Deputy Principal Report

by Deputy Principal, Mrs Elizabeth Ryan

Our Years 11 and 12 students recommenced face-to-face learning on Friday, June 4 and the remainder of our students commenced on Monday, June, 7. It has been great to have staff and students back and we are grateful to all parents and guardians for their efforts throughout the period of remote learning.

In reflecting on what we have experienced and learnt during the period of remote learning, it has become even more evident to all of us here at St Patrick’s that it is the strength of our trusting and respectful relationships that binds us together to create a positive and engaged learning community. As the students have returned to school it has also become evident that for some boys learning remotely, being isolated from their teachers, friends and year group, has changed and, in some cases, negatively impacted on these critical trusting and respectful relationships.

Understanding this, our classroom teachers, Pastoral Care Tutors, Year Level Co-ordinators, Directors of Schools and the Student Wellbeing Team have been working diligently to challenge and respond to any instances where trust and respect has not been shown.

So, while there has been much joy in the return of the boys to the College and there is much to acknowledge in terms of the positive way students have typically responded to the challenges of remote learning, we must also remain ever aware of how each of us interact and respond to everyone else in our great learning community.

Face masks

Secondary school students aged 12 or older must always wear a face mask at school, including when attending an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program, unless an exception applies. Face masks are mandatory for all school students aged 12 or older when travelling to and from school. To support the health and wellbeing of all students and staff, our school will continue an enhanced cleaning routine and will encourage frequent handwashing. If your child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek medical advice.

Information Sharing

From April 19 2021 (Term 2), all Victorian government and non-government schools and centre-based education and care services (e.g. long day care, kindergarten and outside school hours care) are prescribed as Information Sharing Entities under the Victorian Government’s Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) and Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS).

These information sharing schemes have expanded the ability of schools and services to collaborate and share relevant confidential information with other authorised Information Sharing Entities to promote the wellbeing and safety of children, and to assess and manage family violence risk. Information can only be shared under the schemes by organisations prescribed as Information Sharing Entities.

The information sharing schemes were introduced in response to Royal Commissions, coronial inquests and independent inquiries over the past decade that identified poor information sharing as a barrier to service collaboration with detrimental outcomes for children and families.

Phase 1 of implementation of the schemes commenced in September 2018 and included key services, such as Child Protection, Maternal and Child Health Services and Victoria Police. From April 19 2021, as part of Phase 2, universal services such as education and health are authorised to share information using the schemes.

The information sharing schemes complement and expand upon existing information sharing and child protection laws, and do not replace already existing authorisation to share information such as the Child Safe Standards, reporting to Child Protection or Victoria Police, the Reportable Conduct Scheme, and other privacy and information sharing laws.

Further information regarding these whole-of-government reforms can be found on the Victorian Government website: www.vic.gov.au/information-sharing-schemes-and-the-maram-framework

Mrs Elizabeth Ryan

Deputy Principal