Dear Parents,

Online Wellbeing Support for Families

The Victorian Government is helping parents, guardians and carers manage Remote Schooling and to stay resilient during the coronavirus pandemic by providing a range of free online webinars. These webinars are aimed at providing parents, guardians and carers with practical skills, knowledge and strategies for managing the lockdown period and Remote Schooling, and will focus on strategies and tools to help families manage their wellbeing, including establishing a supportive parental role and dealing with uncertainty and disappointment. Places are still available for Managing the Coronacoaster – Tips for building resilient families webinar on Tuesday, 15^th September at 7:30 pm. For more information and to register, visit the Eventbrite website.

The government has also partnered with Raising Children Network and funded a 10-episode podcast called Raising Learners featuring parenting experts from organisations including the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Career Education Association Victoria and the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant. Raising Learners will provide parents with practical advice, tips and ideas for supporting children’s health, wellbeing and engagement at school. Topics will include connecting with your child’s school community, how to best support your child’s learning, what to expect for VCE and VCAL students and how to keep your child safe online. These themes were drawn from common parent questions received by the Department of Education and Training’s coronavirus hotline and parentline. The first three episodes will be launched on Tuesday 1 September 2020 with the remaining episodes available throughout Terms 3 and 4, 2020. Raising Learners will be available via the Raising Children Network and podcast Apps.

Parent Support Group

St Mary’s understands the impact that COVID-19 is having on families in our community. In our School Advisory Council Meeting on Tuesday night it was suggested that we gather the contact details of parents in our school community and create a platform where you can call or email other parents to support you through this period of remote schooling. Having someone to talk to, who may be experiencing the same events and feelings you are, will hopefully lighten the mental load. If you are interested in adding your name to the list to receive support or give support, please contact the school office.

Camps and Excursions

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing risks associated with COVID-19, the planned Grade 3/4 camp to Forest Lodge and the Grade 5/6 camp to Melbourne will not be going ahead.  This will result in a school fee rebate for families to be processed by the end of this term.  Specifics of this rebate will be communicated once finalised. We are still hopeful that towards the end of Term 4 we may be able to plan some fun excursions, however this will again depend on the COVID-19 situation and the directive we receive from DOSCEL.

Enjoy what looks to be a beautiful weekend ahead!

Kind regards,

Joel

TERM 3

Thursday 5th August - Remote Schooling Starts          

Monday 31st August - School Photos- cancelled  We are hoping to reschedule for Term 4

Friday 18th September—Last Day of Term.                                                                                                     Talk Like A Pirate Dress Up Day (Online)

TERM 4

Monday 5th October - Term 4 Starts

Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th October - Grade 3/4 School Camp to Forest Lodge has been cancelled 

Monday 19th - Wednesday 21st October - Grade 5/6 School Camp to Melbourne has been cancelled 

Monday 2nd November - School Closure Day 

Tuesday 3rd November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday 

Friday 18th December - Last Day of Term 4 

           Happy Birthday to Macy and Anthony                   Sheedy who are celebrating birthdays this week.              

Important Message About School Fees

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians

I wish to reassure families impacted financially by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that we want to assist you in every way possible to continue your child(ren)’s enrolment at St Mary's Primary School.

As many in our school community grapple with unprecedented changes to finances, emotional wellbeing and physical health, we have taken a clear position on enrolments.

Any parent, carer or guardian who wishes their child to receive a Catholic education at St Mary's Primary School will not be denied the opportunity to do so due to financial circumstances.

If you have concerns about your financial situation, please contact Heather at the school office, hleemon@stmyarram.catholic.edu.au so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child(ren)’s education at our school to continue.

School fees are an essential portion of resources for the operation of our school and assist our leaders and staff to enhance curriculum and teaching programs.  Therefore, we are asking, for those who can, to continue to support the school financially.

We will respond to applications for financial assistance as promptly as possible, given our own constraints during this time.  We are absolutely committed to working with our families as we all move through these challenging times.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact St Mary's Primary School.

Thank you for your continued support of our St Mary's Yarram community.

Your support will enable us to continue to provide quality learning opportunities and strong pastoral programs for all our students.

Yours sincerely

Joel Brayshaw

Prep 2021 Enrolments

         Prep 2021 Enrolment process –  Applications and Enrolments for our 2021 Prep students are now open -  please note the following:-

Enrolment application forms can be downloaded from our website - stmyarram.catholic.edu.au
 or collected from our School Office between Mon- Fri 9.00am – 3:00pm

Forms can be emailed to hleemon@stmyarram.catholic.edu.au along with the extra required information attached – Birth Certificate, Immunisation Certificate and Baptism Certificate 

 They can also be completed and returned to our School Office – we ask that you please return your enrolments as soon as possible.

Please complete the attached On-Site School Intention form if your child/children will be attending school for remote learning.

This is for the following:

• students whose parents, guardians or carers are considered as permitted workers
• students with additional needs who require learning adjustment
• vulnerable students including: children in and out of home care; children deemed by Child Protection and/or Family Services to at risk of harm; children indetified by the school as vulnerable.

BOOK CLUB 

Issue 6 is available online at scholastics. Please click on the following link to see the full catalogue  https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

Orders are due back by Friday, 4th September. 

Minibeast    Fact Sheet- Dragonfly

by Blake 

Encourage kids to occupy themselves

A childs's ability to fill in their own time and cope with moments of boredom are important independence skill to develop...............

Community News 

Understanding Your Childs Behaviour

ParentZone Gippsland have a number of programs to help support families in Gippsland. Current programs offered include: Please click on the following links 

Building Self Esteem & Resilience

Bullying: Helping Your Child

Communication

Talk Like A Pirate Day

On Friday, 18th September St Mary's will have a swashbuckling good time!
Celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Dress up in your best pirate outfit and join in a Pirate Google Meet with you class mates.