2023 Newsletter #18 November 8
Principal News
Dear St Paul’s families,
Welcome to our news update. I hope you all enjoyed the extended weekend break, whether it was getting away for the weekend on a mini holiday or just relaxing at home. If you managed to have a flutter on the horses, I hope you did so responsibly.
SUCCESS STORY: On Monday the staff joined St Joseph’s Red Cliffs and continued out Structured Literacy Approach professional development. We have experienced considerable success in improving student learning since we began our approach and significant recognition across the state. In 2024 over 80% of the Catholic Primary schools across the Ballarat Diocese will be involved in various levels of implementation of Structured Literacy. What an amazing outcome for Catholic Education and more importantly, a partnership with La Trobe University in ensuring best practice of teaching Literacy for pre service teachers is being rolled out. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this a success; children, parents, staff and DOBCEL.
ST PAUL’S VARIETY NIGHT: Whilst it seems like a long time ago, congratulations to everyone involved in the Variety night. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, however, I did get to see some of the amazing artwork produced by the children. By all reports it was a great night.
STAFFING: We have advertised the role of canteen manager for the 2024 school year. Please have a look on our school website for further information regarding the role. It may be of interest to you, or you may know of someone else suitable for the role. It is also in the Sunraysia Daily.
2024 FOUNDATION- This Thursday, our 2024 Foundation children will be attending St Paul’s for their 5th session. They will be meeting their buddies and participating in activities with the 2024 Foundation teachers. Next year we will be running three foundation classes. Mrs Heeps, Miss Giddings, and Miss Squillace will be teaching Foundation. The sessions are focussed on Play based Learning, with outside play (bring a hat) fruit snack will be provided and story and activities during the session.
BABY NEWS: Congratulations to the Pike family - Tom, Diana, Henry & Fenton on the arrival of their beautiful baby girl Evangaline.
CALENDAR UPDATES: Please check the calendar carefully for events coming up in the next week or two.
Thursday 9th November- Middle Unit Interschool Basketball, Foundation 2024 Transition session 5
Thursday 16th November- Foundation 2024 Transition session 6 and Parent Information Session
Friday 17th November- Foundation Unit Assembly
Tuesday 28th November- School Annual General Meeting
ASSEMBLY: Foundation Unit will be hosting assembly this Friday at 2.45pm in the hall. All welcome to attend.
GOTCHA AWARDS- Congratulations to this week’s milestone achievers for following our school norms: Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Your Best!
Bee Milestones – Brayan Moolayil, Veronica Lotong, Chimdindu Ilozue, Oliver Angwin and Eseta Toutai
Hive Milestones – Dhyan Sreeraj Nair, Angela Nguyen, Sione Latukefu, Victoria Finocchiaro, Zac Erben, Jaren Echanes, Eternity Conquest
I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the weekend.
As always,
Keep the Faith
Vince Muscatello
Foundation Unit News
Welcome to Week 6!
We hope you have enjoyed the extra long weekend and the children have had some time to charge the batteries for the remainder of the term. It is definitely going to be a busy end to the year.
This week at the assembly the Foundation students will be showcasing some of their learning from the term. It would be a great opportunity for you to join us at the assembly to watch and enjoy our presentation.
In Humanities this term we are learning about motion and forces. We have been investigating the way things move. This Friday we will be conducting an experiment and need cardboard boxes and rolls to make a Marble Run. If you have any laying around the house we would love to use them at school.
In Maths we have been learning about time. Below are some of the things we have been learning:
- how long it takes to complete a task - a second, a minute or an hour
- how to sequence activities that occur throughout the day in the correct order
- what activities we do on certain days of the week
- the name and order of the days of the week
- how to read and analogue and digital clock to the hour
As the weather is now getting quite warm it is very important that all children have a school hat to wear. Please make sure it is clearly named.
Junior Unit News
Welcome back from a wonderful 5 day break!
Camp Day Information: On Thursday 30th November the Grade 1 & 2 students will be participating in our Junior Camp Day. Activities are still being planned and finalised and permission slips will be sent out on the SIMON Everywhere App soon.
The day will commence with normal school drop off with activities commencing at 9am.
- Grade 1 students will be invited to stay back at school until 6pm. Dinner will be included.
- Grade 2 students will be invited to stay back at school until 8pm.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me: aoxlade@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
Middle Unit News
Welcome back to Week 6! We hope everyone enjoyed their mid-term break and is rested for our busy final weeks together for 2023!
Good luck to our basketballers who are off to play tomorrow at the Sporting Precinct. We are sure they will have a wonderful day. Please remember to pack plenty of water. It is going to be hot!
Our Grade 4's are eagerly awaiting the meeting of their new 2024 Foundation buddies. On Thursday they will have a chance to meet them, followed by a play date next week. We are sure our Grade 4's will be the best role models to help out our new students as they begin the school journey.
Last week our students enjoyed participating in Mission Week stalls. They all did a wonderful job helping to prepare and sell their goods and services. Well done everyone for your contribution.
Mission Week Stalls
End of term pack up: Could all students please bring in a bag, plastic, paper, resuable, that we can fill with student's artwork, etc as we pack up the classroom in the last few weeks of term. Thanks
Puberty Lessons
During Weeks 7-10 we will be learning about physical, social and emotional changes in our bodies.
Week 7 - An introduction to puberty.
Week 8 - Using anatomical names for internal and external reproductive systems.
Week 9 - A basic understanding of human reproduction.
Week 10 - Reflection and summary of learning.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, don't hesitate to get in touch with Rachel Slimmon at rslimmon@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
RRRR
Our puberty lessons will be supported throughout our RRRR lessons which will focus on ‘Gender and Identity’, and ‘Positive Gender Relationships’. During these lessons, we will continue to focus on respect, consent, and seeking help.
Senior Unit News
Today we were very excited to see the senior unit full of students again after the very long weekend. There was lots of exciting news and stories shared amongst the students of their adventures over the five day break. However, with the break over, we are are pumped and ready to finish of the term with some great learning.
In particular, over the coming weeks we will be learning about matter in science, which will include a variety of exciting experiments. To help us with this, we are looking for donations of items for these experiments. If you have any of the following items you can spare and donate to us, send them in any time over the next fortnight:
- clean and empty jars (i.e pasta sauce jars)
- large zip lock bags
- clear plastic drinking cups
- small plastic bottle (i.e. pop top drink bottles)
We thank you in advance for any and all donations.
A reminder, as we head towards the end of the year, there are several excursions happening that require permission for students to attend. Please keep an eye on the SIMON Everywhere App and approve any excursions that pop up as soon as you are able. If you have any questions about any of the excursions, please contact your child's classroom teacher.
Hands Up Mallee
Healthy, active lifestyles start with Walking to School! Sunraysia Community Health’s Walk to School
initiative is encouraging kids to be active before and after school this November. When we support
our kids to walk, ride, scoot or skate to school, we’re setting them up for healthy, active lives. We’re
also making the streets around our schools safer and less congested. Take part in Walk to School Month this November.
Some benefits for our children include -
• By encouraging kids to walk, ride, scoot, or skate to and from school at any time of the
year helps to build healthy habits for life.
• Getting kids into the habit of walking to school helps them feel great now and leads to healthy,
active lives into the future.
• Getting active is even more fun when we do it together! Walking, riding, scooting or skating to and
from school is a great way to connect with family and friends.
• Part way is okay! If you can’t walk the whole way, why not try parking the car a few blocks from
your school and walk, ride, skate or scoot the rest.
• Walk to School with your kids and enjoy the chance to talk and teach road safety skills while
getting active yourself.
• Walking, riding or scooting to and from school instead of driving is great for our health,
environment and community. It helps to reduce traffic congestion, save money on parking, connect
with family and friends and even reduces air pollution.