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