St Mary's School Donald Newsletter

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.

Please find below the link for the November 2024 edition of “Our Diocesan Community”. This Magazine is a way to share the good news stories of our schools, parishes and agencies across the diocese.

https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ODC-October-2024-web.pdf.

The Victorian Premier announced the School Saving Bonus fund in August.

In summary,

• Non-government school students who are receiving the means-tested Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) are eligible for the School Saving Bonus.
• Eligible parents/guardians/carers do not need to apply, the bonus will be paid directly to the school from late November 2024.
• The SSB is in addition to CSEF.

Funds received by the school will be allocated to corresponding accounts as a fee credit.

https://www.vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus#non-government-school-information

Term 1 28 January (Staff), 29 January (Students) to 4 April

Term 2 22 April (Staff), 28 April (Students) to 4 July

Term 3 21 July to 19 September

Term 4 6 October to 19 December

Social media age restrictions

eSafety welcomes the introduction of the Australian Government’s Social Media Minimum Age Bill setting a minimum age of 16 for access to certain age-restricted social media platforms. eSafety looks forward to working closely with government, industry and the Australian community to ensure the implementation of legislation is effective, enforceable and fair.  

Even with minimum age restrictions in place, it is crucial that we continue supporting parents to play an active role in their children’s online lives. Nothing can replace those vital conversations that help parents stay informed, set boundaries and help when something goes wrong. By modelling good digital practices, parents can lay the foundations for safer and more positive online experiences. 

Please read the communication below. As a Bushfire at Risk school, on days there is a Catastrophic fire danger forcasted in our district the Mallee, the school will close. Other educational providers in our area will also close, and there will be no school buses running. We need to receive notification from the Department of Education and also DOBCEL in order to close. The school will always endeavour to notify families as soon as practical. 

Each year, the Department of Education runs an annual fire risk assessment of schools and early childhood services. They are allocated a category of risk (categories 0 to 4) and are published on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR).

All schools and early childhood services listed on the BARR list will also close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district.  

When the Bureau of Meteorology provides public fire danger rating forecasts or fire weather warnings, they use fire weather district areas. In Victoria, there are 9 fire weather districts, which are based on Local Government Area boundaries. Our school is in the Mallee fire weather district.

As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan and have conducted other relevant preparedness actions, such as reprioritised any maintenance works that may assist in preparing for the threat of fire and cleared our facility’s grounds and gutters.

What does this mean for our school?

Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is listed on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR).

DOBCEL, in accordance with the department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy, requires our schools on the BARR list to close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district. All school bus routes which travel in or through a district with Catastrophic fire danger must also be cancelled.

Our school will close on any day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in Mallee fire district.

Closure of the school due to a forecast Catastrophic day will be confirmed on the day prior and we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day when possible. Any information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to you by the Audiri app & SMS.

Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, even if the weather forecast changes.  This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child/ren.  It is also important to be aware that:

• No one will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Catastrophic day.
• All bus routes that travel through the Catastrophic area will be cancelled.
• School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast for fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.

In addition, families are encouraged to action their Bushfire Survival Plan on Catastrophic fire danger rating days.  On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.

For those of us living in a bushfire prone area, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) advises that when Catastrophic days are forecast, the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Catastrophic day.

What can families and the school community do to help us prepare?

• Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers. 
• Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, checking the Audiri app, and by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency management plan.
• Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements in the event that our school is learning from home due to elevated fire danger or closed due to a Catastrophic fire danger. Further information can be found on the CFA’s website.
• Action your family’s bushfire survival plan if your own triggers are met. Our school community may be spread out across many areas and some families may be at higher risk than others. Your family’s safety is critical, so please let us know if you are actioning your bushfire survival plan and if your children will be absent on these days.
• If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan. There is a link below with some activities to assist with this discussion.

You can find more information on emergencies, warnings and preparedness actions here:

• VicEmergency app – that can be downloaded on your android and iOS mobile devices
• VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226)
• Website https://emergency.vic.gov.au

• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency)
• Twitter (https://twitter.com/vicemergency)

ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters

Please ensure you have downloaded the AUDIRI app to receive the first notification of a sudden school closure, as this is the official school emergency notification platform.

Then emails will be sent to families, followed by SMS updates. 

If your child has experienced concussion, it is important that you follow recommended medical advice. Returning to school can be a gradual approach with the aim of increasing tolerance to a full day, the same situation could occur with sport. It is always important to check with your doctor and seek medical treatment after a child sustains a concussion.

It is important to inform the school if your child has sustained a concussion outside of the school setting so we can monitor for ongoing symptoms and adapt activities if required.

This factsheet link below from the Royal Children’s Hospital is valuable to read and understand.

There is also a great evidence-based app from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute that walks you through what to do in the event of a concussion.

Breakfast Club 

Breakfast clubs for students at school offer numerous benefits that contribute to their overall wellbeing and academic success:

• Improved Academic Performance: Eating a nutritious breakfast improves concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills, leading to better academic outcomes.

• Nutritional Benefits: Breakfast clubs ensure children receive essential nutrients that might otherwise be missed, promoting healthier growth and development.

• Social Interaction: It provides a relaxed setting for children to socialise with peers and staff, fostering positive relationships and a sense of belonging.

• Establishing Routine: Regular attendance at breakfast clubs helps establish healthy eating habits and a consistent morning routine, which can improve overall behaviour and attendance at school.

• Reduced Hunger: Children who eat breakfast are less likely to experience hunger during the morning, allowing them to focus on learning rather than their empty stomachs.

• Support for Families: Breakfast clubs can ease morning stress for families by providing a convenient, affordable option for ensuring their children have a nutritious start to the day.

Overall, breakfast clubs contribute significantly to the physical, emotional, and academic wellbeing of children, making them a valuable resource for schools and families alike.

Breakfast club will continue to run every morning between 8:30-8:50am. 

The conversations and interactions that take place throughout Breakfast club are simply amazing to see and hear. 

Assembly will be on each Thursday at 3:10pm.

Those who are on Facebook are encouraged to follow our page at Donald St Marys School. 'Like' our page, enjoy our posts, and share them with your friends.  Stay connected through our Social Media page.

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.