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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are situated and remind you that we are gathered on Aboriginal land.
We acknowledge the Elders of this land both past and present.
FAITHFUL LISTENING
Peter getting the wobbles and beginning to sink gives us all a slight chuckle. Each of us can relate to Peter’s momentary loss of faith (Matt 14:22-33). Especially in our extraordinary and difficult times we all waver a little both about the present and the future. “Where are you in all this, Lord?’
Battling a heavy sea with a head-wind in a small open boat would have been frightening enough. The storms threatened to overwhelm the disciples so when they encountered the ghostly Jesus they were doubly petrified. Peter summoned the courage to venture forth towards the Lord but facing the enormity of conditions he panicked and Jesus rescued him. “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus asks Peter and he might well ask us.
It ever there was a time for quiet confidence in the Lord this is it. In the 1 Kings passage immediately preceding this, Elijah is afraid, fearing his life’s mission has been a failure and has pretty much had enough but he is persuaded in a dream to take nourishment to journey up the mountain seeking what God wants of him.
Like Elijah we feel battered by circumstances. Elijah’s story gives us direction. God appears, not in catastrophic wind or in earthquake or fire, but in silence. Elijah (1 Kings 19) needed to listen for God’s voice as we do today. Underneath the swirl of terrible events, grand pronouncements and forecasts we need to listen for the gentle breeze, cover our face with our cloak in reverence of God and wait faithfully to hear what God wants of us. God’s Word at the moment is likely to ask small simple things of us.
Being especially aware of the many blessings showered upon us and the many worse off; being alert to the safety needs of the whole community and to needs of others around us. Stepping into the unknown with calm perspective and hope in the future, confident Jesus has our backs.
Deacon Mark Kelly
MASK PRAYER
As all of us in Victoria are required to wear protective masks in public and in our workplaces, we offer this reflective prayer from Marist brother, Br Michael Herry fms.
PRAYER for BISHOP-ELECT BENNET
Please continue to pray for Bishop-elect Bennet as he makes preparations for his episcopal ordination.
Due to stage 3 restrictions, there will be no public Masses for the near future.
REMOTE LEARNING
As we move back into the Remote Learning phase I want to assure parents that as challenging as it may be, we will all do our best to collectively make sure the learning needs of all our students are met. The St Ita’s staff have done an amazing job over the last two days getting the hard copy work and learning organised to deliver the remote learning in the best and most practical way possible. (Melbourne based schools were given one week).
One of the key changes this time round will be the use of the Google Meeting platform to support the students learning and well-being. This will vary across our year levels as our Grade 3-6 students have access to 1 to 1 devices. The Google meet platform will be introduced to our Foundation-2 Grade students.
It’s important to note that not all families have access to electronic devices in the home, however we will support student learning as best we can via recorded lessons, power point presentations, electronic resources and some face to face time. We ask all parents to be patient and supportive of our teachers in this space.
ONSITE REMOTE LEARNING
To increase physical distancing across the population and prevent the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has directed that on-site supervision for students in metropolitan Melbourne is available for Foundation to Year 6 students in the following categories, based on revised criteria:
- children whose parents work in one of the defined essential continuing industries
- vulnerable children including:
- children in out-of-home care
- children deemed by Child Protection and/or Family Services to be at risk of harm
- children identified by the school as vulnerable (including via referral from a family violence agency, homelessness or youth justice service or mental health or other health service).
- children with a disability who also fit one of the above two categories, or where the family is experiencing severe stress.
Therefore, all students who can learn from home will be required to learn from home.
St Ita’s Primary school has arrangements in place for students attending on-site Remote Schooling from Thursday 6th August 2020 so long as they meet the requirements outlined above.
If you need to send your child(ren) to school, please register your intention to send your child(ren) to St Ita’s Primary on the ‘On-site Remote Learning Intentions’ Google Form that has been sent out to all families in our learning community. This will enable us to ensure that we have sufficient staff on duty to supervise students in attendance.
The School will continue to ensure that the health and safety of students, staff and the wider school community remains the highest priority with physical distancing measures and hand and respiratory hygiene practises remaining in place for all staff and students in attendance. In addition, all students attending on-site Remote Schooling will have their temperature taken each morning.
School staff will be available throughout the Remote Schooling program and you are asked to make contact directly with your child’s teacher if there are any concerns about your child’s wellbeing or learning program. If you do need help or additional support, please contact your child’s class teacher via Class Dojo or ring the school Admin on p: 5623 7222.
During this difficult time, we must all take care to support one another. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those who may be unwell, and those who are working to keep our community safe.
If you have any questions in relation to the on-site Remote Schooling arrangements, please contact the School Admin on p: 5623 7222 or email: Click here to email the school admin.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT APPS YOUR CHILDREN ARE USING?
As we move back into Remote Learning, could I please ask all parents to have an open and honest conversation with your child/ren in relation to what Apps they have on their phones and how they are using them socially. One of our greatest challenges is that with the current advances in technology, kids are at the forefront of how to use this technology. Adults are mostly the ones being educated on how to keep up and how to make sense of it all.
At St Ita's, Our Whole School Approach To Positive Behaviours gives a very clear message to all our students, staff and parents that St Ita’s is a place where we show respect for all, compassion for all and we are inclusive of all.
Below is a list of 21 Apps that parents need to be aware of. If any of these apps are on your child’s smart phone or tablet it's recommended that they are removed immediately as they have functions that operate in the background unbeknown to the user.
We thank you for your ongoing support in this space.
CAMP AUSTRALIA BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Camp Australia will be operating before and after school care at St Ita's Primary School from Thursday 6th August for students of parents who are Permitted (Essential Service workers).
All bookings must be made through the Camp Australia portal. Please note that there will be no students on site from other schools or other areas.
We thank you for your patience and ongoing support as we work through these challenging Covid times. Click here for Camp Australia details.
NEW SCHOOLZINE SZapp replaces Skoolbag
We are now using a new school notification App from Schoolzine which works inconjunction with our new school website. This new app called SZapp has replaced the Skoolbag app. Please download the new SZapp to your phone or mobile device today.
An important update for SZapp has been released to accomodate for iPhones which have been intermittently receiving push notifications. SZapp version 3.6.0 is available from the App Store now and we advise all iPhone users to install this version to ensure notifications are received correctly.
SCHOOL FEE CONCESSION
Term 3 school fees are now due for families not on a direct debit payment plan.
For any families impacted financially by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and have concerns about your financial situation regarding school fees, please contact myself on 5623 7222 during the hours of 9am-3pm Monday to Friday, or via email: principal@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child(ren)’s education at our school to continue.
For any families that have recently received a Government means-tested health care concession card, please forward a copy of your card to the office to check your eligibility, as a fee concession may apply. The card must be in the name of the parent/fee payer for a fee concession to apply.
2021 FOUNDATION ENROLMENTS
Enrolments for 2021 Foundation students have now been processed & we have over 60 applications for next year. All siblings that have returned enrolment forms are secured a place. Please make sure any siblings due to commence school next year that have not returned their enrolment forms as yet, to please do so this week to the office for processing and for inclusion in our class numbers.
We are currently conducting telephone interviews for new families with Foundation students that have returned enrolment forms. Later this term, we will advise our sibling families of a similar process whereby you can choose an appointment date and time to have a short 10 minute telephone interview.
SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS
The school administration office is available from 8.30am to 4 pm Monday to Friday. Please contact the office via telephone: 5623 7222 or email: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au. Out of hours messages or enquiries will be followed up on the next business day.
SCHOOL BUS SERVICE
The local school bus services will not operate on Friday 14th August as this is a student free day for Drouin Secondary. Therefore NO school buses will operate in the Drouin network on this day & interchanges will not be supervised.
SCHOOLPIX SCHOOL PHOTOS
Schoolpix school photos are scheduled to take place in Term 4 on Friday 16th October.SCHOOL CONCERT
This year, our annual school concert is scheduled to be performed in term 4 on Thursday 12th November at the West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul, with concert practise to take place at the Art Centre on Wednesday 11th November. (Please note this date will be subject to the removal of Covid-19 restrictions).
CAREMONKEY has changed names to OPEROO
This is a quick note to inform you that St Ita's digital forms and school operations platform provider, CareMonkey, has rebranded as ‘Operoo’: School processes, without the paperwork.
The name change occurred this week. How you use the service, as well as the ownership and operation of the company, will remain unchanged. You can continue using the system, and its mobile application, as usual. Just be aware that, after Monday August 3rd, emails and notifications sent from the system will start appearing under the new name ‘Operoo’. You will also be automatically diverted to the new Operoo website if you go to the old CareMonkey website.