Term 4, Week 2, 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
BLESSING AND OPENING - Thursday October 23
Next Thursday, Bishop Ken Howell and Dr Patrick Coughlan (Executive Director: Catholic Schools) will be visiting to officially bless and open our new facilties.
I ask that on this day, all students (apart from Prep) wear their formal uniform as we will be celebrating with a liturgy in the Mercy Centre at 9am.
This will be a great opportunity to celebrate the new facilities as a community.
FEEDBACK ON 2025
As promised at the end of Term 3, you are now able to send through feedback on the 2025 priorities at St Saviour's Primary School.
Please click on the link below which will take you to a 7 question survey that will take less than 5 minutes to complete. The questions are relating to the newsletter, parent/teacher interviews and the behaviour expectation/consequence process that we have been undertaking.
This feedback will be used to guide our future direction and formation of our Annual Action Plan for 2026. Thanks for taking the time to complete.
CLASS PLACEMENTS 2026
Teachers have begun planning carefully for class groupings in 2026. I would like to provide the following information for the parent community to assist you in understanding how important we regard the task of class groupings and the many aspects that the staff take into consideration when working on these for the year ahead.
Staff consult with each other extensively on this undertaking. When completing class allocations, we reflect on the following points:
- What are the best learning combinations (What we know about the students this year/ last year/ previous years) for each class?
- How to ensure there is a balance of the learning needs in a class? Consideration is given to students with learning difficulties, difficulties with a learning area and students who are achieving above the expected level in a learning area
- The balance of learning styles, including those who are fast, independent learners and those who require additional time to grasp concepts
- Boy and girl ratios
- Friendships between students that impact both positively and negatively on their ability to achieve the best possible learning outcomes
- Social/emotional considerations
- Family considerations such as keeping twins together or in separate classes, as well as the number of children who have siblings already at the school (particularly relevant in Prep class groupings).
The process of class allocation takes many weeks. Parental input has and is always welcomed and considered seriously by the staff. However, it should be obvious that friendships cannot always be catered for, especially if staff know that some friendships may inhibit classroom learning. Chidren are given the opportunity to write down some friends that they would like to be with and these are certainly considered. Additionally, although we do our best, parent requests for specific teachers cannot always be guaranteed, with some of the reasons in the dot points above.
Parents are asked to send an email directly to the Principal: Sam Hannant sam.hannant@twb.catholic.edu.au for any considerations for class placements in 2025 by Friday 7 November 2025.
Warm Regards,
Sam Hannant
Dear parents,
Firstly, I would like to confirm that we will have three Year 6 classes next year. This is very exciting news and means that we will now have three classes across all year levels.
As part of the staffing process for 2026, I would like to keep you up-to-date with a few changes in staffing that have been confirmed below.
As part of the TCS relocation process, we look foward to welcoming the following new teachers to SSPS in 2026:
Amber O’Regan who has been teaching at St Patrick’s in Mitchell.
Beth Daley who has been teaching at St Patrick’s in St George.
Robyn Lindores from St Mary’s Goondiwindi. Robyn will commence in Semester 2.
Belle Porter from St John’s Roma – Belle is taking a short break from Roma and will fill Robyn’s place in Semester 1 only.
Two more teachers will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
As we look forward to welcoming new teachers, we will also be farewelling some staff this year:
Katie Horne is taking up the Assistant Principal: Mission and Identity role at St Stephen's in Pittsworth
Henry Logan has been successful in securing a school counsellor role at St Mary' College in Toowoomba
Liam Cantwell has finished his teaching degree and will also take up his first teaching role at St Mary's College.
Katrina Bennett has accepted a teaching position at Mary MacKillop Catholic College in Highfields and will commence later this term.
Mary Milton is retiring after many years service at SSPS as a classroom and library school officer.
We will certainly farewell these staff appropriately toward the end of Term 4.
Now that our teaching staff is very close to being confirmed, we will begin the process of allocating teachers to year levels. This will be announced to the school community closer to the end of term.
Sam Hannant
Welcome Back!
I hope all families were able to have a refreshing holiday in September. I heard Term 4 referred to as ‘fast and furious’ by a teacher last week, and I think it feels pretty fitting! There is a lot of teaching and learning to be done in a short window of time, as well as a number of significant community events that we will celebrate. There can be a danger in the business of ticking off our ‘to do list’ that we lose sight of the wonder and awe of the here and now. My wish for this term is for our community to spend as much time enjoying the everyday glimmers that light up our lives as we do tick off our lists in the countdown to the end of the year.
Report Card Changes
When you receive your child’s report card in Week 9 there will be some noticeable changes to the structure. In accordance with the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Teaching and Learning Framework we are adjusting how we present information. Teachers will be reporting as normal with assigned grades for key learning areas. They will have a general comment at the conclusion of the report that will provide a wholistic snapshot of how the student is going at school. The difference will be that teachers will no longer provide a comment attached to Maths or English.
Toowoomba Catholic Schools Teaching and Learning Framework
Parent Engagement Meting Term 4
For our final parent engagement meeting this year we will be offering a session designed to inform and engage parents. This meeting will be on Thursday the 30th of October at 5pm. During the presentation we will discuss our school regulation strategies and our approach to restorative practices.
Anne Woodcroft-Brown, our School Counsellor, will be presenting our school approach to supporting students in developing self-regulation—the ability to understand and manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. This is a vital life skill that helps children stay focused, make positive choices, and build healthy relationships. In the classroom, we use a range of regulation strategies such as calm corners, breathing techniques, movement breaks, and visual supports to help students recognise when they need to reset and refocus. By teaching and modelling these strategies, we empower students to take ownership of their emotional wellbeing and create a more settled and supportive learning environment for everyone.
We will also spend some time explaining our Restorative approach to supporting positive behaviour. Our restorative approach focuses on building strong relationships, repairing harm, and restoring a sense of community when things go wrong. Instead of simply assigning consequences, restorative conversations help students reflect on their actions, understand how others were affected, and work together to make things right. This not only supports positive behaviour but also helps students develop empathy, responsibility, and conflict-resolution skills that will benefit them throughout life.
Looking forward to seeing many parents and families over the next few weeks at our upcoming events.
Katie Hauser
….experiencing FAITH in the Mercy Tradition
Dear families
Welcome back! It’s so great to see our students back together ready for a busy and an exciting Term 4. Being the final term, towards the end, we get to celebrate a year of successes and challenges, find time to look towards planning and preparing for a new school year setting new goals and most importantly Term 4 leads us into Advent, a time of waiting for the Birth of Jesus.
This October, Catholic Mission and the broader Catholic community will come together to celebrate World Mission Month, guided by the theme “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples.” Together, we have the power to create change and build a more just world for people everywhere. By supporting missionaries in their work, we can create life-changing opportunities for countless children, families, and communities worldwide. Join us in making a difference for our sisters and brothers. Students will be learning about World Mission Month in the classrooms. You can see more information for yourself here @ World Mission Month
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, The Hail Mary. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. October falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time which is represented by the liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the colour of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. Students will be learning to pray The Rosary in their classrooms this month.
Next Thursday 23rd October we celebrate the official Blessing & Opening of our new learning spaces and buildings. Projects such as building and renovating is a lengthy process which involves a lot of people so it will be wonderful to acknowledge those who made our new facilities possible, many who have moved on from our school community. Those of us who are working and learning in these new spaces, are fortunate to be able to do so and are grateful to those who made it happen.
Date claimers
Week 3 – Blessing & Opening of our new learning spaces Thursday 23rd October & Spring Fair on Saturday 25th October
Week 4 – World Teacher’s Day Friday 31st October & Day for Daniel fundraiser – gold coin donation and wear red to show your support
Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great week where you find the opportunity for do something that fills your cup and you give yourself some self care.
Ann-Maree Ward (Assistant Principal – Mission & Identity)
Don’t Miss Out — Get Your Spring Fair Tickets Today!
The countdown is on to our most exciting event of the year!
From exciting activities and delicious food to handmade crafts and live entertainment, the Spring Fair is a joyful day for families, friends, and the entire community. It’s a chance to support our school and enjoy everything that makes St Saviour’s so special.
Spring Fair 2025:
- Tasty treats from local vendors, plus snow cone and popcorn available for purchase
- Student Art Show in the hall
- Live music in the boulder area and student performances on the oval
- Petting zoo, facepainting, inflatables & laser tag
- Raffle draws with amazing prizes
- Market stalls – home made items, tasty treats, local kindy, 2nd hand SSPS uniforms
Tickets are selling fast! Ticket sales via try booking will end on Monday 20th October.
Tickets must be pre-purchased using the following link - https://www.trybooking.com/1448613
Raffle tickets can be purchased throughout next week and also at the event. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. Keep an eye out for where and when tickets will be sold next week! EFTPOS & Cash options available.
Let’s make this year’s Spring Fair the biggest and brightest yet!
Thank you for your continued support — we can’t wait to see you there!
Dear Parents & Caregivers
Welcome to Term 4!
Statements were issued last week, and we kindly ask all families to review their accounts to ensure full payment has been made, as all 2025 school fees are now due.
Unless a prior agreement is in place or your direct debit arrangement is ongoing, accounts paid via direct debit should now be finalised. We encourage families to consider keeping direct debit payments ongoing (where possible), as this helps avoid the need to complete a new form each year. If you would like to update your current agreement to ongoing payments, please contact the Accounts team.
If you are experiencing any difficulties in meeting your fee commitments for this year, please reach out to the Accounts team as soon as possible to discuss available support options.
School fees and levies for 2026 are currently under review, and we aim to have these available to families by Week 4.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
If you have any questions regarding school fees or your account, please contact the office on 07 4637 1700 or email accounts@sspstwb.catholic.edu.au
Kind regards,
Alyce Webster
Finance Officer
Physical Education – Term Four (Prep to Year Two)
This term, our Prep to Year Two students will be actively engaged in a dynamic Striking/AFL and Soccer unit. Throughout the program, students will develop key foundational skills including the in-step kick, punt kick, and hand pass. These skills will be applied in modified AFL and Soccer games, with a strong emphasis on teamwork, strategic gameplay, and sportsmanship. In addition to game-based learning, students will participate in a variety of station-based activities designed to enhance coordination, agility, and motor skills. Each lesson will feature six rotating stations, offering a diverse range of movement experiences such as:
- Passing, catching, and kicking
- Dribbling with feet, hands, and hockey sticks
- Shooting hoops and goal scoring
- Scooter board navigation and skipping
- Tennis racket control activities ("ups and downs")
- Hopping, jumping, side-stepping, animal crawling, and balance challenges
These engaging activities aim to foster physical confidence, cooperation, and enjoyment of movement in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Physical Education – Term Four (Year Three and Year Four)
This term, students in Years Three and Four will participate in an exciting unit titled Sport, Sport, Sport. Over the course of the term, students will explore four dynamic sports—Halfcourt Basketball, Gridiron, Gaelic Football, and Buroinjin, a traditional Aboriginal game, on a two-week rotational basis. Each sport will be introduced through a skills-focused week, where students will learn the fundamental techniques and rules. This will be followed by a game-play week, allowing students to apply their learning in a fun and active setting. Through this unit, students will develop a wide range of gross motor skills, deepen their understanding of team dynamics, and build confidence in collaborative play. Importantly, they will also gain an appreciation for cultural diversity by engaging with games from different traditions and backgrounds.
PE – Term Four (Year Five and Year Six)
This term, our Year Five and Year Six students will be engaging in an exciting and enriching unit focused on Group Challenges and Cooperative Learning. This initiative is designed to foster essential teamwork skills, encourage creative thinking, and build resilience through hands-on problem-solving. Throughout the unit, students will work in small groups to tackle a series of structured challenges. Each task will require them to:
- Collaborate effectively with peers, learning to listen, share ideas, and make joint decisions.
- Brainstorm innovative solutions to real-world problems, applying critical thinking and creativity.
- Test their ideas through trial and error, observing outcomes and evaluating effectiveness.
- Reflect and refine their approach, identifying what worked well and what could be improved.
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 Four)
- Southwest Qld Touch Football Training – 22nd October (3pm-4:30pm)
- Southwest Qld Touch Football Carnival - Friday 24th October (8am-3pm)
Cheers
Brendan Luck
HPE Teacher
Term 4 in the Library
- Week 1- 6 class borrowing sessions
- Week 7 All loans due
- Week 7 Holiday borrowing opportunity for returning students
- Week 7 Thursday and Friday - Book Fair sales
- Week 8 Monday and Tuesday - Book Fair sales
- Week 9 Family Book Club Afternoon tea – Day to be confirmed
- Week 9 Student leased devices due
Family Book Club
Get your copy of Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping by Craig Silvey ($16.00 for a hardback copy at Big W and K Mart) and start reading aloud at home. Join us on Wednesday 3rd December in Week 9 for afternoon tea to chat about this story.
Learning in the Library
All students will be encouraged to find a new topic of interest amongst the Non-Fiction books on our shelves and to share the Fiction they have enjoyed the most this year.
Year 5 students will be writing and publishing reviews of their favourite book in the library database to inform and encourage other readers.
Staff and students have been selecting their favourite book and sharing their thoughts about it for our STAFF and STUDENT PICKS for 2025 display.
Life in the Library
We have a number of books from homes which have been mistakely placed in the returns tubs. They will be on display in the library foyer in Week 4 so please take a moment to check if they belong to your family. Unclaimed books will be added to the library collection or donated.
Happy Reading Everyone!
Anne Anderson
Teacher Librarian
