The Messenger T1 Wk1 2020 - Mansfield Steiner School

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The MessengerTERM 1 WEEK 1 WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY, 2020

God bless the corners of this schoolAnd be the lintel blessed.

And bless the floorAnd bless the board

And bless each sturdy desk.God bless the door which opens wide

The children to let inAnd bless the crystal windowpaneThrough which the sun shines inGod bless the roof tree overhead

And every solid wallThe peace of manThe peace of God

The peace of love on all.

To friends and family,

Welcome to the 2020 school year, a year which for many has started with uncertainty and distress. As we step tentatively into a new

decade Mansfield Steiner looks to the future with 2020 vision, with clarity and acuity knowing that we are offering an academic oasis in

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the midst of troubled times. Our vision for the school is to make fear irrelevant and to produce a generation of students who are

uniquely qualified creators, thinkers and innovators.

Welcome to new parents to the school; may it be a long and fulfilling educational journey for you.

This year we are offering the Diploma of the International Baccalaureate, a Senior Secondary qualification which is dedicated to

making the world a better place. Our pioneering cohort of Year 11 students is small, but very passionate about the opportunities

unfolding before them. We welcome Sally Batten and Jenny Taylor, both very experienced IB teachers, recently retired from prestigious

independent schools in Melbourne. Sally will teach IB English and Jenny will take the three IB core subjects.

We are also very excited to welcome our first Outdoor Education teacher, Brooke Varacalli. Brooke has planned a dynamic and

stimulating outdoor programme which will encourage the Year 9 students to develop a passion and reverence for nature and a strong

sense of community.

Lucy Cleeland and Simon Howard will join Geoff Wright and Claire Little in the Music Faculty. Lucy has been working at the school on

a casual basis over the past few years and will teach violin to all levels. Simon is a highly qualified and very experienced cello teacher

from Melbourne and is looking forward to teaching cello to the students at Mansfield Steiner School.

We welcome Josh Byrne as Year 7 Guardian and Secondary Teacher. Josh is from Wagga Wagga and taught in London for the past

couple of years. He spent some time last year getting to know his class when he joined the Canberra camp.

Our Cooking Coordinator is Genevieve DeSantis. Genevieve is a parent at the school and has previously taught the Kitchen Garden

Programme. The Primary Classes from Class 2 to Class 6 will cook each week. Bec Macmillan, our Librarian is on six months leave,

teaching English in Spain, so Genevieve will take Bec’s library sessions in her absence. Andrew Storrie will take cooking on Tuesday

and Wednesday.

Jo Bell will be the Lower Primary French Teacher. She will teach Prep to Class 3 and Jen O’Donnell will teach the upper classes and IB

French.

We welcome our new cleaner to the school: Neil Parker. Neil has worked in the cleaning business for many years; he has spent most

of the holidays ensuring that the school is in a pristine state for the students' return to school.

There will be many changes within the school this year, and with all changes there is some discomfort until we become accustomed to

new routines. If you have any issues involving your child, please speak to your Class Teacher. Any other issues involving the school

please speak to me; anything involving finances contact Andrew.

Small class sizes will ensure that every student is acknowledged, supported and able to feel confident, empowered and able to flourish

in a nourishing environment.

May 2020 be a year of gratitude, compassion and fulfillment, a mindful year where we continue to pursue excellence.

Fran Cummins

Principal

Term 1: Tuesday 28 January – Friday 27 March 2020

Staff PD day Tuesday 28 January

Students Commence Wednesday 29 January

Year 9 Parent/Student Outdoor Ed Information Night Thursday 30 January, 6pm

School Swim Program - Prep to Year 8 Friday 31 January

School Assembly - no performance Friday 31 January, 2.45pm

Class 1 Parent Information Night Monday 3 February, 7pm

Class 4 Parent Information Night Wednesday 5 February, 7pm

Year 9 Coastal Camp Wednesday 5 – Friday 7 February

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Thursday 6 February, 7pm

School Assembly - Secondary Music performance Friday 7 February, 2.45pm

School Swim Program - Prep to Year 8 Friday 7 February


Class 3 Parent Information Night Tuesday 11 February, 7pm

Year 9 Torquay Camp Wednesday 12 – Friday 14 February

Class 3-6 District Swim trials Wednesday 12 February

Rosa Mundi Parent Information Night Wednesday 12 February, 7pm

Rosa Mundi Bindaree Visit Thursday 13 February, 10.30am

School Swim Program - Prep to Year 8 Friday 14 February

School Assembly – Class 4 performance Friday 14 February, 2.45pm


Class 5 Sovereign Hill Camp Monday 17 – Wednesday 19 February

Morning Star Parent Information Night 'Echidnas' Tuesday 18 February, 6.30pm

Morning Star Parent Information Night 'Honey Bees' Wednesday 19 February, 6.30pm

Year 7&8 Much Ado About Nothing Incursion Thursday 20 February, 11.30am-1pm

Year 9 Lifesaving Mansfield Swimming Pool Thursday 20 - Friday 21 February

School Swim Carnival / No School Assembly Friday 21 February, 12 – 3pm

Ron Murray Indigenous Culture incursion Monday 24 February

Secondary School Parent Information Night (Yr 7 – 11) Tuesday 25 February, 7pm

Year 9 Torquay Camp Wednesday 26 – Saturday 29 February

State Interschool Mountain Bike Event - Falls Creek Friday 28 February

School Assembly – Class 3 performance Friday 28 February

Rosa Mundi Bindaree Visit Thursday 5 March, 10.30am

Year 9 Howqua Camp Thursday 5 – Friday 6 March

School Assembly – Class 2 performance Friday 6 March, 2.45pm

Labour Day Public Holiday – Student Free Monday 9 March

Year 9 Bluff Spur Camp Thursday 12 – Friday 13 March


Year 9 Buller Stirling Camp Wednesday 18 – Friday 20 March

Aust Mountain Bike Interschools – Thredbo Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 March


Year 9 Cross Cut Hike Tuesday 24 – Thursday 26 March

Class 3 Play Wednesday 25 March, 12pm & 7pm

Rosa Bindaree Visit Thursday 26 March, 10.30am

End of Term 1 Friday 27 March Early Departure 2.30pm

Stay up-to-date with all our events and date changes by subscribing to the 2020 Calendar...

FIRST DAY OF TERM 1 2020

Wednesday 29 January students commence school 3yo Kindergarten, Prep - Yr 11

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9am classes commence – please arrive by 8.50am to settle in prior to class gathering.

ALL class students meet in your classrooms prior to assembly.

ALL parents wishing to stay for assembly and the morning tea thereafter, please go straight to the Melliodora Hall. All parents to gather and form a circle around the edges of the hall.

Class 1 to 11 students will arrive at the hall with their teacher, in their class groups.

A parent morning tea will be held at the Melliodora Hall following assembly–all welcome.

Kinder students will finish at 12.30pm, please collect your child from the Morning Star room at this time.

The school day finishes at 3.20pm. All bus users to go directly to the bus shelter at the front of the school, Paul Britton will supervise and support younger students.

Students being picked up by parents at the end of the school day will wait at the ‘Waiting Tree’ opposite the preschool. All students who have not been collected by 3.35pm will be accompanied to the office and parents will be phoned.

SCHOOL SWIM PROGRAM (Prep - Year 8)

Commencing Friday January 31, the School Swim Program will run on Friday February 7 and February 14, ending with the School Swim Carnival on Friday 21 February.

Year 7&8: 9.30–10.30am (Class teachers: Josh Byrne/Seamus Kavanagh) Class 3&4: 10.30–11.30am (Class teachers: Michael Brittain/Linda Sampson)Prep: 11.30am–12.30pm (Class teacher: Ariel Stava)

Class 1&2: 1.00–2.00pm (Class teachers: Clare Bennetts/Jacinta Walker)Class 5&6: 2.00–3.00pm (Class teachers: Glenn Hood/Lou Pullar)School Swim Camival (February 21): All classes 12.00-3.00pm. All welcome.

Sessions to cover: Age appropriate swimming skills and water safety.All primary class groups need parent helpers with (WWC*) in attendance – please let your class teacher know if you can assist as soon as possible, thank you.

*ALL PARENT HELPERS AT THE KINDERGARTEN AND SCHOOL MUST HAVE A WORKING WITH CHILDREN CARD There is no charge for a ‘volunteer’ WWC. You can register online and just provide us with a receipt of application. We will receive a paper record of your card if you nominate the school on the application. Please ensure you apply for a WWC card if you would like to assist in your child’s classroom or on excursions etc., thank you. See http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/


BLANKET PERMISSION FORMS PREP-Year 11

The linked form was emailed to Prep-Year 11 families for completion and return to the office via email or hardcopy, by Wednesday 29 January, in readiness for the swim program on Friday 31.

Hardcopies will also be available at the office at the beginning of term.

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS

EARLY IN THE YEAR, the class teachers welcome the opportunity to discuss the year ahead with parents. Discussion nights are planned as follows and all parents are requested to attend.

Year 9 Outdoor Ed - Thursday 30 Jan, 6pm (Students & Parents)Class 1 - Monday 3 Feb, 7pmClass 4 - Wednesday 5 Feb, 7pmClass 5 - Thursday 6 Feb, 7pmClass 2 - Monday 10 Feb, 7pmClass 3 - Tuesday 11 Feb, 7pmRosa Mundi - Wednesday 12 Feb, 7pmClass 6 - Monday 17 Feb, 7pm

Morning Star Echidnas - Tuesday 18 Feb, 6.30pmMorning Star Honey Bees - Wednesday 19 Feb, 6.30pmSecondary School (Years 7 - 11) - Tuesday 25 Feb, 7pm

FROM GARDEN TO PLATE SCHOOL COOKING PROGRAM

This year we are excited to be offering a garden to plate school cooking program with the preparation of wholesome vegetarian cooked lunches.

Monday - Cooking with Class 5Tuesday - Cooking with Class 6Wednesday - Cooking with Class 2Thursday - Cooking with Class 3Friday - Cooking with Class 4

Class 1 – Clare will cook with Class 1 during the term, details to be confirmed.

This year Rosa Mundi Prep and the Morning Star Kindergarten are offering a full lunch program. The children will be part of making their lunch alongside teachers, cutting preparing and enjoying all the colours of the rainbow, exploring different seasonal foods from the school garden.


All parents: Please update your child’s food allergy information with the school office, thank you.

On the days when your child’s class is not cooking their lunch, please provide a wholesome, balanced lunch e.g. sandwich, fruit, vegetables, dry biscuits, cheese etc.

The school places great importance on environmental awareness, so please be conscious of minimising the amount of throw away packaging e.g. yoghurts, cardboard drink containers.

Many parents have successfully transitioned to a rubbish-free lunch every day for their child.

SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM

Welcome back to music for 2020! We are pleased to advise the following staff will be teaching music this year: Geoff Wright, Claire Little, Lucy Cleeland (Violin) and Simon Howard (Cello & Double Bass). We would especially like to welcome Simon who is new to our school.

The orchestras will rehearse as follows:MSPO is on Wednesday mornings at 7:50am in the Melliodora Hall.JPO is on Thursday mornings at 7:50am in the Melliodora Hall.

Rock Band will rehearse on Monday at Lunch time. We are introducing some new ensembles this year, details to come!

We are looking forward to another great year, with many opportunities for students to perform at school and around town.

If you wish to discuss your child's lessons or the music program, please don't hesitate to contact ourMusic Co-ordinator, Geoff Wright - [email protected]

LIBRARY DAYS FOR PREP - CLASS 6

Please check book shelves and bedrooms and return all school library books when school resumes.

Tuesday: Classes 3, 6 and Prep.

Wednesday: Classes 1, 4 and 2.

Thanks very much,Genevieve

MANSFIELD STEINER SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIKE INTERSCHOOL TEAM

In 2020 there are many exciting opportunities for


students in Class 3-Year 11 to represent our school at an interschool level in mountain biking events.

On Friday Feb 28, 2020 the XC Falls Creek Interschools are on. Entries will be placed on Friday 7th Feb. Interested families are asked to contact Ariel ASAP.

Thursday 19-22nd March will be the Australian Mountain Bike Interschools at Thredbo. This event offers XC, Downhill, Pump Track, Flow and a XC Relay teams events.

The Victorian Interschools Cycling Series is held from June to October on Saturdays over several rounds. 2020 will include Dromana Secondary College, Lysterfield, You Yangs, Bendigo, Creswick and one more venue TBC in the northeast.

It would be wonderful to see many students from our school represented at all of these exciting events. Please contact Ariel (0400 649 994) if you would like more information.

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)Information for Parents

An outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in late December 2019.

Exclusion from School or Early Childhood Centres.

If you have been informed by Public Health authorities that your child is a close contact of a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), even if they don’t have symptoms, they cannot attend school or childcare until Public Health informs you that it is safe for them to

do so.

If your child has recently travelled to mainland China and has developed symptoms (listed below), contact your usual doctor for assessment who will liaise with Public Health authorities and determine whether or not your child needs to be excluded from school or child care.

If your child has recently travelled to mainland China and has not developed any of the symptoms (listed below), they may attend their school or early childhood centre and should not be excluded.

For more information please read the Novel corona fact sheet for parents HERE.

PLAYGROUP

Playgroup will begin Monday February 3, 9.30-11.30am with Taryn Baker. Please bring a piece of fruit to share.

If you have not registered for Playgroup 2020 please do so; there are currently 3 places available in the Term 1 program. Please see office staff for a registration form.

There will be one spot available each week for a trial session (one session only), please contact Taryn Baker to book in if you are interested:


[email protected]. Following this session, if you are interested in joining Playgroup and the group is full, you will be added to a waiting list.

PARENTS & FRIENDS - CRAFT GROUP

Are you interested in joining the Parents and Friends Craft group? No experience necessary.

Please let Eileen know what day would suit you by February 15 and a mutually convenient day will be nominated.

Sincerely Eileen - 0488 555 952

PONDERING STEINER

The Pondering Steiner reading group will gather on Wednesday evening at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.

There is no requirement of reading aloud nor homework. All welcome!

Shop 5, 12 High Street, MansfieldEnquiries to: Janina 0421812881 or Taryn 5776 2174.

NOTES FROM THE OFFICE

CAMP, SPORTS AND EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like; school camps or trips, swimming and school organised sports programs, outdoor education programs AND excursions and incursions. Applications for 2020 are now open and will close at the end of Term 2. You can apply if you are a family holding a valid means-tested concession card or are temporary foster parents. There are two criteria that must be met, please visit the website HERE for all the details.

CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCEIn some locations in rural and regional Victoria, students are unable to access free school buses and schools must assist eligible parents/carers to access the conveyance allowance to help with the costs of student travel to and from school. Depending on how a student travels to school, a student may be granted a conveyance allowance if they meet their eligibility criteria when they:

• attend their closest government or appropriate non-government school/campus located outside the metropolitan conveyance boundary.

• reside 4.8km or more from that school/campus attended.

For more information please contact Sally - [email protected]

PARENT RESOURCE PAGE UPDATE

The school's parent resource page is an important reference for all parents and will be regularly used to remind parents of important policy information. Please note both our Risk Minimisation Strategies and Anaphylactic Shock Management policy can now be found on our website HERE. In addition to this, the school is implementing new


school administration software to improve general communication for important items via a parent's portal. This will be rolled out towards the end of Term 1.

ALL VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL including parent helpers must sign in at reception.ALL VISITORS will receive a numbered visitor’s tag which is to be returned to reception at the time of signing out, thank you. CHILD SAFE – Visitors to the school who do not have a current Working With Children check will be escorted to the area of the campus concerning their visit.

ALL STUDENTS LEAVING EARLY OR ARRIVING LATE must also be signed in/out at reception. This allows staff to be aware of who is on the school grounds if an emergency should occur.

2020 TERM DATESTerm 1: Tuesday 28 January Staff PD dayWednesday 29 January students commence. Last day of term: Friday 27 March – early departure time, 2 week holiday.Term 2: Tuesday 14 April Staff PD dayWednesday 15 April students commence.Last day of term: Friday 19 June - normal departure time, 3 week holiday.Term 3: Monday 13 July Staff PD day.Tuesday 14 July students commence.Last day of term Friday 18 September - early departure time, 2 week holiday.Term 4: Monday 5 October Staff PD day.Tuesday 6 October students commence.Last day of term: Thursday 10 December - normal departure time, 6 week holiday.

2020 SCHOOL FEE SCHEDULEIs now available on the school website together with payment plan options - see here.

CAR PARKPlease park in the parking bays not along side of the drive and NOT IN THE TURNING CIRCLES as this stops the flow of traffic for other vehicles particularly large delivery vans. Please do not park in the turning circles when dropping off or collecting your child from kinder. Move your vehicle very slowly. Be alert for children – remember the younger they are, the less predictable they are and the harder they are to see. Parents, please watch your children. Make sure they walk along the path – and not through the driveway

SCHOOL ENTRY: TRAFFIC FLOWPlease follow the traffic directions at front of school. Entry to the school is one way. Departure from the school is a left turn onto the service road, thank you.

THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE (GC) meet on the Fourth Monday of each month, 6.30pm in the staff room.President – Sarah LieberVice President – John BowenTreasurer – Tim RossSecretary – Scott ErsvaerCatherine Yencken, Andy Stokes, Rosemary Brennan

For further news and information please follow the links below...PARENT RESOURCE PAGESTUDENT MOBILE PHONESSUNSCREEN PRESCHOOL & SCHOOL FAMILIES ALL VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL ALL VISITORS - CHILD SAFE ALL STUDENTS LEAVING EARLY OR ARRIVING LATE ALL PARENT HELPERS AT THE KINDERGARTEN AND SCHOOL MUST HAVE A WORKING WITH CHILDREN CARD STUDENT DROP OFFDO NOT PARK IN THE TURNING CIRCLESSUSTAINABILITY IN OUR SCHOOLOUR MUSIC PROGRAMSCHOOL POLICIES and PROCEDURESTHE SCHOOL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE


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The Messenger T1 Wk1 2020 - Mansfield Steiner School