St Pat's News

Term 4 - November 25, 2021

St Patrick's Parish Primary School

Principal: Olga Lyons

Deputy Principal: Peter Sanderson

Parish Priest: Fr. John Corrigan

Phone: 55681371

Acknowledgement of Country

We Acknowledge the Gunditjmara people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are gathered today.

We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and future. We acknowledge their stories, traditions and living cultures on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.

From The Principal - Olga Lyons

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The weeks are evaporating at an alarming rate and the job lists are growing.  

I can now announce that Magellan Projects are the builders who were successful in their tender application for our building project.  We look forward to working with them in coming weeks to map out the project timeline. 

Please read the COVID Update information carefully as the regulations around close contacts is ever changing.  Adhering to the instructions will assist us to keep our school COVID safe. 

Kind regards,

Olga Lyons, Principal

COVID Updates

COVID regulations and related restrictions are rapidly changing.

Last week the Victorian Government announced important changes to the management of COVID-19 cases and close contacts in schools as we reach the 90% double vaccinated milestone. This means that students who are exposed persons (previously identified as primary close contacts in education settings) from an exposure at school, no longer have to quarantine for between seven and 14 days. They can instead return to school immediately after providing evidence of a negative result from a standard PCR test.

In exceptional circumstances the Department of Health may determine that close contacts in significant school outbreaks are still required to quarantine for seven days. In this scenario, students will be notified directly by the Department of Health of any additional quarantine arrangements.

If your child is in quarantine as a non-household close contact, you are now able to send your child back to school if you follow these steps:

1. Your child returns a negative standard PCR test at your local COVID-19 testing site. Results must be provided to the school. 

2. Your child has a rapid antigen test at home each school day for 5 mornings. These testing kits will be available from testing centres from Monday 22 November.

3. Rapid Antigen test results are provide to the school for 5 mornings. 

If a Rapid Antigen Test result is positive, your child must have a standard PCR test and isolate until they receive a negative result PCR result.  The school must be notified of the results. 

Rapid antigen tests are strongly recommended for those students who have returned a negative PCR result and return to school. They are a great tool for families to use to keep our school safe and ensure that positive cases are identified at the earliest possible time.

If you or your child test positive...

Thank you for supporting these important strategies, which will help keep our school safe and reduce the disruption to the entire school community.

COVID vaccinations for students aged 12+

The Victorian Government has introduced restrictions for unvaccinated 12 year olds now that Victoria has reached 90% vaccination rate.  12 year olds will not be permitted to enter indoor public venues unless they are vaccinated.  This does not apply for school groups attending an open premises. 

"Students aged between 12 and 15 who are not fully vaccinated will be able to attend camps, excursions, graduations, and other school activities held at open premises that are also used by other schools or patrons from Tuesday 23 November. This exception to the current Directions will apply only to school-organised activities when at least one teacher is present."

To help schools understand and share important information about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and safety, the Department of Education and Training has put together this communications toolkit. The kit provides a range of materials for students aged 12 and above, as well as final year students, and includes social media content, a poster, web banners, newsletter copy and FAQs and other informational resources to help students and parents make informed decisions about their vaccination. It also provides links to various Commonwealth and State Government information resources about the vaccination program. 

Face Masks

Even though restrictions are easing in the community, primary schools remain under tight guidelines to maintain student safety.  In particular, restrictions to visitors and continued wearing of face masks.  I thank everyone for their understanding and support in this matter.

Face masks will now only be required by staff, visitors, and Years 3 to 6 students in an indoor space within a primary school (or schools which have primary students, such as a P–12 school).

The wearing of masks remains recommended for Prep to Year 2 students and in circumstances where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Graduation

Our Year 6 Graduation on December 9 will be a COVID safe event. 

When: December 9 at 7:00pm

Location: Graduation will be held in our school hall which enables unvaccinated 12 year olds to attend. 

Attendees:  Only double vaccinated parents will be permitted to attend.

Process: Masks will be worn by all attendees.  There will be a QR check point and vaccination certificates will be shown at entrance. 

Supper: A light supper will be provided by the parents of Year 5 students.  Plates will be available for individual service.  

Graduation Supper

Our Year 6 Graduation will include a light supper.  This year and in future years we ask that the Year 5 parents provide a plate.  This is a practice that will benefit each family when it is their turn to have a year 6 graduate from St. Patrick's.  We will require 2-3 Year 5 parents to set up and coordinate the supper (with staff support). 

Our School Vision & Mission

The attached file contains our current School Vision & Mission document.  This year we are scheduled to review these documents with the Staff and School Advisory Council.
Download

From The RE Leader - Eliza Dwyer

End of Year Mass

On Tuesday December 14th, we will celebrate a whole school end of year mass for students and staff. We are very much looking forward to celebrating the year that was 2021 with Fr John Corrigan. We have much to be grateful for!

Leadership & Stewardship

Last Day for Students Term 4

Our students' last day will be Thursday December 16. Students are to be collected at 2.20pm.

Sustainability News

The Sustainability Team will be dropping off the recyclable items, such as bread tags, plastics and bottle lids, next week. After next week will will not be taking these items until next year.

Sustainability Team.

Orientation Day

All children from Years Foundation – Year 5 will move to their next year's classroom on December 7 and spend the day with their new teacher/s.  The class lists will be announced the day prior to this day.

Teaching and Learning

School News

Book Fair

Our Book Fair was a great success with a total of $2653 worth of sales. Thanks to Celina for all her organisation and to Doreen and Jane who helped out on the day. Thank you also to the parents for supporting this event, all profit goes into buying resources for our library.

Sporting Schools - Wednesdays & Thursdays

Sporting Schools commenced this week and will continue each Wednesday and Thursday until Thursday December 9.  Parents are to use the Skoolbag app eForms to register their children.

The sports will be gymnastics and minor games.

Upcoming Events

Friday November 26 - Year 6 Surfgroms 

Tuesday November 30 - Foundation 2022 Transition - Group A @ 9.15am-11.00am

Tuesday November 30 - P & F  AGM

Wednesday December 1 - Foundation Transition - Group B @ 9.15am-11.00am

Friday December 3 - Year 6 Surfgroms

Monday December 6 - Year 3/4 Day Out

Tuesday December 7 - Whole school transition day

Thursday December 9 - F-2 Excursion to Lake Pertobe Warrnambool

Thursday December 9 - Year 6 Graduation

Friday December 10 - Year 6 Surfgroms

Tuesday December 14 - End of Year Mass in school hall

Thursday December 16 - Last day for Students @ 2.20pm

This button takes you directly to PAM for Absences, School Activities, Reports, Learning Conversations, Numeracy & Literacy Interviews

Parish Masses

Port Fairy St Patrick's & Koroit Infant Jesus Mass Times

Saturday Vigil Mass - 6.30pm at Koroit

Sunday Mass - 9am @ Port Fairy

Community News