Week 3, Term 4 2021

The St Saviour's Primary and St Patrick's Cathedral Race Day is less than 2 weeks away.  Our Race Day is held every 2 years and this year it promises to be bigger and  better.  

Tickets to the Race Day are available to purchase via DIRECT DEPOSIT (see details below) or you can pop into the school office on the following days to purchase your tickets via EFTPOS.  

• FRIDAY 22nd October (before and after school)
• MONDAY - (from 2.30pm - 3.15pm)
• TUESDAY (before and after school)
• WEDNESDAY (before school)
• THURSDAY (after school)
• FRIDAY 29th (before and after school)

Tickets are priced at $85 per person or two for $160 which includes entry to the Grand Marquee Clive Berghofer Atrium, complimentary drink on arrival, a wonderful assortment of hot and cold cannapes served throughout the afternoon and evening and entertainment by 3 piece band "The Boys", Auction and Raffle prizes on the night and an action packed Race Meeting to coincide with DERBY DAY.  

RAFFLES:

There are 11 major RAFFLE PRIZES to be won!  Each prize is valued between $200-$250 and all prizes have been kindly donated.  Tickets will be on sale on the day.

Some of the magnificent raffle prizes on offer

SPONSORS:

Thank you to all our major sponsors for our 2021 RACE DAY.

MASKILL

MJH FINANCE

LAND TRANSPORT

VISION EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY 

SOMERFIELD CONSTRUCTIONS

SEDL AGENCIES

We look forward to seeing you all at our 2021 Race Day. Don't forget to gather a group of friends and join in the fun.  

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Community members,

Thank you to Mr Samuel Hannant for taking charge whilst I was on leave in Week 1 this term.  The school musical was a big hit for our school community and a wonderful showcase of our talented learners. Congratulations Year 5 and 6 learners, Mrs McVeigh and Mrs Spalding for two nights of amazing entertainment. Outstanding effort from all involved.   I welcome our new families to our school and  hope and pray that you are settling into our school community and it is a rewarding journey for all.

In spite of the unprecedented challenges and disruptions of COVID-19 over the past two years, there have been some very positive experiences here at the school. One being that we have proven to ourselves to be a very resilient community. As educators and parents, there are a number of strategies we can use to build our children’s resilience.

Build a strong emotional connection - Spend one-on-one time with your child. Children develop coping skills within the context of caring relationships. When they know they have the unconditional support of a parent, family member, or even a teacher, they feel empowered to seek guidance and make attempts to work through difficult situations.

Promote healthy risk taking - In a world where playgrounds are made “safe” with bouncy floor materials and netting around trampolines, it is important to encourage your child to take healthy risks.  A healthy risk is not wearing a helmet and racing against my siblings on motorbikes in the cultivation paddock unbeknownst to my parents and falling off. Rather, a healthy risk is something that pushes our learners to go outside of their comfort zone. It results in very little harm if they’re unsuccessful. Examples include trying a new sport, participating in the school musical, or striking up a conversation with a shy peer. SSPS encourages our learners to embrace risks, knowing this teaches them to learn to push themselves.

Resist the urge to fix it and ask questions instead - When your child comes to you to solve their problems, the natural response is to lecture or explain. A better strategy is to ask questions. By bouncing the problem back to your child with questions, you’re helping them to think through the issue and come up with solutions.

Label emotions - When stress kicks in, emotions run hot. Teach your child that all feelings are important and that labelling their feelings can help them make sense of what they are experiencing. Tell them it’s okay to feel anxious, sad, jealous, etc. and reassure them that bad feelings usually pass.

Embrace mistakes (theirs and yours) - Failure avoiders lack resilience. In fact, failure avoiders tend to be highly anxious people. When parents focus on end results, children get caught up in the pass/fail cycle. They either succeed or they don’t. This causes risk avoidance. Embracing mistakes (our own included) helps promote a growth mindset and gives your child the message that mistakes help them learn. It can be helpful to talk about a mistake you made and how you recovered from it.

Promote the bright side (every experience has one) - Optimism and resilience go hand in hand. Some children may appear more naturally optimistic than others, but optimism can be nurtured. If you have a mini pessimist on your hands, acknowledge the feelings that lead to pessimistic thinking and teach your child to reframe their thoughts to find the positive.

Model resiliency - The best way to teach resilience is to model it. We all encounter stressful situations so using coping and calming strategies such as deep breathing can be an effective way to work through stress. Always label your emotions and talk through your problem-solving process.

As we continue to navigate this changing world, we can use our experiences to develop strong, resilient young children.

Year 5 Leadership Day

It is always a blessing to spend time with the students of SSPS.  Last Friday, our Year 5 learners took time out of their normal classes to begin their leadership journey for 2022.  Together they participated in Mass celebrated by Fr Richard Leonard (past student of St Saviour’s Primary School),  various leadership activities and listened to our guest speaker: Dr Pat Coughlin (Executive Director of TCSO).  There was so much energy, insight and joy witnessed throughout the day.

Over the coming weeks students are invited to nominate for the various appointed leadership positions by submitting an application to the school leadership.

The school is mindful that for every student who is successful in this process, there are many who miss out at this stage. All leaders are called to lead in different ways: by modelling the way for the younger students, being a school leader, by being a sports captain, by engaging in our community service programs and many other ways. 

Positions of leadership will be announced at the Thanksgiving Mass on Wednesday, November 24, commencing at 9am.

STEM SHOWCASE

WOW! Creative thinking, collaboration of ideas and determination to solve the problems were certainly evident throughout the classes at the recent showcase afternoon.  A remarkable display of design thinking was seen in each classroom with  students eager to share their learning with their teachers, friends and parents.  Another great example of our learners striving in learning and life.

STEM: Build Your Own Playground Project

As you know we challenged the children to submit their ultimate playground design and ideas.  Each year level selected and chose a finalist and I had the pleasure alongside two of our dads: Mr Darvall and Mr Somerfield of selecting the top three designs. 

Our Year Level finalists were:

Prep - Amelia 

Year 1 - Eli

Year 2 - Zayne and Madeline 

Year 3 - Rose

Year 4- McKenna

Year 5 - Kyara

Year 6 -Lydia

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the project and to the above finalists. All three judges were super impressed with our learners' research and creative thinking that helped build their design.  The designs were outstanding in their imagination and creativity, viability and catering for the needs of both our young and older children's play needs.

First Prize was awarded to Rose in Year 3.  An incredible design showcasing some very creative slides of all sizes, a great mix of structured and unstructured play opportunities.  Mr Darval said, "I could spend a whole day playing in that playground!"  

Second Prize was awarded to Lydia in Year 6. Lydia's design was unique in that she created a wellness/meditative space for children which included landscaping and greenery.  The car ride was also inspirational and we all felt as judges that the children would enjoy the car ride on tracks. 

Third Prize was awarded to Amelia in Prep.  Amelia's design included a water slide (what child wouldn't wish for a water slide in their playground!) and a number of risk-taking climbing frames for children to play and explore.  Amelia had drawn her plan and also built a 3D version of the playground. 

All of the designs are on display in the hallway leading up to school administration for viewing.

Thanks everyone for your participation in our 'Build Your Own Playground Project'. Congratulations to Rose, Lydia and Amelia as our 2021 designers. 

Building Update

Construction of the general learning areas (four classrooms) has begun and each day along with the inquisitive children, I look and see the progress as the classrooms take shape.  Building is progressing well. Thank you to parents for your patience around the school as parking is limited and, I am not going to lie, hectic during construction. 

Reminder that there is to be no parking in the Prep carpark.

A term of pain will be worth it in the end!

School administration, learning support and the Year 1W classroom will be moving out of the current area by the end of Week 6.  School administration will operate from the school library from Week 7 onwards till the beginning of next year.  Over the next few weeks the packing up of administration will take place and construction will commence.  From Week 6 of this term the library will close for use and Year 1W will move back down to the bottom level of the building.  Learning support will continue across year levels in classrooms.  

Thank you for your patience during our building construction.   

With every best wish for the week and term ahead.

Regards

Madonna Sleba

Dear Parents and Carers,

Grandparents' Day/ Mass/ Socktober Kickoff/ Open Classrooms- NEXT WEDNESDAY

Outline of the Day: Parents & Grandparents are very welcome to join us for all or part of the morning and middle sessions with school routine returning back to normal from 12:30. All visitors are asked to abide by COVID safe practices, including scanning in (at church and and at school), using hand sanitiser and maintaining social distancing as much as possible. Tea/ Coffee stations will be available at morning tea for adults only.

9am: Whole School Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral acknowledging Children's Mission Day

10am: On return to school, Preps head to Prep outside area and set up and run the Prep "kick off". 

Year 6s and Year 5s set up separate kick off areas on the Primary oval and have their Kick Off!. Year 6s to set up House Flags in corners of the oval ready for Morning Tea.

Years 1-4 head to own classrooms for "Open Sessions" or specialist lessons as per adjusted timetable.

10:45: Morning Tea 

Prep students stay in Prep area with any family members

House Groups will be identified by flags on the primary oval and Yrs 1-6 students are to sit in their House Groups unless they are sitting with a family member (grown up) at the picnic tables outside the Mercy Centre.

11:15 Middle Session

Prep- Open sessions in classrooms

Yrs 1 & 2 “Kick off” in separate areas of the primary oval

Yrs 3-6, Open sessions in classrooms

11:45 Yrs 3 & 4 “Kick off” , rest of classes continue with Open sessions.

12:15 Winner announced!  

Open Classrooms working around the “kick offs”. Classes only watch their own due to space issues. 

12:15 Farewell to visitors.  Classes back to normal routine

                                        Sunday Children's Mass

Last Sunday, despite a clash with the Touch Carnival, we had plenty of students, staff and families able to attend and assist with the 9am Mass. A sincere "thank you" to all those who were able to join us and lead the singing and readings. A special mention must be made of Mrs Anne-Maree Spalding and Anita McVeigh who again generously gave of their time and talents to take charge of the music and singing. And this is after such a huge commitment with the school musical. Thank you both very much!

                                   Sacramental Program 2022

Is your child baptised and in Year 3? If so, please consider whether you are wanting to participate in next year's Sacramental Program where students, with their parent/s prepare for and participate in the sacraments of Reconciliation (First Confession), Confirmation and Eucharist (First Communion). A letter outlining the program, along with an Enrolment Form, will be sent home in the coming weeks so I would suggest that you discuss this with your child so that they know about it beforehand. 

If your child is older than Year 3 and has "missed out" on this program in the past, you are very welcome and encouraged to join in as well. There are always older students in the program and students from other schools, as the Sacramental Program is parish based (not school) and is open to students from other schools in town. 

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Paula Wagner who has been the Coordinator of the St Patrick's Cathedral Parish Sacramental Program for over 10 years, which has been a huge commitment. Paula has recently decided that the time was right for her to step aside and the parish will be looking for someone to help me to run the program. Thank you, Paula for all you have done, the many hours you have given to assisting hundreds of children and their families in their faith journey.

Year 5 students have designed and created "Trading Cards" about significant saints, detailing not just what is known about them but also what we can learn from their "Wisdom". 

Keep an eye out next newsletter for some key dates for the end of term activities.

Looking forward to seeing you next week,

Regards,

Judy

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please see below a few important events happening at St Saviour's Primary over the next week:

WHOLE SCHOOL TESTING - Beginning Week 4 (25 October)

Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT) will take place next week for all students from Prep - Year 6.  These tests include PAT Reading and PAT Maths (Years 2-6), PAT Spelling (Years 3-6) and PAT Early Years (Prep and Year 1).  All of these tests take place online, whilst there is also a paper copy of a number facts test.  This testing takes place once a year and allows teachers to collect evidence of student learning; to identify where students are in their learning at a given point in time; to monitor growth over time and to reflect on student attainment.

WORLD TEACHER'S DAY - FRIDAY 29th OCTOBER

World Teachers’ Day will be celebrated across Australia on Friday 29 October 2021, a bit later than the international day due to our school holidays. It’s a chance to celebrate teaching and for communities to thank teachers.  

The school F.A.C.E. (P&F) have organised a surprise for all of the teachers and school officers at St Saviour's Primary on behalf of all of the parents.  Of course, parents and learners are welcome to say thanks to their classroom teacher/school officer in their own way.

IGNITE LEARNING

The Ignite Learning Project is certainly back up and running in Term 4 with a dedicated focus on the St Saviour's Primary Learning Dispositions.  Each classroom teacher (in collaboration with their class) has chosen a new disposition for this term after Be Collaborative was a focus last term.  If you get the chance, spend some time talking to your child about the disposition their class if focussing on this term.

Sam Hannant

APA

Book Fair

Wow, thanks to the generosity of our school families we had a hugely successful book fair. We earned $1 500.00 worth of books and scholastic points. Thank you for supporting the library through this event.

Thanks also to Mrs Milton, Mrs Scotts and Ms Rowling for giving their time to the management of the fair. Your contribution was vital and appreciated.

Information Skills

Students in Year 4 and 5 are working with online resources to gather information and make connections for their HaSS and English learning activities. These important skills are needed for academic life and life outside school if children are to grow into informed, independent thinkers.

Who owns these books? 

Overdue Books

Please attend to any overdue notices your student receives, thank you.

Anne Anderson

SWQ All Schools Touch Football Carnival 

On Sunday the 17th of November, 24 students from Year Five and Six competed in the SWQ All Schools Touch Carnival at Kearney Springs. Two teams, a boys and girls have been attending training sessions since Term Three with Mrs McHugh and I. The students played some awesome games of Touch Football against other schools across the region. As the games went on both teams really pulled together having some fantastic wins. Mrs McHugh and I were extremely proud of all players game play, sportsmanship and how they represented the school on the day. A massive thank you to Mrs McHugh who helped coach the girls' team at training and on the day. 

Zone and Darling Downs Trials 

All Zone and Darling Downs trials will be placed on Parent Portal. Please check Parent Portal regularly or set up notifications on your phone if you wish for your child to be eligible to trial for Zone and Darling Downs sporting teams as you will be required to obtain paperwork from myself. Any questions, please contact me at brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au. 

Cheers 

Brendan Luck 

PE Teacher 

brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au  

Direct Debit forms 2022:

Please return your completed Direct Debit forms by the 5th November for processing.  Thank you.

Term Fees:

Emails have been sent home to families today who have an outstanding balance on their account.  Please keep an eye out for this email as all outstanding school fees need to be finalised by the end of Week 8.  

Camp payments for Year 6 are due tomorrow (Friday 22.10.2021)

School Musical

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our Year 5 and 6 Musical - Once Upon a FairyTale Crisis.

We are greatful for the support of our Year Five and Six teachers, Mrs Cooper, Miss Lancuba, Mrs Ward and Mrs Harlen.  As well as our amazing office staff, and leadership team, Ms Sleba, Mr Hannant and Mrs Smith.

To everyone who supported behind the scenes and gave up their time and talents to make our Musical one to remember - THANK YOU!!  

To our amazing Year 5 and 6 students who worked so hard to present to you this Musical, St Saviour's Primary is very proud of all of you!!  You all showed amazing talent and confidence to perform.  To the parents who provided feedback after the show, thank you all. 

Mrs McVeigh and Mrs Spalding