Newsletter #35 November 24
Principal News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome to this week's news.
FOUNDATION TRANSITION PROGRAM: Today the 2022 Foundation children and their parents visited St Paul's. The children were participating in a range of activities while I had the opportunity to share new information with the parents regarding school in 2022. Thank you to everyone who attended and hopefully you found it beneficial in preparing your children for school.
YEAR 6 GRADUATION CEREMONY: I have been informed by Catholic Education Ballarat that all our Year 6 children will be able to attend the Graduation Dinner as originally planned at the Pizza Cafe. There has been an update to the guidelines provided by schools. The Ceremony and Mass is still at Sacred Heart Church and the vaccination requirements for adults and other guests still apply.
ASSEMBLIES: This Friday we welcome back parents to our assembly. Please be aware that any parent/visitor attending a school organised event e.g. assembly, End of Year Mass etc... is required to:
-QR code
-Wear a mask
-Provide proof of full vaccination status.
ADVENT: This Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent as we begin preparing for Christmas. An important time in the Church's calendar as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the importance of being with family. It is hard to believe that it is only a month till Christmas.
EXCURSIONS: Next Tuesday, 30th November as a celebration for all the students reaching 50 SWPBS Gotcha's the Foundation unit will be going on an excursion to Benetook Farms. They will be travelling to and from the venue by bus leaving St Paul's at 9am and returning by 11am. Please ensure you have given consent on SIMON Everywhere. The children will have a shared 'Pizza' (provided) lunch. Children are to wear their Sports uniform, bring a water bottle and their hat.
The Grade 6 children will visit Sacred Heart Church to practice for their upcoming Graduation on Tuesday followed by an afternoon celebrating the end of their Primary education at the Waves pool. They will travel to the Church by Bus at 9.45am then walk to the Wave pool and return to St Paul's by bus at 2pm. Please ensure you have given consent on SIMON Everywhere. Students will need to wear their sports uniform and bring their snack, lunch, bathers, goggles, towel, drink bottle, hat & sunscreen.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: This meeting will be held on Tuesday 30th November at 7.00pm via google meet. A link will be provided on Daily messages for families to attend next Tuesday prior to the day with a pdf of the AGM booklet.
CLASS STRUCTURES AND STAFFING FOR 2022: Class lists and staffing are almost finalised for next year. The structures are as follows:
Foundation - 2 classes -Maryanne Heeps & Kirstie Emmett
Junior 1/2 - 4 classes - Emma Rutherford, Aimee Oxlade, Karen Brouwers & Rebecca McVean
Middle 3/4- 4 classes- Mila Giddings, Hanna Byrnes/Rhia Doherty, Matthew White & Alison Kedmenec
Senior 5/6- 4 classes - Lucy Gray, Alisha Parker, Cheryl-Anne Courtney & Danielle Baker
Have a great week everyone and enjoy the weekend. Hopefully the weather is a little more favourable.
Keep the Faith!
Vince Muscatello
SENIOR UNIT NEWS
Police in Schools Visit - The students had their last session with Toby McMillian. Senior Constable Toby showed the students different equipment that he needs for his job. Some students even were breath tested! Luckily they all blew 0.00. He did not let them hold his taser or gun!
REMINDERS -
Grade 6 - Pool Day is Tueday 30th - Please ensure you have given your child consent on SIMON Everywhere
Grade 5 - T-Shirts are now overdue and order need to be back ASAP or your child will miss out.
Middle Unit News
As you are aware due to Covid-19 restrictions our camp was cancelled. In lieu students are invited to participate in some activity days in Week 11.
On Wednesday the 15th of December, students will arrive at school as per normal. We will then board a bus and head to Sunraysia Ten Pin Bowling for some fun. Once we have finished Bowling we will head to Jaycee park to enjoy a picnic lunch together. Students are asked to bring their own lunch and snacks. After lunch we will head to the Wallis Cinema. Students will then return to school for normal pick up time.
On Thursday 16th December (the last day of school) students will be invited to participate in some games and activities at school. Students will be asked to bring some bathers and a towel as some of the games will involve water play. On this day students will have lunch provided.
We are really looking forward to celebrating with the students.
Junior Unit News
Grade 1/2 Camp Day
We have set a date for our Grade 1/2 Camp Day to be held on Tuesday 7th December. Students to be dropped off and picked up from school at normal school times. They will be able to wear casual clothes for the day but we recommend that students wear appropriate running shoes as we will be engaging in a variety of physical activities throughout the day.
Some important details to note:
Incursion - In the morning, the students will engage in an incursion in the Hall run by Limitless Dance Academy.
Water Games - In the afternoon, the students will engage in a variety of water games and activities. They will need to bring a towel, a swimming top (please ensure this is sun safe and covers their shoulders) and appropriate shorts they can change into after recess. If your child is coming to school in shorts they are happy to get wet, they will not need an extra set. Please pack these items in a bag inside their school bag to make it easier for your child to change quickly. We will have sunscreen available for the students to apply themselves, but if your child needs to use a particular type of sunscreen, can you please pack some in their bags and let their classroom teacher know? We are hoping the weather will be nice and warm and they won’t need to get dressed after the water games at the end of the day.
Food - Please provide normal brain food for your child. We will be ordering pizza from Dominoes for lunch. As per usual, your child is more than welcome to bring their own lunch if they prefer. Fruit and popcorn will be provided for afternoon tea and the students will be making their own special treat. At the end of the day, the students will be given an icy-pole. If you have any concerns about the food that’s being provided please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
We are really looking forward to this day to celebrate the end of our time together this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
Foundation Unit News
Welcome to week 8. The year is disappearing very quickly and there is still so much to do. Last Friday we had our Foundation Breakfast. The children loved the morning so much they asked if they could have breakfast at school every Friday. They enjoyed the food and some of the children had many helpings before they were full.
Next Tuesday 30th November will be our excursion to Benetook Farms. The bus will be leaving at 9am so please make sure the children arrive on time as we will not be able to wait for children who are running late. Once they are back at school they will then get to spend some time with their buddies.
Reminder for tomorrow: The Foundation children need to bring in a Christmas T-shirt, sunglasss and a cap for their Performing Arts item.
Today was the 3rd session of the Orientation Program for the children who will be beginning school next year. Last week was a very busy session where the children had the opportunity to meet their buddy, take a photo with them and complete an activity with them.
Hands Up Mallee
It’s not too late to register for Walk to School month and be in with a chance to win 1 of 3 scooters courtesy of Sunraysia Community Health Services as well as 1 family pool pass courtesy of Aligned Leisure (pool pass is awarded simply just for entering!). As well as this the school with the highest participation rate will also win $500 for their school!
At the moment St Paul’s is coming 2nd so let’s make sure that we get registered and do some walking! Don't forget that students can join me for Walking Club from 8:00 - 8:30am on a Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning.
All you need to do is scan the QR code which will direct you to the entry site, fill out the details and then get walking!!
Our Diocesan Community Magazine
Our Diocesan Community Magazine now available online.
To access magazine click on the following link:
https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ODC-November-2021-w.pdf