Welcome back to Term Two - we hope you have had a lovely break from the busyness of school and afterschool activities and are refreshed for the start of this new term. 

The staff had a very informative day working with St Gabriel's staff to learn more about trauma and the impact it can have on the young people in our school. We thank Amy Hunt from Lookout for her time and sharing her expertise. 

Kids ROAR - Year 3/4 and 5/6 children 

Last term, we advised our parent community about our partnership with the Kids ROAR program, a program that educates and promotes protective behaviours with children and young people. We also held a parent session that specifically looked at ways in which parents can respond when dealing with children who may be exposed to physical or sexual harm and ways in which they can protect their children from these harms. Thank you to the parents who were able to attend the online session at the end of last term - We have had feedback that it was an informative and worthwhile session.

This week, our year 3 to year 6 students will be participating in age appropriate sessions with an experienced presenter from Kids ROAR. The content discussed will focus on ways in which children and young people can keep themselves safe from harm and what steps can be taken should they be exposed to or experience this type of trauma. 

On Wednesday 24th April, staff will also complete a Responding to Disclosures session with a Kids ROAR presenter, looking at ways that we respond and support children who may have experienced trauma. 

School Advisory Committee

The School Advisory Committee operates as the principal consultative and advisory body in the school. The School Advisory Committee is advisory to the School Principal. This body acts as an adviser on strategic planning, support to the Principal, school improvement and development, policy and general leadership, the sole purpose ultimately being to serve and work toward the mission and vision of the school.

The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• promote the Catholic ethos of the school
• provide feedback on and review of school policies
• plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
• provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
• contribute to the selection process for the school principal
• provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
• promote child safety in the school

The School Advisory Committee has no responsibility for the internal management and administration of the school, which are the responsibility of the school principal under the supervision and direction of DOSCEL.

Membership of this committee comprises of: 

• the School Principal (acts as chair, unless the Principal nominates a chair) 
• the Parish Priest/priests (if they wish to be on this committee)
• four (4) parents of children attending the school elected by the parents of the school, including a nominee of the parent and friends association
• up to three (3) parishioner representatives nominated by the parish priest

We are seeking four parents who are interested in being a part of this committee. Days and times for the meetings will be decided once a committee is formed based on the availability of those elected. 

Please email principal@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au byTuesday 23rd April if you would like to be a part of this committee. 

Along with most schools around Australia, our school will be taking part in the sixth Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). It’s a national census completed every three years that records how children are developing as they begin their first year of full-time school.

The idea behind the census is that it builds a national picture of the development and needs of young children in Australia. It is important that all schools take part in the AEDC – regardless of school size or type – to ensure data is collected on all Australian children enrolled in their first year of full-time school.

Australia is uniquely positioned to use the information collected every three years as part of the AEDC to provide a snapshot of how young children have fared living through the COVID-19 pandemic.

An important aspect of the AEDC is that the results are reported for groups of children, rather than individual children – so information about your child will remain anonymous. When participating in the AEDC, the privacy of children is maintained in accordance with national and state and territory privacy legislation and policies.

The AEDC results are reported at a national, state/territory, community and school level.

AEDC results at community, state/territory, and national levels are available to everyone – communities, parents/carers, schools and governments - via the AEDC website www.aedc.gov.au.

The AEDC has become important for planning and targeting the right kinds of services and support for children and families all over the country.

Children won’t miss any class time and they don’t need to be present when the teacher completes the census; it’s based on Teacher observations.

Parents/carers do not need to provide any information for the census.

The census is important because it helps Teachers get a better idea of children’s needs in the classroom, and helps our community get the services, resources and support they need.

The Foundation Teachers will begin collecting the census data in May. They use a research tool (similar to a questionnaire) to measure children’s development across five key areas, also known as domains.

The AEDC domains are:

• physical health and wellbeing
• social competence
• emotional maturity
• language and cognitive skills (school-based)
• communication skills and general knowledge.

The census is based on the work of internationally renowned child health experts. Australia has led the way, internationally, and was the first country in the world to collect this type of data at a national level on the developmental health of all children starting full-time school.

When researchers produce the AEDC reports, they work with ‘de-identified data’ (which is anonymous data). This means that there is no information reported about an individual child. Because the AEDC is a group measure, individual child assessments are not available to parents/carers.

Participation in the census is voluntary, and it is not a test. Parents/carers only have to notify the school if they choose to have their child excluded.

IMPORTANT DATES

• 25th April - Anzac Day - Public Holiday
• 26th April - School Closure Day
• 30th April - District Cross Country
• 1st May - Confirmation parent Meeting 6pm at the Church
• 20th - 22nd May - 5/6 Phillip Island Camp
• 24th May - Sacrament of Confirmation 6pm at the Church

PARISH NEWS