St Mary s Newsletter Issue: 35 Wednesday 05 November, 2014 Towards the State Election 2015 Dear Parents, ANNUAL PER STUDENT FUNDING THAT KEEPS PACE WITH THE RISING COSTS OF EDUCATION Catholic schools in Queensland, on average, receive only about 81% of the government funding per student received by state schools. According to the latest figures available, Catholic schools, on average, receive $9,238 per student in government funding while state schools receive $11,440 per student (MySchool website 2012). Any additional government funding for Catholic schools helps relieve pressure on school fees and assists more families to choose a Catholic school. This also relieves pressure on state schools and also saves government money. Catholic education is seeking to work with the next Queensland Government to achieve consistent budget outcomes that will: assist Catholic schools to keep pace with rising operating costs ensure that the gap in resourcing between Catholic schools and state schools does not widen. Parents are encouraged to become familiar with the issues and raise them, along with any others of particular importance to Catholic schools locally, with political representatives at any opportunity. This week I have included two articles for your due consideration. Key Issue 3: Ongoing collaboration to meet the needs of students with disability Key Issue 4: Support for vocational education and training in schools Please visit www.qcec.catholic.edu.au or www.pandf.org.au and follow the state election links to find out more detail. Sincerely, SHELL CAMPBELL Principal SELF HARM PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT EVENING This is an important and FREE Community information evening to address Self Harm in youth. It is a one hour session with very well-known speakers. Key topics will include: Reasons for self harm Risk factors Those most at risk Protective factors A what-to-say and what-not-to-say for parents Where: Warwick RSL Function Room When: 6.30pm Monday 10 th November Cost: Free NOTE: No children under 18 will be admitted to this session
Tuckshop News THURS 6/11: FRI 7/11: Trish Roche, Jess Baker Kirsten Ryan, Kathy Moses & Pam Browne MON 10/11: THURS 13/11: FRI 14/11: Rowena O Dea Kiri Rheinberger & Marg Walsh Tamme Ragh, Jo Swift & Ally Collins Tuckshop Days are now Monday, Thursday & Friday
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS Year Five Parish Mass Year 5 Carr & Year 5 Norton will be attending the Parish Mass at the St Mary s Church this Thursday 20 th November at 9.00am. Parents and relatives are most welcome to attend. Year 1 Preston Class Liturgy Year 1 Preston will be attending a Class Liturgy on Wednesday, 19th November, commencing at 9.00am at the Church. Family and friends are welcome to attend. ADMINISTRATION Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal Just a reminder that our St Mary s School Christmas Appeal has started. It will run for 2 weeks only this year. If you have any non-perishable goods you are able to donate, could you please bring them to your classroom ready for collection. The last day for collection is Friday 7th November. Thank-you for your support. STUDENT MINI VINNIES TEAM. Lost Property The Upper Campus Lost Property bin is overflowing. There are so many unnamed school jackets left over from Term 3. Please check that you have all of your belongings, especially spray jackets. Many of these unnamed spray jackets are small sizes possibly belonging to children from Year 4 or the Lower Campus. Items that are not collected by the end of the year will be washed and placed in the school uniform shop for purchases by other families. Direct Debit Request Forms Direct Debit forms were sent out with Term 4 School Fees. Could you please complete your Direct Debit Request for 2015 so your instalments can commence in the first week of Term One. Instalments can be made weekly/fortnightly/monthly or quarterly and deducted on a suitable day of the week that suits your budget. Please ring the school office if you require any further information regarding your school fee account. We thank you for attending to this important matter. The Lion King Excursion All Year 6 and Year 7 students will travel by bus to the Lyric Theatre on Wednesday 19 November to view the excellent theatre production of The Lion King. Families are reminded to return their permission/medical notes, along with the $45 to pay for this excursion, by Wednesday 12 th November. Find us on Facebook Are you a St Mary s School Warwick Facebook follower? We have an excellent site on Facebook, which is easily located using the Facebook search for St Mary s School Warwick. This site gives parents updates on events, alerts in case of bad weather, photographs of exciting school events (e.g. Warwick Rodeo Dress Up Day), regular prayers, reading hints and other reminders to help your family.
Remembrance Day At 5am on 11 November 1918, three German Government representatives accepted the armistice terms presented to them by an allied commander, General Foch of the French Army. The demands of the armistice included the withdrawal of German forces to the ease bank of the Rhine within 30 days, immediate cessation of warfare, and surrender of the German fleet and all heavy guns with no further negotiations until the signing of the peace treaty. The armistice became effective at 11am, 11 November 1918, and as the guns fell silent on the Western Front in France and Belgium, four years of hostilities ended. After World War II the Australian Government agreed to the United Kingdom s proposal that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars. Today the loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts is commemorated on Remembrance Day. Our school captains & vice captains for Yr 7 & Yr 6 will take part in the Remembrance Day commemoration ceremony on Tuesday 11 November at the Cenotaph in Leslie Park. The service commences at 10.45am. minute s silence. WEEKLY STUDENT AWARDS All classes will honour this special memorial with a Congratulations to the following students who received awards at last week s assembly: Prep: Seb Doyle, Billy Worth, Ethan Flood, Holly Wacker, Declan Spies, Taliah Benz, Lily Sanders Year One: Isabelle Beer, Indiya Davis, Charbel Kairouz, Elijah Tate-Whitton, Sophie Beard Year Two: Vincent Leotta, Zachary Clift, Leigham Portner, Tanaya Lambert, Grace Ball, Toby Spiller Year Three: Ryan Callow, Taylor Tattam, Daisy Wacker, Lily Nolan Year Four: Meggie Carey, Kimberly Reid Year Five: Basil Nolan, Anna Hegerty Year Six: Maddy Litchfield, Jayden Lippi, Sarah Hockings, Tom Johnson Year Seven: Liam Walton, Rielly Byrne, Claire Shadlow, Angus Gale, Tarod Kirstenfeldt LIBRARY NEWS Damaged books Recently, a number of books and CDs have been returned to the Lower Campus Library damaged by water or broken. Students who last borrowed these items will be given a letter indicating the replacement cost, so that replacement resources can be purchased. We would appreciate it if parents could assist with the care of books and CDs borrowed by their children. Books with CDs should not be left on the floor where they can be stood upon. Water bottles should be secure. Very Overdue Books The end of the school year is approaching. There are many students who have outstanding loans. If these books are not returned by the end of Week Seven, letters will be sent home indicating the amount to pay so that replacement books may be purchased. Book Club Reminder All order forms and payments must be returned to the office no later than Friday 14th November. Sorry but no late orders can be accepted.
NOTICES Sally Pearson is coming to Toowoomba Sally Pearson, our Olympic, World and Commonwealth athletics champion is coming to Toowoomba as a special guest at the St Vincent s Private Hospital s annual Race Day. Come and watch Sally train on Saturday morning at 9am, competing with local celebrities at 11am. When: Saturday 8 th November Where: The Glennie School, Toowoomba. TERM FOUR DATE CLAIMERS Wednesday 05 November Class Liturgy Prep White Tuesday 11 November Friday 14 November Monday 17 November Tuesday 18 November Wednesday 19 November Thursday 20 November Friday 21 November Tuesday 25 November Thursday 27 November Friday 28 November Monday 01 December Tuesday 02 December Thursday 4 December Friday 5 December Friday 05 December Remembrance Day Scholastic Book Club is due Year 6 Retreat Year 7 Retreat Class Liturgy Yr 1 Preston The Lion King Yr 6 & Yr 7 Parish Mass Yr5 Norton & Yr5 Carr P & F Meeting 7pm School Assembly School Leaders School Ball - Lower Campus Carols Concert at Aged Care Homes & Shopping Centre School Ball Upper Campus School Assembly - You Can Do It Awards Cultural Concert (6.00 pm) Swimming Carnival (9 to 13 year olds) Nativity Assembly Presentation 11am Lower Campus Graduation Mass 10.30am - Yr7 & Yr6 TERM FOUR CONCLUDES BOOK CLUB REMINDER All order forms and payments must be returned to the office no later than Friday 14 th November. Thank You
St. Mary's Primary School. ALLERGY MANAGEMENT POLICY RATIONALE Allergies are becoming a more frequent occurrence in society. Consequently, we must respond to the needs of those members of our community with identified allergies. This policy is concerned with a whole school approach to the health care and management of members of the school community suffering from specific allergies. The intent of this policy is to minimise the risk of any child or adult suffering allergy-induced anaphylaxis at school or while attending any school related activity. POLICY BACKGROUND The common causes of allergies relevant to this policy are nuts (in particular peanuts and tree nuts), dairy products, eggs, wasps, bees and ants. An allergic reaction to nuts is the most common high risk allergy and as such, demands more rigorous controls throughout the policy. POLICY SCOPE This policy applies to all members of the St Mary s School community including: Students Volunteers School Staff Tuckshop Helpers Parents / Guardians Relief staff POLICY DEFINITIONS ALLERGY ALLERGEN ANAPHYLAXIS EPIPEN MINIMISED RISK ENVIRONMENT HEALTH MANAGEMENT PLAN A condition in which the body has an exaggerated response to a substance (e.g. food and drug). Also known as hypersensitivity. A normally harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in the immune system of a susceptible person. Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a sudden, severe and potentially lifethreatening allergic reaction to food, stings, bites, or medicines. Brand name for syringe style device containing the drug Adrenalin which is ready for immediate inter-muscular administration. An environment where risk management practices, (e.g. Risk assessment forms) have minimised the risk of (allergen) exposure. A detailed medical document outlining an individual student s condition and treatment, with action plan for location of EpiPen. POLICY STATEMENT St Mary s is committed to ensuring that all students, staff and volunteers in our care are safe and that their well-being is maintained. We aim to minimise the risk of exposure to allergens (trigger foods, environmental hazards and insects), encourage self-responsibility, provide staff training and plan for effective response to possible anaphylaxis emergencies. ISSUE DATE: 28.07.2014 VERSION: Draft 2 POLICY APPROVAL: Pending
KEY ALLERGY STRATEGIES The involvement of parents, staff and the student in establishing individual Health Management Plans. The establishment and maintenance of practices for effectively communicating individual student medical plans to all relevant staff. The incorporation of allergy management strategies into the risk assessments for all school events, excursions and sporting activities. Regular Staff training in anaphylaxis management, including awareness of triggers and first aid procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency. All Parents / Guardians / staff / students are requested to eliminate allergenic food stuffs from lunch boxes and celebratory events. No food and drink sharing strategy in the playground Age appropriate student education on allergy awareness and self- responsibility. NUT RELATED STRATEGIES The Tuckshop, parent support groups (P&F) and outside caterers are made aware of the Allergy Management Policy and requested to eliminate nuts and food items with nuts as ingredients from their operations. Classroom teachers to promote student hand washing before and after eating. Staff training and education to ensure effective emergency response to any allergic reaction situation. Age appropriate education of children with severe nut allergies peanut and tree nut. All parents are asked to not send foods in school lunches that contain nuts, peanuts, tree nuts and those that contain nut traces. All staff and volunteers are to refrain from eating any foods that contain nuts, peanuts, tree nuts or those that contain nut traces at school. DAIRY AND EGG RELATED STRATEGIES Students with dairy product or egg allergies are managed by the school in consultation with the parents / guardians on a case by case basis. Age appropriate education of the children with the severe dairy/egg allergies. INSECT RELATED STRATEGIES Diligent management of wasp and ant nests on school grounds. Education of staff and students to report significant presence of insects in play areas with a timely response for eradication of known nests Age appropriate education of the children with severe insect allergies. PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALLERGY MANAGEMENT MEDICAL INFORMATION Parents of children, employees and volunteers are responsible for providing ongoing accurate and current medical information in writing to the school. The school will seek updated information via medical form at the commencement of each calendar year, to which parents are required to respond. Furthermore, should a child develop a condition during a year, or have a change in condition the parents must advise the school of the fact with details clarified accordingly in the individual Health Plan. For students with an allergic condition, the School requires parents / guardians to provide written advice in the form of a signed Health Management Plan (Action Plan) from a doctor, which explains the condition, defines the allergy triggers and any required medication. This must be updated annually for known allergies. ISSUE DATE: 28.07.2014 VERSION: Draft 2 POLICY APPROVAL: Pending
The School Administration Team will ensure there is an effective system for the management of medical information. The School Administration Team will liaise with parents on an annual basis to ensure that the Health Management Plan (Action Plan) is established and updated for each child with a known allergy. Teachers and teacher aides of those students and key staff are required to review and familiarise themselves with the medical information Each Class teacher will receive an Ascertained and Medical Alert document in his/her class folder. Action Plans with a recent photograph for any students with allergies will be posted in relevant rooms (including Tuckshop) with parental permission. Where students with known allergies are participating in camps and/or excursions, the risk assessments and safety management plans for those camps and/or excursions will include each student s individual allergy Health Management Plan (Action Plan). Teaching staff in control of such camps or excursions must ensure they or another staff member is trained in the use of the EpiPen and is also capable of managing an anaphylaxis reaction. Relevant sports coaches are provided with medical information and individual Health Management Plan for any student with known allergy prior to undertaking any sporting activity. EPIPEN MANAGEMENT Where EpiPens (Adrenalin) are required in the Health Management Plan: Parents/ guardians are responsible for the provision and timely replacement of the EpiPens, in all sections of the school. Parents will advise the school when the replacement of medication for students is due. The EpiPens are located securely in relevant locations at Lower Campus, Upper Campus and Preschool Facility approved by the Principal. Whilst EpiPens are the individual s responsibility, St Mary s will keep an additional EpiPen suitable for children in emergencies. The school will ensure those teaching staff and school officers working with students with allergies, are trained in the use of EpiPens and records of such training are maintained. MINIMIZED NUT ENVIRONMENT STATEMENT St Mary s School will promote the following food allergy information through the school website, parent handbook, newsletter articles and parent support meetings (incl. P & F) on an annual basis. FOOD FROM HOME Parents are requested to pack student lunches that contain: No peanuts No nuts of any type No foods with peanut or nut derivative or ingredients (e.g. Nutella, Peanut Paste, Nut Bars) No foods that contain traces of peanut No foods that contain nut traces STAFF DIET All staff and volunteers are to refrain from eating any foods that contain nuts, peanuts, tree nuts or those that contain nut traces at school or in the school grounds at any time. Staff will not provide rewards of food/sweets or curriculum materials that contain nut ingredients or nut traces. ISSUE DATE: 28.07.2014 VERSION: Draft 2 POLICY APPROVAL: Pending
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH PLANS Parents of children, employees and volunteers with allergies must provide ongoing accurate medical information in writing to the school on an annual basis in the form of a signed Health Management Plan from a Medical Practitioner. Should a child develop an allergic condition during a year, or have a change in condition the parents must advise the school of the fact with details clarified accordingly in the individual Health Plan. TUCKSHOP Tuckshop management will be consulted and work with the school administration team in preparing foods under the following guidelines: No Peanuts No nuts of any types No foods with peanut or nut derivative or ingredient (e.g. Nutella) No foods that contain some traces of peanut (where possible) It is expected that tuckshop staff are made aware of the risk of cross- contamination when preparing foods. Parent responsibility includes the expectation that they make themselves aware of tuckshop foods and train their children to avoid any products they consider unsafe. CAMPS AND EXCURSIONS The teacher coordinating the activity shall check with food providers and ensure safe food is provided, or that an effective control is in place to minimise risk of exposure. Where a student is prescribed an EpiPen, all staff present during the activity shall be made aware of the appropriate medical treatment outlined in the Individual Health Management Plan. Individual student EpiPens will be taken on all school camps and/or excursions. A spare, current school EpiPen will be taken on all school camps and/or excursions. SCHOOL EVENTS Where a planned BBQ or event is planned, the coordinating group (e.g. P&F) are responsible to ensure that peanuts, peanut products or peanut oil are not used. No Nuts or Nut Products are to be provided. No foods containing nut traces are to be provided. ISSUE DATE: 28.07.2014 VERSION: Draft 2 POLICY APPROVAL: Pending