It is a busy yet exciting time around St Andrew’s at the moment.

Last Friday two teams of Year 6 boys and Year 6 girls, played in the Buhagiar Shield Basketball Tournament and won it for the second year in a row. The Buhagiar Shield was the creation of a group of Our Lady of the Southern Cross students who wanted the opportunity for the parish’s Year 6 students to gather and build connections as they approach their transition to Secondary School. They also wanted to honour the many years of service to the Parish by Fr Buhagiar after he retired. The day was supported by MacKillop College, who provided the venue, the buses and the referees for the day. Well done to all.

 

Our Year 4 students have begun their camp at Camp Wilkin in Anglesea. They will be away from Monday until Wednesday and there will be an alternative program offered to any Year 4 students who attend school as the teachers will be having a well deserved day off on Thursday to recover. There is also a wonderful group of parent volunteers attending to support the supervision of activities, doing their best to ensure the camp is a success.

 

On Wednesday afternoon our wonderful choir has been invited to attend the Archdiocesan Annual Celebration Mass for Principals to be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral. We are very proud that Ms Kietner and the students have been honoured in such a way as to have been invited to lead the singing at this occasion, and that Ms Kietner will be playing the cathedral organ. This will be a memorable experience for all the students to be a part of.

 

As the end of the year draws closer I ask for continued parental support for the positive behaviour approach within the school. Our values are very clear, Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible. Recently there have been a number of  incidents where we as a school have deemed the behaviour to be outside these values. We have an expectation, especially for major behaviours, that teachers would contact parents to keep them informed, it is part of how we interpret the partnership we have in the education of your child. What we ask in return is your support, rest assured that when you are contacted the incident has been investigated and we are not asking for you to investigate again. Yes you can ask your child what happened but where you feel the story differs please afford courtesy to the teacher and make time to discuss without being abusive or writing personal comments towards them, they are trying to provide a safe learning environment for all. Parents want to love and trust their child, as do teachers, but the teacher has the benefit of being present and experiencing the behaviour and attitude of the child and has usually interviewed all involved. Please understand that we can't continue to have children behaving outside the values of the school and being inadvertently or intentionally supported by parents.

Please remember that Monday 4 November, the day before Cup Day, is a school closure day for teachers to work on assessment and reporting. 

 

Finally, the building project is expected to be completed before the students return for the beginning of the 2020 school year. To assist in being ready for this, I have requested that Fr Albert authorise the closing of the school earlier this year to give us an opportunity to prepare to move without students.

 

The final day for 2019 will be Wednesday 18 December at 1.00pm

 

GUITAR & PIANO LESSONS 

This Extra-Curricular Instrumental Program at St Andrews, is an exciting opportunity for students to learn either guitar or piano during school hours.  

Lessons will be available individually, or with a partner once a week for a duration of 30 minutes.

For more information, please feel free to contact Sonia Overton 0418 541 213

 

Term 4 Dates for your calendar:

Monday 4 November  -  SCHOOL CLOSURE

Wednesday 6 November 2nd Prep Orientation 2020   2.00  -  3.15pm

Friday 15 November  -  SCHOOL CLOSURE

Saturday 16 November  St Andrew’s Parish Fair

Wednesday 20 November 3rd Prep Orientation 2020   9.30  -  11.00am

Thursday 28 November St Andrew’s Parish Healing Mass & Luncheon

Monday 2 December  -  Friday 13 December  Foundation - Year 2 Swimming Program

Friday 13 December  -  Year 6 Graduation Mass

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS   Term 4

Monday 4 November

Friday 15 November

 

Parking around St Andrew’s School Respect the road rules and parking signs

Parents please observe ALL ‘No Standing’  ‘One Way’ and ‘Bus Zone’ signs in Stawell Street.

The Stawell Street Bus Zone is for BUSES ONLY. Parents can use the 5 minute drop off zone which is located outside the Stawell Street gate right next to the bus zone. If you continue to park in the Bus Zone you do so at your own risk and may incur a fine.

 

DO NOT PARK on the reserve in Mortimer Street. This is a ‘NO STANDING’ area and signs are displayed.

If you park there, you do so at your own risk and may incur a fine.

For the safety of all - use the designated areas for parking and dropping off your children.

There is a 5min drop off zone in Stawell Street.

Police and Council patrols happen randomly and parents can and will be caught and fined.

This sign indicates a NO STANDING area.

Recently a school family received a fine for stopping in this area and letting her children out.

NO STANDING means NO STANDING or STOPPING

If you incur a fine it is at your own cost!

 

 

MACKILLOP COLLEGE OPEN DAY Tuesday 12 November 2019   2.00pm – 6.00pm   Final Tour at 5.15pm

All welcome to attend and tour the College. 

For further information regarding the College please visit the College website: www.mackillop.vic.edu.au

 

Engaging Wyndham Families with St Andrew’s School

The Engaging Wyndham Families program is an early intervention service that aims to support local families who may have a child with some challenging behaviours, a child who may not want to be going to school or families who don’t know where to get information and help.

We are here if you need us. We will be at St Andrew’s School for consults on Wednesdays  9.00am – 11.00am.

For more information contact Chris or Joelene 9216 7777 or Tracie K St Andrew’s School 9741 3686

 

 

Car Raffle Tickets - Please return the SOLD and UNSOLD books to the school office as soon as possible

 

Pre-Purchased Wrist Bands—St Andrew’s Fair

Pre-purchased bands from the school office are $25. Wristbands purchased at the Fair on the day will be $30.

Wristband order forms were sent home today Monday 7 October.