Newsletter #31 October 27
Principal News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome to this week's news.
It has been lovely to see the children back onsite this week. There was certainly a lot of enthusiasm about the place as they caught up with their friends. Some children are still having to isolate at the moment, at home, which is frustrating for everyone involved. The good news is they will be back at school in no time.
I am waiting on further advice with the easing of restrictions moving forward next week, especially regarding visitors onsite. I have been informed that our 2022 Foundation orientation program can go ahead, which is great news. I will keep you updated as soon as more information is available.
As the children return to the classroom it will take a little time for them to readjust which may lead to a change in their behaviour. If you notice anything different at home please let us know so we can continue to support them.
2022 CLASSES - As our planning for 2022 continues please remember that any information you wish to share regarding your child's classroom placement must be received by this Friday 29th October via email to: principal@spmildura.catholic.edu.au
PUPIL FREE DAY - Monday 1st November is a Pupil Free Day as St Paul's staff will be attending a Professional Development Day focused on Structured Literacy. This is a joint venture with St Joseph's Red Cliffs as a part of our Annual Action Plan.
PUBLIC HOLIDAY- Tuesday 2nd November is the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday. Therefore students will have a four day break with school returning on Wednesday 3rd November.
CANTEEN NEWS- Unfortunately the canteen will not be available until Wednesday 3rd November. At this time both Breakfast Club and Walking club will recommence in the morning before school.
Congratulations to this week's milestone achievers.
BEE MILESTONE: John Thang, Joseph Santos, Nicholas Halton, Angela Harris, Harlow Johnson, Nhu Nguyen
HIVE MILESTONE: Ari Williams, Alice Blanchard, Dan Boby, Ruby Slimmon, Olly Morton, Kooper Carmichael, Lola Droffelaar, Tate Gorringe, Spencer Kimpton, Dolly Moore, Eden Vo, Justin Tran, Maggie Slimmon
As Always,
Keep the Faith!
Vince Muscatello
ADMINISTRATION NEWS
**2022 School Fees**
Thank you to all he families who have already returned their 2022 green Fee Form. If you have not already completed & returned your form please do so immediately. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to contact the office.
Religious Education News
Catholic Mission
This Friday, 29th October, we will celebrate and acknowledge Catholic Mission Month with a Liturgy, activites and fundraiser. To raise funds for Catholic Mission, students are invited to wear casual clothes and bring a gold coin donation. Additional once off or monthly donations can be made to Catholic Mission Australia via their webpage using the 'Donate Now' button.
The aim of our Catholic Mission celebrations and acknowledgement is to show students how Christians respond to the call to love God and to love our neighbour by forming individuals and communities as missionary disciples of Jesus who share their faith in action and through prayer. As a Catholic school community, at St Paul's we share in God’s mission to reach out and give life by sharing our personal and financial resources to:
- proclaim the Gospel.
- serve people in need.
- act for peace, justice and creation.
We do this, so that all may have life in Christ.
First Eucharist
Congratulations to the students who have recieved their First Eucharist over the last fortnight. Thank you to the families for supporting their children to make this step in their faith journey. We look forward to an announcement of further easing of restrictions, allowing people to be once again be able to attend mass in a more "normal" way, hopefully in time for our Grade 6 Graduation Mass in December.
Junior Unit News
Welcome to Week 4!
We have, once again, been blown away by the students' resilience during these challenging times. They have settled back into their classrooms quite well and are enjoying spending time with their friends and teachers. Each morning, the students are washing their hands on entry to the classroom and are continuing to wash their hands multiple times throughout the day, for instance before eating and before and after outside play.
For our students in the Junior Unit, mask wearing is currently optional. If your child is wearing a mask, we have been discussing how we must avoid playing with them or taking them on and off. We have suggested they either wear them or place them in their bags if they want to take them off. As like any school item, it would be wonderful if their masks were named or initialled.
In Maths, we have been learning about multiplication. Last Friday, the students created their own 'array' city. They used different coloured paper to represent an array as windows on buildings. Students then wrote either a multiplication or repeated addition sentence to match their array.
Our Array Cities
Our Learning In Week 4
Science Learning (Week 6)
We are seeking donations of empty and clean small plastic water bottles, any brand, approximately 250mls in size. If you could bring them into school this week or next week as we will use them for our MAPPEN project in week 6. Many thanks.
Middle Unit News
It was so fantastic to welcome our students back on-site last Friday. The students enjoyed a day of catching up with each other. They were given opportunities to ask each other questions and share their ideas. They had fun making some clocks to consolidate the learning that they had done remotely.
This week in Literacy students are learning about the First Fleet. Students will read a short informative text. They will clarify words or phrases that they are unsure of to give them a better understanding on the content. We will be learning how to write our own paragraph about this part of history.
In Numeracy students will revisit some of the concepts associated with Time that we learnt during remote learning. We will also look at some word problems that ask us to solve problems using the information we have learn on Time.
We are really looking forward to getting back into more learning with our students and making sure they feel safe and happy to be back at school.
Hands Up Mallee
Community Relief Services & Supports
Sunraysia Community Health Services is here to provide support to anyone that is impacted by COVID-19,
particularly those who are in mandatory isolation or quarantine. This document provides localised information on
food relief, accessing essential items including prescription medications and referrals to local, state and national
support services, including financial, social and mental health support services. Your health and well-being matter to
us, we are all in this together!
Food Relief Services
State Funded Emergency Relief Packages
A coronavirus emergency relief package is something the government can give you, it is FREE. These packages are for
people who have to self-isolate because they have coronavirus. They include food and personal supplies, all you
have to do is call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 and select Option 4 (or option 0 if you need an
interpreter). These typically take a few days to arrive and may be subject to an eligibility criteria.
SMECC’s Community Food Relief
This is a FREE service for anyone in need of emergency food relief. You can place an online order for yourself or on
behalf of someone else and receive your order within the next 24 hours.
Call SMECC: 5022 1006
Online order form: https://smecc.org.au/community-food-relief/
SENIOR UNIT NEWS
Welcome back, it was great to see the students smiling and excited faces on Friday. To ease back into our learning the students worked collaboratively to solve challenges and escape the island!
GRADE 6 Students - Bring in your baby photos!
We ask that the grade 6 students bring in a baby photo with their name written on the back. These will be scanned and returned to you child. The photos will feature at the grade 6 graduation.
Library News
Hello from the Library,
Thanks so much to all our families for your amazing support of our Book Fair. We have a fantastic range of books and stationary items available. The Book Fair will close after school this Thursday 28th, so make sure everyone has done their shopping by then.
Congratulations to the winners of the colouring competition, these lucky students were able to choose their prizes from the book fair.
Overdue notes have been given out this week, it would be great to get some of these back, remember if there is a problem just let me know.
Kind regards
Marg Pongrac
Technology News
Borrowed Chromebooks
Thank you to all students, parents and families for following our school values, 'Be Respectful, Be Safe and Be Your Best' with borrowed devices during the recent remote learning period.
Chromebook devices are an important tool for learning at all year levels and in a variety of subject areas. If any families have not yet returned borrowed Chromebooks and chargers, please do so as soon as possible. Devices can be returned to the office or students can return them to their classroom teacher.
Until next week, something to ponder; people mistakenly take technology only to mean digital technology when in fact, technology is actually everything we make!
Mrs Narelle Simms
E-Safety Advice
Squid Game: Netflix record breaking series WARNING for parents and educators
Squid Game is officially Netflix’s most streamed series ever. The South Korean production, rated MA 15+, features characters competing in a series of games where failure results in death. Games played will be familiar to young people including Red light – Green Light, Tug-of-War and Marbles. Characters are systematically tortured and killed for the sadistic pleasure of a game master. Adults have sex, and there are threats of sexual violence: women are grabbed by the hair and beaten. Themes concerning the highs one gets from gambling, winning, or conning money are also a focus.
How might young people come across Squid Game content?
- Squid Game is streamed via Netflix and [currently] in the Top 10 most popular series in Search.
- You can view clips, including preview and selected scene reviews via YouTube.
- Short form video creations from users on Social Media (TikTok & Instagram).
- Replicated themes in games including Roblox.
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
It’s inevitable that young people will come to learn of Squid Game. They may have come across it on Netflix or be encouraged to view the series by friends.
PLAN a conversation with your children to find out what they already know about the series, ask if they have seen any of the content and provide time and space to unpack how it has made them feel.
PREVENT access through using parental controls in Netflix to ensure Squid Game series does not appear on your profile. Use the primary account to ensure additional profiles cannot be created without the parental code.
You may also want to consider placing content restrictions for search on their devices using Apple Screen Time – Family Sharing tools or Google Family Link.
PROTECT them by providing strategies for how they can respond to a friend who may try to expose them to the content or concepts. Keep an eye on the trend, monitor the situation, and discuss the topic with other parents in your child’s friendship circle(s).
WHAT CAN EDUCATORS DO?
Reports from schools across the world are indicating young people are mimicking Squid Game style game play in the school yard and St Paul's is no exception.
Games such as Red Light, Green Light (similar to ‘What’s The Time Mr Wolf?’), Tug-of-War or Marbles flow in and out as school yard trends over the years. These games are traditionally a fun and fantastic way for young people to develop social skills such resilience and collaboration.
However, the consequences of losing ‘Squid Game style’ is for players to be violently killed. This language and role-play behaviour can be harmful. Not to mention inappropriate for a school setting.
Participating in Squid Game style games at school is not appropriate as it is not in keeping with our school values or our 3 B’s; Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be Your Best. Any students particpating in these style of games will, through conversation, be empowered to take ownership of the situation. This will also help them to understand why this style of game play may be damaging to them and others around them.
CONVERSATION STARTERS FOR BOTH PARENTS AND EDUCATORS
- Why do you think Squid Games isn’t safe for kids to watch?
- Who could you talk to if you see something, or someone shows you something that makes you feel uncomfortable online?
- What can you say to someone who offers to show you something scary online?
- If a friend asks you to play a Squid Game style game, what could go wrong?
- What can you do if you feel uncomfortable playing a Squid Game style game?
- Why aren’t violent games in line with our school values?