APA News

Welcome to the new school year!!  There are some very exciting things happening around St Saviour's Primary School this year and I would like to share a few with you.

SSPS TEACHING AND LEARNING FOCUS AREAS FOR 2020

Reading Improvement Strategy

Reading will again be a focus area for St Saviour’s Primary in 2020.  The leadership team, classroom teachers and school officers are committed to collecting data on individual students and providing strategic, high quality teaching approaches to support every student with decoding words and comprehending what they have read. 

Spelling

This year teachers and students will also have a focus around spelling.  This program compliments the Reading Improvement Strategy and is student centred, research based and linked to the Australian Curriculum English.  It includes explicit instruction, practice and over learning, a variety of spelling strategies and the opportunity to learn in context through literature and their own writing.

STEM

We are now entering our third year as a STEM ‘Lighthouse’ School as part of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Strategic Plan.  During the professional planning days before school commenced this year teachers were given time and support to start to plan their STEM focus area for Term 1.  Six classes will again be working with STEMPunks.  STEMPunks are a resource that we are lucky enough to have funding for and they work with students and teachers around different STEM tools.  Some of these tools include robotics, drones, 3D printing and virtual reality.  The aim is for all students to be using these tools when solving real life problems.

RACE DAY FUNDS

The 2019 St Saviour’s Primary and St Patrick’s Cathedral Race Day was a huge success.  Over $14000 was raised that has been split between both organisations.  The money at St Saviour's has been put toward the purchase of some new SmartBoards for the extra classes that we have this year.

SPORT UNIFORM DAYS

A reminder of days that students are able to wear their sport uniform this year.  This relates to the day their PE lesson takes place and then everyone will wear their sport uniform on a Friday.

Prep - All week

Year 1 – 1L Wednesday and Friday and 1M Thursday and Friday

Year 2 - Thursday and Friday

Year 3 - Wednesday and Friday

Year 4 - Wednesday and Friday

Year 5 - Thursday and Friday

Year 6 - Wednesday and Friday

PARKING IN PERTH STREET

Whilst on bus duty on Perth Street, I have noticed several parents parking in the bus zones.  Please read the signs carefully as the bus drivers can become annoyed and do report vehicles to council and the police.

RESPONSIBLE USE OF ICT DOCUMENTS

Toowoomba Catholic Schools has produced two Responsible Use of ICT Agreements.  One for young students in Prep to Year 3 and one for upper primary and secondary students.  I do believe some year levels have sent these documents home in hard copy format, however they will also be sent home electonically next week.  

These documents will be discussed with students at school, however it might also be a good opportunity for parents to reinforce the responsible use of ICT message at home.