Term 3 Week 1

The term starts with students learning from home, a new shiny website has arrived, we ask God to be with us as we continue to battle the COVID challenge and we provide a snapshot of the term ahead. Welcome to Week 1 Term 3. 

This was certainly not the beginning to the term that we had hoped for or expected!

Given my earlier email update regarding our COVID response, I won’t spend any more time talking about this aspect of our work thus far this term.

WELCOME TO TERM 3:

The start of the term is always a great time. Although some of the kids will tell you that they ‘want more holidays’ – I can assure you that deep down they are all very excited to be back at school. There is smiling faces, friends they haven’t seen in a while, games they haven’t played and a structure and routine which although they need a break from, provides them with a great sense of calm and peace.

It was my pleasure to welcome students back with our normal Monday morning gathering. We also took the opportunity to welcome 21 new students to our school. There are 18 new Receptions and a further 3 students in other year levels who join our Stella family. It is very exciting. We also took the chance to welcome Kathy Groat our new Finance officer to the school, she has certainly hit the ground running, week 1 and in lock down! When restrictions allow I encourage you to pop in to introduce yourself and say hi.

We were planned and ready to go for a bumper term. A particular focus on our call to be ‘Ecologically Sustainable’ was (and still will be) a significant focus for all classes and students this term. We look forward to getting stuck in to this important calling in the coming weeks.

Our Student Leadership groups will be a major part of our Term 3 operations as well. These four groups – Social Justice, Arts, Sustainability and School Spirit who will be led by elected Year 6 leaders will be tasked with ‘making a positive difference’ in each area in our school and community. Stay tuned for more information.

We have also planned a number of other key activities and celebrations over the term, which although may now require some re-thinking, will make for another very busy and positive term at Stella.

A NEW LOOK WEBSITE:

You will notice from this newsletter notification that we have a brand new website. This was actually one of the first things on my to-do list when I started at Stella in 2020. Last year’s events put things on the back burner for a while and after ensuring we had the right ‘look’ with photos of students in our new uniform, we were able to complete our ‘new look website’ over the holidays. I encourage you to have a look at the site, not only does it look great, but it also has a huge amount of information about our school and how we do things. You can visit the site here: www.smps.catholic.edu.au   

REPORTS:

On Tuesday you would have received your child’s progress report for Semester 1. As the name suggests, this was a ‘progress update’ on how your child is tracking thus far this year. This formal report is one of a number of ways in which we communicate to you about your child’s holistic development. I hope you found the information useful. Of course, we had hoped to follow these up with personalised interviews to unpack a little more of what was reported on, but again COVID has forced the postponement of the interviews. Please see the earlier COVID email for more information.

KISS AND DROP:

On Monday as part of a state wide ‘blitz’ on school drop off and pick ups we had a SAPOL officer visit our site to observe the kiss and drop and general movement around our school at these busy times. While they stated they were very impressed with our morning routine, they identified significant challenges with our afternoon procedures – I wasn’t surprised! It was noted that the biggest difference between the morning and afternoon is the amount of time parents spend ‘stationary’ in the kiss and drop zone. There are actually more parents who use the kiss and drop zone in the morning than the afternoon. The accepted rule in our kiss and drop zone is that cars SHOULD NOT be parked (stationary) for more than 3 minutes at any one time. Obviously in the morning this is not an issue, as students exit the car quickly and parents move off far quicker than the 3 minutes allowed. The afternoon is where we run in to more trouble.

One of the initial issues is that parents are waiting in the kiss and drop zone for far longer than 3 minutes. In fact some adults are arriving at 2:45pm and waiting until their child comes out at 3:05pm before moving away – obviously far more than the 3 minutes maximum.

Our second issue occurs because people are ‘lining’ up around the corner and into Ramsey Avenue which is a yellow line no standing at any time rule. As I have mentioned before this is a very dangerous practice.

As such, I again want to re-iterate what we would like to see occur at pick up times:

1. Don’t arrive prior to 3:00pm to pick your child up. There is no point, students do not leave classrooms until 3:00pm and you risk a $192 fine for ‘parking’ in a no parking space. Instead, arrive between 3:05 – 3:15pm and this will ensure that you will be waiting for no longer than the 3 minutes allowed. We have staff on duty and supervising students until 3:20pm, so there is no need to rush to get to pick up time.
2. If you arrive and the line in the kiss and drop in Mulga Street is full, do a lap of the block and wait until a spot in Mulga St opens up. It is both illegal and very dangerous to ‘line up’ down Ramsey Avenue.
3. Ensure that if you are using the Kiss and Drop to collect your child, they can quickly, easily and without adult support get in the car, do their seatbelt up and allow you to move off from the line straight away. There really should not be a need for you to get out of your car at this time. If there is, it may be worth parking and walking in to school to collect the students. We will keep reminding students of the need to be ‘ready’ and concentrating on knowing when your car arrives.

I feel like I comment on this all the time – and yet at the same time feel frustrated each afternoon when people are doing the opposite of what I suggest. While I am not a Parking inspector or Police officer and so can’t ‘enforce’ these requirements each day, the Police and Council have suggested they will have a stronger and more consistent presence to ensure we are doing the right thing. (As a reminder, if the council fine you it will be $104 and if the Police fine you it is $196 and a loss of demerit points).

I also wonder whether part of the challenge is that a number of people who do the pick ups at this time are ‘grandparents, friends or family’ who may not necessarily see or hear these messages. If this is the case for you PLEASE ensure that you pass this information on to them to allow for us all to work together to make our kiss and drop time to be much safer and legal!

NCCD:

In 2016 the Federal Government implemented the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability. This is an annual, national collection of data that anonymously counts the number of school students with a disability and the level of educational adjustments they are provided with.

The Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Standards use a very broad and inclusive definition of what constitutes a disability, it does not necessarily require a medical or professional diagnosis.

This can include students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, auditory processing disorder and health conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and asthma.

The decision as to whether a particular child falls within this definition for this data collection relies on the professional judgment of school staff about each child's additional educational needs. Throughout the year, parents of students who are counted on this list, are consulted with and provided with information about the adjustments occurring for their child. If you have a question regarding whether or not your child will be counted on this list, or you do not wish your child to be included please contact me as soon as possible.

More infomration for parents can be found here:

https://www.nccd.edu.au/tools/fact-sheet-parentsguardians-and-carers 

2022 PLANNING:

Believe it or not, we are well and truly in the planning mode for 2022. Enrolments and enrolment interest at Stella Maris is at an all time high and we have very limited places available throughout the school. As such, I would ask that if you know for any reason you will not be returning to Stella Maris next year you let me know as soon as possible. Our 2022 Reception enrolments are now at a maximum number and a waitlist has had to be started. We are also close to doing the same for 2023 already.

As always, please know that my door is open and I am always interested to hear from you about any aspect of your child’s growth and development.

Stay safe,

James

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL FAMILIES

As we begin this lockdown period, I just want to say that we as a school, are thinking of all families and are here to assist you in any way that we can. Below I have included a prayer that you might like to pray  and an article you may like to read.

PANDEMIC PRAYER

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages curing every disease and illness, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no boundaries.

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty.

Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, protect them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers, medical professionals and law enforcement agencies, who seek to heal and help others and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Jesus Christ be with us as we work together to overcome this disease.

Help us to love others, persist and prepare all that is needed to help the students and families in our care.

In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Jesus Christ, heal us.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

ARTICLE

The article ‘Faith in a Time of Crisis’ written last year by Fr James McEvoy is a worthwhile read at this time. Please use this link to access the article https://thesoutherncross.org.au/opinion/2020/04/06/faith-in-a-time-of-crisis/

GET VACCINATED FOR THE COMMON GOOD

Vaccination against COVID-19 is a morally good thing, providing protection for the person vaccinated and the wider community. Some COVID-19 vaccines are associated with ethically questionable production and research practices, but Pope Francis and the Australian Bishops have advised that it is morally permissible to receive any vaccine made available. More information is available at https://www.catholic.org.au/coronavirus

ON-LINE MASSES

Churches are currently closed during the 7 day lock down.

You may wish to access the www.massforyou.com.au  

Mass for You at Home can also be viewed on Channel 10 at 6am every Sunday.

SOUTHERN CROSS

The current edition of the Catholic newspaper put out by the Archdiocese called,’ The Southern Cross,’ is available at; www.thesoutherncross.org.au

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

May we reach out to all those in need at this difficult time and help them to see the light of Christ in us all.

God’s Blessings,

Paula Clark

APRIM

Dear School Community,

As we welcome new Reception children and families into our community, we are faced with a difficult and different start to term 3! Let us respond by thinking of our school values - Courage, Inclusivity, Respect and Compassion. We have all shown courage in our calm and speedy response to Tuesday's news of a statewide lockdown. We have shown Inclusivity in the way teachers have thought about and prepared learning continuity for all children. Let us show Respect for all staff and families by understandiing and acknowledging that households and circumstances are different for everyone. Let us practise Compassion for ourselves during a time that is challenging and uncertain, and compassion for each other because it makes us all feel better. 

Please remember to utilise Government Agencies who are there to help in times of need such as:

Kid's Helpline (kidshelpline.com.au)

1800 55 1800 ( a free 24/7 counselling helpline for children aged 5 - 25)

Parent's Helpline

1300 364 100

Lifeline 

13 11 14 (24/7 Crisis Support helpline) 

A bit about me…

Name: Bryan Ward

Family members: Melise Ward (wife), Evelyn (2SK) and Clare (RMT)

Years at Stella Maris Parish school: 3

Years on the Board: 2^nd year currently

My Favourites…

Food: Pizza, who doesn’t love Pizza!

Sport: AFL (Port supporter) and weekly player of social Netball

Thing to do in my spare time:  Spend time with family and friends, bike riding, exercising and travel when we can

Movie:  The Other Guys

Favourite thing about Stella Maris Parish School: The community feel, the respect all the children show towards each other and the ease of access to staff

My School Board experience:

Why I joined:  I felt a strong desire to help shape the future direction of the school whilst ensuring the voice of the parent community was heard.

What do I enjoy about being on the Board:  The frank and open discussions that occur between us and the school leadership that has allowed for honest communication and feedback.  From this I have found a sense of purpose being on the board.

What do I see as my role as a Board member:  An avenue for our community (parents and students) to be able to provide advice to the school leadership to ensure we uphold the traditions of the SMPS history, faith and culture.

Advice to someone considering joining the Board:  I have really enjoyed my time on the board and have felt my contribution has been valued.  Given that I would recommend this role to anyone who would be keen on being more involved at a strategic level.