Week 9, Term 3 2019

Dear Parents,

 CONGRATULATIONS MR AND MRS HANNANT

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Hannant on the birth of your beautiful little boy, William Isaac Hannant.  Mr Hannant tells me that he is settling into being a dad nicely!  He is spending time with his new son and will be back with us soon.  We are all looking forward to him sharing his special 'show and tell' in the near future with the school community. 

RESTRUCTURE OF CLASSES FOR 2020  and REFURBISHMENT OF PREP BUILDING

 In 2020, we will continue to restructure some classes to smaller class sizes due to an increase in enrolments. These extra classes will be in Prep and Year 5 (depending on final enrolment numbers for 2020 for the Year 5 level).  Over the past months and in consultation with Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office (TCSO), members of the School Board and the leadership team, refurbishment of the Prep building has been approved.  This has come about due to an increased enrolment demand and to provide smaller class groupings.  The school will be funding a third Prep classroom in readiness for the 2020 school year.  Building is expected to take place in the last two weeks of the school year.  Our 2019 Preps will be relocated to the Music/Japanese room and the Parent Engagement/Uniform room for the last two weeks of Term 4.   Our hope is that this will be least disruptive for all involved. This is a very exciting time for the school, and I look forward to working with staff and families as we begin the planning stages for the future.

 Enrolments 2020

It is vital that you notify us if you know that your child will not be returning in 2020. Another child may be waiting for a place at St Saviour’s Primary School.  Thank you to the families who have already let us know about any changes.

Class Placements for 2020

When we return in Term 4, teachers will begin planning carefully for class groupings in 2020. 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 doing 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 disabilities, a student 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 that 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. As well, class requests for specific teachers cannot always be guaranteed, as teachers may not be teaching in the same year level the following year. 

Therefore, if there are specific requests for a particular placement, it needs to be considered in light of the above-mentioned points and should be forwarded in writing to me in the first week of Term 4. Please forward your requests to the following email Madonna.sleba@twb.catholic.edu.au

Class lists are always a challenging task, as together we endeavour to provide the best possible learning environment for your child/ren.

 PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Thanks to the teachers for their preparation and time in meeting with Parents about your child’s learning progress this Semester.  It was wonderful to see so many parents take up this opportunity in meeting with their child’s teacher to help support them in their educational journey.  I particularly love hearing from the teachers relaying their experiences  of how great it is to talk with parents about their child's learning.  The joy on your child's teacher's face is incredible to witness when they realise we are all in this together.  

School Drop off and Pick Up Zones

The school drop off and pick up zones are a very dangerous place for your children. Please ensure that you keep it as safe as possible by driving at 40kph & looking out for our children.  If you choose to use the drop off & pick up areas in Lawrence or Perth Street, please do so as promptly as possible.

Thank you for modelling to our children how to –Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible.

Looking forward to catching up with mums, dads and friends at the P & F DANCE FEVER SHOWCASE tomorrow night from 5p.m. onwards.

Thanks for reading.

Madonna Sleba

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We are almost at the end of the term, with the Carnival of Flowers and holidays just a week or so away. I am currently away (again) for a few days on retreat with the other APREs of the Diocese at the James Byrne Centre at Highfields, after our venue at Stanthorpe was unable to accommodate us due to the bushfire emergency earlier in the week. With a theme of "Praying with the Earth", amongst other reflections, we have taken time of course to pray for our colleagues in the Granite Belt and the wider drought stricken communities. Next term we will be holding a fundraising disco to again raise funds to support our rural communities.

Prayer for the Life of the World

It is when we are still

that we know.

It is when we listen

that we hear.

It is when we remember

that we see your light, O God.

From your stillness,

we come.

With your sound

all life quivers with being.

From you

The light of this moment shines.

Grant us to remember you at the heart of each moment.

Grant us to remember.

Amen

SERVICE/ OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: 

In the last week of each term, each class has been undertaking a Service/ Outreach Activity and this is coming up again next week. For Year 5 and Year 3, they are continuing with ongoing projects, which has seen benefits not only to different community groups, but most significantly, for our students. Both Year 5 classes and their teachers have been and will continue to walk to Salem Aged Care once a month and share their stories/ songs/ experiences with the residents. The Year 3 classes will do more baking to restock the Pastoral Care freezer with goodies for both Rosies and our own community. A sincere thank you to the teachers for your ongoing commitment which has seen some really strong bonds forged. 

Some examples of other year level activities are:

Year 6:"Buckets of Biscuits and Tonnes of (paper) Towels" to contribute to the Rosies' stock to assist with their outreach to the homeless each week. 

Year 4: Putting together "Thank You" Hampers for our priests and parish workers.

Year 2: Making specially designed Bookmarks to send to students at St Joseph's in Stanthorpe to let them know we are thinking of them in the drought/ bushfires and to cheer them up, (and hopefully make Tiddalick laugh)

AWARDS ASSEMBLY: 

As we do at the final assembly each term our Cornerstone Value Awards (one per class) will be presented on Monday afternoon at 2.30pm. These awards are given to students who have demonstrated Compassion, Commitment, Quality or Service.

Encouragement Awards will also be presented (one per class) to students who have been putting in a consistent effort towards their learning.

A list and photo of recipients will be in the first newsletter of next term. Everyone is invited to attend this assembly at 2:30pm on Monday. 

FLORAL DISPLAY in the CATHEDRAL:

We will send you a reminder next week, but I would strongly encourage you, if you are out and about in Toowoomba during Carnival Week, to call in to St Pat's to view the marvellous floral display.

Every year, the cathedral is truly a sight to behold, with displays by floristry students and professionals, as well as schools and parish groups transforming the interior into a floral masterpiece. SSPS has been a regular contributor over the years and this year is no exception. Rachel Harlen, Emma Daniells and Bee King have generously offered their time and creative talents to coordinate our contribution to the theme of "SPIRIT".

Thank you ladies for all you have done and we look forward next Thursday and Friday to seeing "the fruits of your labours". 

Only one more week to go! Looking forward to seeing many of you on Friday night at the Dancefever Presentation.

Regards

Judy

Inter School Sport (13th September 2019)

Soccer:

Senior B Boys Vs Mary MacKillop - Captain Cook Oval 5 @ 1.00pm

Senior A Boys Vs Toowoomba East - Captain Cook Oval 5 @ 1.45pm

Junior A Boys vs Newtown - Nell E Robinson 1 @ 1.45pm

Senior B Girls vs Newtown - Nell E Robinson 1 @ 1.00pm

Junior A Girls Vs Toowoomba Christian College - Nell E Robinson 2 @ 1,00pm

Junior B Girls Vs Newtown - Concordia College (Hume Street) @ 1.00pm

Netball:

Senior B (1) Vs Concordia 2 - Court 7 @ 1.00pm

Senior B (2) Vs Concordia 1 - Court 14 @ 1.00pm

Junior A Vs Glennie - Court 16 @ 1.00pm

Senior A Vs Fairholme - Court 5 @ 1.45 pm

Junior B Vs Toowoomba East - Court 17 @ 1.45pm

AQUATHLON TRIALS (11 & 12 Years 2020)

The Aquathlon is a race similiar to a triathlon except no cycle leg.  It consists of a 1km run, 200m swim and another 1km run.  A Darling Downs Team of (10) male and (10) female students born 2008 & 2009 of suitable standard will be selected to attend the State Championships at Hervey Bay on Saturday 22 February 2020.

DATE OF TRIAL:  Friday 25 October, 2019

VENUE:  Dalby Aquatic Centre

TIME:  9.30AM - 11.30AM

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Students MUST be able to swim 200m comfortably.  Please ensure students can swim without having to  hang onto lane ropes.  Students should be able to compete the course in under 18 mins.

Nomination Fee:  $10 per student.

Course:  1km run leg, 200m swim, another 1km run leg.

Please see Mr Luck if you are interested.

TERM 3 SCHOOL FEES:

Term 3 School Fee are now overdue.  Thank you to those families who have finalised your Term 3 account.  Just a reminder to those YEAR 5/6 families your camp payments are due at the end of next week.  

FINAL DAY OF TERM 3:

The last day of Term 3 is next THURSDAY 19th SEPTEMBER. 

Friday 20TH is a Pupil Free Day.  

TERM 4:

Term 4 resumes on TUESDAY 8th OCTOBER, 2019.  Monday is a PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

CAREMONKEY:

Parents just a reminder that St Saviour's Primary uses CAREMONKEY for all permission notes.  If your child is going on an excursion or camp for example you will be sent an email from the school via CAREMONKEY seeking permission for your child to attend. CAREMONKEY is also the database we use to update all residential and medical information for your family.  Please remember to log in and check your details are up to date.  If you have had any changes to your circumstances you need to update this via CARMONKEY.  Please call the office or come in and see Jodie or Julie if you need any help with this.  Downlaoding the APP is the simple way to install CAREMONKEY.  Just a reminder that only one primary carer can be in control of CAREMONKEY PROFILES unless the profile is shared.  Profiles can be shared with other family members - e.g: Grandparents.  

UNIFORM SHOP HOURS:

SkoolDayz Uniform shop will be open in the 2nd week of the school holidays on the following days:

Wednesday 2nd October 

Thursday 3rd October

Friday 4th October

3.00 pm - 6.00 pm

Saturday 5th October by appointment only.  

Please contact Dan Eagleson via his mobile through business hours to arrange an alternate time 0481 318 398.

HEADLICE:

St Saviour's Primary has had reported cases of Head Lice.  Please ensure you check your child's hair regularly and treat accordingly if any sign of head lice is found. 

Congratulations to our Weekly Award Winners:

Week 8:

Congratulations to the eleven children who represented St Saviour’s Primary School in the Toowoomba District Primary Teams Chess competition on Tuesday 27^th August.  There were 81 teams in the Open Division. 

Our Open Team 1 (Kye McHugh, Sean Darvall, Lachlan Ottobrino and Dominic Seaby) won 5 out of their 7 rounds and placed 17th overall. 

Our Open Team 2 (Olaya Santonja, Callum Zull and James Ottobrino) played with one person down and came in 69th place. 

Our Novice Team, all playing for the first time in a competition (Elijah Grundon, Jacob Taylor, Kruz Leifels and Hugo Watson) placed 20th out of a field of 40 teams. 

Well done to all the children on their exemplary behaviour.  Thank you also to Mrs Simone Ottobrino and Mrs Shona Seaby for volunteering their time to assist.

Mrs McHugh

Term 3 Reflection

Celebrating reading and great Australian books for children has been a real joy this term. Thank you to staff and parents for championing daily reading in the lives of students.

People all around Australia celebrate reading with Reading Hour next Thursday 19th September. Join in by reading as a family or turning off devices and screens to spend some time reading. Spread the enthusiasm for reading by just doing it.

Find Stories on Storybox Library during the holidays

www.storyboxlibrary.com.au 

ssps (Username)

stories (password)

I wish to thank our wonderful Term 3 volunteers;

Kerri Rowling, Merryl Nunn, Hazel Soriano, Karen Taylor, Shelley Murphy, Narelle Jackson, Katie Horne and Rachel Harlen. 

Thank you all for your generous gift of time and expertise to our service!

Overdue Letters

Students with overdue loans will receive a letter early next week. Please endeavour to locate these items and return them as soon as possible.

Happy Spring holiday everyone!

Anne Anderson

Teacher Librarian

Wizard of Oz News

Thank you to the families of the Year Five and Six students who came along on the past two Thursdays to rehearse on stage with the College Students. It was just fantastic to find out what the lead characters are going to be doing while we do our fabulous song and dance routines. We are really very proud of these students - their talent, energy and behaviour are outstanding!

 We now have two full day rehearsals left to consolidate our performances! 

* MONDAY 7th October (This is the Labour Day holiday the day before school recommences)

* SUNDAY 13th October

 Performance Days

Tickets are available through Trybooking.com. This is the direct link - or search by choosing the title and dates of performance on the Trybooking website.

https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=545490&

Tickets are $10 a seat for the Friday performance, and $15 for the Saturday night. The Saturday performance also includes some canapes and drinks during interval. 

Thanks to Mrs Daniels and Mrs McVeigh we have almost finished sorting through our costumes. The Munchkins and Ozians are going to look amazing! We will have notes with any extra requirements out to families before the holidays.

 Thank you so much for your support.

Anne-Maree Spalding, Anita McVeigh and Emma Daniels