Term 1, Week 4 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week we farwelled Ms Margaret Doljanin as she enters retirement in this, her 50th year of teaching at St Saviour's Primary School.  I have had the pleasure of knowing Marg for the last 15 of those years as a teacher, colleague and friend.  

Marg's contibution to Catholic Education and St Saviour's Primary School has been nothing short of extraordinary.  She has been an invaluable source of information for the whole school community.  Classroom teachers always knew that if there was a grammar or spelling rule they weren't sure of, Marg was the person to see.  Marg was also the school's first PE teacher and took this on during her own non-contact time to teach the other classes in the school.  When I first started teaching PE, Marg was certainly the person I went to for advice and I know Mr Luck appreciates running things past her when he is preparing for a carnival.  Her love of sport and commitment to St Saviour's, Darling Downs and Catholic sport has culminated in the Marg Doljanin Sportsperson of the Year Award that is presented to a Year 6 student at the end of each year.

Marg was also a constant on school camps over her 50 years and organised the first school camp for students at St Saviour's Primary to a paddock on a property owned by one of the families.  This progressed over the years to beach camps that were led by qualified instructors and a lot more paperwork.

Marg, on behalf of the thousands of young minds that you have influenced, the hundreds of colleagues and friends that you have made and the countless number of parents who have been extremely happy to have Miss Doljanin as their child's teacher - Thank You for your contribution to St Saviour's Primary School!  You will be missed.

PEN Executive 2025

Thanks to those parents and staff who attended the PEN AGM and General Meeting last night.  The minutes from these meetings will be posted in the next newsletter.  I would like to congratulate the following two parents on their positions on the executive of the parent engagement network:

PEN Chairperson - Hayley Hubbard

PEN Secretary - Kim Benvenuti

A message from PEN will be sent in the near future looking for parents to join our working parties focussed on Faith, Learning and Life at St Saviour's Primary School.  Please consider donating a small amount of time if you have an interest in any aspect of St Saviour's Primary School.

Thanks

Sam Hannant

….experiencing FAITH in the Mercy Tradition

Dear families

Somehow we arrived at nearly half way through the term! No doubt you’re back into routine and settling into another busy school year.

We held our Term 1 school Mass yesterday and it was also a wonderful celebration for our much loved, Marg Doljanin who retired from SSPS after 50 years of teaching. It was truly a beautiful and memorable occasion for Marg and the farewell, the kind she said was “reverent but fun, not pompous“. Thank you to Fr Michael, Fr Peter Dorfield, our musicians, singers, readers, coordinators, staff and students for taking part. Margy, you are a diamond.

One of our Mercy values at SSPS is Service and opportunities for us to participate include the community running event, Peak2Park being held on Sunday 2^nd March. If you’d like to join us, log in at   2025 — Optimise Health Peak2Park2025 — Race Roster — Registration, Marketing, Fundraising   and on the left side click on “view teams”  and search for the SSPS Starters team and lets enjoy the post walk/run/hop/skip/jump endorphins together while raising funds for our community. More information is at Peak2Park Toowoomba – Healthy Active Lifestyles Toowoomba Inc

If you'd like to be part of a wider community service group, why not join Rosies - ROSIES TOOWOOMBA NEEDS YOUR HELP Rosies is now recruiting (adults and students aged 16 yrs and over) outreach volunteers to commence a new street outreach on Tuesday nights between 5.30pm and 9.30pm. If you have 4 hours to spare monthly or fortnightly and would like to help our friends on the street as an outreach volunteer, please contact me on ann-maree.ward@twb.catholic.edu.au and join myself and some other staff from the Primary school and the College who are keen to join this outreach program.

Profession Schindler Primary School in PNG book donations - To continue this whole school Service activity to our friends in PNG, we are accepting donations of reading Books for the school – all types of reading books are gratefully accepted; Fiction, Non-Fiction books for all ages from Toddler to young adult. They are in need of quality texts. If you’ve ANY readers at home that are no longer being used, please drop them into the Primary school office at any time. This will be an ongoing need and the donations will be collected at different times throughout the year. Thank you for your support.

The new play space on our oval is being enjoyed by our students and part of the design included out door learning spaces by way of inclusion of the Yarning circle planning. We’d love to hear your ideas and thinking around how we can design this space in consultation with local artist Kim Walmsley.  We want to hear your voice so that we can collaborate on ideas as to how we can best have this space reflect who we are as a community and in particular, those students who are First Australians. Email your thoughts and suggestions to ann-maree.ward@twb.catholic.edu.au  Thank you for giving this your time and consideration.

Have a peace and grace filled week. Be sure to do one thing that fills your cup and brings you joy.

Thanks for reading,

Ann-Maree Ward (Assistant Principal – Mission & Identity)

Dear Parents and Carers

It was wonderful to kick off our first assembly of the year last week and see the Year 6 leaders of 2025 leading the proceedings.  One of the highlights for students and teachers alike during our whole school assemblies are the awards section where students are recognised for their efforts in relation to the St Saviour’s learner qualities.  The SSPS learner qualities define the behaviours that the school community have identified as being important for success, not only in school, but in later life.  Teachers model, teach and reward students when they see these qualities in action.

Being adventurous

Being determined

Being a collaborator

Being curious

Being creative

Being a communicator

Being a thinker

It is important for us as a school to recognise students when they are making progress, achieving in endeavours or demonstrating qualities that align with our values.  Please find below a link to our SSPS Awards and Recognition Schedule for more details on how we strive to create an environment where students are known, valued and striving towards a full and flourishing life.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Katie Hauser

Dear Parents,

As we move into Week 4, routines and expectations have been well established in our classroom and homework has begun to be sent home.   Homework at St Saviour’s promotes independent thinking, reinforces classroom lessons, and fosters responsibility.  Reading is a common element of each cohort’s homework and is often an element of homework that we hear parents battle with.

Below is a shortened list taken from Primary English Teaching Association Australia (Petaa) of some tips to help support your child when reading at home. For the full list head to Parents guide to reading and writing at home (petaa.edu.au)

• Establish a home reading routine. Read aloud with your children everyday. Ten minutes for each child around a book of his/her choice. If English is your second language, read in your home language. If you lack confidence in reading aloud, the fact that you are reading with your child is what matters. Talk about the illustrations and contribute where you can. Share your excitement for reading and this will be the model your child will adopt.  If your child is reading chapter books, take a turn in reading a few pages.
• The reader holds the book! There is a lot of power and control in the world of reading. The reader needs to have the power.
• During home reading time, turn off electronic devices and give each child ten minutes of your undivided attention.
• Before you read a book, set your child up for success. Reading is not a test! Reading time is only ten minutes so do some of the following: Keep the introduction short – one minute is enough. Talk about the illustrations and the title. Read the blurb and talk about the author, talk about any unusual words, read a page here and there as your child flicks through the book, discuss the characters. This is a short introduction, not an interrogation. If the book is already a familiar one, then this step is unnecessary.
• If reading time is stressful, move the reading to a new location. Instead of sitting at the kitchen bench, move to the lounge room floor, or go outside and sit under a tree or take the books to the local coffee shop.
• At the end of the 10 minutes, ask questions that encourage discussion, for example: What was your favourite part? Tell me about the characters. What do you think will happen next? What did you think about that setting? What do like/ dislike about this book? There is no need to interrogate the reader. Make it a conversation as you would in a book club.
• Avoid judging your child’s reading with words such as: ‘good’, ‘excellent’ or ‘getting better’. Instead say things about the strategies your child uses when reading such as: ‘I like how you read on when you came to that difficult word.’ ‘I like how you changed your voice to be the voice of the character in the story’. ‘I noticed that you reread the bit that did not make sense.'

I hope some of these tips help in your nightly reading routine,

Happy Reading,

Bec Thomas

Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival 

On Thursday the 13th of February, St Saviour’s Primary students competed in the Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival at Glennie Aquatic Centre. These students are to be commended for the way they represented their school in swimming and behaviour on the day. Students swam their hearts out and many students placed in the top four in their heats and relays. Students who attended are listed below. 

• Georgia Maxwell 

• Penny Lucas 

• Zavannah Madigan 

• Kaiya Jeffrey 

• Huntah Collins 

• Banjo Tayor 

• Orla McDonald 

• Jemma McHugh 

• Chelsea Ray 

• Cooper Skuse 

• Indi Brookman 

• Letti Stephenson 

• Nina Lucas 

• Harrison Black 

• Jethro Butel 

• Drew Densley 

• Lachlan Scott 

• Liam Enders 

Central Zone Swimming Carnival 

On Tuesday the 18th of February, students from St Saviour’s Primary competed in the Central Zone Swimming Carnival at Glennie Aquatic Centre. They competed against other schools to try and qualify for the Darling Downs carnival which will be held in Gatton on the 5th of March (picture attached). The 9-10 girls and 11-12 boys relay teams both finished second in the relay event. Three students made it through to the next level and will be representing the Central Zone Team in Gatton. Students who attended listed below. 

• Banjo Taylor 

• Huntah Collins 

• Kaiya Jeffrey 

• Zavannah Madigan 

• Penny Lucas 

• Georgia Maxwell 

• Viviann Adams 

• Cooper Skuse 

• Chelsea Ray 

• Jemma McHugh 

• Orla McDonald 

• Liam Enders 

• Lachlan Scott 

• Drew Densley 

• Jethro Butel 

• Harrison Black 

• Nina Lucas 

• Letti Stephenson 

• Akech Adol 

• Matilda Parker 

• Indi Brookman 

• Chase Hartwig 

• Oliver O'Toole 

• Jac Zimmerle 

• Lola Wood 

Students competing at the Darling Downs Trials. 

• Chelsea Ray 

• Lachlan Scott 

• Nina Lucas 

Swimming Lessons 

Swimming lessons will commence next week (24/02/2025 to 28/02/2025) for Year 3 – Year 6 (excluding 4M). Prep – Year 2 (including 4M) will start in Week 8 (17/03/2025 to 21/03/2025). 4M has been added to the Prep – Year Two block so there are 10 classes in each block as 11 classes in one block will not work with times and swim instructors. Please see the timetable below for your child’s class time. 

Students will need to change into their swim attire at school and then change back into their school uniform when they return to school. Students are welcome to wear sports unform for the week of their swimming block. Students will need to bring a swim bag with them for the week containing towel, googles, crocs/thongs etc. and will need to take towels and goggles to lessons, and they are welcome to wear crocs or thongs to and from lessons and on the bus. They will receive a swimming cap from Glennie which will be colour coded to their swimming group. The lessons will be at Glennie Aquatics Centre. Parents are more than welcome to attend. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher. 

Fitness Club 

Fitness Club kicked off last week and is a fantastic opportunity for your child to boost their fitness while having fun with friends, all in preparation for the St Saviour’s Primary Cross Country in the last week of Term One. Open to students from Year Three to Year Six, these sessions are designed to be both enjoyable and beneficial. 

Sessions will be held every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7:15am to 8am, continuing until Thursday, March 27th, 2025. Whether your child attends all sessions, once a week, or as often as fits your family’s schedule, they will benefit from the expert guidance of Mrs. McHugh, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Logan, and myself. 

We aim to create a supportive and energetic environment where your child can thrive. If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to email me at Brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au. We look forward to seeing your child there! 

School Sport 

Congratulations to Harry Black who made the Toowoomba Cricket Team and Darcy Phillips who made shadow. Harry will now attend Darling Downs trials to try and make the Darling Downs team. Good luck and we look forward to hearing all about your fantastic experience. 

Optimise Health Peak2Park 2025 (Sunday 2 March 2025) 

Lace up and get ready for the largest community Fun Run in Toowoomba! The Optimise Health Peak2Park challenges you to walk or run a 4km or 10km course. With something for everyone, this fun-filled activity is perfect for all ages and abilities. Join thousands of others who have already experienced the thrill of this event! 

Not only does it promote health and fitness, but every penny raised goes directly to local charities and community groups. This makes a massive impact on the well-being of the community. The Peak2Park event has become a beloved tradition that brings people together with a great sense of camaraderie. Trust us, you do not want to miss this! 

Use the link below to register and join "SSPS Starters". 

https://raceroster.com/registration/a41e018d-d4f4-42e2-b380-2b964001c881/entry?team=774831 

If you have any questions, please contact Annie Ward at ann-maree.ward@twb.catholic.edu.au. 

Zone and Darling Downs Trials 

All information regarding Zone and Darling Downs trials will be posted on Parent Portal. To ensure your child is eligible to trial for these sporting teams, please check the Parent Portal regularly or set up notifications on your phone. You will need to obtain the necessary paperwork from myself. 

Please be aware that I am unable to nominate students after the closing date, so it is crucial to monitor the Parent Portal. If you have any questions, please contact me at brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au. 

Upcoming Events (Term One) 

• Year 3-6 Swimming Lessons – 24/02/25 – 28/02/25 (10:30am – 1pm) 

• Darling Downs Swimming Carnival – Wednesday 5th March 2025 (9am – 2pm) 

• Prep – Year 2 Swimming Lessons – 17/3/25 – 21/03/2025 (10:30am – 1pm) 

• Prep – Year 2 Swimming Carnival – Monday 31st March 2025 (9am-12:30pm) 

• Catholic Schools T-Ball Gala Day (Year 4) – Tuesday 1st April 2025 (9am-2pm) 

• SSPS Cross Country – Friday 4th April 2025 (8:30am – 1pm) 

Cheers 

Brendan Luck 

HPE Teacher 

brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au 

Queensland School Libraries Week 

We celebrated our library by reflecting on ways it serves us as a window to the world. 

Year 5 Reflections 

5P 

Our library is a fun and calming place where we can gain knowledge and think about our world. It is a window to creativity and learning how technology and languages contribute to our world. 

5M 

Reading library books and resources is a window to the real world where we can experience the past, the emotions that others are feeling, happiness, adventure and be inspired to write and be inventive. 

5C 

Libraries are windows to anything we are interested in and want to know. Through reading, we can look out at the world; what nature has provided, what we do and feel as people and explore the universe and all other possibilities.   

QSLW Art Competition 

We had some wonderful entries for the competition. They will be on display shortly. The finalist entries going to the State judging will be announced on assembly next Monday.

Prep –Year 2 Browse and Borrow 

Thank you to parents and caregivers for sharing the students’ free choice library books at home and for reminding students to return them each Monday morning in readiness for new books on Tuesday. Students must have their own library bag to care for their free choice books each Tuesday.

Family Book Club 

We meet next Monday in the library foyer at 3.15pm over afternoon tea to chat about “The Polar Poachers”.  Please consider joining us as we decide on our next read and share the joy of reading together. 

Share the joy of reading in your homes!

Anne Anderson

Teacher Librarian

Year 6 - Henry Logan and Sarah La Caze

Congratulations to Henry Logan who has accepted a 4 day a week position as a school counsellor within Toowoomba Catholic Schools.  Henry will be based at Oakey and will work with the Catholic primary schools in Oakey, Chinchilla and Tara.  This role will complement Henry's recently completed Masters of School Counselling.  Congratualtions Henry.  

Henry will continue to teach 6L on a Friday for the remainder of the year.  Mrs Sarah La Caze will teach the class for the other four days.  Sarah has been on staff at SSPS, teaching a year 4 class this term until Rachel Harlen returns for Term 2.  We welcome Sarah to the Year 6 team from Term 2.

School IT Officer 

Miss Roya Esmaeilani has accepted a secondment to the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office until part way through 2026.  This is a promotion for Roya and it is an acknowledgement of the fine work that she does at SSPS.  Roya will commence on Monday 24th February.

We look forward to welcoming Mr Lewis Otto to our team from next week.  Lewis is an experienced technician and comes very highly recommended.  Please join me in welcoming Lewis to St Saviour's Primary.

All SSPS Staff, Students and Families are invited to participate! Students can wear their sport shirts and all are welcome.