Years 1 and 2 Adventure

Friday 12 October saw the excited Year 1 and 2 students gather for the annual outdoor experience held after school for both year levels. Following the planned activities and a delicious dinner served in the Mary Davis Café, the Year 1 students went home with their parents while the Year 2 students settled into their overnight adventure – sleeping at school!

Many thanks to Mrs Lola Ballis (Camp Coordinator), Mrs Loretta Iacuone, Mrs Virginia Guest and Mr Luke Russell who ensured that the activities were well enjoyed and the sleepover was a memorable adventure.

Year 3 Bacchus Marsh Visit

Earlier this week, the Year 3 students visited Bacchus Marsh for the annual Year 3 two night, three day activity. There are lots of stories to share. More details in the next edition of The Blue Ribbon.

Sun Hats Each Day

All Barbreck students are required to have a sun hat at school each day in Terms 1 and 4, and at other times as advised. Hats are worn during each outdoor break period and also at all outdoor Physical Education sessions. Families are requested to label all items of clothing and student belongings, including sun hats. Well labelled hats are very easy to return to their owners. Often, families find it wise to provide two sun hats for each student to allow for the occasions when a hat is temporarily misplaced or worn home after an afternoon Sport session and not worn back to school the next morning.

Planning Towards the New Year

With respect, families are asked to be cautious about conversations regarding School class placements and teachers in 2019. Term 4 is a busy one and we earnestly want the girls to be focused on learning, and to complete tasks and activities and to enjoy the ‘now’. We still have much of 2018 to go and definitely much to do.

Conversations about teachers and classes can provide a distraction and a sense of anxiety. Staff year level allocations are not confirmed until near the end of the year. Once announced, unless a genuine error has occurred and can be readily explained and rectified, no changes are made to class distribution and placement of students.

With regard to class placements of students, please note that Barbreck staff oversee this task. Placements are made according to many factors including an academic balance, consideration of learning behaviours, self management skills, and approach towards school tasks. Students will always want to be with one or more particular peers, but there are occasions when friendships are really appealing but do not necessarily work well when mixed with classroom learning. Parents are asked to leave decisions of these kinds to the class teachers. Staff class teachers observe the students on a daily basis as do the specialist staff in their sessions. Staffing in classes is also finalised much later in the year.

Extra-Curricular Activities and Requirements

Enrolment and acceptance into an extra-curricular program, such as ‘Homework Happenings’ or ‘Write on Wednesday’, requires students to attend the session each time unless absent from school on the day. Should there be an occasion when your daughter cannot attend a session and they are not absent from school on the day, it is very important that the staff in charge are advised by parents. Attendance rolls are marked each session and staff often have spent time looking for a specific student and through phone calls, discover that they are not attending the session for a specific family reason or an appointment.

Important Organisational Reminders and Details

Absence from School
When a student is going to be absent on a school day, parents are asked to call the Absentee Line and leave a recorded message. Please do not leave the message elsewhere in the School or on another phone line. Absences are recorded in official School attendance records by 9.00am.
Absentee Line: +61 3 9828 3021

Barbreck Email Address
Please note that barbreck@stcatherines.net.au is available for parents to notify the Junior School of a student’s absence and to relay any student information or messages. This email will be accessed by the Junior School Office.

Medication to Be Consumed at School
Please note that if students are to be administered medicine of any kind at school during the day, an email to barbeck@stcatherines.net.au needs to be sent or a hard copy to the Junior School Office. This needs to have authorisation and clear instructions.

Lunch Orders
Please order before 11.00am online at www.flexischools.com.au
After 11.00am, please contact the Junior School Office on 9828 3062 to request a late lunch order.

Year 6 Fundraising Action – Advance notice

Families are advised that Year 6 students are currently involved in planning for a Barbreck Fundraising event in order to support the Drought Relief Fund in Australia. The plight of the farm areas, and all those involved in their operation, is now well known and the Year 6 girls are very keen to do whatever is possible to help.

We ask families to support the effort and in advance, I advise that on Friday 9 November, the students in Years Prep to 6 are invited to dress for the day in ‘farm style’. Any connection to the farming industry, such as farmers, farmers’ wives, shearers, tractor and truck operators, animals, vegetables and fruit, can be represented in the costuming. We ask for no expenditure, but creative use of contents of wardrobes. The day will also involve the opportunity for all students to pre-order a ‘farm style’ lunch. More details to come.