2023 Newsletter #03 February 22
Principal News
This week we begin the Lenten Season. Lent is the 40 days, not including Sundays from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter. Christians around the world consider Lent a time to reflect on what Jesus did for us.
Lent is also a time to get our hearts ready to truly appreciate Jesus’ death for us and celebrate Easter. Because Jesus’ death was the greatest sacrifice ever, some people fast, give up certain foods or behaviours.
Today the students travelled to the Sacred Heart Church to participate in the Ash Wednesday Mass. At the Mass, Father Matthew made a cross on the students forehead to remind us that Jesus died to cleanse the world of its sins.
Meeting the Teacher Interviews
Meet the Teacher Interviews will be held on Wednesday 1st March from 3.45pm. To book a time, please log into SIMON Everywhere and click on Parent Teacher Interviews. If there is no suitable time, please email your child’s teacher for an alternative meeting.
New Staff Members
We welcome Matilda Grayling who will working in Admin on Thursdays and Fridays. Next week we also welcome Jennifer Wilson who will be working in the Middle area as a Learning Support Officer.
Beginning of Year Picnic - Thursday 9th March
This year we will celebrate our beginning of year picnic at the Irymple Swimming Pool. All of our families are welcome with free entry. Remember to BYO your own dinner. Parents are responsible for the supervision while they are swimming.
Student Free Day - Friday 10th March
On Friday 10th March is a student free day. Staff members will be updating their CPR requirements. Staff will also be engaged in professional learning with Shane Garner. Shane will work on building individual leadership confidence and encourage staff to develop stronger collaboration.
Vince will continue his leave until Friday 24th March.
If you have any concerns or queries, please direct them to Melissa Sutherland - Acting Principal or Lauren Gibson - Deputy Principal Special Needs/Wellbeing.
BEGINNING OF YEAR PICNIC
Meet the Teacher
Meet the Teacher Interviews - BOOKINGS NOW OPEN
Parents and Carers are encouraged to book a 10 minute time slot for Wednesday 1st March. Meet the Teacher is a time for parents and carers to see how learning happens at St Paul's. You will also have an opportunity to share important information about your child that helps us to get to know them better. If none of these times suit, please feel free to contact your child/s teacher to arrange an alternative time.
Interviews will be held at School. To book a time slot please go to SIMON Everywhere and select the "Parent Teacher Interviews Tab."
NAPLAN 2023
Library News
Hello from our Library, as you can see we will have our first Book Fair for the year next week. Students will all have the opportunity to see the books available to purchase this Thursday 23rd at our Wish List day. Students will bring home a list of the books they would like to purchase. If you would like to purchase online an information flyer was sent home yesterday, scan the QR code & enter St Paul's choose Mildura option. Cash payment can be made at the fair or EFTPOS at the office.
It is really pleasing to see how many students are borrowing our beautiful books to read. Remember they are borrowed for 2 weeks max. Students who take home decodable readers can only have 2 at a time out.
Hope to see you all in the library soon Marg Pongrac
Arts News
This term throughout each unit, we have been learning about Chinese New Year, also known as Luna New Year or Spring Festival.
The main focus for the senior students' art piece has been the majestic Koi fish and their significance and value in Chinese culture, as well as many other countries. Speaking of value, did you know that the record sale price of ONE single Koi fish was 2.6million dollars!
The children studied the various patterns and colours of Koi and designed their own, using a medium of their own choice. These included paint, oil pastel, coloured pencils and textas. They then transformed their Koi into 3D models by cutting and gluing them together.
The children designed a stream for their fish to swim in and lastly drew Chinese symbols to show what their focus, goals and/or desires are for the year ahead.
Senior Koi Fish
The middle unit students have been largely focussing on the history and significance of dragons in Chinese culture. In Chinese mythology, the word for dragon is translated to mean "long".
The children created their own 'long' dragon, using bright coloured yarn for the body and oil pastels to decorate the body, head and other features. Some people experimented with blending and mixing pastels to create great effects.
Lastly, we used chalk pastels and white charcoal pencils to create fireworks and stars and moons in the night sky.
These beautiful pieces are on the display as you walk through the middle of the school.
Long Dragons
The juniors have enjoyed learning about the Chinese Zodiac and that 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. Many of our juniors were born in either the Year of the Monkey or the Year of the Sheep and some students even went home to do some more research to find out what the other members of their family might be.
We learnt about the legend of the Chinese Zodiac and the 'Great Race' that determined which animals would be included and where.
The children sketched their rabbit and used paint to colour them. They then created a background for their artwork using gold, silver and red oil pastels after looking at lots of traditional Chinese patterns. Red is a symbol of good luck at Chinese New Year.
Year of the Rabbit
Finally, our newest artists at St Paul's, our FANTASTIC FOUNDATIONS, have been getting to know the Arts room and Ms Jess and each other in the first few weeks at school. They have enjoyed singing songs and helping me to remember all the new names.
We read 'Bringing in the New Year, a story by Grace Lin and we looked at the huge Dragon Puppets that are in parades, worked by several people.
The children used wax crayons to create patterns and shapes on their own Dragon Mask, then painted over the wax with water paints to see it magically come through.
Dragon Masks
Foundation Unit News
Welcome to Week 4!
We would like to say a huge thank you to the parents and children that attended our "Books and Pyjamas Night" last night. We really appreciate your support and involvement in your child's learning. We hope you now have some insight into how your child learns to read at school. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to talk to your child's teacher. The "Rainbow Words" went home last night. We hope you enjoy helping your child learn to read them and enjoy their enthusiasm and excitement as they begin to learn the words and write their name on the rainbow that will be displayed in our learning area.
In Maths this week we have been learning how to order numbers. If you have the opportunity to practise this skill at home you can play some games that require writing and ordering numbers from smallest to largest.
In Religion we are discussing different groups we belong to - eg. family, school and sporting groups.
In Literacy we have been working our way through the alphabet and learning the name (grapheme) and the sound (phoneme) of each letter. We have been identifying words that begin with each sound. We have also been learning to read and write the words "the" and "a".
We have also been discussing aspects from our science unit about weather, the seasons, day and night and how to protect ourselves from different types of weather.
Junior Unit News
Wow, the Junior Unit have been diving into some super learning the last few weeks!
For the past three weeks, our Junior Unit students have enjoyed investigating the external features of living things during our Inquisitive time. We recently conducted a plant investigation, observing the features of plants and what they need to survive. This week the students thoroughly enjoyed exploring the Perth Zoo through their interactive map.
Last Monday the students participated in an online digital safety incursion. Presenter Marty McGauran spoke to the students about understanding the internet and who their trusted adults are.
In Religion, we have been learning about Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and the meaning of Lent. Yesterday, we celebrated Shrove Tuesday and the students enjoyed eating pancakes with various toppings with their peers.
Today we travelled to the Sacred Heart Church to participate in the Ash Wednesday Mass, which marks the beginning of Lent. We discussed the meaning of the Cross made on our foreheads and its importance.
With the extreme temperatures we have been experiencing, could you please ensure your child is coming to school with their hat and drink bottle. We have a Junior Unit sunscreen station set up for students to use before heading outdoors.
Upcoming events:
- Meet the Teacher: Wednesday 1st March- see SIMON Everywhere to make a time.
- Beginning of the Year Picnic will be held on Thursday 9th March.
Reminder:
Children are required to wear their sports uniforms on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our specialist lessons will all take place on Thursdays.
Middle Unit News
The Middle Unit has been a hive of activity over the last fortnight.
Last Monday the students participated in an online digital safety incursion. Presenter Marty McGauran spoke to the students about what is the internet and our digital footprint that we leave when working online. Students participated in a Kahoot that encouraged discussion, collaboration and critical thinking. The students were thoroughly engaged throughout the session and are looking forward to more session with Marty during the year.
Yesterday we celebrated Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday originated during the Middle Ages. In these times, food items like meats, fats, eggs, milk, and fish were regarded as restricted during Lent. To keep such food from being wasted, many families would have big feasts on Shrove Tuesday in order to consume those items that would become spoiled during the next forty days. The students enjoyed eating pancakes with jam and honey with their friends.
Today we travelled to the Sacred Heart Church to pray with our friends from Sacred Heart Primary School. It is such a wonderful celebration when we can join together as a parish. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. During the next forty days, we will be journeying together, preparing our hearts and our lives for the new hope that we are promised at Easter.
We also look forward to meeting lots of parents next week at our “Get to know you” parent teacher interviews next week. Don’t forget to book a time on Simon if you would like to meet your child’s teacher.
This FRIDAY M9 will be presenting at assembly. The students have been preparing a special little skit to perform. We hope to see lots of our families and special friends at assembly.
Senior Unit News
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been learning so much together in the Senior Unit!
In Literacy, we have been learning and developing our note-taking skills. This has been a steep learning curve, but we are seeing great improvement already. We have also been practicing writing in cursive script which the students have found very enjoyable.
During our RE lessons, we have been learning about Lent and what Catholic Christians might fast, pray and give during Lent. We also celebrated Shrove Tuesday with pancakes! Today we attended the Ash Wednesday Mass at Sacred Heart Church to mark the beginning of Lent.
Reminders:
Thank you to all parents who signed off for their child's Chromebooks. Just a reminder that Chromebooks must be at least 80% charged each day.
Please ensure your child is wearing the correct school uniform. Sports uniform can be worn on Monday and Wednesday.
Digital Safety & Wellbeing
Over the past two weeks, all students from Yr 1 - 6 have participated in live streamed digital safety and wellbeing incursions with Marty and the team from Inform and Empower. This year, students will participate in these incursions once each term. For more information regarding the live streamed incursions refer the flyer below and if you have any questions or concerns contact Mrs Narelle Simms via email, nsimms@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
The content presented in each live streamed incursion is curriculum aligned and endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner. Following on from each session, students will further explore the concepts presented in Technology classes with Mr Emmett. At home, you can familiarise yourself with what your child/children learned during the incursions this term and use the conversation starters on the flyers below to discuss this learning with you.
Hands Up Mallee
In a further effort to reduce sun damage while students are at school, we have now introduced sun screen stations for students to have access to before going out to play. These stations have sunscreen, wipes and a mirror for the students to apply themselves before going outside. Please talk to your children about how to apply sunscreen and the importance of wearing hats during time outside.
You cannot see or feel UV radiation, but as the main cause of skin cancer, it is important to be aware of when UV levels reach 3 and above and sun protection is needed.
Whatever the weather, wherever you are, if the UV is 3 or more, make sure to SLIP on covering clothing, SLOP on sunscreen, SLAP on a wide-brimmed hat, SEEK shade and SLIDE on sunglasses.
We have also just purchased some bike/scooter ramps for the students to have fun on during bike/scooter Fridays! This week the FOUNDATION/JUNIOR UNIT will the first to be able to try out the new ramps. Hopefully we will have plenty of students bring their bikes/scooters on Friday.
Bringing Up Great Kids!
St Paul's is interested in hosting this free program for parents. To express interest in attending, please email Felicity Rix - frix@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
Sacred Heart Parish News
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