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Dear Parents and Carers
We are sure that everyone is counting down to the upcoming school holidays, possibly for different reasons.
This Friday 15 September is the last day of Term 3. We remind you that students are welcome to wear their "Footy Colours" this Friday - it may be AFL, Soccer, NRL or any sport. The school day will finish at regular time of 3.10pm.
School returns for Term 4 on Monday 2 October.
Important Term 4 Dates
School Uniform
A gentle reminder for everyone that at St Clare's we wear our uniform "perfectly and proudly".
The upcoming school holidays are a perfect opporuntity to get out the summer uniform ensuring it is ready for next term. Students are welcome to continue wearing winter uniform for the first 2 weeks of Term 4 and all students will be expected to be in summer uniform from Week 3, Monday 16 October. Combinations of the summer and winter uniform are not permitted, with the exception of shorts.
During the upcoming school holidays Council are making a change to the slip parking on Majestic Drive outside the school near the admin building. This area will now be a Drop-Off and Pick-Up areas only between the hours of 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm. During these timeds you are only allowed to be parked for 2 minutes toallow the drop off and pick up of students.
Buses will be exempt. Council will be patrolling the area so please ensure you follow the signage installed.
Legoland Excursion
On Monday the Year Ones went to Legoland.
First we went by bus for forty minutes.
Next we go off the bus and we went inside, we ate snack.
Then we went to the 4D Cinema and the workshop where we made a spinning top.
Finally we went back on the bus and back to school.
I had a fun day!
By Remy 1WO
Legoland Excursion
On Monday the Year Ones went to Legoland to learn about Lego and we played games, exciting
games!
First we hoped into the bus, we drove there for 40 minutes. When we go there we ate snack
after snack we played a game in Legoland.
Next we looked at the Mini Melbourne made out of Lego, after we made Lego then we pressed
a button and an earthquake happened. There were also three race tracks, you had to make a
car and put it down the race track.
Then we went to the 4D cinema and we got sprayed by water. After the cinema we went to the
workshop and made a spinning top and after that we ate lunch. Afterwards we went on a ride
called Merlin’s Magic Quest while some people played on the soft playground.
Finally we grabbed our bags and went back to school on the bus.
I felt excited!
By Jon 1WO
Legoland Excursion
On Monday all the Year Ones went to Legoland.
First we hopped on the bus to Chadstone shopping centre and it took 40 minutes.
Next we looked at the Lego designs and made our own. We then looked at mini Melbourne.
Then we watched a 4D movie, we go so wet! And we got to wear glasses.
Finally we went on the rides but the other ride was not working.
The Year Ones had lots of fun and it was so exciting!
By Eleanor 1WO
Lego Excursion
On Monday we went to Legoland.
Frist we arrived on the bus.
Next we went up the stairs and we got into a group.
Remy, Evin, Ethan Hyde and his mum where in my group, we got snack and fruit.
Then I need to go to the playground.
Finally we played, I played on the rides.
I had fun and I had a great time!
By Eden 1WO
LegoLand
Yesterday I went to Legoland.
First we ate snack.
Next I went to play with Lego.
Then I had lunch.
Finally we went home on the bus.
Legoland was fun!
By Malieth 1WO
Legoland
On Monday 11 th of September we went on a bus to Legoland. On the bus there was 7 parents
some teachers and at Legoland there was a 4D cinema, a ride, the earth quake table and the
underwater world.
By Jayden D 1LB
Legoland
On Monday the 11 th of September all of the Year 1s went to Legoland. Legoland is in Chadstone
Shopping Centre. We went on a bust with parent helpers, teachers and ESOs.
We went on a ride called Merlin’s Kingdom and we went into a 4D Lego movie. We put on some
cool glasses and when we put them on stuff in the movie was coming close to us. When we
took them off they were far away.
Then we ate lunch and then we went into the spinning tops and did some more exploring and
some free building. My favourite bit about Legoland was the 4D movie because in the movie
we got squirted with water like it was raining.
By Lydia 1LB
LegoLand
On Monday the 11 th of September all the year ones went to Legoland in Chadstone Shopping
centre.
First we went into the bus, the bus left at 9:00am it took 40 minutes to get there.
When we arrived, we got out of the bus and went with out leader. Were on bus 2 and 1WO
was also on bus 2. 1AM and 1CS were on bus 1. My leader’s name was Miss Watson. Jasveen,
Ryker and Inayat were in my group. When we got off the bus we went inside the shopping
centre.
Then we ate our snack. After eating snack, we saw a giant Lego train. Then we went in a room
with Mini Melbourne, could not touch the Mini Melbourne because it was surrounded with
strong glass. Then we went on a ride, the name of the ride was Merlin’s Kingdom.
We went to a 4D Lego movie cinema after we ate our lunch.
Next we went on the same ride again then we made spinning tops.
Finally we went back on the bus.
My favourite part was Merlin’s kingdom ride.
We had lots of fun!
By Samreet 1LB
Legoland
On Monday 11 th of September all of the Year 1s went to Legoland.
My favourite part was when we watched the 4D movie.
I had so much fun!
Shanaya B 1LB
Legoland
On Monday the 11 th of September we went to Legoland.
First we ate our snack.
Next we went to the work shop.
Then we went to the 4D cinema and to do activities.
Finally we ate our lunch and got on the but to get back to school.
By Arnav 1CS
Legoland
On Monday the 11 th of September we went to Legoland for an excursion.
First we ate our snack.
Next we went to our workshop.
Then we went to the AMAZING 4D Cinema!
Finally we met up again for our tummies to get soooooooooooo full!
By Isla 1CS
Legoland
On Monday the 11 th of September the Year ones went to Legoland.
First we had snack and went to the toilet.
Next we made spinning tops.
Then my group went on the ride. The ride was called Merlin’s Apprentice.
Finally we went home.
It was so much fun!
By Savannah 1CS
Legoland
On Monday all of the Year Ones went on their excursion.
First we went on the bus.
Next we went on two escalators.
Then we sat down and ate our snack.
Finally we split up and got in our groups.
It was fun!
By Avery 1CS
Legoland
On September 11 th the Year Ones went on a Legoland excursion.
First the year ones ate snack.
Next 1AM and 1CS went to the spinning top workshop.
Then 1AM and 1CS went to the 4D Cinema.
Finally the year ones went back to school by bus.
By Pippa B 1AM
Legoland
On September 11 the Year Ones went to Legoland.
First we ate our snack.
Next we went to the spinning top workshop.
Then we went to the 4D cinema.
Finally we went back to school.
By Jaebron 1AM
Year 1s Excursion
On Monday the 11 th of September all the Year Ones went on an excursion to Legoland.
First we went on the bus and arrived at Legoland then we at our snack.
Next we started to go to the spinning top workshop and made spinning tops.
Then we all went in the cinema. In the cinema there were cool effects.
Finally we went on the Merlin’s apprentice ride. After that we went to Mini Melbourne.
By Anayah 1AM
A SPECIAL REPORT: R U OK?Day
Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.
R U OK?Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"
Engaging in R U OK?Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK?Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.
This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report:
https://stclaresofficer.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day
Thank you to all the Year 3 families who have replied to the Reconciliation survey. We have approximately 40 students who will prepare for this Sacrament next term.
A reminder to all families of these children to please set aside the following times:
School Fees
Term 3 Fees are now well overdue. Please arrange payment at your earliest convenience. If your familiy is experiencing financial difficulties please email finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au to arrange a confidential discussion.
PAM - Parent Access Module
Here is the link for the St Clare's Parent Access Module (PAM)
It is important that all parents access PAM. There is important information located in PAM including student reports, permission attendance and medical information.
School Attendance
Every day at school counts. Please ensure you report any absence to the school office via PAM, email or phone.
If your child is going to be absent for an extended period (greater than 3 days) you must comlpete teh form below and submit to the school for approval by the Principal.
How to Help Kids Stay Safe Online
Adapted from: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/blog Office of the eSafety Commissioner
- Start the chat
It’s not possible to be at your child’s side every second of the day, so it’s important to talk with them about online safety issues to help develop their critical thinking and ability to make good choices. It’s also good to let them know they can come to you for help if they have any concerns. You may feel they know more about the latest technology than you do, but you have more life experience to guide them.
- With primary school aged children use online devices in the open living spaces at home to make parent supervision part of the expectation for your child.
- Take the opportunity to set some boundaries around when and where they can use devices like tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles, to help limit potential tech tantrums — you could even fill in an Early Years Family Tech Agreement
- Screen free time before bed is important for good sleep. Consider charging devices in a central location at a regular time each night to allow an hour screen free before bed.
- While you are all at home more, it’s a great time to co-view and co-play with your kids, so you can understand what they are doing and experiencing online.
- Learn about the games, apps, social media and platforms they are using at The eSafety Guide, including how to protect their information and report inappropriate content or conduct.
- Use parental controls and safe search options
Parental controls can help block your child from accessing specific websites, apps or functions. They can also monitor your child’s use of connected devices and set time limits. But beware! You cannot always rely on them — they should be used in combination with other online safety strategies.
- Parental controls are available on most tablets, smartphones, computers, TVs and gaming consoles.
- You can also download family safety controls or buy robust filters out of the box.
- You can set up child-friendly search engines, or select safe search settings on digital devices, to help prevent your child from stumbling across inappropriate sites and content.
- Check smart toy settings
It’s surprising how many toys or devices can connect online these days, from drones and smart teddies to tablets and wearables. While they can be both entertaining and educational, they can reveal your child’s personal details and location — and allow other people to contact them without you knowing. You can help keep them stay safe by:
- setting strong passwords
- turning off location settings
- limiting the amount of personal information shared.
The eSafety Gift Guide has advice on what to check for and how to stay safe.
- Look out for unwanted contact and grooming
Unwanted contact is any communication that makes your child feel uncomfortable or unsafe, even if they initially welcomed the contact. It can come from a stranger, an online ‘friend’ or even someone they actually know. At worst, it can involve ‘grooming’ — building a relationship with the child in order to sexually abuse them.
You can help by:
- making sure their accounts are private — including chat functions on games
- encouraging them to delete requests from strangers and any contacts they don’t know in person
- checking in with your child as they use online devices in the open living spaces at home
- reporting and blocking anyone suspicious on a website or service
- remembering that if suspicious online contacts become aggressive or threatening you should contact your local police.
- Know the signs of cyberbullying
Kids who are bored by long periods at home can pick at each other, and that happens online too. So it’s important to keep an eye out for cyberbullying. It can include mean posts, comments and messages, as well as being left out of online group activities like gaming.
- Remember, when they are away from school, kids have less access to their usual support systems, including friends, teachers and counsellors.
- eSafety research shows that girls are more likely to be affected than boys and the person doing the bullying is generally someone they know from school.
- Watch out for signs such as your child appearing upset after using their mobile, tablet or computer, being unusually secretive about their online activities or becoming withdrawn.
- Cyberbullying can make social isolation worse and the longer it continues, the more stressed kids can become, impacting on their emotional and physical wellbeing.
What to do if your child is being cyberbullied
As parents, our first instinct may be to ban our children from social media, disable the wi-fi or turn off the data access. But this can actually compound the problem, making your child feel as if they’re being punished and heightening their sense of social exclusion.
There are four simple steps that can help minimise the harm:
- report the cyberbullying to the social media service where it is occurring
- collect evidence of the cyberbullying material
- if the material is still public 48 hours later, make a report to eSafety — we work with social media platforms to have the harmful content removed.
block the offending user.