Newsletter 13th December 2022

Upcoming Dates

14th December:  End of Year Excursion to Xtreme Bounce & All Abilities Playground at Vic Park

16th December:  Last Day of Term 4 for students; Assembly at 12:00pm, followed by BBQ Lunch

30th January 2023:  First Day of Term 1, 2023

Principal's News

Graduations and Masses

What a fabulous celebration we had for each school last week. Both Graduations and End of Year Thanksgiving Masses were attended by all families and were wonderful community events. The staff did a fabulous job of having the children well prepared and everything organised so that all went smoothly. The children and many families all had a part to play and overall, they were special events that we could all be part of.

What a beautiful way to reflect and celebrate the year that was!!

This year we farewell Stella and Liam at St. Mary’s and Kade, Sienna and Bonnie from St. Brendan’s. We are all so proud of our Year 6 students that have come to the end of their primary school years. They have shown persistence, adaptability, resilience and remained positive at all times, especially over the past three years.  Our school communities wish them all well as they continue their life journey at their respective schools and know that they will go onto achieve great things in their lives.

Excursion

A reminder that our end of year school excursion is on Wednesday, the 14^th of December. We will be going to Xtreme Bounce at 10am until 11am, and then move on to have lunch and a play at the All-Abilities playground in Sturt Street. We will return to school around 1.30pm. We had planned to go to a water park, however it is predicted to be about 14 degrees so we have made other plans. If it is very wet, then we will return to school after Xtreme Bounce.

Parents are welcome to join us at any point during the day.

Combined Schools Days next year

Next year, we will go ahead with two CSD a week. Thank you all for your feedback. After some thought, we have decided to have Wednesdays at St. Brendan’s and Fridays at St. Mary’s. By doing this, we will have an admin lady in the office each day we come together. Remember, we can help out with transport if needed.

These days will begin the first week back with the first Wednesday being the 1^st of February at St. Brendan’s. All days are marked in our calendar. Sports uniforms will be worn on each CSD. Our days will start at 9:00am and finish at 3:30pm.  Permission forms will be circulated to parents via PAM this week.  Parents are asked to complete them as soon as possible in readiness for the start of Term 1.    

We will need to be very mindful of traffic and the safety of children, especially at St. Mary’s where there is limited parking.

Meeting With Tom Sexton and Jo-Anne Bond – DOBCEL

Tony Dalton and I met with Tom and Jo-Anne on Tuesday morning to share the work we have been doing this year with our communities around building enrolments.

Tom commended us all on our efforts, commitment and enthusiasm in the work done up to this point. Tony and I are now working on a timeline and plan to move forward next year. Tony did a fabulous session last Wednesday on Family Engagement with the staff. We considered the things we already do and how we can engage families and the wider community more. It is about tweaking we what already do.

Special visit

Following our meeting on Wednesday, we had a surprise visit from some very special people. Katie and Nate came to say hello. Callum was thrilled to introduce his and Katie’s gorgeous son to us all. The smiles say it all. Callum is even more excited than most for the holidays so that he can spend all of his time with his new little family.

Thanks to all

I take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every special member of our schools – the children, staff, parents and wider community - for their continued support throughout yet another challenging year. As communities, we have shown time and time again that we are strong, resilient, committed to our children's education and together, work to get through tough times and still remain optimistic.

When we all work together, we are better and stronger.  Then children in our care need us all so that they can be the best they can be.

I wish you all a very happy, fun-filled and most importantly, restful break. It is well deserved for everyone. We look forward to 2023 with hope and enthusiasm for what is to come.

May God bless you all and keep you safe during the holidays.

Take care,

Inez 

Junior Room News

The Junior Class have had a busy year with lots of learning adventures here at school or away.  There have been Combined Schools Days, excursions to Melbourne and Ballarat and special visitors. The Tesla car and scientists explained new forms of solar energy and cars, the Bee Lady helped us to understand how bees work to make the yummy honey that many of us enjoy.

Our Grandparents came to school and helped us learn about school when they were young, then we investigated and learnt how to play Jacks, Elastics and Marbles. These games have no screens involved! We also learnt about our environment and ways to be sustainable, especially with our rubbish. We continue to use the school BRICKs to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, living a life of love and kindness. We celebrated the end of the year with an Italian luncheon. 

Quinn: My favourite thing this year is the Christmas rotations because they are fun and maths. It is fun learning about maths.

Paige: The best thing about this year was the Teddy Bear Picnic and doing art.

Adelaide: Some of the best things this year for me have been  giving people things in the reverse advent calendar box and learning to read.

Patrick P: My favourite things this year at school have been going on excursions and art and maths.

Kaezia: Some of the best things at school this year has been combined schools day, helping people with the reverse advent calendar box for Christmas and improving my reading and colouring.

Kamden: The best things this year for me have been having Louise as my teacher and coming to this school. Helping people if they need help. I've made new friends and also old friends here too.

William: I liked learning Maths and going on excursions.  The MCG visit was great and I got to meet Dyson Heppel.  I was lucky to have all of my grandparents here for Grandparents' Day.

May the sparkle and joy of Christmas fill your hearts and homes and may the season be filled with love and happiness.  
Merry Christmas to all four families and friends,

From the Junior Classroom: Adelaide, Kaezia, Paige, Patrick, Quinn, Kamden, William and Mrs Louise

Senior Room Reflection

We are very excited to announce that. St Mary's Clarkes Hill won the Aggregate at the Kingston Royal Agricultural Show this year! We are very proud of all the children for enthusiastically making entries to go in the show and for being so gracious and encouraging of one another.

Many children were awarded a ribbon and all children contributed to the winning of the $100 prize. This will be awarded to the school by Meg Barry at some stage soon. Our Leadership team will have a lot of fun deciding how to spend this money!!

The senior children would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and safe holidays. Some of the highlights for them this year have been:

The camp at Sovereign Hill

Little Feet Big Footprints

The Goldfields Sports Day at Daylesford Lightening Premiership

Being at this school!!

Cooking the vegetable muffins

The whole experience of our end of year Thanksgiving Mass, Graduation and dinner at the Robinhood

So please stay safe and have lots of fun over the holidays, 
Sue, Jenny & the Senior Children 

Kingston Agricultural Show

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Thanks

Thank you to Mark from PRD and Greg Slade who have made it possible to get our second sign up, advertising enrolments at out school. The new sign is at Dean and we are hoping to attract families that may come through the Daylesford, Newlyn and Dean areas.

SIMON / PAM Identity Changes

Dear Parents,

In January 2023, your SIMON Everywhere /PAM account will be undergoing a major upgrade to provide greater security and other improved functionality.

During the week of the 16^th of January 2023, your current SIMON Everywhere/PAM account will cease to function.

New PAM accounts will then be created by your school, and you will receive an email asking you to create new credentials for a new PAM account.

This will be as simple as:

• clicking on the link provided in the email
• following the prompts to create a new password for your new account.
• opening the SIMON Everywhere app and log out of your old account
• navigating to the “Tools” menu in SIMON Everywhere and then “Add School”
• finding your school on the list and clicking on the “Login” button for Parent Access
• using your new credentials to log into your new PAM account via SIMON Everywhere

Your username will be your email address.

Your SIMON Everywhere/PAM interface will not look any different, but you may receive an account per parent if you were previously sharing an account with your spouse.

Please refer to the below FAQs for further information:

1. We have a single, family email address that is used by both parents. Is that still ok?
   1. If the parents both use the same email address, you will only receive a PAM account for one parent.
      1. Example single email:

Parent 1 - Mother - Mrs Joanne Smith - jandcsmith@myemail.com

Parent 2 - Father - Mr Chris Smith - jandcsmith@myemail.com

Please refer to the below FAQs for further information:

1. We have a single, family email address that is used by both parents. Is that still ok?
   1. If the parents both use the same email address, you will only receive a PAM account for one parent.
      1. Example single email:

Parent 1 - Mother - Mrs Joanne Smith - jandcsmith@myemail.com

Parent 2 - Father - Mr Chris Smith - jandcsmith@myemail.com

A PAM ACCOUNT CAN ONLY BE ASSIGNED TO ONE PARENT, who can then share their login credentials with their spouse.

1. I do not have an email address OR have not provided my email address to the school.

   1. Parents with no email address provided cannot have a PAM account

2. Will any historic data be lost in this process?

   1. While no data will be lost in this process, it is possible that some information may become disconnected from the new account, such as historic letters, historic excursion permission and historic parent notified absences.

   2. You may have to review your personal details (Medicare number etc) if you previously had split access with another parent to your child’s medical information.

   3. You will definitely still be able to access historic student assessment reports and learning area assessment tasks. However, access to historical parent reflections may be lost if the school has chosen to not allow parents to see reflections by other parent accounts attached to that student.

3. What do I need to do now?

   1. This letter is to simply let you know about the changes that are coming. Right now, the best thing you can do is make sure that the school has your preferred email address on file.

4. What do I need to do in January?

   1. Be aware that your current SIMON Everywhere/PAM account will stop working as of the 16^th of January.

   2. Look out for the email later in that week asking you to set up credentials for your new account (this may go to your junk/spam folder).
      
      Please contact Claire in the office you have any queries regarding these changes.

Asthma & Anaphylaxis Plans 2023

Before your child starts school in 2023, all health details will need to be updated in PAM.  Asthma Plans and Anaphylaxis documents will need to be uploaded.   As per the Asthma and Anaphylaxis Policies, a new plan is required at the commencement of each school year.

Please only upload documents under the designated area in PAM.  Anaphylaxis documents are the only documents to be uploaded under the Anaphylaxis section.  This must be an Anaphylaxis plan completed by a GP.

Students with an Allergy plan are uploaded into the Allergy area of PAM not the Anaphylaxis section.

Legally your child cannot attend school without this information.  

Please ensure that on the first day of the 2023 school year, that you supply the school with pharmacist labelled asthma pumps, epipens and medications in a suitable labelled plastic container.  You must also complete a medication form.  Link is below.  

If you have any questions please see Claire in the office. 

Authority for Student's Photo Permission and ICT Permission for 2023

Moving into 2023, the Student Photo and Recording Permission and the Student ICT Permission will distributed and approved through the PAM accounts.  When we rollover the PAM accounts at the end of the semster you will receive an email.  Before your child starts school in 2023 all health details will need to be completed.  Asthma plans will need to be uploaded and any anaphylaxis documents attached. 

The Student ICT Permission form will need to be authorised by a parent before students can use computer equipment.  Also, the Student Photo Permission will need to be authorised or delcined.

You will no longer receive these documents in paper form at the start of the school year. 

Please don't hesitate to contact the office if you have any questions regarding these forms.

Many thanks, Claire 

Gardening & Tidying Roster 2022