Week 9, Term 3 2021
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Principal News
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Class Placements for 2022
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APRE NEWS
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APA News
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Middle Leader News
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Life and Learning in the Library
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School Counsellor News
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Child Protection Week
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Sports News
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Office News
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Weekly Awards
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Chess Club News
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Litter Free Lunches
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School Musical
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P&F News
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Race Day
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Outside School Hours Care
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Outside Activities
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
My experience in schools has taught me that school culture is influenced most by the actions of the quiet achievers who make up the vast majority of the student population. Schools certainly need high achievers and good school leaders. However, it is in the middle ground of achievement where the majority of the students are placed that the greatest improvement can be made. Small improvements in a large number of students make for a significant gain across a year level, a house group or a cohort of students. A positive and enriching school culture is grounded in the majority of learners who do the little things well day in and day out. They are the children who do the right thing when nobody's watching. They may not be the learners who achieve first place or the gold award but they are children who strive to do their best and seek ongoing improvement.
ACARA CEO David de Carvalho said overall students’ literacy and numeracy standards have not significantly suffered, despite the major disruptions of COVID-19 and remote learning.
“Generally, the average trend is positive, with improvements for Year 3 and 5 reading and Year 5, 7 and 9 numeracy, showing gains equivalent to a term’s worth of learning since the base year. The overall decline in writing has begun to flatten, and achievement in Year 5, 7 and 9 has begun to reverse and show signs of an upward trend,” he said.
“The results suggest that persistent effort to improve outcomes pays off. It is testament to the resilience of students, teachers, parents and carers, and school and system leaders during these challenging times.”
In May this year, NAPLAN was successfully undertaken in schools across the country. More than 1.2 million students took part across more than 9,000 schools.
Education Matters September, 2021.
Following are our 2021 NAPLAN results which reflect our vision of all learners to strive in their learning and in life.
Congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 learners on their NAPLAN results. Parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5 should have received their paper reports earlier this week.
Thank you to the staff across the school for preparing our students and the high quality of teaching and learning that has supported these students leading up to these National tests.
Members of the Leadership Team will meet with our Year 3 and Year 5 teachers to analyse the learners' results. This information also assists our school on prioritising resources in each of the areas.
Our results show that in both Year 3 and Year 5 our learners are well above the State Mean in all areas.
YEAR 5
|
State Mean |
National Mean |
SSPS Mean |
Numeracy |
487 |
495.2 |
490 |
Grammar and Punctuation |
498 |
502.8 |
518 |
Reading |
507 |
511.6 |
529 |
Spelling |
497 |
504.5 |
534 |
Writing |
468 |
480 |
501 |
YEAR 3
|
State Mean |
National Mean |
SSPS Mean |
Numeracy |
393 |
403.4 |
411 |
Grammar and Punctuation |
424 |
433.2 |
457 |
Reading |
428 |
437.3 |
478 |
Spelling |
410 |
421 |
452 |
Writing |
415 |
425.4 |
460 |
Are your child/children’s circumstances changing in Term 4 or beyond?
The school’s financial planning for the delivery of services in 2022 is approaching completion and as such, we draw your attention to the processes relating to withdrawing a student.
Recently, parents were asked to complete a Microsoft Form indicating a change in enrolment for 2022. Thank you to those who have responded and let us know of any changes.
As with many schools, we require a full term's notice to withdraw a student without penalty. Should the notice be given in a shorter period closer to the end of the year, unnecessary pressures are applied to the school and to the broader parent community to absorb the current and future costs of planned services.
Please email all withdrawal notices to ssps@twb.catholic.edu.au for the attention of the Principal.
RADII SURVEY
Thank you to all parents, staff and students for engaging in the school survey earlier in the Term. Late last week we received the feedback which includes both commendations and recommendations. This information is a valuable source that assists us as a school for future planning in all four areas across our school: Faith and Mission, Teaching and Learning, Continual Renewal and Stewardship and Sustainability of Resources.
Overall Satisfaction: Students Year 5 and 6
Overall Satisfaction: Parents
Overall Satisfaction: Staff
REMINDER - CAR PARKING:
Parents, a reminder to you that you need to obey the road rules around our school to keep our children safe at all times. Remember the following:
- No parking in the bus stops.
- No parking in driveways.
- Look before you back out of a park.
- No parking at the crossing on the grass in Lawrence St.
- Avoid yelling obscenities at other drivers.
- No entering off Neil St and parking at the Mercy Centre.
- Stop at the Stop sign in Prep Driveway.
The parking situation is going to become even tighter as we begin the building project in the next week. So please, please, please be responsible around our school and keep our families and staff safe.
Building Project
- STAGE 2A : 4 General Learning Areas and refurbishment of the administration and staff facilities will take place. STAGE 2B: 4 GLAs and PREP playground will not go ahead at present due to funding.
- The prep playground will not be disturbed/excavated now as reported last month. Due to funding restraints this will be on hold for when STAGE 2B comes about in the future.
- Tender process is complete. IQ construct were the successful tenderer; subcontractors are all Toowoomba based to ensure the build continues if there is a COVID lockdown. It is expected that this work will begin in Week 10 of this term.
- Four GLAs will be built first in the ‘old’ tuckshop and Year 1 area. This will also involve work in the staffroom for plumbing of new staff facilities. Staff will need to use the college facilities; this could possibly mean a change in break times throughout the school day to avoid cross over with the College staff.
- Administration will start renovation in Week 7 of Term 4. Administration/School reception will relocate now to the Library as this is the only free space at present. Graduation and end of year celebrations will take place in the St Patrick’s Cathedral Centre.
- Presently, a stop, drop and go facility is being investigated to alleviate the parking congestion around the school. This is a combined project with St Saviour’s College. If the quote is favourable this work will likely take place over the Christmas break.
- Parents are urged to please follow the road rules and be patient around our school to help keep our children safe.
- Discussions are underway with the builder and architect in relation to the possibility of the PREP CARPARK reverting back to a staff and builder car park for TERM 4 due to the building taking place. Prep parents will be informed once this decision has been made and asked to park in Lawrence St or make use of the Cathedral Centre carpark and walk to collect the children.
- This is a very exciting time for our school to accommodate our class groupings and ensure our Year 6 students for 2022 will reside in our school setting.
- Thank you to Ms Sharon Collins and St Saviour’s College for their support and generosity in accommodating us on many occasions.
Click here to see 3D images of the interior of the classrooms and school administration and staff facilities.
2022 PREP ORIENTATION #1
Last Wednesday, we welcomed close to 70 Prep children for their first morning experience here at St Saviour’s Primary School. Our Early Years staff and Leadership Team enjoyed getting to know our 2022 Preps and introducing them to our school environment. The children engaged a variety of activities and we look forward to welcoming them back next term on the 20th October (9a.m. to 11:30a.m.) for a longer period of time. Thanks to the brave parents who entrusted us with your little ones and special thanks to our school admin staff, Early Years staff and members of the Leadership Team in making this morning such a great experience for all involved.
Class Placements for 2022
When we return in Term 4, teachers will begin planning carefully for class groupings in 2022. 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 who 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, parent requests for specific teachers cannot always be guaranteed, as teachers may not be teaching in the same year level the following year.
Parents are asked to send an email directly to the Principal: Madonna Sleba madonna.sleba@twb.catholic.edu.au for any considerations for class placement by Friday 8th October, 2021.
Dear Parents and Carers,
With the start of September, comes the start of many new beginnings! Spring is very much welcomed, with the warmer weather, the longer days and of course the new life we see around us, in our gardens and parks. Certainly a time to appreciate our "Garden City" and to actually "stop and smell the roses". I share with you today two themes or messages from Pope Francis which are quite relevant for us at this time.
Season of Creation:
The Youtube clip, Lovesong to the Earth has been shared and discussed in some classes and will be a part of our final assembly for this term, next Thursday, 8:45am. You might like to listen to it again with your children.
At this assembly we will be presenting our Cornerstone Value Awards and Encouragement Awards for Term 3.
Grandparents' Day: More information will follow, however we are planning on incorporating our postponed Grandparents' Day into our Socktober Event Day on Wednesday (October 27) in Week 4 of next term. This is dependent on there being no COVID restrictions in place, however things are looking pretty positive at the moment.
A message from Pope Francis to all Grandparents.....
“I am with you always” are also the words that I, as Bishop of Rome and an elderly person like yourselves, would like to address to you on this first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. The whole Church is close to you – to us – and cares about you, loves you and does not want to leave you alone!
We sincerely hope that we can "be with" our parents and grandparents next term!
Children's Mass this Sunday: We are eagerly looking forward to our first Children's Sunday Mass for over 18months, with students eagerly practising the hymns and special readings and prayers. For some of our students, this will be a new experience for them which we hope and pray we will be able to continue again next term.
For those of our older students (Yrs 3 and up) who are helping with the singing or readings, if possible we ask you to arrive between 8:30 and 8:45 for a 'warm up' or run through.
Please note that the 9am Mass is livestreamed and there is every chance that some of the children will appear on the screen at some time, so if you are attending Mass but not comfortable with your child being videoed, please let me know by the start of Mass.
CTJ (Consistence of Teacher Judgement) Day: Last Friday, our teaching staff gathered with the teachers at Holy Name for a day of discussion, moderation and professional development. With the focus being on how we are teaching RE, particularly how things have changed and developed with SSPS and Holy Name both being part of the Illuminate Program.
Feedback for our teachers was very positive, particularly with regards to the ways we are now planning, the resources being utilised, the strategies or ways that our teachers are engaging students in RE. The assessment in RE was an area that our teachers were keen to share and get new ideas on and again the feedback on what is already happening at SSPS was most encouraging, with descriptions of: clear- creative- rigorous-varied- visual- opportunities for all needs.
I hope that you get to enjoy some extra time relaxing with your children over the coming weeks.
Regards,
Judy
Dear Parents and Carers,
Today I would like to share with you a reflection from one of our Year 5L students. This was written during their 'quick write' time, which is a brief (10-15mins) session where the students plan and write about various topics. Following on from our whole school focus on the learning disposition of 'Be Collaborative', the topic for this writing piece is Collaborative Learning.
To be collaborative you must work together as a team, that way everybody will achieve. If you want to have better than simple and average ideas you need to build on other peoples ideas and share in your success. Another way to be collaborative is to use democratic decisions and take turns to speak within your collaborative learning groups.
To be collaborative during class you need to participate and contribute in every single activity that your teacher sets you. You can also use constructive sharing to improve your ideas and later on, your work. When being collaborative you need to empathise. This is understanding that other people have ideas and that other people might not always want to use your ideas. If you do not agree with somebody else's idea or suggestion you need to tell that to them politely. You could say 'I disagree because...' or 'What about this idea?' instead of just arguing and choosing your idea because you think that it is the best idea.
What a fantastic description of how 'being collaborative' can help our students become better learners, which is one of the main goals of our Ignite Learning Project.
QLD CHILD PROTECTION WEEK
This week is Child Protection Week in Queensland. The main objectives of Child Protection Week are to:
- raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection, including child abuse prevention, treatment, research, education, service provision and support for children, young people and families
- create a statewide umbrella focus for child protection allowing government and non-government agencies to present a cooperative and coordinated community oriented campaign
- support and value professionals and volunteer child protection workers by providing 'best practice' training and a forum to exchange ideas and information
- offer a framework to recognise advances in the field, and thereby contribute to better outcomes for all children and young people, especially those who have been harmed or are at risk of harm.
To coincide with Child Protection Week, the Prep - Year 2 students had a visit from Mercy Services on Monday morning. This message was then reinforced at assembly on Monday afternoon.
The main message was for our learners to know who their Safety Network is if they are feeling unsafe. This should include five people that they can talk to. Three of these people can be family members and the other two people from outside the immediate family environment. Once the children have their five people that they feel comfortable talking to, it is important that if they need to tell them something and the first person doesn't listen (or they feel they haven't listened), they keep telling people until someone does listen.
Please reinforce this message with your children at home.
Regards,
Sam Hannant
APA
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I'm excited to share with you our STEM challenge design template! I looked at various templates and found a way to incorporate our dispositions into the one we will use when designing our own SSPS playground. I encourage parents to work collaboratively with your children with the challenge.
Design_sheet_for_SSPS_ultimate_playground.pdf.
First, we want our students to be curious and consider their users. What do the students of St Saviour's Primary School want and need in a playground?
Then, we get creative and think outside the box. What would make a playground unique to the students at our school? What would create so much fun, but is easy to maintain and design? You might like to explore this website for some inspiration:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-playgrounds-around-world-family-travel
The disposition of being adventurous comes next. We need to be willing to take a risk as we begin constructing our prototype. Perhaps we build it out of new materials we haven't worked with before? Or try out an online app to make our model.
Once we've constructed our masterpieces, we need to communicate how it went and reflect on our design. What worked well and what could be improved?
I can't wait to see what amazing designs our students come up with!
Enjoy walking with your children on this STEM journey!
Warm Regards
Nicki Prentice
Book Week Celebrations Next Week
Our term focus on stories and books that belong to Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds will conclude with our dress-up parade and pop-up story stations at lunch-time next Wednesday.
Family members are welcome at the parade if they sign in and observe social distancing.
The theme: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds
Prep – Year 6: 8.45 am start
in the Mercy Centre
Wednesday 15th September
Students need to be prepared to say in which world their character belongs.
There has been some excited chatter about costumes so it will be a happy celebration to end the term. Thanks to the family members who have been preparing dress-up items! It is another task in your busy lives but your efforts are appreciated.
You are encouraged to use items at hand, rather than purchase ready-made costumes.
CBCA Award Winning Books
All students have been introduced to the 2021 notable books during library time and have had opportunities to take part in a challenge using these books. Prize winners will be announced next Wednesday morning before the parade commences.
I hope you all enjoy some Spring holiday reading. Students will be encouraged to borrow books next week for their holiday reading.
Anne Anderson
One aspect of Child Safety we need to consider in this age of technology is online safety. The eSafety Commissioner Website has some brilliant information and resources for parents and children. Booklets, eSafety Early Years are being distributed to Preps, Year 1 and Year 2.
Information for older students can be found at Be an eSafe kid | eSafety Commissioner and information for parents can be found at Parents | eSafety Commissioner.
And there are free webinars for parents that can be found at https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars?fbclid=IwAR2zd1_d6iMDZnnOBJKd-WKxpBoDjrNhIcK1BfskkkorPLdtuFPrQ_63Qmg
We also acknowledge RUOK? Day Thursday 9th September. Children cannot be expected to fix someone’s problems, nor know the best way to help and support. However, they can be encouraged to listen to what their friend is saying, let them know they care and tell a teacher, school counsellor or trusted adult if they are worried about their friend. By promoting an environment of positive peer support and accessing support channels via an adult, children can learn that asking, ‘Are you OK?’ is a key life skill.
Please remind your children of the student protection contacts as people they can talk to when they are troubled themselves or know someone who is troubled.
You can let them know:
PE – Term Three (Prep to Year 2)
In Term Three Prep to Year Two students have been participating in a striking unit. This unit has taught them to perform a punt kick with an AFL ball, an instep kick with a soccer ball and a hand pass with an AFL ball. Once students had learnt these three skills, they played modified games involving teams. Students in Prep to Year Two have also been engaged in station activities where six stations are set up and they rotate between them throughout the lesson. These activities involve passing, catching, kicking, dribbling with feet, hands and hockey sticks, shooting hoops, scooter boards, skipping, goal shooting, ups and downs with tennis racquets, hopping, jumping, skipping, side stepping, animal crawling and balancing. It has been wonderful to watch the students grow over the term.
PE – Term Three (Year 3 to Year 6)
Students in Year Three to Year Six have been engaged in a touch football unit. Students have learnt to pass and catch a touch football, play the ball, defend, perform a dump and split, perform a wrap, three-person ruck and draw and pass. Students have then put these skills into game-based situations playing in teams against members of their class. I have seen major development amongst the students in all these grades.
Rep Netball
Addy Jackson has been playing Netball for the Toowoomba team since February. Over the weekend her team played in the grand final against Dalby. It was a very close game with her team going down by two points. Fantastic effort Addy (photo attached).
Soccer Legend
Jimi King received the Daly Brothers trophy out of all the junior players at his soccer club Willowburn. Players receive this trophy for showing commitment, pride, compassion, and all-round club spirit. Extremely proud of your efforts Jimi (photo attached).
Zone and Darling Downs Trials
All Zone and Darling Downs trials will be placed on SchoolZine. Please check SchoolZine regularly or set up notifications on your phone if you wish for your child to be eligible to trial for Zone and Darling Downs sporting teams as you will be required to obtain paperwork from myself. Any questions, please contact me at brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au.
Gymnastics Superstar
Xander McGorm went to Brisbane over the weekend competing in the Darling Downs Junior Regionals Gymnastics competition. Xander placed third in the parallel bars and vault and second in the floor and rings, giving him second overall. Awesome effort Xander (photo attached).
Cheers
Brendan Luck
PE Teacher
Uniform Transition:
These next two weeks will be a period of uniform transition from winter to summer uniform. This means that students are able to wear either the summer options (white socks with dress) or shorts still with navy socks or stay with the winter options.
After the holiday break, all students should return in the full summer uniform.
A reminder that all students in Yrs 1-6 are expected to wear the formal, broad-brimmed hat on the days they wear the formal uniform. The sports hat should only be worn with the sports uniform or on an occasional basis, for instance, if the formal one is accidentally left at home.
Last day of Term:
Friday 17th September is the last day of Term 3. Term 4 will resume on Tuesday 5th October as Monday is a Public Holiday.
Caring for Surface Go Devices:
We have noticed an increase in damage to devices this term and would appreciate your help. Can you please discuss with your children the importance of caring for their devices, both at home and school. We also want our children to develop an awareness of the environmental issues that electronic waste cause and how important their role is in keeping our planet safe.
Here are some tips and tricks that may be helpful.
- Always transport your laptop securely and treat your schoolbag with great care
- Don’t eat or drink while using your device
- Keep all keys attached to the keyboard
- Carefully touch the keys to type, no need to be rough with the keyboard
- Leave your laptop in a safe place (never on the floor!)
- Only remove keyboard if you are using it as a tablet
- Gently press down to use the pen, you don’t need much pressure
Save the Date:
Stem Showcase Day - 18th October!!
Open Classrooms from 2pm - 3pm. Come share in a fun afternoon of STEM!
School Fees:
Term 3 School Fees are now overdue. If you have not already done so please contact the office to arrange payment. Families who have outstanding balances will be contacted by the office prior to the commencment of Term 4.
Skooldayz Uniform Shop:
The Uniform Shop will be closed throughout the school holidays. Please contact Dan Eagleson on 0481 318 398 if you need to arrange a time for uniform supplies.
Packing/Storage Boxes:
Thank you to those families who have sent in packing/storage boxes. We are still in need of some more, so if you can help or assist with any type of packing boxes, please feel free to drop them off, we have a lot of packing to do over the next few weeks.
Lost Property:
There is a large amount of lost property. If your child has misplaced any items over the term, please check Lost Property - any items named will be returned via your child's teacher.
Assembly Week 10:
Please note that our Awards Assembly is at 8.45am on Thursday. There is no Assembly on Monday.
Congratulations to the eleven children who represented St Saviour’s Primary School in the Toowoomba District Primary Teams Chess competition on Tuesday 7th September.
Our Open Team 1 (Kye McHugh, Sean Darvall, Isabel Hoole and Bianca Flanigan) played extremely well and placed 11th out of 62 teams, narrowly missing out on a grand final position (top 10).
Our Open Team 2 (Kyara Flanigan, Sophia Bumatay and Oliver Guy) all competed in the teams competition for the first time, played with one person down and came away with at least a few winning games each.
Our Novice Team, (Liam McHugh, Parker Bohm, Hugo Seaby and Hari Vinod), also participating for the first time in a teams competition, played competitively in a field of 23 teams.
The students reported having a great day of chess, laughter and teamwork. Well done to them on their exemplary behaviour. Thank you also to Mrs Shelley Murphy for taking the time to supervise.
Sara McHugh
Chess Club Coordinator
Once Upon a Fairytale Crisis
Year Five and Year Six students are working together to present
‘Once Upon a Fairytale Crisis’ – our senior school musical for 2021.
All students in Year Five and Year Six are part of the cast or chorus.
The Musical has been prepared in Music and Drama class time and and both Mrs McVeigh and Mrs Spalding assess this production as part of the school curriculum.
This is truly a group effort, and we are very proud of the hard work that has already been put into the show.
PERFORMANCES
Thursday 7th October – 6.30pm
Mercy Centre, St Saviour’s Primary School
Friday 8th October – 6.30pm
Mercy Centre, St Saviour’s Primary School
All students are required at BOTH performances.
Year Five will take on the Lead Roles on Thursday night and Year Six students will present their version of the show on Friday night. These students become chorus members for the other cast on the other night.
Thank you to the students who are giving up time this SUNDAY 12th September. We will see some of these students at the 9.00 am mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral and will meet the rest at 10.45am at the Mercy Centre to rehearse until 3.00 pm. This rehearsal is for lead characters! This includes – Dr Tekko, the Henchmen, the four children, the Fairy Godmother, Prince Milo and ALL speaking Fairytale Characters (pigs, bears, wolves, princesses, woodcutters, step-sisters, Aladin, Hansel and Gretel and so on!!!) Students should bring their own lunch this Sunday and a water bottle. Some snacks will be provided. Rehearsals are well and truly underway - see photos below.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Monday 4th October – Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday at the start of Term Four when ALL YEAR FIVE AND SIX STUDENTS are needed at school from 9am to 3pm. This is our big dress rehearsal day where we also will have the head microphones, sound and lighting all in place. The school will provide pizza for lunch for students. Or students are free to bring their own lunch to school that day. The children should bring their own morning tea and snacks as well as a water bottle.
TICKETS
Tickets will go on sale this FRIDAY 10th September at 3.00pm.
Information will be sent home via the Parent Portal and Szapp with information about how you book tickets on Friday via Try Booking. All tickets must be purchased on line. Tickets will not be available to purchase at the door on the night of the performances.
Tickets cost $8 each for both adults and children
Trivia Night
Special thankyou to everyone who attended the SSPS Trivia Night.
The night was a wonderful success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the night.
Father's Day
Thank you to everyone who came along to the Father's Day evening last Thursday. We hope all our Fathers and Grandfathers enjoyed themselves and had a wonderful time.
Pizza Treat Day
Today we celebrated Pizza Treat Day at school. Pizza Treat Day is always a highlight of the term, and today was no different. Special thanks to Cathy Condon and volunteers who help organise and distribute on the day.