2022 Newsletter #36 November 9
Principal News
Welcome to week 6! With only 45 days til Christmas the days are moving very quickly.
Last Monday the staff were involved in a Structured Literacy Professional Learning Day alongside the staff from St Joseph's, Red Cliffs. This day was run by our own Rebecca Thurman, Emma Rutherford and Breanna Wade from The Catholic Education Office. The day started with development of our knowledge of syntax and sentence structure. We then were introduced to Single Paragraph Outlines (SPOs) and Multi Paragraph Outlines (MPOs) that students can use to help them structure a paragraph and then a whole text. We are very thankful to Emma, Bec and Bree for a wonderful day of learning that will ultimately transfer into the learning and teaching of students.
Last week was an exciting week for students at St Paul's. The senior unit students participated in a water safety program at the Mildura Waves. The middle unit students experienced 2 fun filled days visiting local attractions. The junior unit students had an amazing camp day and the grade 2s stayed back for dinner. The foundations students got to come to school early for breakfast!
Today we welcomed the 2023 Foundation students for their next visit. The students got to look at a 'real' school bus and to meet their Buddies that will play an important role in their first two years of schooling. At the other end of the school, the grade 6 students have begun orientation to their 2023 secondary schools. Students attending Chaffey and Red Cliffs have had immersion visits. Students attending St Joe's next year will visit later in the month.
Friday is Remembrance Day. Our Student School Leaders will represent St Paul's by laying a wreath at Henderson Park. At school, students and staff will participate in a minute of silence to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.
Friday is also our whole school assembly. We would love to see as many parents, family members and friends as possible to celebrate our students' achievements.
Next Week is MAPPEN Week. The students love being involved in this week as there is often a more hands on approach to learning. Please join us on Friday 18th November at 1.30pm for our final expo of the year.
Have a great week!
Melissa Sutherland
Deputy Principal, Curriculum
Foundation News
Welcome to Week 6!
The last couple of weeks have been a very busy time. On Friday 28th October we celebrated Grandparents' Day. It was lovely to see so many grandparents and special people take time out of their day to come into school and share some special time with their grandchild.
Below is a link of the song the children sang for their grandparents.
Last Friday the Foundation unit held their "Foundation Breakfast". It is an annual event, that is part of the camp program at St. Paul's. There will be some photos of the morning put on Facebook for you to see. The children had a wonderful time and enjoyed coming to school early and having a yummy breakfast consisting of: cereal, toast, juice and milo. The children then made some yummy fruit kebabs to enjoy at brainfood time.
Next week for MAPPEN our unit is "Health". We have been learning about the following things:
* actions that help you feel healthy, safe and physically active
* our emotions and how to identify how we are feeling
* healthy and unhealthy food
* how we grow and change over time.
As a follow up to learning about emotions we will be watching the movie "Inside out" next Thursday. This movie is rated PG, so if you have any concerns please see your child's teacher.
Junior Unit News
What a lot of fun we had last Wednesday! The Junior Unit Camp was certainly a day to remember. We created lots of beautiful art pieces, we danced very energetically with Miss Emily from Limitless Dance Academy and we played lots of games. After school, the Year Two students thoroughly enjoyed a visit from Sarah at EnviroEdu, and many of her animal friends, followed by a pizza dinner.
Unfortunately, due to the unseasonable weather, we weren't able to run the planned water play activities, but we'll try to make up for this towards the end of term.
Next week is Mappen Week and we'll be focused on our topic 'Growing Older and Wiser'. On Wednesday 16th November, the children are invited to come to school dressed up as their future selves, role-playing the type of career or hobby they may like to pursue in adulthood. There's some costume ideas in the pictures below.
We also desperately need some more parent or grandparent volunteers to come in and talk to the children about their jobs. If you or someone in your family is able to spare ten-fifteen minutes any time next week, please contact your child's teacher before Friday 11th November. Thank you.
On Friday 18th November, at 12.15pm we will be celebrating our final Junior Unit Liturgy of the year! You are all warmly welcomed to join us in the chapel, and then back in the classroom afterwards for our Mappen expo.
Middle Unit News
What a great week we had last week. The students enjoyed our activity days and had lots of fun. We have placed a large number of photos up on Facebook we invite you to have a look at them.
This week in Literacy we are reading and writing to learn about the geography of Mildura. Students are writing to inform other students, not from our district, about what makes Mildura unique. We are learning about the history, weather, location and entertainment in Mildura. You might like to discuss these things with your child at home to assist them in learning more about our town.
Senior Unit News
Swimming and Water Safety Lessons
Last week Senior students enjoyed 3 intensive swim lessons at the Waves Pool. It was great to see all students enjoying the break from our usual program and giving their best to improve their swimming and learn about water safety. All students have been given vouchers for free lessons
Next year we will again be offering Grade 6 students a Commemorative Polo Shirt. As in the past, this will be a red polo with the St Paul's logo on the front. A special design will be on the back with all Grade 6 student names included. These shirts are able to be worn at school instead of a normal St Paul's polo. An order form went home with each current Gr 5 student last week and the completed form, indicating if you do/do not wish to purchase shirt(s) for your child, should be returned to school now.
There's always lots happening in the Senior Unit and this week is no different. On Thursday the Senior T10 cricket team will spend the day competing against other schools. We know they will represent St Pauls well! Then on Friday we will have a very special incursion to continue our learning on animal adaptations. Students will learn how to catch and identify waterbugs by examining water samples. We will play interactive games to explore species interactions and how humans have affected biodiversity and we will learn about boat safety, traditional plant use, tracking and implement making. We will have lots of photos to share next week.
Arts news
The premiere of our 2022 End of Year production at the Deakin Cinema is fast approaching and tickets will be available from next week. Tickets will be FREE OF CHARGE but are necessary so that we can keep track of the number of people attending the event, as we have limited seating per session. Every person attending will need a ticket, including students. There will be a 5pm and a 6:45pm screening on the night.
To order tickets a 'GOOGLE FORM' link will be provided in next week's newsletter & will be posted on SIMON Everywhere daily messages. Tickets will then be sent home to families.
If you are unable to attend the Cinema event don't despair, a link will be provided to families to watch at home.
Concert filming fun :)
Technology News
Did you know keyboarding skills are a part of the Victorian curriculum? Students are expected to become increasingly confident and proficient with keyboarding as they progress through primary school. In Technologies classes, all students have an opportunity to learn and practise keyboarding skills, so they can type with increasing speed and accuracy.
While students in grades 3-6 use the web-based program 'typing.com', the game-based play of Typetastic allows students in grades 1 & 2 to familiarise themselves with the placement of letters, numbers and punctuation keys on the keyboard, so they can apply this knowledge and create texts using Google software. Over the next few weeks, students will be focusing on applying their keyboard skills and learning to create texts using Google Slides to create a variety of presentations.
Check out how much fun Typetastic is in the video. It's so much fun students don't even realise they're learning!
It has come to our attention some students are in possession of and using mobile phones during school hours. At St Paul's we have a Digital Technologies Policy in place that aims to provide:
- a safe environment to learn without inappropriate mobile phone use (including cyberbullying) or distractions, and
- greater opportunities for social interaction and physical activity during recess and lunchtimes.
The use of technology is important, but the risks and benefits from its use need to be managed, hence we ask that you read the extract below from our Digital Technologies Procedure regarding student mobile devices and discuss it with your children.
NB - the full Digital Technologies Procedure can be located on Simon.
Digital Technologies Procedure Extract
At St Paul's, we discourage students from bringing mobile phones, iPads, tablets and smart watches to school. These devices can cause disruption at school and can be used inappropriately to access social media and, in some cases, take photos without permission. This can cause distress, breach the privacy of others and breach aspects of the school's Digital Technologies Procedure, Digital Technologies Acceptable Use and Cyber Safety Agreement Social Media Policy.
If a parent feels it is necessary for their child to bring a mobile phone, iPad/tablet or smart watch to school, then the expectations for student use these devices in the school are listed below:
- Devices are brought to school entirely at the owner’s risk.
- Mobile phones and other devices (eg. iPads/tablets, smart watches, etc.) are to be switched off or on silent and handed in to the office immediately on arrival at school and can only be collected at the end of the school day.
- Device notification alerts and location services must be switched off.
- Mobile phones, smart watches or other devices are not to be used to call home or visa versa during school hours. If contact needs to be made with parents or with your child at school, this can be done via the office phone number.
Any use of mobile phones and smart watches by a student, that is in breach of these
expectations, will lead to the confiscation of the device. In this instance, parents will be notified and confiscated devices will need to be collected from the office by the student’s parent or guardian at the end of the day.
Exceptions
A small number of exceptions will be made. These exceptions will only be available if a mobile phone or other digital device is essential for a student in:
- managing a health condition
- classroom learning.
Other exceptions are managed by the school's Principal, Deputy Principal and Learning Technologies Leader in consultation with classrom teachers and parents/carers. If you require more information about exceptions, please contact one of the above mentioned staff members.
Thank you for your support in maintaining this policy.
Until next week, remember, the internet is written in pen not pencil, so think before you post!
Cheers, Mrs Simms
MAPPEN EXPO - FRIDAY 18th NOVEMBER
Please visit our MAPPEN expo this Friday 18th November between 1.30pm-2pm.
We love it when as many family and friends come and see our learning.
Library news
Hello from the Library. Thanks very much to everyone who supported our recent Book Fair. The students really enjoyed coming into the book fair and spending their money. All the money raised will be used for our school.
Congratulations to the winners of our coloring in competition, these lucky students each got to spend $20.00 in the fair.
We have many beautiful new novels and picture story books available to borrow, you are always very welcome to come into our Library with your children from 8.30 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
There are lots of overdue library books and decodable readers that are overdue at the moment. Overdue notes were given out on Monday, if there is a problem just pop in to see me or give me a call. Thanks for your help with this.
Kind regards Marg Pongrac.
PE News
Interschool Cricket
We wish our Seniors and Middles cricket teams all the best tomorrow and on Friday as they represent St Paul's in the Division Cricket Blast competition!
Thursday 10th November - Senior boys and girls
Friday 11th November - Middle boys and girls
Please ensure permission has been given for your child on SIMON Everywhere.
Hands Up Mallee
Just a reminder that the sun's UV rays are really heating up now so please make sure that your child/children have a clearly marked hat with their name on it at school for them to wear every day. Also don't forget a fresh, clean water bottle for them to drink from in class to prevent dehydration.
This Friday, the MIDDLE UNIT will be able to join me on the basketball court at lunch time for some fun with their bikes/scooters.
Don't forget that this month is Walk to School month and now, not only can our school win great prizes. So can YOU! Sunraysia Community Health Services have just announced a photo competition for families to win a $50 Intersport voucher. All you need to do is take a photo of you walking/riding/scooting to/from school with your children and send it to hp@schs.com.au along with your name and contact details before 1:00pm Friday 25th November. See attached flyer for further details.
Sacred Heart Parish News
Parent Noticeboard
Please find below the link for the October 2022 edition of “Our Diocesan Community”
https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ODC-October-2022-web.pdf
A documentary, Embrace Kids by Taryn Brumfitt, Tuesday November 22 will be screening at the Wallis theatre in Mildura at 6:30pm.
A documentary that discusses big issues for young people like body image and bullying. You can see the trailer here - https://youtu.be/HiuohqQiRkI
For more information & to purchase tickets click on the link below.