3
4
ASSISTANT
Athle4cs Carnival
70th Anniversary Dinner
Sacrament Of Penance
7 FROM THE PRINCIPAL
CLASS NEWS
Kindy Pre Primary
PRINCIPALS’ CORNER School Times
The Rosary Socktober
6 SAFE SCHOOL FRAMEWORK
From the Principal
Dear Heavenly Father, As we start this new school term, guide us with Your wisdom and bless our efforts. May we learn, grow, and support each other.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
A very warm welcome back for Term Four.
We had a fantas4c day yesterday for our AthleDcs Carnival. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Miss Witkowski for organising the carnival, all our staff and parent helpers for ensuring that the day ran so smoothly, our students who demonstrated our school values throughout the day and all our parents and friends who came along to support their children. A special men4on to our P&F and their helpers for organising the fac4on colours fundraiser before school. Thank you!
Unfortunately due to the low numbers of 4cket sales, we have made the decision to cancel the 70th Anniversary Dinner on the 19th October. Thank you to those who have purchased a 4cket already. A refund will be processed today.
I would like to bring to your aSen4on that there has been an increase in used vapes in the areas surrounding the school. This morning we found a syringe next to a footpath. We regularly check the school grounds and surrounding areas, but as many students walk to the church carpark, we would appreciate if you could have a chat to your children about what to do if they see something that has been discarded.
On the holidays, Tilly and I aSended Level One Therapy Dog training with WAAT Dogs. This three-day training course was full of informa4on and training 4ps to help ensure that Tilly will be a success for many years to come. We have begun implemen4ng some of the skills she has learnt already.
While we would love all students to remain with us at IJS, we do understand that family circumstances change. If you know that your child will not be returning to Infant Jesus School in 2025, could you please let the school office know as soon as possible. We are currently receiving applica4ons for all year levels and as we are full in many classes, these families are currently being added to our waitlist.
Please keep our Year Three students in your prayers as they begin their prepara4on to receive the Sacrament of Penance later this term. Registra4on informa4on went out to Year Three parents on Monday.
Term Four is a very busy term with a lot of events on the calendar. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to our Grandparents Day on the 31 October, our Remembrance Day Reflec4on at 11 am on the 11 November, our ACM on the 19 November and our Christmas Concert on the 28 November. Please keep an eye on the term planner and the newsleSer throughout the term for the events each week.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
Mel Allen Principal
Assistant Principal’s Corner
School Times
The school 4mes are as follows:
8.30am Classes open (Pre-Primary to Year 6 children need to be at school)
8.40am School day begins
10.30am – 10.50am Recess
12.30pm – 1.10pm Lunch
3.00pm End of school day (Pre-Primary to Year 6)
It is very important that parents ensure that their children arrive at school no later than 8.30am so that they can unpack and get organised in order to start school promptly at 8.40am.
Morning supervision is from 8.00am and children are encouraged not to arrive at school before this 4me. Class teachers (except Kindergarten) will have their classes open for the children from 8.30am.
Absent Students
Parents must provide the teacher with a wriSen explana4on as to the cause of a child’s absence or a doctor’s cer4ficate. A note is also to be given to the class teacher and the school office if the child is absent for an extended period e.g. illness, holidays.
To ensure the safety of all children, parents are asked to no4fy the school by 9.00am if a child will be absent on a par4cular day. The Department of Educa4on has confirmed that whilst a phone message is not a subs4tute for a signed note when repor4ng absences, an email mee4ng the following criteria is acceptable; - the name of the student
- the class/roll group of the student - the reason for the absence
- the full name of the parent/guardian at the end of the message (the ‘from’ email address is not sufficient as it does not necessarily have the full name of the person sending it)
Staying away from school is only acceptable for legi4mate illness and extreme family circumstances. As a school we are legally responsible to report via an electronic program, all absence, every day, including con4nual lateness to school. Please make sure you are compliant with this legisla4on and assist by contac4ng the school by 9.00am on the day of absence. Please
also send a note upon return even if you have contacted by phone from the school. Your support is greatly appreciated.
The Rosary
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. This coincides with the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on 7 October and was ins4tuted to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary in gra4tude for the protec4on that she gives the Church in answer to the praying of the Rosary by the faithful.
The Rosary is a simple, repe44ve prayer by which we reflect on the life, death and glorifica4on of Christ through the eyes and heart of his mother. The Rosary is one way we can prayerfully contemplate the mysteries of our faith. Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous mysteries are reflected on as we pray.
During October, classes have been praying the Rosary, a very well-known prayer, giving thanks for the blessings we have received and praying for the needs of others in our community and around the world.
Socktober
October is Mission Month and tomorrow we will par4cipate in Socktober.
Socktober, is an inspiring ini4a4ve of Catholic Mission and a meaningful way for our students to engage with social jus4ce and the very important work of global mission through the world game of soccer.
This ini4a4ve also highlights valuable lessons about compassion and global awareness and allows Infant Jesus School to ac4vely contribute to the lives of others in a fun and interac4ve way.
Our contribu4ons can help children who truly need it to access beSer health, nutri4onal and educa4onal outcomes. Catholic Mission are very grateful for all dona4ons.
Safe School Framework
Purpose
The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to describe minimum standards of conduct in all behaviour and decision-making to ensure the safety and well-being of students.
ApplicaDon
The Code applies to staff, students, volunteers, parents and guardians as applicable. The term ‘parents’ includes guardians.
IntroducDon
You acknowledge the inherent vulnerability of the students in your care. You recognise that the safety and well-being of students depends upon your vigilance and diligence and the vigilance and diligence of all adults. The Code does not give you detailed professional advice on specific behaviour. Rather, it describes the minimum requirements expected of you.
The Guidelines are illustra4ve and not an exhaus4ve list of the behaviours covered by the Code. If your behaviour varies from the standards described in this Code and Guidelines, you should be prepared to explain and jus4fy your decisions and ac4ons. While mandatory language such as ‘must’, ‘shall’ and ‘will’ is not used throughout the Code, there is a presump4on the conduct described is mandatory and therefore not discre4onary. The Principal expects you to conduct yourself personally and professionally in a way that maintains public trust and confidence in your school and the Church. You have a responsibility to students and their family, other members of the school community and the wider community to provide and support safe and competent educa4on and care of students. You will do your best to support other members of the school community to comply with the Code.
In cases of conflict between parts of the Code, between the Code and other school policies, or in any decision-making choices, you give priority to the outcome that will be in the best interests of the safety and well-being of the child.
Breaches
Breaches of the Code must be no4fied to the Principal and it is a breach of the Code not to do so. A breach of the Code may cons4tute a failure to follow a lawful direc4on from the Principal and therefore the Principal will have the discre4on as to what ac4on to take, which may include counselling, professional development or sanc4ons under any agreement between you and the Principal. If you are a parent, volunteer or visitor, the Principal may take such ac4on as is appropriate in your circumstances to maintain the safety and well-being of students. The Principal must no4fy the appropriate authori4es of any breach of the Code that was grooming behaviour: ie. deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emo4onal connec4on with a student, to lower the student’s inhibi4ons in prepara4on for engaging in sexual ac4vity with the student. Examples include:
• developing rela4onships that could be seen as favouri4sm (for example, the offering of gios or special treatment for specific students)
• being alone with a student in circumstances where you are unseen or unlikely to be randomly interrupted
• ini4a4ng unnecessary physical contact with students or doing things of a personal nature that a student can do for themselves, such as toile4ng or changing clothes
• engaging in personal disclosures (including personal contact details), or exchanges containing sexual content with or in the presence of a student
• organising contact with a student or their family outside of school without the Principal’s knowledge and/or consent (e.g. tutoring, sport coaching).
• having any non-curriculum related online contact with a student (including via digital media) or their family
• using any personal digital media account to contact students or their family
• photographing or videoing a student without the consent of the parent
• being in the presence of a student whilst under the influence of alcohol or non-medically prescribed drugs or offering either to a student
The Principal must no4fy the appropriate authori4es of any breach of the Code that was sexual abuse of a child: ie sexual behaviour in circumstances where:
• the student is the subject of bribery, coercion, a threat, exploita4on or violence;
• the student has less power than another person involved in the behaviour; or
• there is a significant disparity in the developmental func4on or maturity of the child and another person involved in the behaviour.
Sending smiles
Exploring the wonders of the Post Office
In light of our theme this term focusing on community helpers, our Kindergarten children have been exploring what it means to work at the local post office!
From wri4ng leSers and sealing envelopes to sending parcels and delivering mail, we’ve had a great 4me serving our friends within our Infant Jesus Kindy Community.
Pre Primary
with chalk to consolidate this learning.
The students have become super wizards at comple4ng a graph and tallying the end results. They were then able to answer a series of ques4ons related to their findings.
