2022 Newsletter #33 Oct 19
Principal News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome to this week's news. I ask that we all keep in our prayers those communities in Northern Victoria who have been impacted by the floods. So many families have been displaced and it could be weeks before they can return to their homes with the threat of more rain on the way. Bless those volunteers who have worked tirelessly and continue to do so. It is often, when faced with tragedies such as: floods, bush fires and droughts, that we see the very best in people. Please keep them in your prayers.
MIDDLE UNIT CAMP: We will continue to monitor the current flood conditions and will notify families of any changes to the camp itinerary as soon as possible.
CONGRATULATIONS: This weekend, both Saturday night and Sunday evening, several of our grade 4 children will be receiving the sacrament of Communion (First Eucharist). This is an important occasion for them and their families and I ask that you continue to pray for them as they continue their faith journey.
PLAYGROUND UPDATE: The temporary fencing has been removed and the new playground will be available for the children to access. We will work on a roster to allow an opportunity for all the children to get to play on the new equipment. In the meantime, the current playground will also be available.
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 reception 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 this 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.
COVID UPDATE: As mentioned previously the Victorian Government has announced the end of the pandemic declaration and associated pandemic orders. This change also saw an easing of masks and isolation requirements, becoming strong recommendations. It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff when symptomatic. RAT kits are still available for families and staff to collect. Positive results for staff and students should be reported to the school. Anyone who is symptomatic should be recommended to undergo testing. The Department of Health recommends that any child or staff member who tests positive to COVID-19 please notify the school. Students and staff who test positive are strongly recommended to isolate for 5 days.
Congratulations to this week's milestone achievers for continuing to follow our norms: Be Safe. Be Respectful, Be Your Best!
BEE MILESTONE: Niro Arden, Alexis Baker, Aaron Clarke, Eternity Conquest, Sophie Freeth, Rafael Mammone, Ashton McDonald, Paityn Miller, Nhu Nguyen, April Nyabonda, Reyon Shermin, Aiden Varghese Moolayil, Maggie Slimmon, Olivia Smith,
HIVE MILESTONE: Mia Aranas, Felix Blanchard, Isabella Burdett, Nicola De Maria, Noah Demario, James Echanes, Sofia Echanes, Sophie Freeth, Naomi Havea, Austin Jones, Zalee Le Poidevin, Lexie McMahon, Dolly Moore, Dean Morvell, James Nadalo, Jesse Pitt, Asiate Pohahau, Olivia Prescott, Jackson Puleio, Faye Ratcliffe, Jemma Trinh, Gabb Yandon
I hope you all have a great week ahead and as always,
Keep the Faith!
Vince Muscatello
Senior Unit News
Last week our school participated in Regional Athletics and we are very proud of all the students that represented our school, however, we are especially proud of Naomi Havea for placing 1st and Mia Aranas for placing 3rd in their events. Well done girls. You are amazing!
The senior unit have been experimenting during Science and learning all about Desert Survivors. This hands-on learning supports the students to explore ideas, collect evidence, discuss their observations and keep records about their findings. Keep up the good work seniors. We are enjoying the stimulating discussion.
Next Friday 28th October, the school will engage in Mission week. Our Senior Unit classes will have four stands selling food, craft and also have a games challenge stand. A gold coin donation will assist us to raise money for this good cause. Families are welcome and encouraged to come along and join in.
Finally, we would like to remind families that the Senior Unit students will all be attending swimming lessons at the Wave pool on Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th November. You will need to give consent for your child to participate in this activity on SIMON Everywhere. Remember to have your bathers, towel and goggles ready to take to the Wave Pool each day.
Middle Unit News
This week the students have received a 'what to pack' list. Please note students are able to bring some money to purchase something from the shop. Please do not send any more than $10. This money should be in a named envelope and packed in your students bag. No phones or electronic devices are allowed on camp. Reminder students are to bring a reuseable water bottle, packed lunch and snacks for the first day. Please do not pack lollies for the bus trip or for snacks whilst on camp. If you have any questions about this please see your classroom teacher.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS -
Other than lunch and snacks on the way to Swan Hill, The Pioneer Settlement will provide the meals. These are child friendly meals however if your child has any special dietary requirements, for allergies or intolerances, can you please send an email to hbyrnes@spmildura.catholic.edu.au by this Friday 21st October.
We understand that the river and water situation is continuously changing. At this stage camp will go ahead, however we will continue to monitor the situation and if anything changes we will let you know as soon as possible.
Junior Unit News
In our last Whole-Unit Meeting we thanked the outgoing Superstars from each class, who had been our models of determination. Mischa, Annalise, Oliver and Hayley always show determination and try their very best. We also selected our new Superstars, who are models of positive thinking. Congratulations, Maggie, Hunter, Eternity and Dolly!
Baby Photos
We are still hoping to receive a few more baby photos for our 'Guess the Baby' game next week. Please email a baby photo to your child's teacher, or send a hard copy along to school (it will be returned to you). Please remind your child to keep their photo a secret!
Special Request
During Mappen week; which will be in week 7 this term (14.11.22 - 18.11.22) the Junior Unit would love to have some parents, grandparents or other special people join us as guest speakers to tell us about their occupation/job (including the extremely important job of home-maker). Our theme for Mappen this term is 'Growing Older and Wiser'. As part of the unit, we are looking at human growth/change and life cycles of plants and animals. As we are talking about growing and changing as individuals we will be asking the children to think about differences between themselves now, when they were younger and what sorts of change they will experience as an adult. Part of becoming an adult is of course to have a job/career. If you are interested in coming in, it would only take ten to fifteen minutes and the children would be asking you some questions, such as: What do you do in your job each day? Do you help others in your work? Do you enjoy your job? Have you ever had another job? How long have you been doing this job? We are also planning on having a dress up day (Wednesday 16th November) where the students can come to school dressed up as their future adult selves in their chosen role/career/job. If you would like to be one of our guest speakers please contact your class teacher at your earliest convenience. Thank you.
erutherford@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
aoxlade@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
kbrouwers@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
rbugden@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
We are seeking donations of old tshirts, socks and plastic bags to make sock balls. If you have any of these to spare, please send them to school before Friday 28th October. Thanks.
Religious Education News
Mission Day – Friday 28th October 2022
Every October, we celebrate World Mission Month. It is a time to reach out to those children and their families who are most in need in our world. This year, we are fundraising for ‘The Shared Table’ in Peru.
Students have been / will be immersed in learning about ‘The Shared Table’ and our Middle and Senior Unit students are very fortunate to engage in a session with Mrs Marion Guthrie this week, focussed on the mission of ‘The Shared Table’ and some of the Peruvian Projects that have been supported by the Sacred Heart Parish, along with both of our parish schools.
Next Friday, from 12pm, we will be celebrating our Mission Day. It will be a time to unite and reach out to those most in need, through prayer and fundraising efforts. Our day will be as followed:
12.05pm: Mission Liturgy
Our whole school community with gather in prayer in our School Hall. Our liturgy will be led by Fr Matt and our students.
12.30pm – 2pm: Mission Day Fundraising Stalls & Make Your Own Sockball
Fundraising Stalls:
Our Middle Unit and Senior Unit classes have been planning small fundraising stalls to raise money for ‘The Shared Table’ in Peru. Some of the items being sold include: Frog in a Pond, Zooper Doopers, Guess the Lollies in the Jar, Spider Drinks, Origami, Craft, Doughnuts, Chuppa Chup Halloween Style and Games’ Challenges. Prices will range from 50c to $2. All students will have an allocated time for their class to visit the fundraising stalls. We kindly appreciate students bringing along some small change to purchase a good/s, with all proceeds being sent directly to Peru.
Sockballs:
The game of soccer is both well-known and played internationally. Sport unites people from all walks of like. Despite what country you are from, what language you speak, gender, age, religion, ability or wealth, everyone can unite over a game of soccer.
A sockball is a ball created from old t-shirts, socks, rags, plastic bags and string. It is a misshapen ball that was used and is continued to be used in some countries to play the game of soccer. When there’s a will to play, there’s a way to play, and Pope Francis still remembers growing up playing soccer with a sockball, as leather balls were far too expensive and rubber balls weren’t very common.
Our students will engage in making a sockball, either individually, in small groups or as a whole class. We kindly ask students and their families to donate any old t-shirts, socks, rags and plastic bags to be used for this activity. All donations are greatly appreciated and can be passed on to your child/children’s classroom teachers.
2pm-2.25pm: Recess
2.25pm-2.50pm: Sockball Activities in Classes
Students will play some different games, using the sockballs that they created during the previous session.
2.50pm-3.25pm: Staff vs. Students Sockball Soccer Match
We will conclude our day with a Staff vs. Senior Students soccer match, using a Sockball. We encourage families and friends to come along to the friendly support and cheer on our staff and students for not only the match, however for their fundraising support for The Shared Table in Peru.
We thank you for your generous support with our Mission Day for 2022!
LANGUAGES - ITALIAN NEWS
Well Done to our students whose work was on display at the Mildura Show over the weekend.
Middle and Senior students voted amongst their peers and then a selection of Venetian masks were entered into the Mildura Show.
The standard of our student masks was very impressive, with the Mildura Show Judges commenting on the calibre of entries from our school.
It certainly proved a challenge for the Judges to decide on the final results. CONGRATULAZIONI to the following students ....
Dante Alighieri Society of Mildura Inc - Decorated Venetian Mask - Year 5 & 6
First Prize - Manpriya Atwal
Second Prize - Olivia Prescott
Third Prize - Roman Caristo
Fourth Prize - Jessica Cavallo
Dante Alighieri Society of Mildura Inc - Decorated Venetian Mask - Year 3 & 4
Second Prize - Ruby Slimmon
Fourth Prize - Ariah Tickle
The masks will go on display in the foyer in the coming days.
Grazie - Signora Ghidinelli
My New Gallery
Hands Up Mallee
Just a reminder for any students wishing to put an entry in for our school magazine to please email nsimpson@spmildura.catholic.edu.au or hand it in to Narelle Simpson by 25th October.
Last week, the Middle Unit practised lots of slow riding as sometimes we need to ride slowly through traffic. They also had lots of fun riding through the puddles that were on the basketball courts! This Friday the FOUNDATION/JUNIOR Unit will be able to join me on the basketball courts for some fun with their bikes/scooters.
Technology News
Last week, Foundation students immersed themselves in a variety of coding tasks to promote the skills of critical and abstract thinking, problem-solving, interpreting visual cues, interpreting data and perserverence.
The tasks involved:
- interpreting visual instructions to replicate lego structures,
- interpreting visual instructions to build cup stacking towers,
- digital coding with the BeeBot app on iPads, and
- reading data to colour and reveal a hidden image.
If you watched the recent Channel 10 show, Mirror Mirror, with Todd Sampson, you would be aware it has generated a plethora of discussion and debate. In short, as a school we are not here to buy into the debate, so we'll keep it simple...Omegle was the one website that has everyone talking and parents are feeling alarmed. Yes, those in the industry know it's been an issue for a very long time, but just stating that point doesn't help anyone! That is why, Marty McGauran, a Google certified educator, and his team at 'Inform and Empower' are offering this simple contribution.
We wanted to write something up to actually support primary school parents and carers. Not just another fact sheet or some generic "tips" to keep kids safe. This single page PDF includes actual conversation starters because that's exactly what parents ask us..."how would I even start the chat?".
You can follow Marty and the team at 'Inform and Empower' via their Facebook group specifically for parents and carers (linked HERE).
Until next week, a quote to ponder; "Technology is a word that describes something that doesn’t work yet." - Douglas Adams (Author)
Cheers, Mrs Simms
Sacred Heart Parish News
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