Week 9, Term 2, 2019

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Term 2 has flown by and with that the end of the first semester reporting period. Whilst I have been reading report cards this week, it has reminded me of the reporting process that we use here at St Saviour's Primary School.  No single method, such as a twice yearly written report, can be left to carry the whole burden of reporting student progress each year.
Assessment and reporting processes play a strategic role in moving student learning forward. At St Saviour’s Primary School, we believe the most effective reporting occurs when various approaches are used throughout the year. Parents are also encouraged to contact their child’s teacher at any time throughout the year to discuss their child’s learning at a time convenient to both teachers and parents.

The following is an overview of the reporting process that is currently used at St Saviour’s Primary School.

TERM 1
• Years Prep - 6 Parent/Teacher Welcome Evening (early in term)
• Parent/Teacher interview offered - as required
• Class news – May be sent home throughout the term.
• Work Samples –May be sent home throughout the term.
TERM 2
• Class news – May be sent home throughout the term.
• Work samples –May be sent home throughout the term.
• Years P - 6 formal written report – End of term
TERM 3
• Class news – May be sent home throughout the term.
• Work samples –May be sent home throughout the term.
• Year 3 / 5 NAPLAN student report to be forwarded home
– Generally, end of term.
• Parent/Teacher interview offered - as required
TERM 4
• Class news – May be sent home throughout the term.
• Work samples –May be sent home throughout the term.
Years P - 6 formal written report – End of term.

A reminder that Semester One Report Cards will be sent home mid next week.

FAMILY WEEK 

Next week is family week at St Saviour's Primary.  As there is no homework sent out this Friday, it is a good opportunity for families to spend some quality time together.  I know I have heard of families who take the dog for a walk, watch a movie or go out to dinner as a family during the time they would usually spend doing homework.  Enjoy the week!

DANCE FEVER

Dance Fever lessons will take place next term on a Wednesday.  Students from Prep - Year 6 will be learning dances such as the cha-cha, foxtrot, hiphop and also cultural.  There will be a culmination of this program on Friday 13 September with a dance concert from around 5pm.  Times and price are to be confirmed.  Thanks to the P&F for working with the school to make this program happen.

WOOLWORTHS EARN AND LEARN

This promotion finishes on Tuesday of next week so this weekend will be the last weekend to earn stickers.  Mrs McKenzie has let me know that we currently have 33000 stickers which is well above our goal.  Thanks to all the families who have collected for St Saviour's Primary and we urge you to return any that you have at home by Thursday next week.

PUPIL FREE DAY NEXT FRIDAY

Friday June 28 is a professional learning and planning day for teachers.  On this day teachers will be undertaking professional learning in the areas of spelling and also STEM.  Hall Thorpe Sports will be running vacation care at St Saviour's on this day.  Please contact them for any bookings.

Congratulations.....

To all the students who attended the Darling Downs Athletics Carnival this week.  A special congratulations to Paris Orr who was selected in the Darling Downs team to attend the QLD Championships.  Special mention also to Dom Seaby who finished third in the high jump event.

Sam Hannant

Acting Principal

Welcome to the final newsletter for Term 2

Congratulations Paula Wagner- nominated for the 2019 Spirit of Catholic Education Award.

The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards are presented annually in conjunction with Catholic Education Week to celebrate outstanding contributions to Catholic education in Queensland.
This year, 130 nominations were received from Catholic school communities across the State, (8 from the Toowoomba Diocese) recognising the important work being undertaken by staff, parents, carers and volunteers. This year’s award recipients will be selected by the various judging panels and announced in the week prior to Catholic Education Week in July. 

We are very proud of our very own, Paula Wagner, who is such a deserving nominee. Dr Pat Coughlan, Executive Director, TCSO, states " I offer my congratulations to our eight nominees as outstanding contributors to the Spirit of Catholic Education in the Toowoomba Diocese".

Catholic Education Week is Week 3 next term. Please make a note in your diary that on the Tuesday of that week, (July 30), we will have our annual Grandparents' Day and Open Session within the school. More information will be sent via Class Communication Notes and the next newsletter.

Congratulations Fr Hal Ranger: On June 29, 1959 at St Patrick's Cathedral Fr Hal was ordained into the priesthood. Since starting out in Toowoomaba (1959), Fr Hal has had appointments in Warwick (1962), St Theresa's, Toowoomba (1972), Army Chaplain Cabarlah, Balcombe, & Duntroon (from 1972), Melbourne (1979), Dalby (1996). Warwick (2005), St Pat's and St Anthony's (2008).

To celebrate his 60yrs as a priest, Fr Hal is joining us for morning tea next Wednesday at 10:30am in the Mercy Centre. Any parents or friends are welcome to join us.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM: FIRST COMMUNION

This weekend brings our formal Sacramental Program to a conclusion for 2019 as the boys and girls make their First Communion at the 6pm or 9am Mass. We continue to keep these special young people in our prayers as they continue their faith journey. Year 4 Parents are invited to the Year 4 Class Mass on Tuesday at 9:15 at which Mia will be making her First Holy Communion as her family is unavailable this weekend. 

MASS CHOIR:

Thank you to our School Mass Choir for singing so beautifully at Mass last weekend.

P & F TRIVIA NIGHT CONTRIBUTIONS: If anyone is able to contribute towards a prize at the Trivia Night (end of Week 2 next term), this would be very much appreciated. Donations can be left at the school office. 

Also, there will be a P & F Folder left at the front office so that people can leave a message about donations or volunteering to assist with upcoming P & F events, particularly, the Trivia Night, the Dance Fever Performance and/ or Pizza Treat days.

Farewell Murphy Family: While we do have several new families joining us next term, we are sad to farewell one of our long term families. Lenita & Justin Murphy, together with daughters, Ayanna, Indie and Isla are heading back to France in time to start the new school year there, in August. We wish them all the best and "Au Revoir". 

Message from Lenita...

The girls are very excited for our new venture,although a bit nervous! We will be living in a village called Saint Hippolyte, right at the bottom of France,in a region called Languedoc-Roussillon. The girls start their new school on the 2nd of September and the school year finishes at the end of June next year, with the summer holidays. They won't have to wear a uniform anymore and they will be able to eat lunch at the school canteen everyday (it's pretty much a restaurant).

We have loved our 5 years at St Saviours and are grateful for the many friends we made here. Much love 

BRAINSTORM PRODUCTIONS:
Award-Winning In-School Theatre Performances
                                 Saving Lil & Archie
On Tuesday this week Brainstorm Productions presented their student wellbeing program ‘Saving Lil & Archie’ for Prep to Year 6.
Concerned about your child’s online safety? Screen time? Disinterest in exercise? Then here’s some good news...From the award-winning educational theatre company, Brainstorm Productions, comes the story of Lil & Archie, who set off on an epic intergalactic journey, discovering how to stay cyber safe, the importance of limiting their screen time and developing healthy friendships. Not your ordinary learning experience, Saving Lil & Archie is a wondrous live theatre adventure filled with music and fun!
Saving Lil & Archie has been developed in consultation with teachers, psychologists, as well as real-life student experiences.
The methodology of the program is safe, supportive and nonjudgmental and designed to provide students with positive and useful tools that they can use in their everyday lives. More than 350,000 Australian students have already benefited from Brainstorm Productions multi award-winning educational theatre programs over the past twelve months. Their programs cater to the specific wellbeing needs of students, helping to create a healthy and harmonious school environment. If you would like to know more about Brainstorm Productions, visit their website at
www.brainstormproductions.edu.au

The presentation was very engaging and kept the audiences riveted! Some very important and relevant messages were made obvious to all students. I encourage you to ask your child about what they learnt from Lil and Archie and hopefully, the message to limit screen time, will hit the mark!

Thanks for all your support this term. I hope you and your family enjoy the upcoming winter break and return refreshed and ready to go.

Thank you Roly Poulton for your assistance for the last 5 weeks in the role as Acting APA. Your calm, friendly presence has been much appreciated by the staff and students, as has been your advice and support to Sam and I. Now back to retirement!!

Regards,

Judy

Our Term 2 Library Volunteers 

A big vote of thanks goes to Ms Kerri Rowling and Mrs Meryll Nunn for their hours of volunteer work in our library this term. Thank you ladies, you are such great workers and a wonderful asset to our school community. 

 Our Regional Readers’ Cup Team 

Grace, Lily, Lizzie and Gemma, all Year 5 students, represented our school at the Darling Downs Regional Readers’ Cup Year5/6 Competition on Tuesday this week. The girls placed 12th out of 20 teams and they started and finished the competition with a smile. They had read 5 novels in preparation for the event and took part with enthusiasm and dedication. We thank them for their efforts. I also wish to thank their parents for the support and encouragement they provided across the term and on the day of the competition. 

 

 

Creative Maker-space 

Students have enjoyed using recyclable materials to construct space themed models and objects from their imagination during lunch-time in the library this week. Some of these creations will be on display next term when we commemorate the 50th anniversary of man landing and walking on the moon for the first time as part of the Apollo missions.  

Please Return Overdue Books 

Books may be borrowed over the upcoming holidays but we require all overdue books to be returned.

Please be aware that the replacement cost for overdue loans from Term 1 and 2 2019 will be added to Term 3 accounts. 

Happy holiday reading everyone!

Anne Anderson 

Teacher Librarian

Please consider making a donation to the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal via the baskets outside the library. Thank you to the families who have already donated non-perishable food and warm clothing. We especially acknowledge the work of the Daniells' family grandmother who has donated beautiful hand knitted scarves.

Thank you so much from SSPS

Mini Vinnies members

From the office......

CAREMONKEY:

As Term 2 Report Cards are now being finalised it is important that the office has correct residential address information up to date.  If you have moved recently and not updated your address via Caremonkey we ask you to do this as soon as possible.  This then ensures that we have the correct information for sending home report cards.

MEDICATION:

Just a reminder that any medication administered at school must have a doctor's or chemist label on it.  Any medication such as panadol or neurofen can no longer be administered by the office staff. Parents will be contacted if your child is sick and unable to stay at school.  Thankyou for your understanding.

 LOST PROPERTY:

Next week is the last week of Term 2.  We do have a large amount of lost property that is yet to be claimed.  Parents please ensure over the next week you check Lost Property for items that may have become misplaced over the term. 

ABSENTEES:

Please ensure all absentees are communicated to the office before 9am each morning.  This can be done via phone, (messages can be left), emailing the office (not the teacher direct) or via the SZapp.  It is our duty of care to inform you by 9.30am each morning if your child is absent and unaccounted for.  Thank you.

TERM 3:

Term 3 commences on MONDAY 15th JULY.

BIRTHDAY TREATS:

At St Saviour's we love to help your child celebrate their birthday. Parents and caregivers are more than welcome to bring in special treats for the children to share in the class.  We ask that if you do bring in treats, please be mindful of children who may have allergies etc.  Also if providing ice-blocks please ensure that they are frozen.  We have had some very disappointed children at the end of the day when they have come to hand out their ice-blocks only to discover they are not frozen (in particular zooper doopers).  Simple is best.  Thank you for your understanding.

SCHOOL BANKING:

Thank you to those children who take part each week in our School Banking programme at St Saviour's.  Just a quick reminder to those children and parents, to please ensure that you fill in your bank deposit slip each week.  It is important that all the information including bank account details, name and dollar amount is written clearly (and in biro, not pencil) on the deposit slip please.  This ensures that each deposit is entered correctly into the system.  Thank you for you understanding.

COLOUR RUN PRIZES:

Thank you to everyone for finalising colour run prizes.  Ordering of prizes will take place over the holidays and we will issue prizes to the children as soon as they arrive.

SKOOLDAYZ UNIFORM SHOP:

Open this FRIDAY:  2.30PM - 4.00PM

Please contact Dan Eagleson directly during business hours to arrange alternate times.  0481 318 398.

PIZZA TREAT DAY:

Thank you to everyone who supported Pizza Treat Day today and to the wonderful parent helpers who make this day happen.

STEM Club 

Students in Term 2 STEM Club have engaged in a number of challenges, all of which have required problem solving, trial and error strategies, team work and creative thinking.

Activities have ranged from constructing simple support systems and structures using string, tape, toothpicks and other everyday items, through to fine tuning the programming needed to guide the edison and sphero devices along a set route.

The engagement of students was obvious across the past 7 weeks and the STEM committee look forward to sharing their learning with the students enrolled for Term 3. Notes confirming enrolment and STEM Club details will be sent home next week.

State of Origin Tuckshop Treats:

Thankyou!!

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who have helped in the Tuckshop this term.  Without you our Tuckshop would not operate.  

You are invited 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)