2024 Newsletter #03 March 6

Principal News

Dear St Paul's Families,

Welcome to this week's news.

CROSS COUNTRY: Congratulations to everyone involved in the Cross Country on Friday.  The children certainly enjoyed themselves and the change to an earlier timeslot was well received as the day continued to warm up.  Thank you to Mrs Slimmon and Mr Pike for coordinating the day and for everyone else involved.  The presentations in the afternoon for the individual winners and house winners ended the day perfectly.

SENIOR CAMP: Yesterday the Senior Unit departed for their camp to Adelaide.  This is the first time we have visited Adelaide.  The agenda is action packed and it's a guarantee that that everyone will not only have a great time , but also need a lot of sleep when they get home. Check Facebook for regular updates & pics!

ASSEMBLY: Even though the Senior unit is away on camp this week, there will still be an assembly Friday afternoon at 2.45pm.   You are all most welcome to attend.   M1 will be presenting their learning to the community.

LONG WEEKEND PUBLIC HOLIDAY: This coming Monday 11th March is a public holiday and school will be closed.  School will resume as normal on Tuesday 12th March.

UPCOMING EVENTS: There are lots of important events coming up so please make sure you check the calendar.

Tuesday 12th March- Meet the Teacher-Don't forget to book online via SIMON Everywhere App
Wednesday 13th-Friday 15th March- NAPLAN TESTING
Thursday 14th March-Grade 6 Lower Murray Water Bushland Excursion
Tuesday 19th March- St Joseph's College Grade 5 visit and  Open Evening
Thursday 21st March - Harmony Day
Friday 22nd March- ST Paul's Trivia night.

MEET THE TEACHER: On Tuesday 12th March from 3.50pm parents have the opportunity to meet with their child's teacher.  The aim of time is to get to know your child a little better and is an opportunity for the parent to share anything that may help with their child's learning.  Bookings are open on the App.  If there is not a suitable time available please email your child's teacher to arrange another time.

NAPLAN:  Next Wednesday 13th til Monday 18th March year 3 and 5 students will sit NAPLAN.  NAPLAN comprises of 4 tests - Writing, Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy.  If you have any questions or concerns, please see your child's teacher.

ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE: Year 5 Visit & Open Evening: On Tuesday 19th March the grade 5 students will begin their transition to St Joseph's by visiting the college.  Following this St Joseph's will be open to allow perspective students to have a tour.

HARMONY DAY: Thursday 21st March 2024: Harmony Day is dedicated to celebrating Australia's rich multicultural heritage.  This year, the theme is “Everyone Belongs”.  Students are encourage to wear casual clothes that include 'orange'.  

BEE MILESTONES: Congratualations to the following students who have reached their Bee Milestone' - Olly Morton, April Nyabonda, Oliver Harradine, Sylvia-Jade Simmons, Walter Divola, Andrea Norton, Jasmeet Bassi, Jacob Echanes & Harshveer Khangur, Taylor Burns, Jett Yates, Sienna Humphrey, Jack O'Callaghan, Poppy Thannhauser, Nhalla Tabinas, Catherine Lotong & Blair Traeger.

Wishing everyone a fantastic week as we move closer to the end of term.

Administration News

Thank you for payments of school fees. 

If you have chosen to pay either termly or annually, a reminder that payment will need to be finalised by end of Term One, 28th March 2024.  

Statements will be emailed out this week for those who have chosen term or annual payments.

Meet the Teacher Interviews - Bookings Now Open

Meet the Teacher Interviews - BOOKINGS NOW OPEN on SIMON Everywhere APP

Parents and Carers are encouraged to book a 10 minute time slot for Tuesday 12th March from 3.40pm-5.50pm.  Meet the Teacher is an informal meeting time for parents and carers 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 via email 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."

NB - Carmel McGlashan (J7) interviews have been postponded.  We will notify parents when a new time is set.  

Harmony Day - Thursday 21st March

Celebrating Harmony Day: Embracing Diversity in Our School Community

As we step into the vibrant month of March, we are thrilled to celebrate Harmony Day, a special occasion that holds profound significance in fostering unity, understanding, and appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our diverse school community.

What is Harmony Day?
Harmony Day, observed on March 21st each year, is a celebration of cultural diversity, promoting inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for all. It is a day for us to reflect on the beauty of our differences and the strength that comes from embracing various cultures, languages, and traditions.

What activities is St Paul's doing to recognise the day?

All students will particpate in a Harmony Day lesson and are welcome to wear casual clothes with orange.

St Paul's History- The Early Years Chapter 3

1974 Continued

It was decided by the Principal and Parish Priest that the staff who were to be at St. Paul’s were to be given two weeks away from the school to prepare to teach in the most effective way. One week was to be spent reading and studying and one week observing at a school that was using team teaching methods.

A grant was received that covered the cost of replacement teachers for two weeks each. Books and papers had been obtained for study- the books were mainly about English schools and the papers were produced by the Curriculum Branch of the Victorian Education Department.

The English books often raised more problems than they solved in the teacher’s minds as this was the first time it became clear that the term “open school” can mean different things to different people. The English meaning was of a way of teaching based on using the child’s own interests and the teacher bringing out the educational value of the activity.

Teachers began to think this would be asked of them and feelings of apprehension began. These were alleviated to some extent by the next phase of teacher preparation., that of visits to schools. Two schools were selected as suitable for this purpose- State schools at Ouyen and at Avondale Heights in Melbourne.

The methods used at both schools could be termed team teaching rather than the open classroom approach based on the English models.

While the idea of time for study and visits was very good, much of the benefit that could have been obtained was lost as there was only one staff meeting where oral reports were given and there was very little discussion of new ideas.

Plans were now formulated for moving into the school. Furniture and equipment was purchased with office and audio-visual equipment costing $1255, teaching aids $1500 and furnishings $1126.

-Cleaning of the school was discussed, and a quote obtained. It was felt that the cost involved was too great and parents were asked to clean the school on a weekly basis. This would mainly mean vacuuming the carpet.
- A cleaner was engaged to clean the toilets daily.
-A tree planting day was held on Sunday 11^th August, when 500 trees were planted by parents, children and Parish people.
-A meeting was held with Mr G. Corr from the Primary Schools Library Committee regarding a library grant.
- Plans were formulated for outside development- car park, playground equipment, bicycle racks.
- Volunteers were found to move equipment from Sacred Heart School and Hall.

The school finally began operating on Tuesday 10^th September 1974. In the first weeks, it was often disrupted by workmen who were still painting, cutting concrete and finishing various aspects of the building.

The Principal had decided that grade groups would not be used when the school began operating in the new building in Term 3. Each teacher would have “home group” which, in the junior area, a mixed group of Grades 3,4 and 5. Home group teaching would cover subjects of Religious Education, Art, Health, Science, Social Studies and Physical Education. Mathematics, language, and writing should be taught in skills-based groups after children had been tested and assigned to a group on their results.

The junior classes, of 79 children, were accommodated in the shaded area of the plan, while the senior classes, of 108 children occupied the dotted area.

Learning Diversity News

Speech Therapy at St Paul’s

It is routine practice at St Paul’s to assess the speech and language skills of all Foundation students and possibly any of our new students in other classes at the beginning of the school year. 

In 2024, St Paul’s has employed Sophie Bell (Speech Pathologist) and Kristy Andriske (Allied Health Assistant) from BG Speech Pathology to complete speech and language screening and assessments, as well as directly support specifically identified students’ language development, articulation and communication skills with targeted programs throughout the year.  Sophie works at St Paul’s on Tuesdays and Kristy is here on Thursdays. 

Sophie is currently using the CELF 5, (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - Fifth Edition) screener to assess your child’s overall Receptive and Expressive Language Skills.  Students who are at or below standard in the screener are then referred for further assessment using the full version of the CELF-5 so that the school can identify the specific needs of the student. Parents will be notified if their child requires the full assessment to be administered and will be provided with their child’s results once completed.

Kristy is implementing specific speech and language programs for small group and  individual students and as prescribed by Sophie.

In addition to Sophie and Kristy, St Paul’s is also serviced by Speech Pathologist- Chelsea Harris from Catholic Education Ballarat who visits St Paul’s at various times throughout each term.  Chelsea will be specially supporting students with articulation difficulties.

If you have any questions or would like further information in relation to our Speech Therapy services please don't hesitate to contact me.

Lauren Gibson

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing & Learning Diversity

Introducing Sophie 

“My name is Sophie Bell, I am a mum of two beautiful boys and I have completed my Masters of Speech and Language Pathology degree with Charles Darwin University in 2023. I have worked with Brooke, Sarah, and the team during my studies and am excited to start my Speech Pathology career with BG Speech Pathology this year. I am passionate about all things speech and language for children, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for 2024.”

Introducing Kristy

Hi everyone, My name is Kristy, and I am thrilled to be joining the team at BG Speech Pathology as an Allied Health Assistant. I come from a background in Nursing and am looking forward to the challenge this change will bring. I am a mum of 4 gorgeous girls and a Nan to 3. I am very excited to work alongside such a passionate team, assisting to achieve optimal outcomes for clients and their families.

NAPLAN - Years 3 & 5

Buzzing with Excitement: SWPBS Relaunch Day Recap!

Friday  23rd  February,  St Pauls embarked on an exciting journey as we relaunched our School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) program with a day filled with energy, enthusiasm, and a whole lot of positivity!  We're thrilled to share the highlights of our SWPBS Relaunch Day and the three bees: Safe, Respectful, and Your Best!

Safe, Respectful, Your Best: The Three Bees of SWPBS

As we reintroduced SWPBS to our school community, we focused on the core principles embodied by the three bees: Safe, Respectful, and Your Best. These principles serve as the foundation of our positive behavior support program and guide our students in making responsible choices every day.

A Hive of Positivity: Celebrating Success with SWPBS

The SWPBS Relaunch Day was not just about introducing a program—it was about celebrating the positive behavior and values that define our school community. Through the three bees of SWPBS, we reaffirmed our commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

As we continue our journey with SWPBS, we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our school community, both now and in the future. Together, we can create a hive of positivity where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to be their best selves.

Thank you to our dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and supportive parents for making the SWPBS Relaunch Day a resounding success!

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Religious Education News

Project Compassion 

Each Lent, thousands of Australian schools, parishes and supporters come together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, whereby Project Compassion ties in perfectly. Together we can make a difference now and for all future generations. 

As a school community, we raise awareness through immersing ourselves in the lives of those most in need and the impact that Project Compassion has had and continues to have on the lives of many, through our Religious Education lessons. As a school, we will engage in fundraising activities during the latter part of Term 1, guided by our SRC.

In addition to this, families are invited to fundraise at home, and they are most welcome to collect their own Project Compassion box from the stand in between the office and uniform shop. All donations are greatly appreciated.  

This week, I would like to introduce you to Ronita from the Philippines. Ronita lives with her husband and two children, aged 5 and 3 years old. Her husband works seven days a week in waste disposal, from 3am to 9pm each day. It is exhausting, laborious work, make harder by the very hot climate. Despite this, Ronita and her husband are only able to rent a very small brick room for their family.

Growing up, Ronita faced many challenges. She left school when she became pregnant at 17 years old and she was at risk of never being able to re-enter the education system. With the support of Carita’s Australia, Ronita was given a second chance through an Alternative Learning System. Due to this opportunity, she was able to graduate from senior high school and secure a job at a call centre (which needed the completion of Year 12 Secondary School). She is hopeful that she will be able to continue to earn enough income to support her family. Let's reach out and give life! 

Ronita's Story

Foundation Unit News

Welcome to Week 6!

In Religion, we have been learning about "Belonging".  We have discussed all of the different groups we belong to.  One of the groups many of us belong to is the Sacred Heart Parish.  We went on an Excursion to look at the Sacred Heart Church.  The children were very respectful and enjoyed learning about the symbols in the Church.  They were very excited about the bus trip back to school.

In Maths, we have been working with numbers up to 10 and 20.  We are learning to count forwards and backwards, ordering numbers, matching numbers & identifying the numbers that come before and after a given number.

EASTER BONNET PARADE: Wednesday 27th March at 10am

We are asking that children make their bonnets at home and bring them in by Tuesday 26th March. 

Junior Unit News

Our beans and peas are booming!  We are so excited to share a bean and pea update with you all.  This week, each class will be planting their beans and peas in the vegetable garden located near the John Hill Oval.  The Junior Unit students will be responsible for watering their veggies to help them grow. 

In week 7, the Junior students will paritipate in a Footy Clinic provided by the Imperials Football Club. This will take place on our classroom sport day (Thursday). 

Middle Unit News

Well Done to all our students who participated in Cross Country last week.  It was lovely to students showing self determination and being supportive towards their peers!

Next week the Grade 3 students will participate in NAPLAN.  NAPLAN is completed in Grade 3, 5, 7 and 9.  The students have been working hard over the last few weeks to feel confident and prepared for the process. Although NAPLAN is just one data point it is a great way to monitor students' progress over time and against National Standards. If you have any concerns, please speak to your child’s teacher this week.

Cross Country

Last Friday we held our annual school cross country. Congratulations to all students who participated with perseverance and a positive attitude. It was lovely to see so many families and friends in attendance to cheer and support the runners. A BIG thank you to our Grade 6 sports captains who helped marshall around the course and encouraged our younger runners with enthusiasm. 

Our winning house team on the day went to Chaffey!

Age group results are posted below.

12+ yr old Girls 3km

1. Ariah Tickle - Mercy
2. Samuella Allieu - Chaffey
3. Poppy Thannhauser - Hill

12+ yr old Boys 3km 

1. Jack o’callaghan - Chaffey
2. Konna Peters - Mercy
3. Aiden Silcox - Mercy

11 yr old Girls 3km

1. Harriet Gibson - Chaffey
2. Willow Droffelaar - Mercy
3. Kooper Carmichael  - Mercy

11yr old Boys 3km

1. Tyler O’Rielly - Chaffey
2. Dan Bobby - Chaffey
3. Aiden Varghese - McKenzie

10yr old Girls 2km

1. Sylvia Jade Simmons - McKenzie
2. Faye Ratcliffe - Mercy
3. Jessica Allieu - Chaffey  & Cienna Pascale  - Chaffey 

10 yr old Boys 2km

1. Reyon Shermin - Hill
2. Harry Burns - Chaffey
3. Rafael Mammone - McKenzie

9yr old Girls 2km

1. Mischa Pascale  - Chaffey
2. Maggie Slimmon - Hill
3. Eternity Conquest - Chaffey

9yr old boys 2km

1. Francis Chan Za Hmung - McKenzie
2. Ashton MacDonald - McKenzie
3. Max Mangan - McKenzie

Grade 2 girls 1km

1. Daisy Gibson  - Chaffey
2. Riley O’Callaghan  - Chaffey
3. Sofia Cricelli  - Chaffey

Grade 2 boys 1km

1. Baine Hateley - Hill
2. Chimdi Ilozue - Hill
3. Brayan Moolayil - McKenzie

Grade 1 girls 1km

1. Esta Pascale - Chaffey
2. Mansirat Kaur - Chaffey
3. Neve Morton  - Chaffey

Grade 1 boys 1km

1. Taanush  Paul - McKenzie
2. Ollie Thannhauser - Hill
3. Oliver Moroni - Mercy

Foundation Girls 500m

1. Murphy Mangan - McKenzie
2. Alyson Morshedi - Mercy
3. Tapaita Pome’e - Chaffey

Foundation Boys 500m

1. Clayton Body - Mercy
2. Jack Stevenson - Mercy
3. Nicholas Caminiti - Chaffey

SCHOOL

1. Chaffey 209
2. Mercy 144
3. Mckenzie 141
4. Hill 127

Sport News

On Thursday 9th of February, 4 students represented our school at interschool tennis.

Congratulations to Levi Morton, Dusty Scott, Samuella Allieu, and Jessica Allieu. All players showed excellent skills and sportsmanship. A special mention to Levi who made the semi-finals and finished 3rd in a tight result.

Next Week, Ben Tallent from the Imperial Football Netball Club is coming to run some footy clinics with our Foundation to Grade 4 classes. Juniors and Middles will also have a guest coach and ex-AFL player, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, attend their sessions.  Please make sure students wear their sports uniform on these days.

Middles - Wednesday

Juniors - Thursday

Foundation - Friday

Technology News

Wow! it has been an exciting few weeks in the Tech room!

Firstly, we have finally received our new furniture. It looks amazing and, as it caters for our youngest learners in prep to our taller students in year 6,  it is extremely functional.

More importantly, there has been a lot of new and exciting learning happening. 

Foundation are becoming very proficient iPad users. They have learned the name and function of each part of the ipad, can use the notes app and keyboard to type their name and have been practising the art of taking selfies and elsies.

Year 1 have been looking inside a computer and learning about the hardware and software components they can see, touch and play and have even build their very own model of a Chromebook.

Year 2 have been very hard at work learning how to create, store and edit a Google Doc. So far they have learned to manipulate text by changing the size, colour and font and insert images from the web.

Over the past week, year 3/4 students have build on what they learned from Marty and Laura in this terms Inform and Empower incursion to create a 'Digital Safety and Wellbeing' pledge, which they will review, agree to follow and sign in their next lesson.

Lastly, although they are in Adelaide this week enjoying all it has to offer, last week they reviewed what a digital system is by creating a talking digital character.

Digital Safety and Wellbeing Update

Meet Martin McGauran or as we like to call him, Marty, the worlds best  tech guru and extrordinaire!

This year, we have again partnered with Marty and the team at 'Inform and Empower' to deliver high quality learning in the area of digital safety and wellbeing. This means that your child/children will be tuning in to live streamed incursions (with their teachers) every term that focus on healthy and safe digital habits. The incursion content is all written and delivered by the team at 'Inform and Empower' who are qualified teachers and endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. These sessions aim to help children better navigate the online world and become more aware, clever, brave and kind. They will focus on topics including navigating unwanted contact, cyberbullying, help-seeking strategies, unsafe content, balancing screen time with "green time" and sharing personal information.

Check out the tip sheets for parents and carers to see what students at each year lebel learned during this term's incursions and open up important conversations with your child/children.

Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships - Myths & Facts

St Paul's teaches the RRRR program at St Paul's.  Below are some myths and facts about the program.  If you have any questions, please see your classroom teacher or Melissa Sutherland - msutherland@spmildura.catholic.edua.au