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Dear Parents,
Welcome to Term 3. I hope you and your families have had a relaxing break and that your children are ready and excited about reconnecting with their friends, teachers and their learning. Term 3 is a term of growth, increased learning confidence and consolidation. Personal learning goals will be set against social and academic endeavors and current data will be used to drive the learning cycle for students.
The Term 3 Inquiry Unit includes:
Design Technology- food production ‘From Farm to Plate’
Chemical Science - Exploring Natural and Processed Materials
Critical and Creative Thinking- Discovering open/closed ended questions and looking at thinking processes using visual models.
Many areas of the curriculum fit with other learning areas, including RE. By connecting these areas we have designed rich and meaningful units of work. Teachers will share a breakdown of the Term three Curriculum with you in their class Newsletters which will be emailed to you next week.
Term 3 Highlights Include:
- Beginning of Term Mass
- Learning Assemblies
- Literacy Information Evening
- 100 days of Prep
- Excursions and Incursions
- Parent teacher Interviews
- Book Week
- Fathers Day
- Celebrating the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Athletics
- Author Visit - Andrew Daddo
- Mission Market
- Friendship Day
- RUOK Day
- Arts Week
- Fete preparation
- Footy colours and Fete collection days
It was this time 12 months ago that the Premier announced that all schools in Victoria would continue with remote and flexible learning. It now seems like a lifetime ago. The challenges of the past few years have taught us all about gratitude, caring for each other, resilience and the importance of belonging.
As we begin a new school term, I pray for you and your families and ask for God's abundant blessings on us all. As Pope Francis reminds us, we are called to “sow seeds of goodness for the benefit of others”, to take daily concrete actions in favour of our brothers and sisters.
We are all looking forward to a great term ahead.
For any parents who are still waiting on your child's school photos please contact Elite School Photography directly at info@eliteschoolphotography.com.au
Take care,
Catherine
In July 2021, the Victorian Government announced new Child Safe Standards (CSS) to further strengthen child safe environments and protect children from abuse. The new CSS came into affect on Friday 1 July 2022.
From 1 July 2022, 11 new Victorian Child Safe Standards replaced Victoria’s seven current Child Safe Standards and principles in place since 2016.
The revised Victorian CSS support greater national consistency, reflecting the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The CSS include new requirements, including:
- the involvement of families and students in child safety efforts
- focus on the safety of Aboriginal children and young people
- management of the risk of child abuse in online environments
- governance, systems and processes to keep students safe.
The CSS are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359 (MO 1359), which was released by the Victorian Government on 10 February 2022. MO 1359 defines the actions schools must take to meet the requirements associated with the new CSS.
St Paul's is compliant with these new standards and I have outlined below a short overview of each of the 11 CSS and the related policies that either have been updated or developed by MACS to allow us to be compliant. I have also noted where parents can access them.
Child Safe Standard 1 : Culturally safe environments
Establish culturally safe environments in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children, young people and students are respected and valued.
Policies that have been updated to include and contextualise ‘Diversity and Equity’:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy * Policy name change from Child Safety to Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy (new)
- MACS Pastoral Care of Students Policy updated
- Student Behaviour Policy updated
- Anti-bullying Policy (including cyberbullying) updated
Child Safe Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in leadership, governance and culture
Ensure that child safety and wellbeing is embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.
Policies that have been updated to include and contextualise :
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- Child Safe Code of Conduct updated
Child Safe Standard 3 : Child and student empowerment
Ensure that children, young people and students are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Policies that have been updated to include and contextualise ‘Student Safety’:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (updated)
- Procedure for Ensuring that Staff are Informed about Mandatory Reporting Obligations (new)
- MACS Complaints Handling Policy for Schools (new)
- St Paul’s Complaints Handling Policy (updated)
- PROTECT : Identifying and Responding to Abuse – Reporting Obligations updated
Child Safe Standard 4 : Family engagement
Ensure that families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Contextualise the MACS School Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy, detailing the strategies and actions to support family engagement.
Policies that have been developed or updated:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- MACS School Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy (new)
Child Safe Standard 5: Diversity and equity
Ensure that equity is upheld, and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
Contextualise the 'Diversity and equity – strategies and actions' section of the MACS School Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
Policies updated to reflect this context.
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- Student Behaviour Policy updated
- MACS Pastoral Care of Students Policy updated
- Anti-bullying Policy (including cyberbullying)updated
Child Safe Standard 6: Suitable staff and volunteers
Ensure that people working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Implement recruitment practices for staff and contractors engaged in child-connected work these policies support this practice:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- Recruitment Policy updated
- WWC Policy
- Reportable Conduct Policy updated
- Teacher Registration Policy updated
- Staff Social Media Policy updated
- ICT Acceptable Use Policy
Child Safe Standard 7: Complaints processes
Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Contextualise the MACS School Complaints Handling Policy and ensure that it is accessible, child-focused, culturally safe and easily understood by the school community.
- St Paul’s Complaints Handling Policy updated
- Reportable Conduct Policy updated
- PROTECT: Identifying and Responding to Abuse – Reporting Obligations updated
Supporting policies
- MACS Complaints Handling Policy for Schools new
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- PROTECT: Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools
- PROTECT: Identifying and Responding to Student Sexual Offending
Child Safe Standard 8: Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness
Ensure that staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training. Outlines in the following policies:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- Child Safe Code of Conduct updated
- Recruitment Policy updated
Child Safe Standard 9: Child safety in physical and online environments
Ensure that physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children, young people and students to be harmed.
Required policies
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy updated
- Child Safety Code of Conduct updated
Supporting policies
- Anti-bullying Policy (including cyberbullying)updated
- MACS Duty of Care Guidelines updated
- ICT Acceptable Usage Policy
- MACS Risk Management Framework new
- Risk Management Policy new
- Supervision Policy updated
- Student Behaviour Policy updated
Child Safe Standard 10: Review of child safety practices
Ensure that implementation of the Child Safe Standards (including Ministerial Order No. 1359) is regularly reviewed and improved.
This will involve a greater ‘voice’ from our students and also seeking input from parents through surveys and the Schools Advisory Council.
Child Safe Standard 11: Implementation of child safety practices
Have policies and procedures document how schools are safe for children, young people and students. These must be published on the school website:
https://www.spbentleigh.catholic.edu.au/child-safety
The Parent Portal has been updated so the we are complainant with the ministerial order. https://spbentleigh.schoolzineplus.com/macs-policies
If you have any questions please just email me on mjuliff@spbentleigh.catholic.edu.au
Michael Juliff
Director of Child Safety, Policy and Compliance
After two years off due to COVID lockdowns the annual "Battle of the Saints" football showdown is back for 2022. St Peter's have had the best of the past few battles, but the St Paul's dads have been training hard for three years now and are confident we'll lift the trophy on August 27, at Centenary Park Oval. Save the date in your calendars now - it's always a fun family day cheering on the dads!
