Week 1, Term 1 2021

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and community members,

A warm welcome to our 2021 students and staff. This year we welcome 70 new Preps and their families. They have made a wonderful transition to Primary School and their first few days have been very calm and positive. We have also enrolled new students from Years 1 to 6 giving us a total enrolment of 412 students.

We also welcome to our new teaching staff – Miss Nicarla Prentice. Nicki’s role here at St Saviour’s Primary is that of Middle Leader –to support the Principal in ensuring excellent teaching and learning in a faith-centred environment. The ML works in collaboration with the Principal and other senior leaders to develop and monitor the school’s teaching and learning program. Nicki has 12 years teaching experience across the Diocese and is a welcome member of our school team.

Mrs Judy Smith (Assistant to the Principal in Religious Education and Learning Support Teacher) has been on leave for the past two weeks and will return on Monday 1st February.  Judy has been supporting her son Hayden who is undergoing treatment for cancer.  Please keep Judy and her family in your prayers during this time.  

All our staff have worked hard to be well prepared for the start of the school year.  They have cartered furniture, reorganised rooms across the school, setup laptops, ipads in readiness for the students, mowed lawns, trimmed hedges and much more. To them I say thank you very much.  A particular thank you is extended to Jodie McLachlan, our Finance Officer, and the Administration Team who worked so diligently completing our end of year financial roll over and completing the myriad of administrative tasks necessary for a smooth start to the school year. Currently, our administration staff and teachers are learning new Toowoomba Catholic Schools digital systems for administration, finance and reporting. I ask for your patience during this time as like all digital programs there are certain to be some ‘gremlins’ that will challenge us at times.

COVID-19 Update

Parents and carers on school sites: Parents are  encouraged to maintain social distancing at all times in and around our school.  It is a requirement that all parents and visitors sign in using the QR code signs at all entries to the school to ensure our records are kept updated at all times. Please continue to remind your children to wash hands regularly. 

Parking       

The high traffic areas around our school continues to be an issue that require parents to give due consideration to the way they get to and from school. 

A few reminders:

• The service road off Neil Street is strictly not to be used between the hours of 7:45a.m. -8:45a.m. for parents. Parking in this area is allocated staff parking only.
• Prep Carpark: entry via Perth Street. Parents must park and walk their children into the Prep Playground and collect from the Prep Playground. Parents are not to stop on the road and let children depart on the road for the safety of all children.
• Our two designated drop off and pick up zones are Lawrence St and Perth St. Students are asked to report to these areas as soon as they are dismissed and not play on the school oval or playground.  

Schoolzine

Our schoolzine ‘app’ gives all parents the opportunity to be contacted immediately for notices, reminders and any emergency situation.  It is essential all parents and carers sign up to our school app.  Included in this Newsletter is information regarding how to access the ‘app’.  If you cannot access the Newsletter via the app please contact the school office to arrange an alternative method. 

Recent media alerts have reminded us of the importance of procedures in case of an emergency.  In the extremely unlikely event where the school needs to be evacuated it is vital we have a quick and effective method of contacting all parents and carers. 

 Signing In

A reminder that students who are late to school are required to report to the school reception to sign in.

Being late is a great inconvenience to the class teacher and the rest of the class for whom instruction has begun. Your child will also miss teacher modelling and instructions about how to complete the task. From 9.30am our office staff begin ringing the parents of students who have not turned up to school, unless you have notified us that they will be absent.  It is very important that you let us know if your child is going to be away.

Anaphylaxis, Allergy and Asthma Action Plan Forms

In order for us to best care for your child/ren and as part of our commitment to meeting our legislative requirements, could you please ensure you update your child’s Action Plan so it is ready for the 2021 School year. 

ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when children are reassessed by their GP, and each time they obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector prescription, which is approximately every 12 to 18 months, with an updated photo. If there are no changes in diagnosis or management, the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be updated. The ASCIA Action Plan includes the date of next Action Plan review, which should coincide with the next scheduled appointment with a doctor to obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector prescription.

If you need a blank ASCIA Action Plan form you can obtain one from the Office or you may access them online at https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/asci

Parents and Friends Welcome BBQ

The P&F, staff and I look forward to catching up with all families at the upcoming welcome barbeque on Friday 5th February 5.00 pm - 8.00 pm outside the Mercy Centre. 

This is an annual event and the P & F seek some volunteers to help cook the bbq and help serve on the night.  Please contact the following P & F executive member, Mrs Christine Scott if you are able to help assist on 0413 272 848. 

All families will recieve via email a microsoft form to complete to confirm attendance and numbers at the BBQ.

2021 PREP families afternoon tea meet and greet: 

Friday 5th February

Time: 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm

Venue: Prep playground

All Prep parents welcome to come along to meet each other whilst the children play in the playground.  

Cupcakes provided by the school for the children. 

P & F will provide tea/coffee/cake

DATE CLAIMER:

P&F AGM - TUESDAY 16th FEBRUARY - 6.00 pm in the Library

Thanks everyone for a wonderful start to 2021.  

Thanks for reading.

Madonna Sleba

WELCOME BACK TO 2021!!

Dear St Saviour's Primary Families,

What a great first couple of days it has been at St Saviour's Primary to start the 2021 school year.  Already it has been fantastic to see all of the learning taking place in classrooms, on the playground and in PE, Music, Drama and Japanese lessons.  

With learning in mind, it is exciting to be able to announce that St Saviour's Primary will be part of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools' 'Ignite Learning Project' which commences this year. 

The Ignite Learning project is based on educational expert John Hattie’s Visible Learning work which includes the world’s largest collection of research on what actually works in improving student outcomes. It draws on the many texts that are continuously being published within the official Visible Learning Collection as well as a large range of other well-known educationalist from across the globe.

The ultimate aim of the project being, to ensure that all students achieve academic success. This project, however, is also aimed at assisting our learners to develop the skill, will and thrill of learning by creating learning environments centered clearly on ‘learning’ and the development of learners who are equipped with skills, understandings and drive to be able to successfully negotiate the complex and uncertain nature of the world of their future. St Saviour's Primary in consultation with Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office will work hard to develop a strong culture of learning, a common language of learning and a community of learners across the school.  

During the pupil free days last week, all staff spent a day with Catherine Kimmorley (TCS Education Officer) working on our consistent language of learning. Staff, parents and students will play a strong part in developing and embedding this language of learning across our community.  More information will be available in the near future around this topic.  I will also speak about it at the parent information night and I do encourage you to come along.

The project is extremely exciting and I leave you with a quote which again relays what we are looking for in this project.  

”Creating learning environments where children want to come to learn, want to invest in learning, enjoy the mastery of learning and are invited to reinvest in learning. We want schools to be places where children are taught precious knowledge, heritages of themselves and others, respect for self and others, and how to participate in the rule of law and fundamental premises of a democracy. We desire schools to be inviting places where children want to explore, create, be curious and relate and transfer ideas as these are the very attributes we would want them to explore and exhibit when are adults.”

Hattie & Smith, 2021

Enjoy your week.

Sam Hannant

APA

Hello and Happy New Year!

I’m new to St Saviour’s Primary School. My name is Nicki Prentice and I’m in a newly created role at the school – ‘Middle Leader’. My role will be centered around supporting teachers in planning and delivering lessons to optimize student achievement and engagement. It has been lovely to meet all of the wonderful students of our school and I look forward to learning everyone’s name over the coming weeks.

I come to St Saviour’s with 12 years teaching experience, all within Toowoomba Catholic Schools. Most recently, I’ve had 5 years teaching at St Thomas More’s Primary School and I spent 12 months in a Middle Leader role.

I’m so excited to be a part of this community and I look forward to working collaboratively with you all!

Sincerely,

Nicki Prentice

Each year, our school follows an annual action plan that helps give staff clear direction and priority within four areas:

1. Teaching and learning - exemplary teaching practice leads to continuous improvement in student learning progress.

2. Mission and Identity - All students encounter Jesus Christ and learn about and from the Catholic faith through the Religious education program and the religious life of the school. 

3. Continual Renewal - Effective review and improvement strategies and practices inform planning and decision making. 

4. Sustainable resourcing and stewardship - Prudent stewardship of physical, human and financial resources maximises student learning outcomes.

Our 2021 school priorites will include the following within each of these four areas:

1. Teaching and Learning - Ignite Learning Project:            Continued commitment in STEM, Positive education, reading improvement strategy and writing strategy; mathematics

2. Mission and Identity - Illuminate Project - to deepen teacher's Religous Education knowledge; Judy Smith will be leading this project in our school. 

3. Continual Renewal - Strategic Plan 2021 - 2024 to be created in consultation with staff, students and parents.  

4. Sustainable resourcing and stewardship - 2021 Building Project - 4 General learning areas (classrooms) on the lower level and new school administration built. Building to start Term 3 through to January 2022. 

More details in each area will be shared at our upcoming Parent Information Night on Wednesday 10th February. 

Welcome to Term 1 2021:

For those of you who are yet to meet the office staff, we would like to introduce ourselves to you.  Mrs Julie Robinson and Mrs Jodie McMcLachlan work 5 days a week in the office.  The office is open each day from 8.00 am - 4.00 pm.  Just a few reminders for you starting the new school year:

Messages:

We understand that at times, messages need to be delivered to students and we aim to always deliver these messages to the classrooms before going home time. To help ensure that all messages are delivered before 3.00 pm we ask that you please allow enough time for the office staff to do this. Often classes are outside or at PE and if messsages are phoned through at 2.55pm it can become quite hard to deliver these messages on time.  We ask that you contact the school no later than 2:45p.m. to ensure your child/children recieve the message. 

Absentees:

Please remember to nofity the school office by 9am if your child is absent from school.  You can do this a number of ways.  You can phone and leave a message on the voicemail, you can ring and speak to one of the office ladies or you can submit an an absence form via the school app (Szapp).  For any absences that are unexplained you will receive an sms notification from the school about this absence. If emailing your child's teacher, please make sure you also let the office know.  Often teachers do not get to check emails once class starts for the day.  

Sickness:

If your child presents to sick bay and is too unwell to stay at school, the office staff will phone a parent/guardian to come and collect.  It is important to remember that if your child is unwell, we do ask that you keep them home until they are feeling better to return to school.  

sZapp:

Please remember to download the St Saviour's Primary sZapp on your smart phone.  School alerts and notifications are one of the main features of this app where the office can send you a message about a bus being late or remidners about upcoming events.  Parents have access to class communication notes, newsletter and any other calendar events.  To download the app, please search the APP store and download.  Search for St Saviour's Primary and download accordingly.

Medication at school:

Medication at school can be administered by the office  staff, however it is very important to note that any medication must be prescribed from the doctor with a doctor's label printed on the medication.  We are unable to administer any kind of panadol or paracetemol.  Parents will be rung immediately if a child presents with high temps. A medication form must also be filled in before medication can be given (this is available on the school app) 

Asthma Medication:

Children who do have Asthma are requried to have their puffer, spacer and asthma medication plan at school.  This includes children who do suffer from seasonal asthma.  All asthma medication is kept in the classroom with the teacher.  If you are yet to send in your child's asthma medication and current plan, we do strongly advise you to do this as soon as possible.  The office staff will be following up with parents next week to ensure this has been done.

Head Lice:

At times we do have cases of Head Lice present at school. Please see attached flyer from Qld Health outlining the correct steps in treating head lice.  

St Saviour's Primary Swimming Carnival 2021

We are excited to begin another year of life and learning in the library. Our library service and our library space offer many opportunities to engage in the wonderful world of stories and of real life.

During February we celebrate and reflect on this year's theme for QLD School Libraries Week;  

libraries unlock our future.

Summer Reading books are now due back in the library. Thank you for reminding students to return their loans.

Please also ensure your student brings a waterproof bag to school to protect their library loans in transit.

I look forward to sharing in your child's learning journey.

Anne Anderson

Teacher Librarian

What a great time of the year! Welcome to families old and new. As your School Counsellor, I work to ensure the wellbeing of all students in the school. I offer individual counselling, group counselling, psychometric testing, class guidance lessons, and co-ordinate whole school wellbeing initiatives.

Term 1 is always a busy an exciting time and this year we are very much looking forward to continuing our journey with Positive Education. Each week staff and students across St Saviour’s will be engaging in the Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum (PEEC). PEEC is research-based explicit Positive Education curriculum that was designed in consultation with world-renowned researchers in the field of positive psychology. We look forward to using concepts and skills learned through PEEC to continuing fostering and developing our wonderful SSPS community and supporting the wellbeing of staff and students alike.  I also look forward to keeping you up to date regarding our progress with PEEC and ways in which you, as families, can get involved too!

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s wellbeing or adjustment to the new school year, please speak with your child’s class teacher. Alternatively, if you have a general enquiry about the School Counselling service or wellbeing initiatives, please don’t hesitate to contact me at anne.woodcroft-brown@twb.catholic.edu.au

Wishing you all a fantastic start to the 2021 school year.
Anne Woodcroft-Brown 

Day 1 of Prep 2021.  

Tuckshop Information for New Families 

The Tuckshop at St Saviour’s Primary School is operated by a convenor and volunteers, and is available to families each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for both morning tea and lunch.  The menu is available from Prep through to Year 6 and is wholesome and filling.  The majority of the items are prepared and baked in tuckshop on a daily basis, including muffins, seasonal fruit salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and salads. 

St Saviour’s Primary School uses Flexischools (link to Flexischools is on the szapp) for tuckshop ordering. Students are able to purchase a limited number of items over the counter during the second lunchtime, however these are limited to snacks such as iceblocks and chips. 

The Tuckshop cannot run without the help and support of our school community.  Volunteering in the tuckshop is a great way to meet new people or perhaps you have someone you might like to work with.  We have a lot of laughs – it’s not all work and no play! So please, please consider donating a day for the tuckshop this year.  Even one day per term or a few hours where you can, makes such a difference.  If every school family donated just one day per year our Tuckshop roster would be covered.  Dads – don’t be shy, we would love to see you too! 

If you can help please email Natasha in the Tuckshop: ssptuckshop@twb.catholic.edu.au with your name, phone number and what day or days suit you.  Alternatively, volunteer forms are available from the office to fill in your details.   

Also you can contact Tash directly on 0408 986 317. 

Regards, 

Natasha Biggar

Tuckshop Convenor