WEEK 7, TERM 2 2020
Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
Teachers, school officers and students have welcomed the return to school after such a long period of absence due to COVID-19 restrictions. The joyful spirit that can be seen and heard throughout the school and on the playground is delightful!
It is also pleasing to see our school leaders, Grace, Lachlan, Grace and Leon competently lead our school assembly via Microsoft Teams to all classes. I am very proud of how they have worked closely together, organised the slides to accompany the meeting and presented to their peers each Monday afternoon. They deserve our congratulations on stepping up and making our assemblies come to life using technology. Well done!
Staff Professional Learning
This week eight staff engaged in further learning around the model for Positive Education developed by Geelong Grammar School. St Saviour's Primary School is investing time and money in investigating and learning more about this model to effectively support our whole school's wellbeing. Our hope is that we will develop a Positive Education framework for our school that places well-being at the heart of everything that we do here at St Saviour's Primary School.
We were challenged to ask our parents to think about what do you most want for your children?
I would be keen to hear your answers to this question. Please feel free to email your response to me on the following email: madonna.sleba@twb.catholic.edu.au
Staff who attended the workshop will get together later in the term to work out our strategy for moving forward with this model to create a positive, sustained change in the area of wellbeing for all staff and students.
Also, at a recent staff meeting, all staff engaged in a workshop on the 'Value of Learning' led by myself and Sam Hannant. This involved surveying the staff and interviewing students throughout the school which led to further discussions around why a learning culture is different to a knowing culture and what we as educators may need to change to support student learning. The work we have been doing as a staff around the 21st Century skills - communication, collaboration and teamwork, critical thinking, creative thinking, personal and social skills, information and communication technologies skills will also support teachers in this area.
We are fortunate that our staff are keen learners and value the time to reflect as professionals on providing better ways for student learning.
COVID-19 REMINDERS
Is there anything that parents and carers can do to assist?
Social and physical distancing protocols continue to apply to adults in a school setting. We can all help to restrict the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to these protocols.
Thank you to the parents and carers who are not entering our school to help limit the amount of adult-to-adult contact in and around our school.
You are helping us by:
- minimising the need to enter the school
- not gathering inside or outside the school
- working with school staff and new protocols on ways of working in and around the school.
Parents can also assist by ensuring that your child/children stay away from school if they are showing any signs or symptoms of illness.
Thanks for reading and stay warm over the weekend.
Madonna
Dear Parents and Carers,
Winter is definitely making itself felt but it doesn't seem to have slowed up the students at all. Most are taking the chilly conditions in their stride, and still enjoying their interactions (and physical activity) outside. There has been a fairly seamless move into "winter options" with regards to uniform which has been pleasing to observe.
As Madonna has mentioned, we have adapted to the "no gathering for assemblies" by holding whole school TEAM ASSEMBLY meetings on Monday afternoons. Along with the usual weekly messages and updates, this week we had our first class awards presented for Term 2.
CLASS AWARD WINNERS:
At Week 6 Assembly Miss Seng acknowledged the wonderful work of students which had been submitted for judging in a variety of categories as part of the (cancelled) Toowoomba Show. Judging still took place, with many students getting commendations or winning one of the prizes. In the photos below, you will see a display of the art work and handwriting that is up in our main corridor. The students featured were placed, 1st, 2nd or 3rd and so received a small cash prize. Congratulations to all who participated and to Miss Caitlin Seng who coordinated our efforts.
We are currently in communication with our local ROSIES' coordinators, Fay & Jim Stein and I will let you know in the next newsletter about how our Year 5 and Year 6 students are not only assisting their community outreach programs, but also how we are attempting to increase awareness of local issues, such as homelessness in our older students.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM: In the last weeks of Term One, just as we were about to conclude the Reconciliation "part" of the program, with the students making their 1st Reconciliation, COVID19 came on the scene and everything came to a halt.
Fr Michael, Paula Wagner and I have been talking about the “way forward” with regards to the Sacramental Program and at this stage we are planning on completing Reconciliation early in Term 3, followed by First Communion soon after. The Bishop has said that he won’t be doing any confirmations this year so at this stage, we have not been told if Fr Michael can do it instead or if it all has to carry over. If we can, we would prefer to get it all done this year but it is up to the Bishop. As things “open up” further in the coming weeks, we will have more detail with dates etc so we will be in touch with everyone.
Happy..Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been fantastic to have all of the children back at school for the last two weeks. As you would have seen in various photos, everyone was very excited to be back.
A few reminders this week...
Semester One Report Cards
Students will still receive report cards for Semester One. These report cards will reflect the fact that students have been learning both remotely and at school.
In accordance with Toowoomba Catholic Schools' and Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority directives, teachers will report on a minimum of five learning areas. Every year level will report on Maths, English, Religion and HPE. Year levels will then choose to report on Science and/or HASS depending on the evidence of learning that has been collected. That means that there will not be a grade for The Technologies, The Arts and Japanese this semester.
Teachers will still be providing marks via an A-E scale. These will be supported by comments in Maths and English and a general comment.
Given the timing of students returning to school, these report cards will be sent home on Friday July 24 (second week of Term 3).
If you have any questions about the report cards or are concerned in any way, please feel free to contact me on sam.hannant@twb.catholic.edu.au
Current School Routines & Events
- Thanks to parents for not entering the school. This measure is in place due to health and safety reasons. A reminder that prep are to be dropped off at prep and all other students via Lawrence Street.
- As above assemblies are running on Monday afternoons at 2.30pm, via Microsoft Teams. Year 6 Leaders and the School Leadership Team have been connecting to the classrooms at this time for messages and awards.
- Several sporting events were postponed at the end of Term One and into Term Two. We are currenlty closely monitoring restrictions and looking into how we might be able to provide students an opportunity to participate in some athletics events early next term. More information to come.
- It is wonderful having students in the library in small groups to choose free choice reading material.
- Thank you for supervising the return of library loans from Term 1. Overdue notices will be sent home, starting next week. Following library policy, items not returned will be added to Term 3 accounts.
- As a result of our stock take work we have a large number of hard cover books needing new plastic covers. Please email (anne.anderson@twb.catholic.edu.au) or phone if you are willing to cover at home. We will provide a demonstration and pre-cut covers!
Hope you and your family can snuggle up and enjoy a great book in this wintery weather!
Anne Anderson
PE IS BACK!!!
I was so excited to have all students back at school after five weeks of remote learning. It was an absolute delight to get to teach all your children again and hear about their time during at home. All students have come back to school enthusiastic and ready to learn new and exciting skills in PE.
Prep – Year Two
PE kicked off again for student in Year Two in Week Six with all students back at school. The students participate in two half hour sessions of PE a week with the focus being athletics for the rest of the term and locomotive skills. This week the students learnt sprints and relays focusing on correct starting technique (pictures below).
Year Three – Six
Students from Year Three to Year Six created trick shots during the remote learning time and over 50 entries were received. Students were asked to be as creative as possible and boy did they shine, with entries involving motorbikes, hot rods, trampolines and horses. The top ten trick shots can be viewed on our school Facebook page. Congratulations to Kylie Gray from Year Six who was voted by leadership as our winner. With all Year Three to Six students back at school we have been learning high jump, concentrating on scissor technique. All students have done a fantastic job practising and improving their technique (pictures below).
Brendan Luck
PE Teacher
P&F Executive:
PROFILE:
Introducing our P&F Vice-President Mr Terry Sanders.
Terry has 2 children at St Saviour's Primary. Noah 5W and Lacey 3M. His eldest son Logan finished Year 6 at St Saviour's Primary, last year.
Q&A Time for Mr Sanders:
Q1: What interested you in becoming involved with SSPS school parents?
A: I have enjoyed the sense of community at SSPS over the past 7 years and wanted to give something back.
Q2: What are your favourite foods?
A: BBQ and Sushi
Q3: What are your interests and hobbies?
A: Gardening and camping
Q4: What are your goals and expctations?
A: I'd like to continue the sense of community and pride we all share for our school
Q5: Favourite sport?
A: Basketball....go the Mountaineers!!
Q6: What are you most scared of?
A: Heights, but I don't let that get in my way.
Q7: What would you do if you won $1000 000?
A: I would take a break from work, pack up the family and travel around Australia
We look forward to sharing more profiles of our P&F Executive over the next few weeks.
DATE CLAIMER:
NEXT P&F MEETING - 16th June, 2020.
Maximum of 20 people can be in attendance. Please register your attendance via email sspandf@twb.catholic.edu.au
PIZZA TREAT DAY:
Thursday 18th June. Ordering via Flexischools. The cut off for ordering will be Wednesday 17th June 3.30pm.
COLOUR RUN:
Watch this space for more information about our school Fun Run in next fortnight's newsletter.
Regards,
Danielle Hart
P&F President
ENROLMENTS:
MUSIC BUS:
The Music Bus is returning next week to St Saviour's Primary. Please see attached information regarding The Music Bus Health and Safety procedures COVID-19. For further information regarding classes resuming please contact The Music Bus directly on 1300 168 742.
SKOOLDAYZ UNIFORM SHOP:
For all your uniform needs please contact Dan Eagleson on 0481 318 398. The current opening times for the Uniform Shop are MONDAY and FRIDAY afternoons from 2.30pm - 4.00pm.
CRAZY SOCK, BEANIE AND SCARF DAY:
Some photos from our beanie, scarf and sock day last Friday.
