Principal Message-Joanne Webster

Principal Message- Joanne Webster                                 Newsletter No. 13
                                                                Wednesday 18th August
                                                                       2021
Dear Families,

Without a doubt the partnership between the families and school throughout these last weeks of
Covid-19 and remote and onsite learning has been strengthened. The feedback families and
students are giving to the school, has certainly assisted us to continue to consider ways to connect
to and support the students - both in their learning and their wellbeing.

Given, some of the feedback, next Wednesday 25th August, will be a Wellbeing Day for all
students. This means, student’s learning both remotely and onsite will have a “Screen Free Day”,
with educators posting learning tasks that do not require the students to be on screen for this day,
the night before. These could include, cooking, board games, outdoor activities etc. This is in an
endeavour to assist us with screen fatigue.

The Book Week Parade was scheduled for Thursday 26th August next week, onsite. The educators
in the hubs will look to provide learning tasks next week related to the shortlisted books and
include opportunities for incorporating this into the day.

COVID-19 Update
All families utilising onsite learning are now required to provide the school with a Permitted to Work
Permit from their employer, if they are deemed an essential or authorised worker. These permits
must be provided to the school from both parents, to enable the school to have the student onsite.
These are due to the school by Thursday 19th August 4pm, for students to be accepted onsite.

Students deemed vulnerable will continue to be permitted onsite. Any new students fitting this
criterion, will need to contact me, (Principal on 97429800) with a request prior to admission.

Sacraments
Given the continued lockdown the Sacrament of First Eucharist for Year 4 students will be
postponed. We are in conversations with both the Parish and the Bishops Office to determine new
dates for both the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of First Eucharist. We thank you
for your continued understanding of this.

School Advisory Council
As you know our school, like all the Catholic parish and diocesan schools in Melbourne, is now
under the guidance of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS). Every school has
been asked to establish a School Advisory Council as a way of giving parents and guardians a
chance to be involved in the school.

       Bethany Catholic Primary School, 80 Thames Blvd, Werribee, Vic., 3030, Ph. 9742 9800
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It is hoped that this School Advisory Council will advise the Principal on important matters and be
a support to the Principal and Leadership of the school in their decision-making process.

In many ways we have emphasised the importance of parents and guardians being involved in
partnering with the school and the way this helps your children in their education.

Shortly, I will be asking parents and guardians to show their interest in being a part of this School
Advisory Council. As Principal of the school, I very much value the support and advice offered by
the members of the Council on such matters as:

      The Religious Education Program
      Curriculum
      Enrolments and enrolment policy
      School resources
      Improvements in the school
      Annual Report to the School Community
      Family Partnerships

These are just some of the ways a School Advisory Council can give advice to the Principal and
Leadership in the school- there are many other areas as well.

I am excited by the idea of having a School Advisory Council, which will replace the School
Community Group, and hope many of you will also see this as another chance to support this
school and your children.

If you would like further information about MACS School Advisory Council please refer to the
following link: https://governance.melbourne/sac-faq/.

Further information about this will be communicated soon.

Prayer
On August 8th, we celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross, (Mary MacKillop). Mary MacKillop
had many wise sayings, many of which, today remain relevant. One such saying is…” God give
me strength for what is necessary.” Today and throughout this time I pray that God gives each of
you the strength for what is necessary, as so we pray the following prayers of the faithful to Saint
Mary MacKillop.

May Saint Mary McKillop be constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who are
disheartened, lonely or needy.
Lord, hear us.

We pray for those who are in hardship as a result of Covid-19: may they receive the support they
need to get on their feet once more.
Lord, hear us

We pray for our students and teachers: with the help of St Mary McKillop, may they navigate
themselves through the challenges to reach a successful end to this year. Lord, hear us.

School News
School Dental Visit
School Dental Initiative during the week beginning 13th September.
If you have any queries regarding this service please call the team at Australian Dental Health on
93239607.

       Bethany Catholic Primary School, 80 Thames Blvd, Werribee, Vic., 3030, Ph. 9742 9800
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Father’s Day
Due to Covid-19 lockdowns, the Father’s Day stall will be cancelled. The educators will look at
creating tasks for students to acknowledge their father.

Parent News

Secondary School Enrolment Dates
The key enrolment dates for students in Year 5 in 2022 who will be starting Year 7 in 2024 in
Catholic Secondary Schools have been made.
28 January 2022 - Applications open
19th August 2022 – Applications close
21 October 2022 – Offers will be posted to prospective Year 7 applicants
11 November 2022 – Final date for parents/carers to accept an offer.

Operoo
As a school the use of Operoo and email for all communication is becoming more frequent,
especially with offsite learning. Could all families please ensure all current contact details, mobile
numbers, work phone numbers and emergency phone numbers are listed on Operoo. We thank
you in advance for your support with this.

School Fees
All Student Fees and all School Fees should now be in the process of being finalised unless you
have a direct deposit plan in place or you have a plan in place with the Principal.

Should any family experience financial difficulty, please rest assured that your trusting
communication will always be met with confidentiality and compassion. We are always grateful
when families trust us with their difficulties and also greatly appreciate the majority of families who
pay fees on time.

If you are yet to finalise your school fee payments, we trust that you will do so by the end of next
week. Due to current restrictions please phone the Admin Centre Office on 9742 9800 to make
payment over the phone.

Working with Children Check – Department of Justice Letter
All adults who support the school, with volunteer work are required to have a Working with
Children Check (WWCC). All parents or adults supporting the school, must have Bethany listed as
an organisation they volunteer at, as a part of the application process. If you have a WWCC,
please logon to the website https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/ and ensure you have
listed Bethany as a school you volunteer at. This generates a letter from the Department of Justice
that is sent directly to the school permitting you to volunteer on the premises or to attend
excursions etc. Unfortunately, without this letter, you will not be able to volunteer at the school. If
you are unsure as to whether the school has a copy of the letter from the Department of Justice,
please feel free to call the Admin Centre to check.

Sub Committee
The next Sub Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 1st at 1.30pm.
The meeting will be held online due to the current restrictions. A meeting invitation will be emailed
to each Sub Committee member before this date.

       Bethany Catholic Primary School, 80 Thames Blvd, Werribee, Vic., 3030, Ph. 9742 9800
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Important Dates
August
Wednesday 25th August – Whole School Wellbeing day
23rd – 27th August Book Week
Sunday August 29th Sacrament of First Eucharist for Year 4, 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. – postponed

September
Wednesday 1st September – Sub Committee meeting – online at 1.30pm
13th – 17th September – Dental Visits Week
Friday September 17th – Last day of Term 3. All students finish at 12.30pm.

October
Monday October 4th – First Day of Term 4. Learning begins at 8.50am for all students

School Closures for 2021
The following dates are school closure days for 2021. PLEASE MARK THESE IN YOUR DIARIES

●      Monday November 1st (Monday before Cup Day) Assessment and Report writing
●      Thursday 16th and Friday 17th December- End of Year Professional Development days

End of the 2021 School Year
Last day for Year 6 students will be Monday December 13th at 3.00pm.
Last day for Year Prep – Year 5 students will be Wednesday 15th December at 12:30pm.

Sacrament Dates
Sacrament of Confirmation: Year 6 students
Wednesday 21st July 6.20pm to be rescheduled
Thursday 22nd July 6.20pm to be rescheduled
Sacrament of Eucharist Year 4 Sunday 29th August 1:00 and 3:00pm in the Bethany School Hall -
postponed
Sacrament of Reconciliation Year 3 Thursday 28th October 6:00pm and 7:30pm in the
Bethany School Hall

       Bethany Catholic Primary School, 80 Thames Blvd, Werribee, Vic., 3030, Ph. 9742 9800
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Bethany Catholic Primary School, 80 Thames Blvd, Werribee, Vic., 3030, Ph. 9742 9800
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Bethany Catholic Primary School, 80 Thames Blvd, Werribee, Vic., 3030, Ph. 9742 9800
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Bethany Catholic Primary School, 80 Thames Blvd, Werribee, Vic., 3030, Ph. 9742 9800
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