next Monday, 11th October.
Orders close 5:00pm Friday, 15th October.
One of our students Riley Sinclair and his mother are participating in the Light the Night for the Leukaemia Foundation on October 16th, 2021.
The Leukaemia Foundation’s Virtual Light the Night takes place across Australia on Saturday, 16th October.
The Leukaemia Foundation invites every person whose life has been touched by blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma to be part of this beautiful community event.
On the night – bring your loved ones together and take part in the official Virtual Lantern Lighting Ceremony – which is brought to life online. All you need is access to a screen with an internet connection and your lantern to light.
The lighting of lanterns symbolises the hope we share for a future free of blood cancer and the support of a community that understands the darkness a blood cancer brings to our lives.
The money raised by those taking part in Light the Night gives new hope to important cancer research programs searching for life-saving treatments.
Your fundraising efforts can transform fear into hope in incredible ways, by furthering the life-saving work of cancer researchers and ensuring someone will be there for families through every scary, uncertain moment that follows a diagnosis.
It is the 1st Anniversary of the new Ritchies Card and Ritchies Card App and Ritchies is offering DOUBLE DOLLAR DONATIONS from the 4th to the 31st OCTOBER.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to double the Community Benefit payments provided to our school during 4th to 31st October.
Please either pick up a Ritchies Card in store or download the Ritchies Card App, register, then nominate St. Peter's!
The Ritchies Program is an easy way to raise funds for our school with no costs involved and now is a perfect time to spread the word to the community to help increase our membership take up and therefore earn more dollars from Ritchies.
Please note, that to qualify for a donation, $2000 must be spent from 4th-31st October between all customers who nominate our school, (excluding tobacco, gift cards, and phone recharges), to receive the minimum $10 payment. There is no maximum, so the more people who nominate our school the better.
From the 4th to the 31st October any payment earnt above $10 will be DOUBLED.
Thank you for your support of our school.
