2022 Newsletter #32 Oct 12
Principal News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome to this week's news. The weather continues to plague us somewhat with very high rainfall expected over the next two days with the possibility of storms. Please be careful when on the road and drive safely.
BOOK FAIR: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Book Fair, had to be postponed this week. It will run next week from Monday 17th -Wednesday 19th October.
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (RECONCILIATION): Don't forget tonight at 7.00pm at Sacred Heart Church, there is a parent information evening for those children in Year Two who are preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation.
SACRAMENT OF EUCHARIST(COMMUNION): Next Weekend several of our St Paul's children will be receiving the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. This is a very special occasion for the children and their families. Hopefully you can attend one of the weekend Masses to celebrate with them.
STRUCTURED LITERACY APPROACH: As you may be aware, St Paul’s is implementing a Structured Literacy Approach to Reading and Writing. This is an approach that both St Paul's and St Joseph's Red Cliffs have been working on together for the last three years. As a result of the work, we have done in this area, several schools across the Ballarat Diocese have expressed interest in learning more about Structured Literacy. We have also been contacted by schools from Melbourne who would like to visit St Paul's and St Joseph's to see how we teach literacy.
This is exciting as it is recognition and acknowledgement for the commitment, dedication, and collaboration by the staff in our schools to improve our literacy practices and student outcomes. If you haven't already, check out our Facebook page "The Sunlit Project". It has lots of information on what we teach, how we teach and why we teach it.
CONGRATULATIONS: To the senior students who competed in the regional Athletics in Bendigo this week. A hearty congratulations to Naomi Havea and Samuella Allieu who qualified for the state finals in Melbourne and to Mia Aranas who finished third in long jump and just missed out on selection. Well done to all the children who represented St Paul's.
PLAYGROUND UPDATE: The new playground is almost complete. We are hoping to have it available for the children starting next week. As expected, the weather has caused some delays in completing works.
NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS: This year we will have vacancies on our Advisory Council as some of our current members will complete their term of office. If you would like to be nominated as a council member, please contact Loretta in Admin for a nomination form. If you have any questions about the role of a council member, please don't hesitate to speak to one of our current members; Lauren Droffelaar, Loretta Ghidinelli, Martine Silcox, Julie Campbell, Mia Kolpin, Melissa Mott, or myself for further information. Nominations are due by Friday 21st October.
ENROLMENTS 2023: This is a reminder for any of our families who will not be at St Paul's in 2023 to please notify us as soon as possible as we will begin planning for classes for 2023.
Also, if any parents have a child starting in Foundation next year and have not enrolled them, will need to do so asap as there are limited places available.
CLASSES FOR 2023: Any parents who have any queries or information they would like to share with us in regard to classes for the 2023 school year, please submit them via email to: principal@spmildura.catholic.edu.au no later than Friday 21st October. A new request must be submitted each year regardless of previously made requests. Planning classes for the following year is a very detailed process where teachers meet and discuss all the needs of our children. The focus is not purely on academic progress, but also encompasses the social, emotional and behavioural needs of the child.
FOUNDATION 2023 TRANSITION PROGRAM: Today, our 2023 Foundation Transition program commenced. It was lovely to see the children so excited to come to school. It began with a Play based learning session, outside play (bring hat), fruit snack provided, story & songs. Thank you to the parents who stayed for a cuppa.
I hope you have a great week and the weather is more favourable on the weekend.
As Always,
Keep the Faith!
Vince Muscatello
Middle Unit News
Camp is approaching very quickly and we know that the students have lots of questions. Today the students were invited to write down two names of students they would like to be in a room with. We will do our best to accomodate these requests and ensure that students are placed with people they feel both comfortable with but also allow them to be best versions of themselves. Closer to the camp, once we have issued all information, we will have a meeting with all students who will be attending to answer any questions they may have. Thank you to parents who have already given consent for the camp, please ensure you give consent on SIMON Everywhere by this Friday 14th October. In the coming days the students will receive a list of things that they need to bring on camp. If you have any questions please see your classroom teacher.
Senior Unit News
Senior students, teachers and LSO’s have had a wonderful beginning to the term! During Literacy we have started our new focus on how living things adapt to suit their environment. We have looked at how animals have unique adaptations to allow them to live and thrive in desert environments.
In science this term students will be looking at Desert Survivors. This week's experiment focuses on what is vital for plants and animals to survive.
This term, during Senior Unit sport, students will be involved in a variety of alternative activities that build on hand-eye coordination, team work, fitness and strategy.
Reminder: It is important that students bring a hat to school. Also students need to have their chromebook at school each day with a minimum 80 percent charge in order to participate in all learning activities.
Upcoming events: - Senior Unit Swimming
Foundation Unit News
Welcome to Week 2!
This week in Maths we are learning about Australian Money and looking at the notes and coins. If you have money from another country and would like your child to bring it in to share, please let your child's teacher know.
In Religion our topic is "Joy". We have begun our lessons this week and last week by taking part in some joyful experiences. We have read joyful books, watched joyful clips, sung joyful songs, taken part in joyful craft by making a dream catcher and today we decorated some biscuits and ate them.
Some important dates for the calendar:
Friday 28th October - Grandparents Day (9:00 - 11:00am)
Friday 4th November - Foundation Breakfast (8:00 - 8:30am in the hall)
Junior Unit News
It is wonderful to be in the swing of things and settled back into our routine. This week, the children have enjoyed a Teddy Bears' Picnic and today they will excitedly bring home invitations to the Junior Unit Camp. Camp will be held on Wednesday 2nd November. The Year One children will enjoy a fun day at school and go home at the usual time. The Year Two children are invited to stay at school for a surprise incursion and a pizza dinner. Pick up time will be at 6.45pm. Please ensure you have given consent for your Gr 2 Child to participate in the 'Stay- Back'. Please see the checklist in this newsletter. This will also be brought home by the children in hard copy. If you have any questions, please let us know.
(Please note: This camp experience was previously advertised as a sleepover, however, due to a change in circumstances, we will no longer be sleeping over at school.)
We have already received a number of baby photos for our 'guess the baby' game in Week 4. If you could please email your child's teacher or send in a hard copy photo, we'd really appreciate it.
Technology News
This term, students in the Junior Unit are exploring how digital systems can be used for a variety of different purposes. Last week students experimented with augmented reality using Ipads.
Students used the Quiver app on iPads to superimpose a digital image on their view of the real world. It was a lot of fun.
Digital technologies and mental health
Have you ever wondered how games, apps and social media can influence young people’s mental wellbeing. Learn more by joining in to the eSafety Commissioner latest webinar designed for parents and carers of young people aged 10 to 18.
It will cover:
- current research on young people, time online and mental health
- what to do about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders
- using games, apps and social media to support mental wellbeing
- the pros and cons of digital mental health platforms
- strategies for young people to support friends online.
Webinar Times
- Wednesday 12 October 7.30 to 8.30 pm
- Monday 17 October 12.30 to 1.30 pm
- Thursday 27 October 12.30 to 1.30 pm
CLICK HERE to register
If these times don't suit you, watch this short video.
Until next week, remember; “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” - Christian Lous Lange, Historian
Hands Up Mallee
Yesterday I had the priviledge of representing our school to meet a major sponsor of our breakfast program. David from the Sabemo Foundation visited the region to see our program in action at the Red Cliffs East Primary School. The Sabemo Foundation have donated $70K to the Breakfast Partnership Program which has enabled many of our schools to purchase infastructure to help make our breakfast program run smoother. We have been fortunate enough to put our money towards our new oven and a new fridge. The Sabemo Foundation is a charitable organisation which works to impact and improve the lives of Australian children in communities of high need. They were very impressed with how our community supports each other to provide breakfast to each and every child in our own way within our school communities.
This week the MIDDLE UNIT will be able to join me on the basketball courts during lunch time with their bikes/scooters for a bit of fun.
Thank-you to the students who have already submitted their design for this year's school magazine front cover - keep them coming in and make my judging job extremely difficult!!
PE News
Regional Athletics - Bendigo
Well done to our students who competed at the Region Championships for Athletics in Bendigo on Monday. Robert Burns, Naomi Havea, Mia Aranas, Keelan Roper, Samuella Allieu, Konna Peters, Erin Taylor, Addison Welsh and Phoenix Toutai who represented our school incredibly well.
It was a big day for everyone and well worth it as we came home with three students winning medals.
Congratulations to Naomi for winning her Discus event, Samuella on coming second in the 100m dash and Mia for coming third in the long jump. Naomi and Samuella will now have the opportunity to represent St Paul's at the State Championships in Melbourne.
It is a great achievement to make it to the Region Championships, so well done to all our students!
3/4 Interschool Basketball
Today our Middle Unit boys and girls teams competed at the Interschool basketball at the Mildura Basketball Stadium (Hothouse).
Everyone competed well and put in a great effort and showed excellent sportsmanship.
The girls team won 2 out of their 3 matches. The boys weren't able to register a win, but showed improvement throughout the day, losing their last game by only one point!
Well done to all our players who represented St Paul's so well.
Photos to come!