Week 1, Term 3 2019

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 3. It was wonderful to be greeted on Monday by the happy, smiling faces of students and staff after my time away overseas on study and sabbatical leave.  Welcome to our eight new students,

Prep H: Penny 

1M: Hayden 

2C: Thomas 

2F: Elijah 

4M:Connor

5JL: Christian 

5W: Ella & Annabelle

who have all joined our St Saviour's Primary School community. 

Special thanks to Sam Hannant for taking up the role of Acting Principal. Sam’s organisation and diligence were well noted during this time by students, staff, parents and the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.  Congratulations Sam on a commendable job.  Sam has also been nominated for a Toowoomba Catholic Schools excellence award which will be announced during Catholic Education Week. Thanks also is extended to Mr Roland Poulton for his support of the leadership team, staff, students and parents during this time as well.

What an amazing privilege to study and attend Leuven University in Belgium for two weeks where I attended university lectures and completed four assignments. A few years ago some of you may remember completing an online survey to gather data about the Catholic Identity of our school.   It was this data that the four assignments was based on interpreting our data in relation to our Catholic Identity as a school. 

The Catholic University in Leuven was founded in 1425. Over the course of two weeks alongside other Principals, Education Officers and Directors from other Queensland Dioceses I attended lectures in many of the campuses including Arenberg Castle; visited schools and were fortunate enough on the weekends to journey to Ypres, Gent, Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges. Over fifty percent of the population of Belgium is Catholic and a high percentage of private schools in Belgium are Catholic. However, the Catholic identity of many schools in Belgium has changed significantly over the past 15 years and it is barely visible in most schools. The ECSI (Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity) Project identifies the levels of Catholicity that are present in Catholic schools today and in the future. Being enrolled in the ECSI course significantly raised my awareness of how our identities are shaped according to the many identities we have interacted with throughout our lives. Our lecturers warned that our schools in Australia had similar Catholic Identities to those in Belgium 15 years ago and if we don’t nurture the Catholic Identity of our schools, we will be confronted with the same issues that Catholic Schools in Belgium are currently facing.

Our lecturers, Pollefeyt and Bouwens discussed the importance of having ‘strong symbolism’ in our Catholic Schools. At St Saviour’s Primary School, it is our hope that the many symbols of our Catholic identity are evidently displayed throughout our school. Each classroom has a prayer table or sacred space with a bible, candle and cross or crucifix. There are also many artefacts around the school pertaining to Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy and inspires us at St Saviour’s Primary school to be welcoming and hospitable to all.  Our four cornerstone values: Service, Compassion, Commitment and Quality are taught to help support and nurture the students here at St Saviour’s.   The strength of our Catholic Community can be found in the relationships we have we each other and in the way, we support and help others to be followers of Christ.

One of the highlights of my travels was walking the Primitivo Camino from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela over the course of a week with two other Principals from the Diocese.  To walk in the footsteps of St James across Spain was thought provoking and meditative.  I have definitely caught the Camino ‘bug’ and look forward to my next adventure in a few years’ time.

Catholic Education Week

28 July – 3 August 2019

Catholic Education Week will be celebrated across Queensland from 28 July – 3 August 2019.  The highlight for me each year in Term 3 is celebrating Catholic Education in Week 3.  This year staff will join over 1000 other employees across the Diocese on Friday, 2^nd August at St Mary’s College.  Students will have a pupil free day from school on this day.

This annual event is held to promote the special ethos of Catholic schools and to highlight the great things that take place in Catholic schools every day.  

The theme for this year’s celebrations is:  Many Voices. One Spirit.

 Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.

There are 306 Catholic schools in Queensland that educate around 149,000 students and employ more than 20,000 teachers and staff, and most will celebrate Catholic Education Week in some way.

Our school is planning a number of activities during the week and we hope you are able to join in the celebrations with us.

I thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to seeing you during Catholic Education Week 2019.

Yours sincerely

Madonna Sleba

Principal

Listed below is a schedule of activities/events at St Saviour’s Primary School during Catholic Education Week:             

TUESDAY (JULY 30^TH):              School mass/Grandparents'  Day + Open classroom sessions

WEDNESDAY (JULY 31^ST):         STEM showcase day

THURSDAY (AUGUST 1^ST):        Catholic Netball Carnival and Catholic Touch                                                          Football Carnival

FRIDAY (AUGUST 2^ND):             Student Free Day

Welcome to Term Three,

I hope that the winter break was a positive experience for you and your family and that you managed to spend some time relaxing, and staying WARM. I love being able to turn off my alarm at the start of the holidays and wake up whenever!! Not any more though!

Before getting underway with Term 3 Happenings, we need to acknowledge our end of last term special events which are reflected in some of the photos. In the last week of term...

• Many of our students made their First Communion
• Year 4 had a Class Mass 
• We celebrated Fr Hal's 60 years as a priest
• NAIDOC Week was acknowledged and celebrated with a special assembly at which some of our Yr 5 students joined with the College Indigenous Dancers
• Awards were distributed at our Final Term 2 Assembly. Congratulations to the very deserving recipients of the Encouragement Awards, Cornerstone Value Awards and the Adopt-A-Cop Awards who are listed below.

As mentioned by Madonna, Week 3 is Catholic Education Week and of course there are several special events taking place. I would particularly like to mention what is happening on Tuesday, July 30 which is our Grandparents' Day, involving Mass, morning tea (bring a plate to share) and open classroom sessions. Please ensure that all grandparents are aware of the date and are encouraged to attend. Teachers will be sending out reminders and specific details via their weekly Communication Note.

The plan for Grandparents' Day is:

8:30 Normal start to the day

9:30 Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral

10:20 All students to classrooms briefly. Parents & Grandparents gather in Mercy Centre.

10:40 Morning Tea (those that can are asked to bring a plate to share). Hot drinks available for adults

11:15 Welcome from the Principal. Performance (choir and drama groups)

11:30 Open Classrooms (P-6)

12:30 Finish (normal school routine continues)

We hope you can join us for at least part of the day.

Enjoy your weekend,

Judy 

Academic Awards 

Congratulations to the four students who last term earnt Academic Medals.  These medals are presented to students who receive an A in every single learning area on their report card.  The four students who recieved this award were:

Paris Orr, Hannah Marsh, Pascal Harboe-Green, Lilly Maher.

Woolworths Earn and Learn

Thanks to all parents, grandparents, students, friends and staff who collect stickers from the Woolworths Earn and Learn Program.  St Saviour's Primary community managed to collect over 43000 stickers.

This will allow us to order 6 drones and some accessories for them to be used in our school STEM program.  We will also order some resources for Literacy Activities.

Again, a very big thanks to Mrs Samantha McKenzie who co-ordinated the program and collected stickers from Woolworths locations all over Toowoomba!

STEM Showcase

On Wednesday 31 July, St Saviour's Primary will be hosting a STEM Showcase for other school from around the region.  This will provide the opportunity for students to showcase what they have learnt in STEM lessons with STEMPunks during the first semester.

On this day, the year 3 students will be showcasing robotics and 3D printing, year 4/5 students drones and coding and the year 6 students microbits.  Parents are welcome to drop in on the day between 11-12.30pm

More information will be available closer to the date.  

All students at St Saviour's Primary will be participating in a dance program this term run by a company called Dance Fever.  For this term only sport uniform is optional for all students to wear on a Wednesday due to the physical nature of the dancing.

This program will culminate in a performance for parents on Friday September 13 after school.  Times will be confirmed in the near future.

Thanks very much to the St Saviour's Primary P&F for funding the program for the students.

Interschool Sport - Term 3

Interschool Sport will commence in Week 2 for the Year 5 and 6 students.  Parents are most welcome to attend and the draw will be sent home every week via the newsletter and also Schoolzine.  Students will learn what team they are in this Friday and they can then match it up to the draw below for 26 July.

Boys Soccer

1.00pm  Senior B Boys V Newtown SS @ Anderson Park 2

1.45pm  Senior A Boys V East SS @ Anderson Park 1

             Junior A Boys V Newtown SS @ Anderson Park 2

Girls Soccer

1.00pm Junior Girls V East SS @ Captain Cook 1

1.45pm Senior Girls V East SS @ Captain Cook 1

Netball @ Nell E Robinson

1.00pm  Junior A V Mary MacKillop on Court 16

             Senior B1 V Fairview SS on Court 6

             Senior B2 V Glenvale SS on Court 5

1.45pm  Senior A V Glenvale SS on Court 5

             Junior B V Fairholme on Court 14

A permission form will go onto Caremonkey in the coming days for parents to complete.  A reminder that students who are playing soccer will need to have shin pads or they will be undable to participate.  There will also be a cost for the bus, which will be added to the school fees for this term.

Further information will be provided in the Caremonkey permission form.

Catholic Netball and Touch Football Carnivals

On the Thursday of Catholic Education Week, the Year 5 and 6 students have the opportunity to participate in the Catholic Netball and Touch Football Carnivals.

Students have selected whether they would like to attend or not and will be placed into a team later this week.  A permission form will then be added to Caremonkey and there will be a small cost for the bus on this day.

More information to come as it becomes available.

Take a look at our new Library Management app Accessit at http://au.accessit.online/STS02

This is a searchable database available on any device. The home page currently contains some video and information about the first moon landing and other Apollo Missions. The covers of the 2019 Notable books selected by the Children’s Book Council of Australia are also on display. We are working on a library blog where all users can read book recommendations posted by our Year 5 and 6 students. We are waiting on a TCSO technical upgrade before students and teachers can sign in to access all the features so stay tuned for further information. 

Book Week - Week 6

19^th – 23^rd August   Reading is my Secret Power

We will celebrate Book Week with a dress-up day and a team challenge on Tuesday 20^th. The costume parade will start at 8.30 am and all adults are invited as an audience. Have fun with the dress-up, there are no particular requirements but please talk to your students about how reading is powerful.

On Wednesday 21^st students can seek out our secret readers during lunch-time by working on the clues which will be provided at morning – tea.

Anne Anderson

Teacher Librarian

Thank you for your donations to the Vinnies winter appeal. We will be handing the items over to Julie Inskip from St Vincent de Paul on assembly next Monday afternoon so there is still time if you wish to donate food or new clothing items to help people keep warm this Winter.

Please encourage your Year 4, 5 and 6 students to join Mini Vinnies for Semester 2. Members of Mini Vinnies grow in their ability to think about the needs of other people and ways they may serve others. We are a small group this year and are in need of workers for our second- hand stall and Christmas gift preparation for St Vincent's Aged Care residents. During our weekly Monday lunch-time meetings we share a prayer and work on a project. Early this term we will be making book marks and fridge magnets to sell on our second-hand stall.

Thank you for discussing this with your students.

Anne Anderson

Term 3 School Fees:

Term 3 School Fees will be emailed home to parents in Week 2. Please note that as of Term 3 all excursions (Cobb n Co etc) will now be issued via email and paid to the office before these activities will take place and is considered separate to current direct debits in place.  Excursions sit outside of school fees.

Care Monkey Updates:

Just a reminder to all families that any changes such as residential/phone/medical etc to your children's profiles need to be updated via CAREMONKEY.  This ensures we keep and maintain accurate records at all times.  

Enrolment intentions 2020:

Care Monkey  

Music Bus:

TRIVIA NIGHT:

The St Saviour's Primary School P&F Trivia Night is being held next SATURDAY 27TH JULY in the Mercy Centre from 6.00pm.  Bookings for the night are now being taken in the office.  Gather your friends (tables of 10) and come along for a fun night of trivia and socialising.  $100 per table of ten.  The P&F Trivia Night is always a fun night for our school community and we encourage as many families to come along and join in the fun.  

Mrs Tash Biggar will be reducing her hours as tuckshop convenor to take on another job opportunity.  Tash will continue to work on Monday and Friday of each week.  

Expressions of Interest for a tuckshop convenor for Wednesdays (6 hours per week) beginning in Week 3 of Term 3 (Wednesday 31st July till Wednesday 4th December) are welcomed. This position is for school term time only. 

Please submit in writing an expression of interest for an application for this position to the Principal by Wednesday 24th July. 

A copy of the role description is available from the office.