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March 19, 2020
Dear Parents, Carers & Students,
Our first priority at Our Lady’s is the health and safety of our school community. I want to reassure you that
the school is well-prepared for the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
We are being provided the latest advice from the Australian and Victorian Chief Medical Officers by the Catholic
Education Commission of Victoria Ltd to ensure that our school practices are helping to keep our school
community safe from the outbreak.
Any incidents that arise will be addressed in accordance with our Critical Incident and Emergency Management
Plan. We will also have access to resources and support from Catholic Education Melbourne and the
Department of Health and Human Services.
As parents, you have a critical role in helping the school manage this situation:
· Exercise good judgment by keeping children home if they are feeling unwell for any reason
· Talk to children about the situation, as they may be feeling anxious or stressed. You have a key role in
helping students feel prepared and safe
· Encourage children to be proactive and committed to their schoolwork, and to stay connected with the
school and their teachers
The Department of Health and Human Services has a number of resources on its website, which explain the
virus, detail risk-reduction practices and behaviours, and answer frequently asked questions. These are
available at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
You can also find information about Catholic education’s response at:
http://www.cecv.catholic.edu.au/Coronavirus-information-for-parents
Birthday wishes to all these children who celebrate their birthday this week:
Jisica Prep B, Joseph Prep B, Joyce Prep D, Simon 5N, Nathan 5C, Lucia Prep H, Dante 1G, Mark 1M,
Ramsin 3N, Jack Prep C, Charlotte 1G, Willow 5E, Youssef 1S, Amelia 3T, Yasir 2A & Liana 2S. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO ALL!
Home School Communication: Thank you to the 311 families who responded to the survey sent out yesterday
via COMPASS. As mentioned earlier, the school is preparing in the event that the school may be closed and
students will require to continue their schooling at home. Obviously the school program cannot be replicated
in a home environment but in saying that, we are investigating all possibilities to support families if the
situation arises and school closes. Electronic devices and the internet will be central to any support offered to
families. Your responses indicate that approx 92 % of households have access to a device and the internet
which is reassuring. It’s important at this time that we have up to date contact information on the COMPASS
site as this will be the main conduit if and when we require ongoing communication with homes.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is an evolving situation, but we will keep you updated as things change. I ask that you
continue to work closely with the school and to contact my office should you have any concerns. As I have
mentioned previously if your child is healthy, school is the best place for them as we head into the final week
of term.
Please ensure you minimise your time at school and if you require to come to school please go to the Office.
Under no circumstances are parents to go inside our school buildings unless in the company of a staff member.
As is our school protocol all visitors to our school during learning time are required to sign in at the Office.
Thank you for your support as we work to keep our students safe.
Paul McEntee
Principal
From the Sports Desk…………
Yes! the footy is on tonight! If you were in footy tipping last year you have been sent an email
inviting you to join again in 2020. If you want to join this year please follow the
link below, and add the code.
https://tipping.afl.com.au/tipping/index.html#/comp/33344/about
Code: VP9XVMWX
Happy Tipping !
Friday 27th March End of Term 1
Monday 13th April Easter Monday
Tuesday 14th April Term 2 Commences
Friday 17th April Easter Whole School Mass – All Welcome
Monday 20th April Dental Visit Week
Tues 6th - Thu 8th May NAPLAN – Year 3 & 5
Sat 16th May/Sun 17th May Eucharist Sign Up Weekend
Sat 30th May/Sun 31st May Eucharist Presentation Weekend
Monday 8th June Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 9th June Eucharist Parent Workshop 7:00pm in the Gym
Sunday 21st June Eucharist Celebration – Our Lady’s Church – See RE Roster for Times
Monday 22nd June Parent/Teacher Interviews
Friday 26th June End of Term 2
Sat 1st Aug/Sun 2nd Aug Confirmation Sign Up Weekend
Tuesday 11th August Confirmation Parent Workshop 7pm in the Gym
Sat 15th Aug/Sun 16th Aug Confirmation Presentation Weekend
Sunday 23rd August Confirmation Celebration Day
Student Wellbeing @ Our Lady’s …Providing a safe and supportive learning environment
News from the PLAYGROUNDNews from the PLAYGROUNDNews from the PLAYGROUNDNews from the PLAYGROUND
GRINNERS ARE WINNERS
Congratulations to the following classes for consistently being
safe, responsible and respectful in class:
1M, 2A, 4C
News from the PLAYGROUNDNews from the PLAYGROUNDNews from the PLAYGROUNDNews from the PLAYGROUND
Who was caught being SAFE? Ayla 2A
Who was caught being RESPONSIBLE? Melissa 1M
Who was caught being RESPECTFUL? Marseel 4P
Advice from Child Mind Institute about TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT
CORONAVIRUS
News of the coronavirus COVID-19 is everywhere. Many parents are wondering how to bring up the
epidemic in a way that will be reassuring and not make kids more worried than they already may
be. Here is some advice from the experts at the Child Mind Institute. • Don’t be afraid to discuss the coronavirus. Not talking about something can actually make kids worry
more. Look at the conversation as an opportunity to convey the facts and set the emotional tone. “You
take on the news and you’re the person who filters the news to your kid,” explains Janine Domingues,
PhD, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. Your goal is to help your children feel informed
and get fact-based information that is likely more reassuring than whatever they’re hearing from their
friends or on the news.
• Be developmentally appropriate. Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming.
Instead, try to answer your child’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly. It’s okay if
you can’t answer everything; being available to your child is what matters.
• Take your cues from your child. Invite your child to tell you anything they may have heard about the
coronavirus, and how they feel. Give them ample opportunity to ask questions. You want to be
prepared to answer (but not prompt) questions. Your goal is to avoid encouraging frightening fantasies.
• Deal with your own anxiety. “When you’re feeling most anxious or panicked, that isn’t the time to talk
to your kids about what’s happening with the coronavirus,” warns Dr. Domingues. If you notice that
you are feeling anxious, take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer
your child’s questions.
• Be reassuring. Children are very egocentric, so hearing about the coronavirus on the news may be
enough to make them seriously worry that they’ll catch it.
• Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe. An important way to reassure kids is to emphasize the safety
precautions that you are taking. Jamie Howard, PhD, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute,
notes, “Kids feel empowered when they know what to do to keep themselves safe.” We know that the
coronavirus is transmitted mostly by coughing and touching surfaces. The CDC recommends thoroughly
washing your hands as the primary means of staying healthy. So remind kids that they are taking care
of themselves by washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or the length of two “Happy
Birthday” songs) when they come in from outside, before they eat, and after blowing their nose,
coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom. If kids ask about face masks, explain that the experts at the
CDC say they aren’t necessary for most people. If kids see people wearing face masks, explain that those
people are being extra cautious.
• Stick to routine. “We don’t like uncertainty, so staying rooted in routines and predictability is going to
be helpful right now,” advises Dr. Domingues. Make sure you are taking care of the basics just like you
would during a holiday. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of
keeping kids happy and healthy.
• Keep talking. Tell kids that you will continue to keep them updated as you learn more. “Let them know
that the lines of communication are going to be open,” says Dr. Domingues. “You can say, ‘Even though
we don’t have the answers to everything right now, know that once we know more, mum or dad will
let you know, too.’”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Sustainability Corner
How do you sort your rubbish? What bins do you have in your home? At school we have been
talking about the importance of sorting rubbish correctly. This is an easy action you can do at
home.
• Soft plastics can go into the bins located at your local supermarket.
• All hard plastics, cardboards and paper goes into your recycling bin at home.
• Do you have a green bin? Put your food scraps and garden off cuts in this bin.
Get your whole family involved in helping our community REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Prayer: In this time of COVID-19, we pray:
When we aren't sure, God, help us be calm;
when information comes from all sides, correct and not, help us to discern;
when fear makes it hard to breathe, and anxiety seems to be the order of the day, slow us down,
God; help us to reach out with our hearts, when we can't touch with our hands;
help us to be socially connected, when we have to be socially distant;
help us to love as perfectly as we can, knowing that "perfect love casts out all fear."
For the doctors, we pray, for the nurses, we pray, for the technicians and the janitors and the aides and the
caregivers, we pray, for the researchers and theorists, the epidemiologists and investigators,
for those who are sick, and those who are grieving, we pray,
for all who are affected, we pray for safety, for health, for wholeness.
May we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and house those without homes; may
we walk with those who feel they are alone, and may we do all that we can to heal the sick—
in spite of the epidemic, in spite of the fear. Help us, O God, that we might help each other.
In the love of the Creator, in the name of the Healer, in the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all,
we pray. May it be so. Amen...
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Sacramental Dates FOR 2020Sacramental Dates FOR 2020Sacramental Dates FOR 2020Sacramental Dates FOR 2020
We are still waiting on advice about how the sacramental programs will run this
year due to the unforeseen circumstances of the Covid-19 virus. We will keep you
informed as soon as we have more information.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS