Newsletter 04 Feb 16
Principal News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome to this week's news.
BABY NEWS: Firstly, congratulations to the Tickle family: Macki, Ariah, Holliee and Nhyla on the wonderful addition to their family, a new baby brother.
COVID UPDATE: Thank you to the families who collected their test packs and continue to test and fill in the google form on SIMON to notify us if your child has tested positive or is a household contact. Whilst I understand the inconvenience of having to isolate and another interruption to the school year, hopefully, in the coming week I will have more good news to share with you moving forward.
MEET THE TEACHER INTERVIEWS: Thank you to the parents who have made an appointment to meet their child's teacher either tonight or tomorrow night. We have been limited in the past couple of years with being able to talk to each other about our children's needs and aspirations. This is an important opportunity for you to do so.
SCHOOL PHOTOS: Next Tuesday 22nd February is our School Photo Day. Please make sure your child is in the correct school summer uniform (NOT Sports Uniform). The Senior unit children are required to wear the normal school uniform and can bring their sneakers to change into for sport after their photos.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM: A letter went home recently regarding the Sacramental program for this year being run by the Sacred Heart Parish. As you can imagine there are a large number of children this year across the district involved in multiple sacraments. This requires a lot of planning by Fr Matt and his team. Please note that the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation Yr 3 and above) Parent information meeting is at 7pm on Wednesday 23rd February at the Sacred Heart Church.
SHROVE TUESDAY: Tuesday 1st March is Shrove Tuesday also commonly known as Pancake Tuesday. It marks the end of Ordinary Time in the Church's liturgical calendar we prepare for the season of Lent
ASH WEDNESDAY: We will be celebrating Mass with Sacred Heart Primary and parishioners at Sacred Heart church on Wednesday 2nd March at 10.00am. At this mass the children will receive the ashes on their forehead as a sign of repentance. We will be transporting the children to and from church by bus. Please give consent for your child to attend this event on the SIMON Everywhere APP. A reminder that all adults will be required to wear a mask as well as children from Year 3-6, unless an exemption applies.
ASSEMBLY: Our second assembly for the year will be held this Friday in the hall at 2.45pm.
Please check the school calendar regularly and the individual reports provided by units as we have a number of events coming up.
As always,
Keep the Faith
Vince Muscatello
SCHOOL PHOTOS
Catch up School photos will be taken tomorrow Thursday 5th May @ approx 1pm.
If you have ordered and paid for your child's photo previously the order has been held for you.
If you haven't previously paid a book mark with your child's photo on it will be sent when the photo orders arrive at school. You will be able to order from this.
Please ensure you have told your child that they will be having their photo taken. We will call those students on the PA to come to the office at 1pm.
Senior News
The past week has seen Senior students and teachers demonstrate their amazing resilience and teamwork skills. In every classroom and out in the yard students are supporting each other to follow the school norms and have a positive and productive day at school.
Our House Leaders are working with Mr McDermott to ensure all Units have sports equipment to use at playtime and it is stored safely at the end of the day. On Thursday they demonstrated their leadership skills when they organised games and activities for our sport session. It was lots of fun and got us all up and energised.
This week there’s been much excitement and anticipation as many Senior students presented their Student Representative Council speeches to classmates. It was wonderful to hear students sharing their proudest moments and hopes and dreams for the year ahead. Congratulations and thankyou to the following students. SRC will be announced at the assembly on the 4th March.
Jessica | Vienna | Eliza | Shivreet |
Rubi | Charli | Tanveer | Gurman |
Lexie | Mia | Conor | Denim |
Charlene | Fatima | Sophie | Candice |
Emilia | Marco | Zander | Harry |
Owen | Lilliana | Amelia-Mae | Tiarna |
Mila | Arianna |
Reminders: Students are to wear the St Paul’s uniform with pride. Sports uniform on Tuesday and Friday. Formal uniform on non-sport days.
Middle Unit News
This week in the Middle Unit we are beginning our Numeracy groups for Place Value. Students are grouped according to their needs and we will be working hard on our learning for the next couple of weeks. We will then complete a little assessment to check that we have gained lots of new knowledge. Students remain in these groups only for Place Value and then they will change again.
In Literacy we have been learning about sentences and fragments. We have been exploring what makes up a sentence and how we can turn fragments into sentences. It would be great if you could ask your child to explain what is a fragment and what is a sentence to assist them in remembering their learning.
This week we have also been exploring our feelings in the classroom. We have discussed times we work well together and times when things bug us. We have explored the fact that at times we will feel annoyed or frustrated and some appropriate ways we can respond to these feelings. These skills are so important not only at school but in our everyday lives.
Junior Unit News
The teachers and learning support officers of the Junior Unit are very proud of the way the children have settled into the routines of Structured Literacy so far. They are all working hard and challenging themselves to be their best. This week we have commenced take-home book borrowing. Every day, each child will bring home a small book to share with the family. From time to time these books may seem a little too easy for your child. That's OK! This is a great opportunity for them to practice reading with fluency and expression. Sometimes the text might be too challenging, and that's OK too. It would be terrific if you (or an older sibling) could read the book to them. The development of a consistent, predictable home reading routine forms the foundation of future homework practices.
The children will also be encouraged to borrow from the library as of this week.
Library days are as follows:
J4: Monday, J5: Tuesday, J7: Wednesday and J8: Friday.
All children should have a St Paul's library book bag at school each day, to transport their books safely to and from school.
We have been reading about Elmer the patchwork elephant, who looks different to the other elephants. This lovely picture book supports and enriches the learning within our Integrated Unit about Celebrating Differences and our Religious Education unit about Relationships. Have a look at all the wonderfully coloured elephants the children have designed.
Next week during Structured Literacy, we will be learning about the schwa sound, which is the most common vowel sound in spoken Australian English. It's the weak /uh/ sound we hear at the end of teacher or in the middle of kangaroo. To learn more about schwa, watch the fun video below.
Foundation Unit news
Yesterday the Foundation children were given a questionnaire from the School Nursing Program. It is really important that parents take the time to fill in the questionnaire and bring back to school by Monday 21st February. The questions are about your child's health and development. Completing this questionnaire enables you to raise any concerns you may have regarding your child's health and development. Unless we have your signed consent on the form the health nurse is unable to assess your child and check their vision and hearing.
BOOK BUDDY NIGHT
An opportunity to see how your child learns to read at St Paul’s
WHEN: Tuesday 22nd February
WHERE: St Paul’s Primary School
TIME: 6.00pm – 7.30pm
(Including a Book Fair to purchase a book to donate to the school library with your child’s photo inside)
Guest Speaker - Bec Thurman – Literacy Coordinator
Children to come dressed in their pyjamas
HOME READING
The children will begin to borrow take home books tomorrow. They will borrow 2 books each day. These are to be read that night and returned to school the next day. The books need to be carried in their Library bag and it is very important that the Library bag comes to school every day.
At the beginning the children will be unable to read the books. You can share this time with them reading the books to them and asking the children to find things in the book. You can also ask them to identify the sound that some of the words start with eg. B for book, C for cat. On the inside of the cover are the sounds that the book is focusing on. You can also ask your child to find the sight words in the book. At the back of the book are some questions you can ask your child about the text. If you have any questions about how to introduce the books at home, please see your child's teacher and they will be very happy to explain the process.
Library News
Hello from the Library,
Tuesday the 22nd we have our Book Buddy night. After the Book Buddy night parents and carers are will be able to buy a book and donate it to the library, your child's photo and name will be put on the inside cover of the book and they will be the first to borrow it. The books come from Collins Books and will be at school in the library, eftpos will be available on the night.
Next Friday the 25th Feb we will begin our first Book Fair for 2022 with the Wish List day. All students have the opportunity to come to the Book Fair and find the books they would love to have. Books will be available to buy Monday 28th Feb, Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd March. The fair wil be open on these mornings from 8.30 -9.00, at lunch time and after school. parents are welcome to come in to the Book Fair. Conditions of entry are the same as for assemblies - you must enter through the front office, QR code in and be double vaccinated.
There will be a colouring in competition to go with the Book Fair, the prize for each age group will be $20.00 to spend at the Fair.
Library news,
Thanks very much to the foundation parents for your very kind donation of 30 beautiful new picture story books. Foundation students will be the first to borrow these books.
Our Book Fair has been great, remember it ends tomorrow afternoon. Thanks to all the students who entered the colouring in competition our winners were William Buffon from the foundations, kalasia- Rose Fonua from the juniors, Riana Peiris fom the middles and Elena Akkus from the seniors. Well done to all these students who each won a $20.00 voucher to spend at the fair.
Technology News
Last week, as part of Safer Internet Day, students in F-2 learned how to use an iPad or a Chromebook safely. It is important students understand and can follow these expectations at school to ensure themselves, others and the devices are kept safe.
After learning each of the expectations and practicing them, students pledged to always follow them when using an iPad or Chromebook. All students sealed their pledge with a fingerprint!
Important Reminders
Most students and parents/guardians have now read and signed the Digital Technologies Acceptable use and Cyber Safety Agreements for this year. If you have not, please do so and return to the office asap.
It is essential all students and their parents/guardians understand each of the expectations to keep all community members (students, families and staff) safe. Each week one or two expectations will be highlighted in the newsletter. If you ever have any questions or queries about these expectations please do not hesitate to contact me via email, nsimms@spmildura.catholic.edu.au or phone the office.
This Week's Expectation Highlight:
It is preferred mobile phones and smart watches are not brought or worn to school. If it is necessary for these items to be brought or worn to school, they are to be turned off and handed in to the office when students arrive at school. Devices will be kept safe in the office until the end of the day when they can be collected by students.
NB - smart watches includes any and all wearable devices that have the capability to sent and receive messages, take photographs etc., regardless of whether these functions are activated or not. For example: apple watches, fitbits versa, spacetalk watches, etc.
If students do not hand these devices into the office on arrival at school, they will be confiscated and parents/guardians called to collect them.
Until next week, remember; "technology should improve your life...not become your life." - Billy Cox
Mrs Narelle Simms
Hands Up Mallee
If any families are isolating due to Covid, Mildura Rural City Council can provide you with hampers delivered directly to your door free of charge. To access these hampers, click on the link to fill out the form to get provided with assistance.
A quick reminder about school hats – these are a part of our school uniform and are required to be worn correctly every day during all play breaks and during sport sessions. Please make sure that your child has a clearly labelled hat with them each day. The sun’s UV rays are classified as extreme at the moment – 11 +. SunSmart have an app available from the app store that you can download and have on your phone as a handy reference. Together we can better educate our children about the dangers of the sun.
Parent Noticeboard
Continuous Raffle
As part of our fundraising at St Paul's we have a continuous raffle draw. These occur at most assemblies. We are asking for a parent volunteer to assist with the organising of this. If you can help out with a few hours per term it would be very much appreciated. Special thank you to Mrs Pauline Cavallo for assisting with the raffle for the last two years. Please contact the office, we will be more than happy to explain further.
CANTEEN
The school canteen is open every Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Parents are very welcome to volunteer in the canteen on any of these days for apporx 1hr. Please contact the office if you are able to assist.
UNIFORM SHOP
Shop opening hours
- Tuesday 8.30am to 9.15am
- Thursday 3.00pm to 3.45pm
Order forms can be completed and returned to the office. Order will be completed and sent home with your child on Uniform Shop opening day.