Newsletter #04 February 24
Principal's News
Dear St Paul’s families,
Welcome to weekly news update. It is hard to believe we are officially half way through Term One. I am still trying to work out where the first five weeks went.
SCHOOL PHOTOS: The week began with school photos. It was a big effort to get through all classes and family photos by 12.00pm! Thank you to our school captains, Lyla and Darcy, for helping to organise the classes during the photo sessions. It was a shame that some children were ill and subsequently missed their class photo opportunity. Our school photos are usually held in February each year and we will continue to notify you of events such as these via our SIMON everywhere app, Facebook page and newsletter. It was lovely to see the children in particular preparing for their family photos. A wonderful keepsake and gift for the grandparents to put on display.
MAPPEN WEEK: It’s on again this week. There are lots of different activities planned for the children. The senior unit enjoyed their excursion on Monday. Look in the Senior unit report for more information. We will host our MAPPEN EXPO this Friday 26th between 1.00pm and 2.00pm for any parents who would like to attend. Please come along and see the great work the kids have done as they showcase their learning.
SWPBS RE-LAUNCH: Last Friday we had our SWPBS relaunch and the children and staff readily engaged in it. Thank you to the senior unit students who introduced the Bee Dance to everyone and a special thank you to the staff who so enthusiastically volunteered to join the children on stage. Special Mention to Mrs Brouwers, Mr White, Mr Alexander, Mr Freeman, Mrs Heeps, Anne-Marie, and Denise for their show stopping performance. I didn’t realise we had so many talented dancers on staff. We also had the opportunity to farewell Mrs Jeffers as she commences her maternity leave. On behalf of our school community, I wish her and her family all the best with the safe arrival of their new baby.
GUIDED LEARNING WALK: Last week I mentioned that we had some parents volunteer to participate in a Guided Learning Walk, to learn more about how we teach and how the children learn at St Paul’s. We have another opportunity for a Guided Learning Walk on Tuesday 2nd March. The walk will begin at 9.30am and will go for 1 ½ hours. There are places still available. We will be running these Guided Learning Walks each term so there are plenty of opportunities for you to participate. Parents can attend more than once. If you would like to participate, please fill in the survey form provided below to register.
https://forms.gle/LCiozjzJTjcaUiKg7
WALKING OFF THE WAR WITHIN: Don’t forget on Saturday 13th March, a local group will be hosting the “Walking off the War Within Fundraiser”. Its purpose is to raise money and awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, particularly within emergency services and the Australian Defence Force. This year the organising committee is also supporting the local charity-“Suicide Prevention Network”. St Paul’s will be supporting this day by having a Casual Clothes Day on Friday 12th March. We are asking the children to bring a gold coin donation for this event.
It will be nice to host our book fair next week as well. Something we haven’t been able to do for a while with parents onsite. Please remember that parents must wear masks indoors whilst onsite. Please don’t be offended if you are asked to put a mask on.
FOUNDATION REST DAY: Today is the last rest day for Foundation. We will see them at school full time as of Monday 1st March.
We will also be conducting teaching interviews for positions advertised recently. Once the appointments have been made and approved, you will be notified.
CONGRATULATIONS: Well done to Nicola De Maria who competed in the Primary School Tennis yesterday. Nicola played in 5 matches and won them all. Her score was 20-1 making her the overall winner on the day. She now progresses to the Inter Regional finals in Swan Hill, next month.
As always
Keep the Faith!
Vince Muscatello
MAPPEN EXPO - Friday 26th Feb, 1pm-2pm
MAPPEN week is where we focus on integrated studies including subject areas such as science, history, geography, civics and citizenship.
Students across the school will present their learning this Friday 26th Feb from 1pm-2pm. Parents and Friends are welcome to attend.
Library News
Hello from St Paul's Library.
This week our first Book Fair for the year will be delivered. On Friday 26th, the students will all have the opportunity to visit the Book Fair and complete their wish list. These fantastic books will be available to purchase next Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd March, before school from 8.30am, at lunchtime and after school until 3.45pm. The great thing is this year parents can come into the Book Fair as well, so look forwards to seeing everyone. Students can enter a colouring in competition to win $20.00 worth of books from the fair, all entries must be back by next Monday 1st March.
Last week overdue notes were given out. Please help your child look for these books, if there is a problem or you think the book has already been returned just let me know please.
We are hoping to have a visiting author Phil Kettle come to our school in May this will be very exciting and we will have more news about Phil's visit later.
Foundation parents will have the opportunity to donate a picture story book to our library after the Foundation Book Buddy night which will be held on Thursday 11th March. Each child's photo is on the inside of the book and they are the first to borrow the book.
Our library is open each morning Monday Tuesday and Wednesday at 8.30 so come in and read with your children
Thanks Marg Pongrac
Languages - Italian News
Our Foundation students have enjoyed the start to their Italian classes and learning about the much loved Pinocchio character. The students have listened to an Italian story about Geppetto and how he created his special wooden puppet. Foundation students are now learning the Italian parts of the body by joining in with a song that Geppetto sings in the "Ecco Pinocchio" story book.
Last Friday, our Foundation students had the opportunity to made their own paper Pinocchio puppet with whom they could speak and introduce themselves in Italian " Ciao, mi chiamo ...." Here are some lovely photos of our Foundation students and their Pinocchio puppets for you to enjoy.
Ciao, ciao ~ Signora Ghidinelli
My New Gallery
My New Gallery
GUIDED LEARNING WALKS
GUIDED LEARNING WALKS – Tuesday 2nd March – 9.30am - 11am
You are invited to come along and see firsthand how children learn at our school here at St Paul's
Guided Learning Walks for Parents are a marvellous opportunity for parents to come to the school and with other parents in a small group to be guided around classrooms by one of the school leaders
These guided walks will provide you with;
- A first-hand look into classrooms and the learning
- Special commentary and insights from school leaders
- An opportunity to ask questions
- A chance to meet and listen and learn with other parents
If you are interested in joining us on Tuesday – please indicate by completing the survey on the link below
https://forms.gle/LCiozjzJTjcaUiKg7
Places are limited.
Senior Unit News
This has been a very busy start to the week for the Senior Unit, which began with school photos and a very informative walk along the Mildura riverfront district learning about its wonderful history. We must give a very special thank you to Mr Bob Walton for sharing his insight into the history of this district with us. Now students will apply some of the knowledge they have gained through our excursion to create informative displays for viewing by friends, parents and family on Friday afternoon. Please make the effort if possible to come and witness the efforts of our students and possibly discover some little know historical facts about our region. Next week will see our unit involved in our first Senior Unit liturgy for the year Friday 5th March at 9.15am. We invite all parents and caregivers to meet with us in the School Chapel for this event. Very shortly parents and carers of our year five students will be requested to provide consent for an excursion to St Joseph's College as part of a familiarisation and transition program, we thank you in advance for your speedy approval of this activity.
MIDDLE Unit News
This week students were given the opportunity to engage in our first Mappen topic for the year, Someone Else's Shoes. The unit aims to build the students' understanding and empathy for people's different needs through exploring different disabilities.
On Monday and Tuesday students engaged in information sessions that gave them some knowledge as to what a disability is and the different types of disabilities. They watched some videos which gave them a snapshot of the lives of some people who live with disabilities. Furthermore, they engaged in activities to help them experience a taste of everyday school tasks from the perspective of people with various disabilities. The activities included being blindfolded while playing a ball game (vision impairment), learning a phrase in Australian sign language (hearing impairment), drawing a picture with their non-dominant hand/feet, and mobilising around areas of the school in a wheelchair to identify any barriers to access (physical disability).
For the remainder of the week students will be invited to take the knowledge and interest that they have developed and explore this further. Students will select one disability and use a slide template to conduct research from pre-approved websites and respond to questions. It will also require them to draw on skills taught in their technology lesson with Mrs Simms on Monday. Students were taught about copyright laws and shown how to insert images into a Slide presentation.
Once again we invite parents to join us at our Learning Expo from 1pm to 2pm. You are welcome to come at any time during this time slot. The students are excited to share and showcase their learning with you. Pleasure ensure that you enter via the front office and that you are wearing masks.
Thanks from the Middle Unit Team.
MAPPEN
Junior Unit News
MAPPEN has been a huge hit this week! The students have been engaged in all things sustainability and caring for our world. Monday we focused on what the word 'sustainability' means and what we can do to sustain our world. Tuesday we looked at how things decompose, our different bins (general waste, recycling and green waste) and the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
Don't forget that Friday we have our MAPPEN Expo from 1-2pm. Please send in your recycled items for students to create a present from them.
Have a look at all of our hard work this week.
Foundation Unit News
This week the Foundation Unit are learning about History. The areas of focus is:
We are learning to:
* identify our family history and identify milestones in our lives,
* Identify how life has changed over the years,
* Listen to dreamtime stories that highlight the past through oral traditions.
We have also been learning to play some old fashioned games. We look forward to seeing many parents on Friday at 1pm to come in and observe the children's learning.
On Tuesday we had some special visitors (Mr & Mrs Moyle) come in and talk to us about the "olden days". It was a very informative lesson and the children learnt a lot about what life was like and they feel very blessed to have all of the wonderful things they have today. We would like to say a very big thank you to Mr Moyle for taking time out of his day to share his life story.
Could you please ensure that if your child is unwell, that they stay at home. If they are sent to school unwell we are required to send them home and they are not to return back to school that day.
Technology News
Last week in Technology, Foundation students began exploring the iPads in more detail. Student were learning to name the parts of an iPad. Students loved exploring the big floor iPad and taking turns to put it back together after it 'lost' all of its parts!
Individually students then used the app 'Boom Cards' and played a tailor made game to practice identifying and naming different parts of an iPad.
Next week, Foundation students will be learning to take photographs with an iPad in preparation for making their first digital piece of work.
Until next week remember, the internet gave us access to everything; but it also gave everything access to us.
Mrs Narelle Simms
Arts News
This week, all of the children are learning fantastic things through their MAPPEN topics. On Monday, the children in the middle unit had an amazing experience in Art by completing a piece of art while blindfolded. They had the opportunity to discover how it might feel for a person who is blind and the obstacles they could come up against.
Using a piece of paper with just a perforated circle on it, the children had to follow instructions to draw parts of the face. They had to rely on feeling the circle and remembering where they had drawn each part. What an amazing experience had by all!
Blindfolded Portraits
Stay tuned for some more MAPPEN themed artwork in the coming weeks!
Hands Up Mallee
National Ride your bike to School Day is coming up on Friday 19th March.
It’s the perfect opportunity to kick-start new healthy habits and promote the many benefits of active travel to your children. We encourage all students and their families to leave the car at home and give riding, walking, scooting or skating a go. It’s sure to be a fantastic day. I know I will be riding my bike from Irymple on the day!
Breakfast Club Roster | ||
Friday: 26th Feb Jordan S Vanessa T | Monday: 1st March Hana T Samisoni V Oliver W | Wednesday: 3rd March Ofa A Shaylee B |
Physical Education Update
Hooked In2 Hockey:
It was a fantastic experience having Hockey Victoria recently attend our school as part of their roadshow program. Our students learnt the skills of hockey through exciting game-based activities in an engaging, fun and safe environment.
While the roadshow is over, students can continue their hockey journey by joining a local Hookin2Hockey program at www.hookin2hockey.com.au. With programs starting soon now is the perfect chance to get out on the pitch.
Hookin2Hockey will allow children to expand on the skills they recently learnt at school, develop fundamental motor skills while making friends and having fun!
Primary Division Tennis:
On Tuesday this week, Nicola DeMaria (S14) competed in the SSV Primary Division Tennis Competition. Nicola played 5 matches in total, where she scored 20-1. This made her the overall winner on the day, and will progress through to the Regional competition at Swan Hill next month. Congratulations Nicola!
Sporting Opportunity For Young Females (Golf):
On behalf of the Australia Golf Foundation, Mildura Golf Resort is offering girls 10 to 16 the opportunity to start or continue their golfing journey with a group of girls a similar age.
The program will provide a year’s membership and four school terms of tuition at Mildura Golf Resort throughout 2021, delivered by PGA professional Brad Pitt. There is no cost, just a commitment to participate.
The program begins on Saturday March 6 (9am to 10 am) and requires just one hour of attendance each Saturday during the school term. Equipment is provided.
For further information, please contact Brad on 0458 377 609 or bcpitt@hotmail.com
Hockey & Tennis
