IMPORTANT MEDICAL ALERTS

We have had a number of illnesses presenting in our classrooms over the last few weeks, many of them are quite contagious.  We encourage all families to ensure children who are presenting with symptoms of any of the below known illnesses to keep children home until symptoms have fully cleared.

Conjunctivitis

Please watch your child for the following symptoms. If your child has the symptoms below, you should call your child’s medical provider for guidance.

• Redness or swelling of the white of the eye or inside the eyelids
• An increased amount of tears
• Eye discharge which may be clear, yellow, white, or green
• Itchy, irritated, and/or burning eyes
• Gritty feeling in the eye
• Crusting of the eyelids or lashes
• Contact lenses that feel uncomfortable and/or do not stay in place on the eye

There are four main causes of conjunctivitis. Sometimes it is hard to know the exact cause of conjunctivitis because some signs and symptoms may be the same no matter the cause.
• Viruses (like the common cold).
• Bacteria
• Allergens (from pollen, pets, or dust mites)
• Irritants (like swimming pool chlorine)

Treatment depends on the reason for conjunctivitis (bacterial, viral or allergic). It is important to talk with your child’s healthcare provider (doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse) so they can tell you if your child may need medicine or stay home from school.

Conjunctivitis is spread from person to person in different ways. It is usually spread through:
• Contact from touching or shaking hands
• The air by coughing and sneezing
• Touching an object or surface with germs on it, then rubbing your eyes

Washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and not sharing food and drinks with others can help control the spread of conjunctivitis.

Antibiotics do not help conjunctivitis unless it is caused by bacteria. Whether or not your child needs medicine for conjunctivitis is up to your doctor.

Hand Foot & Mouth

Children usually develop symptoms between 3 to 7 days after being infected.

The most common symptoms include:

• fever
• sore throat
• small, blister-like lesions that may occur on the inside of the mouth, sides of the tongue, palms of the hands, fingers, soles of the feet and ‘nappy’ area
• children are often irritable, tired, and may be off their food.

Very rarely, the virus can affect the lining of the brain or spinal cord, leading to more severe symptoms such as seizures, confusion, unsteadiness, and weakness.

Head Lice

ANGLICARE PARENT SESSION - RAISING RESILIENT KIDS

Raising Resilient kids:

Learn ways to increase your child’s confidence in developing skills.

Assist your child to develop ways to solution find.

Build trust and connection with your child.

Learn about the power of praise.  

Anglicare Victoria is running sessions either school in person or on-line at no cost to families.

Tuesday 1^st August on -site here at school 9:30-11:30 am (in the old library) Enter via Admin

OR Via Zoom Tuesday 8^th August  6:00- 8:00 pm

Register via https://forms.officecomm/r/y1Z6ty8vnA

For further detail contract Heath Mills on 0499 007 031

(Watch out for further sessions in coming weeks: Parenting Anxious Kids, Dealing with Feelings)  Flyers were sent home, please check your child’s school bag.

ANGLICARE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE ONSITE ON THURSDAY

Every family needs a little help from time to time. Are finances stressing you out?  Is parenting feeling a little too hard some days? Your children’s emotions difficult to manage? Is their behaviour disrupting the whole household and impacting their time at school? Anglicare Victoria Family Services are now located on site every Thursday to provide support in these areas, or even if you just need to have a chat.

Completely confidential, non judgemental, we are here to support you and your family.  Contact Heath on 0499 007 031 or ask for Heath at the office any time on Thursday.

Through Anglicare Victoria we are also able to provide free parenting groups to develop and strengthen parenting skills and create positive change within your family.

In Term 3Anglicaree Victoria Parentzone will be running 4 groups – in person at school and also online.

The 4 topics that will be covered are School Refusal, Raising Resilient Kids, Parenting Anxious Kids and Dealing with Feelings.

Stay tuned for further information and how you can register your interest!

The dates will be 

Raising Resilient kids – At school Tues 1st August or Online Tues 8th August

Parenting Anxious kids – At school Tues 15th August or Online Tues 22nd August

Dealing with feelings – At school Tues 29th August or Online Tues 5th August

NCCD INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

• If you currently have any documents that require your signature at home, could you please return these, signed to the office or your child's teacher.  This will help to show evidence of Parent Collaboration when it comes time to submit our NCCD data.
• We are beginning to use the online platform DocuSignn" to communicate these documents with families in a bid to omit the need for so many paper copies.  If you receive an email from Caitlin Noonan via DocuSign, your signature is required on some documents.
• Any further questions, please see Caitlin Noonan in the office (Mon-Wed) or via email: cnoonan@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

CATHOLIC PRIMARY SPORTS DAY @MARIST SION COLLEGE

On Friday 1st September all Grade 5-6 students have a sports round robin and lunch at Marist Sion with the other Catholic feeder schools.

SECONDHAND UNIFORM

Many of our new and existing families have benefitted from our secondhand uniform cupboard this year.  We have been overwhelmed by the number of families who have taken up the offer to utilise this service.

Unfortunately, this is a service that relies heavily on the generosity of our families and their willingness to donate what they have available, or what their children have grown out of.

We are asking all of our families to take a look in their childrens cupboard and if you have any good quality uniform that is not being used by your family, and could be donated to assist another family we encourage you to bring it into the administration office.

We appreciate all items that can be donated.

DROPPING STUDENTS AT SCHOOL BEFORE 8.30AM

Parents are reminded that students must not be dropped off at school, and left unsupervised prior to the school gate opening at 8.30am.  If you need to drop your children off prior to 8.30am, we recommend that you contact Camp Australia and access before school care.

STUDENT ABSENCES 

PARENTS WORKING ONSITE AT ST ITAS

A reminder to all parents who are entering the school as classroom helpers or parent support during speech and or OT sessions;

• You must enter via the Admin Office and sign in via the IPad, where you will be required to enter your Working with Children WWCC) details.
• Please ensure you have your WWCC card with you at all times as it is a requirement of DOSCEL that you carry this card with you whilst you are onsite.