Term 2, Week 7 Newsletter

Dear parents and caregivers,

Welcome to Week 7 of Term 2.

This first six weeks have certainly flown by with plenty of learning happening around St Saviour's Primary.  To celebrate this learning, we will have our final assembly in Week 10 where Academic Excellence Awards will be presented to those students who achieve exemplary results on their report card.

The following lists the Academic Awards that are available and the criteria:

Academic Medal: Recipient receives an A in every learning area.

Academic Excellence Certificate: Recipient receives high marks in all learning areas.  

Encouragement Award: One recipient from each class who consistently demonstrates a concerted effort in all learning areas.

TECHNOLOGY & E-LEARNING COMMITTEE

St Saviour's Primary is currently in the process of updating the school Technology and eLearning Plan.  This plan will support the school across academic and non-academic areas of how technology is used at SSPS.  

I am currently looking for one or two parents who would be interested in joining a committee to develop the school Technology Plan.  If technology plays an important part in your life and you would like the have your say, this committee is for you.  Other members of the committee will include Madonna Sleba, Brad Rohde (IT technician), myself and several teachers.

Please send me an email via samuel.hannant@twb.catholic.edu.au outlining your interest.

TEACHING AND LEARNING MEETINGS

During this week, members of the leadership team have met with every classroom teacher.  These meetings include viewing of student performance data and planning ahead for ways the teachers can promote success and growth for every student in their classroom.

It has been very pleasing to see that every teacher knows every student in their class so well and can easily explain where the students are at in their learning journey.

PRINCIPAL FORUM

Last week I was fortunate to attend the Term 2 Principal Forum in Dalby on behalf of Madonna.  It was a great opportunity for me to learn and have conversations with Primary School Principals from other Catholic Schools in the Toowoomba Diocese.

It was also very interesting to hear about the latest educational happenings and discuss new intitiaves.

My thanks to Toowoomba Catholic Schools and also Our Lady of the Southern Cross College in Dalby who hosted the event.  

REPORTING

Report Cards are due to head home in Week 10 of this term and teachers are busy finalising assessment tasks and writing comments about students in their class.  Please keep an eye out for these report cards in your child's bag during the final week of school.

P&F and School Board Meetings 

The final P&F Meeting for Term 2 will take place on Monday 17 June from 6.30pm  and the School Board Meeting will be the following night on Tuesday 18 June from 5.15pm.

DANCE FEVER

In Term 3, St Saviour's Primary will be utilising the expertise of a Brisbane company called Dance Fever to teach the students in all year levels specific dances.  This will happen during school time as part of either PE or music lessons.  This program will culminate in an evening when parents can come along and view the finished products.  Further information, including cost, will be sent home in the coming weeks.

CENTRAL ZONE ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES

Congratulations to all St Saviour's Primary students who attended the Central Zone Athletics Carnival on Wednesday.  It was very pleasing to hear Miss Doljanin and Mr Luck report that all students were extremely competitive after all of the training that has been put in.  A special congratulations to the following students who will represent Central Zone and the upcoming Darling Downs Athletics Carnival:

Milly-Rose Allan, Kara Cumming, Lainey Currie, Cameron Dennis, Paris Orr, Lachlan Ottobrino, Grace Oughtred, Dominic Seaby, Leon Smith, Bridget Staines and Hunter Tate-Roche.

Welcome to Winter!

Without Madonna here for these last few weeks of the term, life at SSPS is a little different, but still just as busy. Sam and Roly have both stepped into their new roles with ease ( it seems to me) and so far we have managed to keep things moving along. This week all class teachers have met with the Leadership Team for Teaching and Learning Meetings where we have updated and scrutinised our whole school reading data, as well as looked at planning and our NCCD evidence and data.

On Wednesday this week, our Year 6 students walked to the Armitage Centre to be in the audience for the St Joseph's College matinee performance of their school musical, High School Musical 2. While it was a wonderful experience, it was especially enjoyable to see SSPS past students, Jordan McLachlan, Darby Carroll and Jess Maher on stage and ex school captain, Patrick O'Brien in a key role backstage. Thank you to Anita McVeigh and Anne-Maree Spalding for organising this excursion.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM:

Congratulations to all the boys and girls (53) who were confirmed by Bishop Robert McGuckin in a lovely ceremony on Friday evening on May 24. A further 4 will be confirmed at the 9am Mass this Sunday.

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Cluster Groups have commenced again as we prepare now for First Eucharist (Communion). Please keep these candidates and their families in your prayers.

Welcome Mrs Case and baby Halle:

Today we had a visit form Mrs Case (our Year 1 teacher from last year).  Mrs Case is currently on maternity leave but she came back this morning to visit with her baby girl Halle.  The current Year 2 children loved Mrs Case visiting them in the classrooms.  We can't wait for the next visit Mrs Case.

Darling Downs Readers’ Cup 

Our team of Year 5 students, Grace Taylor, Lillian Mogg, Lizzie Wolbers and Gemma Smith have been busy reading the 5 set novels for this competition. They have been dedicated to weekly meetings during their morning tea break to talk about the books and to encourage each other with their reading. I have appreciated their dedication and we wish them well for the event on Tuesday 18th June. 

 Raising Readers 

Megan Daley, Teacher Librarian, parent and a passionate advocate for free choice reading will speak at a free event hosted by the Toowoomba City Library on Thursday 20th June, starting at 6pm. Megan has recently published her knowledge in a book “Raising Readers” and she will be sharing some of her wisdom based on her experiences and years of working as a Teacher Librarian. Megan's book will be available to purchase at this event. 

Overdue library items 

Please be aware that our revised policy for handling overdue library items will apply at the end of this term. Reminders of overdue items from Term one and Term two will be sent home early next week. If these items aren’t returned by the end of the term, the replacement cost will be added to Term 3 accounts. Thank you for your assistance to locate overdue items. 

Creative Maker-space  

In Week 9 students will be invited to a creative makerspace session during Monday to Wednesday lunch-time to build, construct, illustrate something which celebrates 50 years since man walked on the moon. We are looking forward to seeing the student’s creative ideas take shape and we will display their creations during the week ending 20th July. 

Anne Anderson  

Teacher Librarian 

Milo Stall 

Thanks for your support for our milo fundraiser. We made a profit of $116.00 which will be donated to the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. 

Vinnies Winter Appeal 

Mini Vinnies is coordinating the collection of new, warm items and non-perishable food to donate to the appeal. Your generous response to this appeal means that St Vincent de Paul workers can offer warmth and comfort to people in need here in Toowoomba during winter. Please bring your donations to the library or to a member in Year 4, 5 or 6. Our donations will be given to Vinnies by the end of term.  

With thanks

Mini Vinnies members

Congratulations to our Weekly Award Winners from the last 2 weeks.

WEEK 6

Congratulations to all our Athletics Age Champions and Runners Up Age Champions.

We congratulate the following children:

Under 9 Girls Age Champ:  Erin Ward

Under 9 Girls Runner Up Age Champ:  Deje Pene

Under 9 Boys Age Champ:  Hunter Tate-Roche

Under 9 Boys Runner Up Age Champ:  Sho Doherty

Under 10 Girls Age Champ:  Grace Oughtred

Under 10 Girls Runner Up Age Champ:  Kara Cumming

Under 10 Boys Age Champ: Lachlan Ottobrino  

Under 10 Boys Runner Up Age Champ: Leon Smith

Under 11 Girls Age Champ:  Lainey Currey

Under 11 Girls Runner Up Age Champ:  Holly Robinson

Under 11 Boys Age Champ:  Cameron Dennis

Under 11 Boys Runner Up Age Champ:  Flynn Goodall

Under 12 Girls Age Champ: Paris Orr

Under 12 Girls Runner Up Age Champ:  Bridget Cowley

Under 12 Boys Age Champ: Joel Campbell

Under 12 Boys Runner Up Age Champ: Hugh McCabe

 

If you would like to participate in this wonderful opportunity of hosting a Japanese student whilst they are attending St Saviour's Primary School for Thursday 15^th  August to Wednesday  21^st  August 2019 (6 nights stay). Throughout the weekdays the students will attend the primary school and are then free to spend the afternoons and weekends with the family.

HOST FAMILY REQUIREMENTS:

• NO OTHER JAPANESE STAYING IN FAMILY
• 3 MEALS PER DAY
• OWN BED, BUT CAN SHARE A ROOM
• OVER 18’S HOLD BLUE CARD OR WILLING TO APPLY
• SAFE TRAVEL TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Remuneration of $35 per night for hosting 1 student and friendly bilingual support is available (24 hours/7days)

If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity please contact:

Learn Discover Advance Australia (LADA)

Email: Ladajane15@gmail.com 

Phone: 0401 049 641 (Jayne)

Work Experience:

Last week we welcomed 3 past students from St Joseph's College who joined us at St Saviour's Primary for Work Experience.  We had the pleasure of having Jordan McLachlan, Nicholas Sheedy and Daniel Robinson for the week.  All 3 helped out in the class rooms and in particular Dan and Nick helped Mr Luck with PE classes from Wednesday - Friday.  It was a pleasure having all 3 students return to their old Primary School.

PREP A:

Fantastic work from our Prep A children who visited the office to show us their work about God and Creation.  We loved hearing all about your fantastic work Preppies.

Updating information on CAREMONKEY:

Thank you to all parents and guardians for keeping your child/ren's profiles up to date on CareMonkey.  Please make sure that when you do update profiles you are actually updating your child's and not your own personal information.  We have noticed that a number of parents have been updating their personal addresses and contact information on their own profiles but not updating their child/ren's.  The school and teacher's will not see the changes made to contact information if it has not been made to the child's profile.

Facebook:

Are you on Facebook?  Have you liked the St Saviour's Primary School page?  If not,hop on and like our page.  We share lots of photos and events on this page.  

Colour Run:

We still have a large amount of children who unfortunatley have not yet ordered their prizes from the Colour Run. The cut off time for ordering has now passed, and ordering has now closed on line.  Children who raised money towards the fun run, but did not order their prize will be given the chance to order next week.  Details on how to order will  be sent home with each child.  We also have a few outstanding cash orders yet to be handed in.  If you had committed to any cash donations for your child, could thisplease be sent in to the office by Monday of next week as we need to finalise the Colur Run asap.  As soon as prizes are finalised we will send in the order for delivery.

Thank you to eveyrone who supported the Colour Run.   

School Fees:

Term 2 school fees are now overdue.  

Uniform Shop:

The Uniform Shop will be opening tomorrow (Friday 7th June) from 2.30pm - 4.00pm.  Please contact Dan Eagleson directly during business hours to arrange alternate times.  0481 318 398.

We met Joyce who talked to us about her childhood. Joyce grew up in New South Wales. When she went to primary school she had to walk a long way to get there. She said she hadn’t gone to high school but helped out on the farm instead.

We also met a wonderful woman named Esther . She told us she loved having kids visit the nursing home because she became really lonely and no one was there to keep her company.

We met Don who liked to play cricket when he was younger.  He said he loved going to school to see all his friends and also to learn.

(Morgan, Arabella, Leilani)

 At Salem we met Don who talked to us about his childhood.  He said that he played a lot of cricket.  We met Monica who is 100 years old. We also talked to a lady who told us that her mother had passed away when she was only three months old.

We sang nursery rhymes and our school song with the residents.

(Lillian and Mason)

My favourite moment at Salem was when I met Monica. Holly and I talked to her first.  She didn’t really talk but she did sing Jingle Bells with us.  The carer took our photo.  Its was a really special moment that I will remember forever. (Grace Taylor)

I really enjoyed meeting Monica. I told her that I spoke French and she started speaking to me in French.  It was a once in a lifetime moment. (Ayanna)

I met Eilish who was born in South Africa.  She is 71 and her sister recently turned 70. Eilish’s best friend is blind and still does everything that other people do.  I saw the beautiful bracelets that she makes. (Sienna)

I met a lady who had grown up on a farm. She enjoyed helping her parents after school.  She attended schools all around Australia, but she has never travelled overseas. (Grace Gleeson)

We chatted with a lady named Betty.  Sitting beside her was another lady, also named Betty! Wen we spoke with them, they became a little confused with who we were talking to. (Alicia)

Daphne asked us what sport we played. She said she played netball with her friends. (Jolie)

Before we left, Christine sang Down by the Station.  We loved chatting with the residents and look forward to our next visit next term. We had fun! (Camille)

Thank you to everyone who supported our Origin Tuckshop Treat Day on Wednesday.  We look forward to Game 2 of Origin where we will be again having some yummy treats for morning tea and lunch.  

Just a reminder to those families who have outstanding bills from the Tuckshop, could these please be finalised before the last week of term.  Our Tuckshop only operates with the help of volunteers.  Please consider offering up some time to help in our school Tuckshop - even just for an hour or two.  We would appreciate it.

Natasha Biggar

Bullying represents a topic of great concern for parents, students and school staff. To work towards a solution, it’s important that we understand the issue and the role that each of us play in stopping the cycle. To help shed light on the issue, I’ve created an online recording of my workshop “Bullying: How Parents Can Help”. This is the same workshop that I have delivered on-campus on a variety of occasions but I wanted to make sure it was available to everyone, no matter your schedule. So when you have a moment, make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy!

Click here to check it out

Anne Woodcroft-Brown (School Counsellor)

Children's Rosary

The Children's Rosary is starting at St Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday 9th June at 2.00pm.  If your child would like to take part in this prayer group movement for children, please come along and take part.  The celebration of the Rosary will be held every 2nd Sunday of each month.  The rosary is open to all school age children.