Week 9, Term 2 2020

Dear parents, staff and students,

So, now we are back with full classes. How has it been in the past few weeks?

Parents still have to leave their children at the school gate. The children play in three different areas each morning before school and at play times. 

When children enter and leave their classrooms we have strict rules around frequent handwashing.  

As a staff we have socially distanced as much as possible.

We love having all our children back.  We want to keep them safe.  We want to ensure we are safe too. We can now feel like a school again and, though it is different in many ways, our focus on safety is the same as it ever was.  It is just a little more visible than perhaps it was before. 

Important flu facts from Queensland Health:
1. Flu is a serious illness for everyone, but particularly for children.
2. Flu strains change each year, so you and your children need to be vaccinated every year.
3. Flu spreads easily between people, particularly children.
− If you (or your child) are unwell, stay home and seek medical advice.
− Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water.
− Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw the tissue in the bin and wash your hands.
Having an annual flu vaccination this year can:
∗ Reduce the severity and spread of flu
∗ Prevent you getting flu on top of other respiratory infections that may be circulating
∗ Relieve pressure on our health system
Free vaccine is available for those individuals at greatest risk of severe flu. They are:
• all children aged 6 months to less than 5 years of age
• pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
• persons 65 years of age or older
• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 6 months and older
• individuals aged 6 months and older with medical conditions which increase their risk of severe influenza and its complications.

All other Queenslanders can purchase the vaccine from their doctor or immunisation provider.

Visit your doctor or other childhood immunisation provider to arrange vaccinations.

Rebooting School Sport

This week we have received some great news about the rebooting of school sport in Queensland.  Yesterday a letter to all parents was sent via schoolzine outlining our amended school Athletics Carnival.  Thanks to Mr Luck for ensuring that all children are able to participate in this carnival and we look forward to the final results in Week 4 of Term 3.

Unfortunately there are many sports that will not occur in 2020 as the timelines for state championships have passed during the restrictions due to COVID.  It is also critical to note that although some events may continue, their format will vary considerably and there will be limited to no capacity for spectators as we abide by social gathering restrictions.  It is important to note that although schools are largely exempt from many restrictions, in order to be able to deliver the curriculum in a practical manner, this does not extend to school sport.  There are also some discussions in local circles regarding additional options for our students for interschool sport events for Term 4 rather than Term 3 as normal. For more information, please see Mr Luck’s Sport Update and keep an eye out for more details as they come to hand.

Camps and Excursions

We are currently considering which camps we will continue planning for and which are no longer feasible for 2020.  Whilst talk of camps has been rather quiet recently, we are looking at providing opportunities for our Year 5 and Year 6 students.  We will be moving forward with our communication regarding camps early in Term 3 once we have confirmation that camp sites are open to all schools.  This we hope will also help keep families well informed to start planning financially for the costs that are involved.  We know that this is a highlight for our students in Years 5 and 6 each year and we can’t wait to see the students off on new adventures and learning experiences shortly!

Reading Your Child’s Report Card

Teachers and students alike have been busy completing and marking assessment pieces to contribute to their overall results for this semester’s report cards.  As mentioned in a previous newsletter, report cards for Semester 1, 2020 will be distributed in Week 2 of Term 3 and will report on five Learning Areas: Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science or HASS.  This change in timing for 2020 is due to COVID-19 restrictions and has allowed more time in class for teachers to monitor student learning and their progress.  

 At St Saviour’s Primary School, we report to parents to: 

• Communicate progress of individual learning 
• Make comparative judgements against the achievement standard 
• Inform parents of the application and attitude of students towards their learning
• Be accountable to the intention of our teaching as communicated at the start of each unit 

Academic Achievement  

Your child’s progress is graded on a five-point scale based on their progress throughout Semester 1. This progress is measured against their year level Achievement Standard.  So what does that mean?  The Achievement Standards describe the depth of understanding and the sophistication of knowledge and skill expected of students at the end of each year level or band of years.  It means that your child’s teacher/s covers curriculum and then assesses your child’s knowledge, skills and understanding against what they have taught at this point in the year.  The teacher uses evidence from your child’s work to give an overall grade of achievement at one of the following five points: 

A	Evidence in the student's work typically demonstrates that the student has the targeted knowledge and a sophistication of conceptual understanding, an excellent application of skills and the ability to transfer the above to new situations.
B	Evidence in the student's work typically demonstrates that the student has the targeted knowledge and a developing sophistication of conceptual understanding, a strong application of skills and they are beginning to transfer the above to new situations.
C	Evidence in the student's work typically demonstrates that the student has the targeted knowledge and expected conceptual understanding, expected application of skills and they are able to transfer the above to familiar situations.
D	Evidence in the student's work typically demonstrates that the student is developing the targeted knowledge and conceptual understanding, developing the application of skills and to transfer the above to familiar situations.
E	Evidence in the student's work typically demonstrates that the student has an emerging knowledge and conceptual understanding, has an emerging application of skills and can apply the above in scaffolded situations.

Other notations against Academic Achievement on the report card may include: 

N	Insufficient evidence to make a judgement
M or *	Modified program delivered and assessed

Thank you to each and every member of our school community for your support, understanding and adaptability over the past few months.  We are so proud of our staff and students' resilience through this time - they have risen on many occasions in supporting each other. 

A reminder to parents that Term 2 will end for students on Thursday 25th June as Friday is a professional development day for staff.

We look forward to seeing all students return to school on Monday 13th July.  Hoping we stay and well over the holiday period. 

Wishing you all a well rested holiday break 

Madonna

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 

Semester One Academic Awards

As Semester One report cards will be sent home in Term 3, academic awards will also be held until after the holidays.  Academic awards are presented to students who perform exceptionally well in all learning areas over the course of a semester.  One member of each class also receives an academic encouragment award for the effort they put into their learning over a semester.

Interschool Sport - Term 3

Term 3 is usually the term that our Year 5 and 6 students participate in interschool sport.  Unfortunately, this competition has been cancelled this year due to restrictions that are in place regarding COVID 19.  It is unknown whether there will be interschool sport in Term 4 this year.  If there is sport in Term 4, we will certainly have discussions around whether St Saviour's Primary will participate.  

I do understand that these Friday afternoons, where students can compete against other schools, are an important part of their education.  We will certainly monitor the latest restrictions that are in place in the event that a replacement activity could take place.

Darling Downs Trials

The following sports will still have Darling Downs Trials in 2020.  When the dates are closer, parents will receive a Schoolzine alert from Mr Luck.  Students will need to see him and collect a nomination form.  Please remember that these trials won't be a 'come and try' day.  Students will need to excel in their chosen sport and be very competent in the rules and regulations.

TUESDAY 4 AUGUST	DD 10-12 Yrs. Hockey – Toowoomba THA
TUESDAY 11 AUGUST	DD 10-12 Yrs. Netball –Toowoomba/Highfields No 11 years team selected
MONDAY 10 AUGUST	DD 10-12 Girls Softball – Toowoomba Kearney Springs
TUESDAY 11 AUGUST	DD 10-12 Boys Softball – Toowoomba Kearney Springs
TUESDAY 18 AUGUST	10-12 Yrs. Basketball – Toowoomba Boys St Mary’s Girls Glennie
SUNDAY 11 & MONDAY 12 OCTOBER	DD 10-12 Yrs. Boys Cricket – Toowoomba/Highfields
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER	DD 10-12 Yrs. Girls Cricket – Toowoomba Queens Park
FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER	10-12 Yrs Aquathlon (for 2021 State Championships)

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the final newsletter for Term 2. 

CLASS AWARDS (Week 8 & 9 Assembly): Congratulations to the following students who received CLASS AWARDS for their actions, effort or achievements during Weeks 7 & 8. 

ROSIES VISIT: (Not Sr Rosie)

Last Friday we had the privilege of meeting with Fay and Jim Stein who coordinate the local branch of ROSIES. We talked about all the amzing things that ROSIES do for the less fortunate in our community.

Fay and Jim have been giving their time to ROSIES three times a week for the past 8 years. The people who they have been helping are the lonely, poor and/ or homeless in Toowoomba. They help by distributing food/ clothes and other helpful items. 

This term, the Year 5s are donating fruit each week and the Year 6s are donating jumpers and jackets as part of a Jumper & Jacket Drive where the school community has been asked to assist with collection. 

Fay and Jim were invited to come to SSPS to make us aware that we are very fortunate and that some people are not. Listening to Fay and Jim highlighted the importance of connecting with our wider community. ROSIES provides an important service, which will always be of great value to those less fortunate than us but ROSIES also provides a means by which we can too, offer support, compassion and practical assistance. ( Kyrillos, Grace O, Gemma & Lizzie- Yr 6 Councillors)

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM: Assuming that restrictions continue to be lifted and we are able to have up to 100 in the Cathedral, we are looking at having two sessions for First Reconciliation at the end of Week 2, next term. Proposed dates/times are:

July 24 (Friday 6pm) & July 25 (Saturday 10:30am) So please make a note of these dates in your diary. 

Hoping that you have a good "end of the week",

Regards

Judy

St Saviour’s Primary School Athletics Carnival 2020

We are very excited to announce that we will be running an amended athletics carnival in line with the COVID-19 restrictions in Term 3. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions a total of only 100 people (this includes students and adults) can attend the carnival. Students will therefore be competing in events in PE lessons and in class/age groups (program below). Unfortunately, to adhere to the 100 people restriction parents are unable to attend the carnival this year. Our main objective is to make sure the students get to compete in the athletics carnival. We are conscious that our year six leaders look forward to their final athletics carnival and they will still get the chance to lead, cheer and help out over the course of the weeks.

With field events being conducted during PE lessons, 1st, 2nd and 3rd (2011 – 2008) will not be able to be worked out until all students have competed in the event. All results will be recorded and winners for each age group will be announced at the following assembly.

Sprints, relays and ball games will be conducted by age groups and ribbons will be given to first, second and third. All races from 2011 – 2008 will be timed. Unfortunately, due to the size of our oval, no 200m and 800m events will happen this year.

The carnival will take a total of four weeks to complete as outlined below and I thank parents and students for their understanding during this time. At the end of the carnival, age champions and an overall house winner will be announced again on assembly.

We have received notification today that there will be no Zone carnival or Darling Downs Athletics Carnival.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Miss Sleba or myself via email brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Please view attached letter that was sent to all families on Tuesday via SZAPP regarding the Athletics Carnival.

• High Jump in PE Lessons (2012 – 2008) 1st, 2nd , 3rd and one point for every student who participates. Winners will be announced on assembly.
• Mini Hurdles Race in PE Lessons (2015 – 2011) one point for every student who participates.

 Week Two

• Long Jump in PE Lessons (2011 – 2008) 1st, 2nd , 3rd and one point for every student who participates. Winners will be announced on assembly.
• Sack Race in PE Lessons (2015 – 2012) one point for every student who participates.

Week Three

• Shotput in PE Lessons (2011 – 2008) 1st, 2nd , 3rd and one point for every student who participates. Winners will be announced on assembly.
• Shotput (Foam) in PE Lessons (2015 – 2012) one point for every student who participates.
• Ballgames on Tuesday after Morning Tea on school oval by groups of students. Start with Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6. Points will be as follows, 1st = 5, 2nd = 3, 3rd = 2, 4th = 1.
• All students to dress in house colours for Ballgames.

Week Four

• Discus in PE Lessons (2011 – 2008) 1st, 2nd , 3rd and one point for every student who participates. Winners will be announced on assembly.
• Discus (Foam) in PE Lessons (2015 – 2012) one point for every student who participates.

  Discus Permission

  Please remember to complete the Discus Permission via CareMonkey or your child will be unable to participate.

   
• Sprints and Relays (60m to 100m) on Tuesday after rolls have been marked on school oval by groups of students. Start with Prep, Year 1, Year 2, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008. Heats from last years run offs will be used. All races 2011 onwards will have a final which will be run before each age group finishes.
• All students to dress in house colours for Sprints. We look forward to the competition ahead for the results for the St Saviour’s Primary School 2020 Athletics Carnival.

Kind Regards

Brendan Luck

PE Teacher

We celebrate Book Week 2020 with the theme Curious Creatures Wild Minds in Week 10 next term. Our Book Week parade will be held on Tuesday 15th September (a date for your diary to prevent stress over dress up ideas). Library time in Term 3 will be dedicated to the Children’s Book Council notable books and challenges to student’s curiosity and strong minds. If you wish to delve into some themed art activities over the holidays check out the resources at https://www.cbca.org.au/cbca-book-week 

Draw Your Own Curious Creature Create creature bookmarks  Colour some great posters  

 Bring your art work to the library next term and we will put it on display. 

Students can collect a selection of possible creative activities and challenges from the library next week to inspire some home-based holiday exploration following the theme Curious Creatures, Wild Minds 

Great Readers in Year 1 using Storybox Library to Boost their Reading Skills 

What a joy it was to hear and see children reading One Little Goat along with Ursula Dubosarsky. Such great expression and storytelling along with accuracy and word recognition.

Well done everyone! 

  Storybox Library is great for storytime at your place over the school holidays. Login at storyboxlibrary.com.au with ssps (username) stories (password). 

Thank you to our wonderfully generous library volunteers across Term 2; Kerrie Rowlings, Merryl Nunn, Trudi Eather, Claire Zull, Narelle Jackson, Mary Milton and family 

Happy restful reading everyone! 

Anne Anderson 

Teacher Librarian 

Stay Calm This Winter – Despite Uncertain Times

Children (and families) who are developing skills for emotional resilience are able to cope better with uncertain times – and the right support can help you role-model emotional resilience for your children.

Not everything is within your power to change, but you can make beneficial changes to your family with help from the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.

This winter, while you’re scrolling through your phone after the kids have gone to bed, or on your laptop, swap just one hour of social media for one hour of Triple P Online, and be finished before you know it!

Triple P Online is FREE state wide, thanks to Queensland Government funding, and now includes a special extra module: “Parenting During COVID-19”. Start now at: www.triplep-parenting.net

Anne Woodcroft-Brown
School Counsellor

TERM 2 SCHOOL FEES:

Term 2 School Fees are due tomorrow (FRIDAY 19th JUNE) Please contact the office to arrange payment if you have not already done so.

Payments can be made over the phone.  

PUPIL FREE DAY:

The last day of Term 2 will be THURSDAY 25TH JUNE.  Friday is a Pupil Free Day.

Term 3 commences on MONDAY 13th JULY.

TUCKSHOP:

The Tuckshop will be open on THURSDAY the 25th June (last day of school for Term 2).

Please note that ordering is still via FLEXISCHOOLS under SPECIAL FIRST BREAK AND SPECIAL SECOND BREAK on the ordering page.  
Any families who have outstanding accounts from the Tuckshop for Term 2, please finalise this before the end of the term.  

Thank you.

ENROLMENTS 2021:

Enrolment applications are now being taken for Year 1-6 for 2021.  If you know of a family that may be thinking of enrolling at St Saviour's please encourage them to do so quickly as places are filling fast.

MEET OUR EXECUTIVE

Mr Brendan Zimmerle

PROFILE 

Executive member
Brendan’s Role: Diocesean representative for SSPS
Q&A Time for Mr Zimmerle

Brendan Zimmerle (Zimmo) has 2 girls at St Saviour's Primary, Miley 4D and Asha 1M.

Q1:  What interested you in becoming involved with SSPS school parents?

To be involved in and help shape the environment within the school.

Q2: What are your favourite foods?

Chocolate and Asian

Q3:  What are your interests and hobbies?

Cars and camping.

Q4: What are your goals and expectations?

To help make the school a fun place to learn. 

Q5: What is your favourite sport?

Motorsport

Q6:  What are you most scared of?

I’m scared of talking in front of people

Q7:  What would you do if you won $1000 000?

Pay off my debt, share some with family and friends and go on a holiday.

We have a few more profiles of our P&F Executive coming in Term 3.

NAME CHANGE:

Since 2018, Parents and Friends (P&F) have been looking for a change of name.  The state body, renamed as Catholic School Parents Queensland (CSPQ) wanted to remove the old stigma that P&F is focused on fundraising, and to focus on the other areas we assist with.  Whether it be social events, pastoral activities or coordinating parent assisted activities, the P&F has for years been a link between parents and the education system, bringing the community of the school together for the betterment of the school and most importantly the students, our children.

Considering this, the committee has been discussing changing names.  We have come to an agreeance on a name and would like to seek your support for the change.  The name we have chosen highlights the ideals that are important to the committee members, and we believe to all parents of the school.  We are at essence a tool for engagement, a liaison between parents and the school and working hard to keep our school community interacting and enjoying each other’s company as our children become lifelong friends.  We put forward our new name and look for any objections to the change to be raised prior to our next meeting in Term 3. 

We are F.A.C.E. = Family and Community Engagement at SSPS. 

We look forward to your feedback and welcome all family or community of the school to our meetings.  Come along and meet and greet other caring people from our school community.  Any conversation or concerns please email us at SSPpandf@twb.catholic.edu.au

DATE CLAIMER:

Next P&F Meeting – Tuesday 21^st July at 5:30pm in the school staff room

Maximum of 20 people can be in attendance.  Please register your attendance via email sspandf@twb.catholic.edu.au

COLOUR RUN:

This year has had a lot of impacts, no news to anybody.  The P&F has had to make a tough call and this year we will not be able to put together the Family Fun Day like we have in previous years.  But we can still have a community event.  In November (date to be confirmed) we are planning on having the Colour Run and a family gathering (CoVid-19 restrictions pending) along the lines of a community market afternoon, with bottle stall, raffles and stalls for people to share their wares or business with the school community.  So if you have a knack for organisation or party planning and want to share your sense of pride in our community, please put up your hand and let us know how you can help.  A small amount of your time will have a large impact, particularly for the kids that have so many of their social engagements impacted this year.

PIE DRIVE:

Keep an eye out for our Term 3 fundraiser - HOMESTYLE BAKE PIE DRIVE.  Information will be sent home soon.  Orders will need to be placed by Wednesday 5 August, for delivery on Wednesday 12th August.  

PIZZA TREAT DAY:

Special thanks to our Pizza Treat Day coordinator Cathy Condon and her wonderful volunteers, Mrs Wunsch and Mrs Bishop who helped distribute Pizzas and treats today for everyone at school.  Pizza Treat Day is definitley a highlight each term.  Thank you.

RECYCLING OF OLD UNIFORMS:

Danielle Hart

President St Saviour's Primary P&F

Science Reflections

Year 6 visit to the St Saviour’s College Science Laboratory! Week 8 Reversible and Irreversible Changes

When observing the science experiments, I could hear a lot of balloons popping, I couldn’t really smell anything but I could see the smoke from the dry ice as it was really cold and the smoke from the elephant toothpaste which was really hot, so Mr Stokell had to wear gloves.

When we came to the predictions about if they were chemical or physical changes and if they were reversible and irreversible changes, I was able to get all of them right. I think I am a Practitioner and I know more about physical and chemical changes. I know a lot of new information and have a better understanding about it and am now able to identify the difference between reversible and irreversible changes. What I learned was that if you put dry ice in a tube and attach a balloon, the balloon will start to blow up, like it would if you used a helium tank and if you put too much dry ice, eventually it’ll blow up. Another thing that I learned is that dry ice is a physical change because it can turn from a solid into a liquid into a gas and can then transform back into its original form. My favourite science experiment is the elephant toothpaste and it really interested me and I was able to have a lot of fun. I hope to do it again.

Written by Alicia Farkarlun 6W

Out of all the Science experiments we did at the Science lab, elephant toothpaste was my favourite by far! I would love to see it done again. Most of my predictions were correct except for the Sodium Chloride and Silver Nitrate experiment. Now that I’ve gone to that lesson up at the high school, I am much more familiar about physical and chemical changes. I’m also able to identify if experiments are irreversible or reversible. One of the most important safety rules at the lab was to stay a safe distance from the experiments and to not touch anything unless you are told to.

Mrs Doherty showed us a really great example of Atoms. She said that when it’s really, really cold they are all squashed up tightly together, but if you were to heat the object up, the Atoms inside the object will become looser and start to move around more freely causing a solid, liquid or a gas to form. I find it really interesting how the chemicals in liquids, gases and solids mix together to cause a chemical reaction like an explosion or a solid, gas or liquid to form. I’m really glad that we were able to go up to the high school Science lab so that Mr Stockell and Mrs Doherty could explain reversible and irreversible changes to us. I would be excited to go back up to the high school’s Science lab for another lesson about reversible and irreversible changes or something new.  

Written by Evangeline Wann

OPENING HOURS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:

The uniform shop will be open on Friday the 10th of July from 9am to 11am and 2:30pm till 5:00pm.  

For any other times please contact Skool Dayz to arrange an appointment.

Semester two uniform shop hours - Monday and Friday 2:30pm to 4:00pm.