Week1, Term 4 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 4, 2021!

With Ms Sleba on leave this week, I would like to share some information regarding a few key events taking place this week and this term.

Years 5 & 6 Musical - A very big thank-you to all of the students and staff who have tirelessly worked over the last term to prepare for the performances of the musical tonight and tomorrow night.  Mrs McVeigh and Mrs Spalding deserve a large part of the credit, along with all of their helpers including Mrs McKenzie, Mrs Jackson, Mrs King and Mrs Anderson.  We are all looking forward to the performances over the next two nights.

Building Update - If you have been to school this week, you would have noticed/heard the building taking place.  Anthony (site manager) informs me that the demolition of the undercroft space, multi-purpose room and old tuckshop will be completed this week.  A small part of the oval has also been fenced off and due to this, the play space for some year levels has changed.  As you all are aware, the prep carpark is closed due to the building project.  Thanks to all of the prep parents and staff who have made the adjustment this week.

Term 4 Reports - The Semester Two Report Cards will be the first to be sent home via the Sentral Parent Portal.  There will be no hard copies of reports (apart from current Year 6 students) sent home into the future.  If you haven't already, please download the Sentral app.  If you do need assistance, feel free to drop into the office and see Jodie.

FACE (P&F) Meeting - The first meeting for Term 4 will be Tuesday 12th October at 6pm in the school staff room.  All parents welcome to attend.

Year 5 Leadership Journey - This term the Year 5 students are preparing to become leaders at St Saviour's Primary in 2022.  This includes a Leadership Day next Friday, preparation and delivery of speeches, voting for Captains and Councillors and finally the announcement of the elected leaders at the final Mass on 24 November.  Please keep this date free.  Best of luck to all of our Year 5 students who will all be leaders in 2022.

I do hope the first week back has been prosperous for all of our learners at St Saviour's Primary.

Sam Hannant

Dear Parents and Carers,

Term 4 is always pretty hectic, and this one is surely looking to be that and more! Musical, a building project, Grandparents' Day, Socktober Challenge, Transition Days, Masses, Farewells and Graduations. Plenty to keep us busy, so I encourage you all to read class Communication Notes and keep an eye on the School Calendar!

As we celebrate the beauty of Spring and the wonders of nature around us, we share Pope Francis' Prayer for all of Creation:

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. 

Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.

Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. 

As we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day.

Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace. Amen. 

(Francis, Laudato Si’ n 246)

OCTOBER is MISSION MONTH:

As you know, Catholic Mission is Pope Francis’ personal mission agency in the universal church that seeks to support those who are less fortunate to lead full lives. 

 Socktober is Catholic Mission’s school program that helps the community engage in mission formation and curriculum education. It engages the heads, hearts, and hands of every student in issues of mission and social justice in their world through the universally accessible game of soccer. 

 Australian school communities, including St Saviour's Primary, will be participating in Socktober 2021 in two ways:  
  

1. Socktober Challenge: a supported journey of formation, prayer, reflection, education and action for everyone to understand why we are called to be missionary in a Catholic community. 
2. Socktober Shootout: A fun event as part of our Mission Day to celebrate the accomplishments of the Socktober Challenge as a school and parish community. Everyone is invited to kick some physical goals to make a difference.   

Socktober Challenge 

The Socktober Challenge is one of the key components of the Socktober program. taking young people on a journey in mission, bearing witness to stories of their brothers and sisters who they are supporting by participating in Socktober.

All classes will be viewing the resources, which this year focus on a community in Thailand, where funds are used to run a Kindergarten which not only provides a quality education for the young students, but allows the parents to spend time learning skills so that they can support their families.

Parents, our focus is on raising awareness of how we can help others, both locally and globally and at the same time, we are hoping to have some fun and fundraise too. For your diaries please be aware that in the last week of October, Week 4 (Wednesday), our Mission month activites will culminate with our Socktober Event day, including Mass, Grandparents’ Day and our Soccer Kickout. 

Mass is planned for 9am at St Patrick's Cathedral, with the whole school attending, followed by open classrooms, for parents and grandparents to visit. Morning tea will be outside. Middle session will be our "Kickoff" to see which year level has the most durable soccerball, with visitors welcome to stay around until 12:30. Then classes as normal from lunchtime.

More information will be shared in the coming weeks, and these plans are dependent on COVID restrictions which are changing all the time. 

October is the Month of the Rosary

At SSPS the Rosary is a focus throughout October, however the Year 5 students have again received a special surprise with a delivery from Mary's Rosary Making Group of hand-made rosaries for the two classes. As the accompanying letter says, "These have been made with loving hands...We pray that the children will receive many blessings as they journey through the mysteries of Christ's life and through their own life journey".

Sunday Children's Mass coming up: 

Sunday October 17, 9am at St Patrick's Cathedral will be our last Sunday Children's Mass for 2021. As we are planning on having the older students take lead roles with singing and reading and the younger students attend the Children's Liturgy, we are keen to know who is coming.

Please click on the following link https://forms.office.com/r/PJ5UFtzQDE

 by Monday October 11, only if you are planning on having your children attend. Thank you!

I look forward to catching up with you at any of the upcoming events, starting with the Musical, tonight and tomorrow nights!

Regards,

Judy

STEM Showcase is Nearly Here!

SSPS STEM design Challenge

Thanks to all the parents who have been working with their children on the SSPS Stem Challenge of designing a playground! It isn’t too late to get involved. You can get a hard copy of the design sheet outside the office or download the one attached here. All children wishing to enter must have the design sheet filled in and their design (digital or as a 2D or 3D Model) into their classrooms by Wednesday the 13^th of October in Week 2. There will be prizes for the finalists.

Design_sheet_for_SSPS_ultimate_playground.pdf.  

Open Classrooms on Monday the 18^th of October

All classrooms from Prep to Six will open their doors for you to come and see the great work they’ve done in STEM! There will also be many interactive activities for you to participate in. You may like to stay for the hour, pop in for a portion of the afternoon or even visit a few classrooms across the school. When you arrive please sign in using the QR codes located at various entry points to the school and then head straight into the classrooms. An outline of each of the showcase topics can be found below.

Prep

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Warm Regards

Nicki Prentice

Lunchtime mindfulness sessions will run this Term on Fridays in the Learning Engagement Hub.  Students from any year level can attend.

Research indicates mindfulness benefits children with:

• improved attention
• increased levels of self-control and emotional regulation
• promotes pro-social behaviour
• enhanced academic achievement, working memory and metacognition
• prevention of depression, suicidal ideation, and thoughts of self-harm
• reduced anxiety
• lowering stress levels

Please send me an email if you wish your child to participate so I can follow them up – christina.peak@twb.catholic.edu.au

Please get in touch if you have any questions ?

Next week is Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW), coinciding with World Mental Health Day on 10^th October. QMHW is an annual awareness week that is held from 9-17 October in 2021.

When we take time to look after our mental health and wellbeing we are able to improve our resilience to help us cope better with the everyday stresses of life, and reduce the risk of mental illness.

The 2021 theme – “Take time for Mental Health”, focuses on six simple actions we can take to improve our moods, build resilience, and boost wellbeing. These actions are to take time to: Get Healthy, Keep Learning, Show Kindness, Connect, Take Notice and Embrace Nature.

Your child may be involved in activities at school that promote awareness of mental health and wellbeing.

Please go to Information for parents (education.qld.gov.au) to access more information about supporting your child’s wellbeing and mental health.

Library fun starts early in Term 4 with our annual Book Fair!

The Fair arrives next Wednesday and will be open for viewing and purchases at 3pm. Check the dates and times below or on the posters around the school. 

Book Fair begins next Wednesday afternoon 13th Oct. and will conclude on Tuesday afternoon 19th Oct. at 4pm.  

Dates and Times: 

Wednesday 13th Oct. 3 – 4pm 

Thursday 14th Oct. 8 – 9am, 3 – 4pm 

Friday 15th Oct. 8 –9am 

Monday 18th Oct. 8 – 9am, 3 – 4pm 

Tuesday 19th Oct. 8 – 9am, 3 – 4pm 

Online payment is available. Please use the flyer which will be sent home next Monday or see the digital version at the end of this newsletter.  

If you wish to keep any purchases a secret for Christmas, please contact library staff on 46371719 or email me anne.anderson@twb.catholic.edu.au and we will be happy to help. 

Thank you for considering shopping at our fair. Every dollar earns commission which we take as new books for the student collection or teaching resources for the classroom. 

 Book Week Wrap Up 

What a colourful, excited group we were when we gathered for our parade on the last Wednesday of Term 3. Students and staff brought the OLD WORLD, NEW WORLD, OTHER WORLD to life so vividly with creativity and flair.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS! 

Prep - 3

Year 4

Year 5 

Year 6

Students were keen to hear our guest readers at lunchtime. Special thanks to Fr Michael, Mr Hannant and Mrs Smith for their contributions to this Book Week treat.

Notables Reading Challenge 

Congratulations to the creators of the winning entries for our Notables Reading Challenge; 

Winning entries will be available for your reading pleasure on the AccessIT homepage over the coming weeks.

As well as their prize pack, our winners have earned a $10 voucher to spend at the Book Fair!

Yr 4C had the most entries in the challenge so they have the privilege of enjoying our newest library books in their classroom over the next few weeks.

Congratulations to Xavier House for earning the most points through participation in the reading challenge.

Term 4 will be fast and furious so keep up with library borrowing so you have plenty of stories and information to share at your place.

Anne Anderson

Teacher Librarian

Uniform:

The changeover to full Summer Uniform is now in place.  Please ensure your son/daughter is wearing the correct uniform items for the remainder of Term 4.

Reminders for Term 4:

• Late Arrivals - Please ensure your son/daughter signs the late register if they arrive at school after 8.30am and have them take a red late slip to class.
• Sign Out - Parents who sign out their child throughout the school day, must do so in the office.   Children are not permitted to leave the school grounds without a parent/guardian.
• Check in Qld app - Anyone entering the school grounds must check in using the appa and scan the QR code to register your visit.  These QR codes are placed around the school at all entry points.
• Water Bottles - Please ensure your child has a water bottle with them at school.  Due to the warmer months approaching, it is very important your child has one with them each day at school.
• School Crossings - Please remember to cross at the school crossings on Lawrence and Perth Streets.  Due to the high level of traffic in and around our school this term, it is more important than ever, to use the school crossings to cross safely both in the morning and afternoon.  Do not park in the designated bus zones on Perth Street.  Please take the time to find a park safely to drop off and pick up.  Thankyou.
• Direct Debit forms for 2022 - Direct Debit forms have been sent home today and are due back at the school office by Friday, 5 November.

APPLICATIONS OPEN:

Applications for the Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme are NOW OPEN! The initiative provides financial assistance for families transporting students to non-state schools in Queensland. Visit schooltransport.com.au

PE – Term Four (Prep to Year 2)

In Term Four, Prep to Year Two students will be participating in a Soccer and AFL unit. This unit will incorporate skills they have learnt in Term Three such as a step kick, punt kick and hand pass. Students will play modified games of Soccer and AFL involving teams. Students in Prep to Year Two will also be engaged in station activities where six stations are set up and they rotate between them throughout the lesson. These activities will 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. I am looking forward to watching the students develop over Term Four.

PE – Term Four (Year 3 to Year 6)

Students in Year Three to Year Six will been engaged in Group Challenges and Aboriginal Games. Students will work in pairs, groups or as a whole class to solve different challenges using the UNITE process. This unit will involve students working collaboratively within these lessons. Students will also participate in Aboriginal Games not only having a lot of fun but also learning about Indigenous culture. I look forward to watching the students participate in these units.

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.

Congratulations to these outstanding stars

Congratulations Erin Ward! Level 4 State Champion for Gymnastics!!

Congratulations Huntah Robinson who competed in BMX state trails!

12th in the state for 10 year old girls!  Well done Huntah.

Cheers, Brendan Luck (PE Teacher)

Stem Showcase Day - 18th October!!

Open Classrooms from 2pm - 3pm.  Come share in a fun afternoon of STEM!

PERFORMANCES

Thursday 7^th October – 6.30pm

Mercy Centre, St Saviour’s Primary School

Friday 8^th October – 6.30pm

Mercy Centre, St Saviour’s Primary School