Dear Families

Welcome to the 2025 school year, and in particular the warmest of welcome to our new students and their families.  Yesterday's arrival of our new Foundation students was a terrific occasion and I thank the parents and staff for the way their supported these youngsters on their exciting first day of primary school.  I really believe our extensive transition program is so important and is validated by the way the classes across the school settled so quickly.  As leaders we actively roamed the classrooms in the morning to support our children to settle, but by 9.15am we had all classrooms heavily engaged in their work.  Congratulations to all our children on their positive approach to Day One .... fingers crossed we can all maintain this level of engagement come Friday we were are all exhausted after a hot week.  I'm sure we can.

At the conclusion of 2024 and across summer our staff have been engaged in preparing for this school year.  We have completed some critically important professional learning, conducted student assessments and had some highly productive discussions as a staff group.  I feel truly blessed to lead such a competent and professional staff.  From our classroom staff through to our admin team, St Vincent's is full of such great people.  God Bless them in their work!

In regards to staffing we have had a few new faces join us this year and we look forward to contributions across their different roles.  One area that we have put additional resources into is the area of Wellbeing.  We have added to Brooke Burke's work days through the Mental Health in Primary Schools project while we have also employed Paula Vella under the National School Wellbeing Program.  We already have seen the benefit of this work with Brooke and Paula collaborating with our teaching staff to support our students and families.

This newsletter is loaded with plenty of information so please take some time to note important dates and timetables.  If you require other information please feel free to reach ou to myself or the Administration team.  Critically importantly is the need for families to have their details current in PAM and also be described to receive Schoolzine updates and notifications (like this newsletter).  This is how we will communicate primarily with families during an emergency like the 2024 February storms.  Hopefully we don't have to deal with fires and floods this year but it is important to be organised and ready to respond.

Last weekend at Sunday's Mass Fr.James shared the gospel story of Mary and Joseph presenting an infant Jesus in the Jewish temple, 40 days after his birth.  This could be described as something similar to a Christian Baptism.  What struck me was how this is very similar to school parents dropping their children off for the start of a school year.  The trust parents place in us as a school is something I do not take for granted and I give me commitment to the St Vincent's school community that I will do everything in my power to support the 200 plus children entrusted into our care.

Wishing everyone a very successful and enjoyable 2025.

Dave

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

PRINCIPAL: Dave Cooper

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: Rosie Van Den Broek

LEARNER DIVERSITY: Vanessa COULING

LEARNING ADJUSTMENT: Kathy MONACELLA

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Cameron GREENSLADE

ADMIN TEAM

Alison ANSWER

Sonia MARINO

Stephanie VOZZO

WELLBEING TEAM

MENTAL HEALTH in PRIMARY SCHOOLS Teacher: Brooke Burke

National School Wellbeing Project Officer: Paula Vella

JUNIOR TEAM

MIDDLE TEAM

SENIOR TEAM

SPECIALIST TEAM

Education Support Officers:

Kerrie Birrell

Sonia Stockdale

Jenny Jackson

Olivia Portelli

Sandra Stevenson

Callum Stewart

Charlotte Dorl

Enza Patterson

Rosa Furfari-Langmaid

Rachel Finn

Mikayla Milbourne

Harry Cooper

Mikayla Couling

Ella Buckley

8.30am OUTSIDE SUPERVISION STARTS

Students enter the school yard via the car park ramp to the Student Entry Doors

8.45am CLASSROOMS OPEN

9.00am SCHOOL DAY STARTS

Late Arrivals need to enter via the school office

A few reminders.....

- Students are able to exit the yard via the main student entry as well as pedestrian gates on both Rowell and Barry Street. 

- Safe crossing points: Please model and rehearse good habits with your children.  We know primary school children have poor peripheral vision so we would hate to have anyone harmed due to avoidable, risky behaviours.

- Parking By-laws: Can drivers please abide with the local parking laws around the school neighbourhood. Do not park in No Standing Zones, the Bus Zone, across driveways or on nature strips.  This ensures pedestrian safety, keeps the neighbours happy and probably saves you a fine from a local by-laws officer from Latrobe City.

3.00pm ROWELL STREET & BARRY STREET PEDESTRIAN GATES ARE UNLOCKED

Parents are welcome to wait for their children in the courtyard area.  This routine is designed to boost community engagement, improve pedestrian safety, reduce car park congestion and importantly, create a less stressful dismissal routine for our children.

3.15pm STUDENT ENTRY/EXIT GATES OPEN

3.15pm OUR PATCH After School Care students are collected by OP Staff

3.25pm (approx) ROWELL STREET & BARRY STREET GATES are locked by Duty Teachers

We would love to hear feedback from families, children and staff so we can make any further adjustments.

PAM is our online platform for Medical Profiles, Permission Notes and our School Calendar.  Each family needs to have account created so that they can provide permission for school activities and provide instant updates on their child's Medical Profile and Emergency Contacts.

If you need assistance please speak to the team in the Office.

Thanks to everyone that contributed to our first Zooper Dooper Day.  Mrs.Cooper for spending summer buying up big when the supermarkets had them on special, our ESO team that organised stocking the new freezer, Pete Savige for collecting the freezer and delivering it on-site and for our parent volunteers who were here to hand out the Celebrating Day 1 free icy-poles.

The P&F group are organising the roster for our Zooper Dooper Days so keep an eye out for the call for volunteers.  Hopefully we are in a position to offer additional days when the weather is hot.  We suggest always having icy-pole money tucked away safely in your school bag.

2025 school fee statements will be sent out via email shortly.

Fees can be paid by direct debit, online bank transfer or by EFTPOS at the office.

SCHOOL FEE CONCESSION

If you are currently the holder of a pension or health care card, you may be eligible for a fee concession on your school fees for 2024. Please enquire at the office if this applies to you. Please do this ASAP so you don’t miss out.

St.Vincent's encourages good practices around exposure to UV.

Our key strategies involve wearing hats, encouraging the application of sunscreen and providing shaded play areas. We encourage families to apply and supply their chosen sunscreen to their children, as the school does not supply sunscreen.

School hats must be worn during Term 1 and Term 4, although we actively encourage students to wear them in times of increasing UV ratings.  Having your hat at school from Father's Day to Mother's Day is a great guide.