St Mary's School Donald Newsletter

Term 3 Week 7 2023

St Mary's School Donald

Principal: Mrs. Melissa Drum

VISION STATEMENT

St. Mary's community, with Jesus as our inspiration, aims to educate and nurture the development of the whole child.


MISSION STATEMENTS:

Catholic Culture

As part of St. Mary's Parish, and inspired by our Catholic faith, we care for all people and creation.

Community Engagement

Work in close partnership with families, parish and the Donald community to enhance faith, student learning and well-being.

Learning and Teaching

Provide opportunities for each student to achieve their academic potential in an engaging, contemporary educational environment.

Well-Being

Ensure a child-safe, respectful and inclusive environment that celebrates achievement, promotes dignity and resiliency.

Leadership and Stewardship

Be educators, with a clear sense of purpose and direction, who work collaboratively to deliver quality outcomes for all students.

Prayer of the week.

We pray when we read that the seeds may fall in good soil. 

We pray for books to reach all people all over the world. 

We pray for those who read books with children and teach children to read. 

Thank you for giving us books.

Thank you for  the ability to read for we know not everyone enjoys this privilege, 

Amen.


PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome everyone,  

This week I was fortunate to be at PD days involving Learning Diversity in Ballarat and Religion in Halls Gap. The surrounds in Halls Gap were so amazing and the mountains all so magnificent as we listened to the beautifully woven intellect of Veronica Lawson as she guided us through the gospel of Matthew and in particular a focus on Mary Magdalene. 

Book Week

Thursday morning saw the school grounds come alive with a vibrant burst of imagination, as we celebrated the annual Book Week Parade. This year's parade was nothing short of a delightful spectacle, as students and teachers joined in the festivities dressed as their favourite literary characters. Putting in appearances were rabbits, cats, Minecraft characters a stick and lots of other characters. The event was a testament to the enduring power of books to transport us to new worlds and inspire our creativity. The parade was not only a celebration of literary characters but also a celebration of the stories that have captured our hearts and minds over generations. It was heart-warming to see characters from different genres and eras mingling, sparking conversations about the magic of reading and the creativity of storytelling. Adding to the joy of the event, our dedicated teachers enthusiastically participated in the parade, proving that the love for literature knows no age limits. Seeing our educators dressed as characters from beloved stories sent a powerful message about the importance of lifelong learning and the role that literature plays in shaping our lives. Beyond the colourful costumes and festive atmosphere, the Book Week Parade serves a more profound purpose: to inspire a lifelong love for reading. The event encourages students to explore the world of books, to step into new perspectives, and to unlock the doors of their imagination. The joy of discussing characters and stories with peers also fosters a sense of community and shared experiences. St Mary's took this journey to the Goodwin Villages and hospital to hand out cards and paper flowers made by the students. Books were read and the company was powerful.

Mr Jack Abbott

Mr Abbott finishes his teaching experience for now with us here at St Mary's this week. Thank you Jack for choosing our school and we know that you have enjoyed the juniors. Jack's fortnight consisted of sports, dressing up, visiting the aged care and teaching guided reading and writing groups. Mr Abbott will return in Term 4 to complete a three week teaching experience.

Volleyball

The St Mary's team participated in the Volleyball in Horsham and we were recognised as the Black Ranges winners for the boys/mixed category. Well done! Thanks to Mr. Donnellon for assisting myself by scoring and transportation to the Horsham Primary School Gym.

Donald High School Year 6 -7 Transition New Date

This will be held 7:30pm Wednesday 30th August 2023. A note went home today with further information.

Father's Day Breakfast

We will celebrate Father’s Day at St Mary’s with a special breakfast on Friday 1st September at 8:30am. A warm invitation is extended to all dads, grandfathers or other special males in the students’ lives.  

Come and Try

Monday 11th September, we are welcoming our prospective families to our school with a 'Come and Try.’ This will involve an Auslan and Library session followed by an information chat. If you are unable to make this day, you can phone the Office to arrange a tour with myself. 

Grade 3/4 Camp

An overnight Camp is planned for Grade 3 & 4 in Term 4 on Monday & Tuesday 27th and 28th in November to the Pioneer Settlement in Swan Hill.  The class will join with St Patrick's St Arnaud and St Joseph's Charlton. 

Foundation 2024

Do you have a child due to start Foundation in 2024?  If so, please contact the office as soon as possible to add their details to the waiting list.  2024 enrolments are open.

Student Absence from School.

Under Department of Education Regulations, typically the only acceptable reasons for absence from school are illness and medical or dental appointments that cannot be arranged outside of school hours. In accordance with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6-17 years. It is a legal requirement that parents contact the school regarding any student absences or lateness.

In the event of any absence or lateness, a note, phone call, text message or email, explaining the reason is required. This must be done before 9:30am on the day of absence.

Signing out a student at the front office

Please remember to sign out your child at the office if you need to take them from school during the day. This is not only a legal requirement but also an important part of our emergency management plan. 

No student or artist of the week due to our sports and excursion activities. Next week we will put our Athletics photos on the newsletter.

Go well,

Melissa Drum

TERM DATES

TERM 3 2023

Monday August 21st - Friday August 25th - BOOKWEEK

Wednesday August 30th - Grade 6 transition evening at Donald High School - 7.30pm, Room 9.

Friday September 1st - Father's Day Breakfast from 8.30am

Friday September 8th - Feast Day

Monday September 11th - 2024 Prep Come & Try afternoon

Friday September 15th - Last Day of Term 3

ASSEMBLY

Assembly is at 3:00pm each Thursday. On these days we celebrate our school with commendations for those who have achieved goals in class or during time at school with other events.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

Junior Room - JAMES
Middle Room - JIESZTER
Senior Room - NULLAH

THE ARTS AWARD

BOOK WEEK DRESS UP DAY

DONALD SHOW ENTRY BOX

This year the Donald Show Committee has dropped off an entry box for students to place any show entries into.

Students need to make sure they have their name, age and school on the BACK of their entry, they can then bring it to school and place it in the tub in the office.

There is a show schedule at the office.

YULDEA - October 4, 2023

For tickets contact Sarah O'Brien at Donald High School

EWHS Newsletter

EWHS Community Newsletter

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CHILD SAFETY

The school  has an updated Code of Conduct, in line with the new Child Safe Standards. The Code of Conduct must be signed by all staff, parents, volunteers and contractors who work at the school. As parents and volunteers come in for roles you will be asked to sign the updated Code of Conduct.  We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and wellbeing and welcome feedback from families and members of our school community. 

THE 11 CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

Standard 1 

Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 1

Standard 2

Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 2

Standard 3

Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 3

Standard 4

Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 4

Standard 5

Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 5

Standard 6

People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 6

Standard 7

Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 7

Standard 8

Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 8

Standard 9

Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 9

Standard 10

Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 10

Standard 11

Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Click here for details about Child Safe Standard 11

NCCD INFORMATION FOR PARENTS, CARERS & GUARDIANS

WHAT IS NCCD?

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (This link will open in a new window) (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (This link will open in a new window) (the Standards), Australian students with disability must be able to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers. To ensure this, students with disability may receive adjustments to access education, based on the professional judgement of teachers, in consultation with the student and/or their parents, guardians or carers.

The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) gives Australian schools, parents, guardians and carers, education authorities and the community information about the number of students with disability in schools and the adjustments they receive. The Australian Education Regulation 2013 requires all schools to report the data collected for the NCCD to the Australian Government on an annual basis.

What is the purpose of the NCCD?

The NCCD collects data about school students with disability who are receiving adjustments across Australia in a consistent, reliable and systematic way. It enables schools, education authorities and governments to better understand the needs of students with disability and how they can be best supported at school.

From 2018, the student with disability loading provided by the Australian Government is based on the NCCD; schools will continue to manage their total resources to meet the learning needs of their students.

How is the data used?

Data from the NCCD is used:

  • as an evidence base, to give teachers, schools and sectors information about students with disability and the level of educational adjustment being provided
  • to inform policy development and future planning to better equip schools and education authorities to support students with disability
  • to improve understanding of the requirements and responsibilities of school teams and the broader community under the DDA and the Standards
  • to capture the work of schools under the obligations of the DDA and the Standards, allowing students with disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students
  • to highlight the individual needs of each student with disability by focusing on the level of educational support provided to them at school.

High level, de-identified information from the NCCD is used in national reporting to inform policy and program planning to support students with disability.

Student information provided to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training for the NCCD does not explicitly identify individual students. For example, student names or student identifiers are not provided.

How does the NCCD assist schools?

The NCCD prompts schools to identify students with disability and to review their processes and practices. It records the adjustments already undertaken in schools to support students with disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers.

  • Reviewing learning and support systems: The NCCD allows schools to better understand the functional needs of their students with disability. It captures the work of schools in providing personalised learning and support for students with disability who require adjustments due to the functional impact of their disability.
  • Providing greater understanding: The NCCD helps schools gain a greater understanding of their students with disability and identify areas of need for both students and staff.
  • Developing professional judgement: The professional learning available to support the NCCD process helps build the professional judgement of school teams who are required to provide educational adjustments for students with disability without relying on a medical or clinical diagnosis alone.
  • Recognising support and adjustments provided: The NCCD helps to formally and consistently recognise the support and adjustments provided to students with disability as defined in the DDA.
What is the NCCD? infographic

Download the 

What is the NCCD? (This link will open in a new window) (PDF).

 

STUDENT ABSENCE NOTIFICATION

Under Department of Education Regulations, typically the only acceptable reasons for absence from school are illness and medical or dental appointments that cannot be arranged outside of school hours. It is a legal requirement that parents contact the school regarding any student absences or lateness.

In the event of any absence, a brief note, phone call, or SMS text explaining the reason is required. This must be done before 9:30am. 

Any absences not advised by 9.30am, will be followed up via SMS or phone call.

The number to use for text messages regarding your child’s absences is 0418 701650. Absences may also be advised via the form on the Skoolbag App., via telephoning the school, or by email.

VICTORIAN EDUCATION ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES:

During 2017 the Minister for Education reviewed the Attendance Guidelines. An updated Attendance Guideline document has been completed. A copy of the full document will be placed on the School App and Website.  

·         Schools must advise parents/guardians of unexplained absences on the same day, as soon as practicable.

·         In accordance with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6-17 years.

·         Families are reminded that they can use the School App to record absences, ring the school from 8.30am on 54971116 or 0418 701650 or email  principal@smdonald.catholic.edu.au

Please note that if you have not contacted the school by 9.30am to advise of your child/children’s absence, the school will make contact with you, either by a telephone call or a text message.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung  people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land.  We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We thank them for sharing their cultures, spiritualities and ways of living with the land in this place we all now call home.