Week 7, Term 1, 2023

Dear Parents & Carers,

Please see below a message from our school Principal, Ms Madonna Sleba:

Dear Parents, Staff and Students,

As I observe from across the road in my current role as Acting Director: Education Services at Toowoomba Catholic Schools,  it heartens me to know that St Saviour’s Primary School is in the good hands of Mr Sam Hannant as Acting Principal and the school continues to be a leader in providing high quality learning opportunities for our learners.  I extend my sincere thanks to Sam who has led the staff and school community in my absence over the past few months.  

I write to let you know that it was my intention to return to school next week and resume the role of Principal, however, I have been asked to continue in the role of Acting Director until the end of Term two of this year.  The past period has been immensely fulfilling for me, providing a rewarding learning experience. I am grateful for the staff and school community who have helped achieve this and would like to thank you for your continued support. 

I look forward to working more closely with the school community and being part of the amazing learning environment of SSPS. 

Sincerely

Madonna Sleba

Acting Director: Education Services

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms Sleba and look forward to welcoming her back in Term 3 this year.  

During this time there will be a few changes to the structure of the leadership team for the last 2 weeks of Term 1 and then for Term 2.  Please see below:

From Friday 17th March until the end of Term 1, I will be accessing paternity leave.  At the very end of last year, we were very grateful to welcome our second son George and this leave was purposefully held off as to not interrupt the beginning of the school year.  During this time Mrs Ann-Maree Ward will be deputising and will be ably supported by Mrs Judy Smith and Miss Nicarla Prentice.  

I will return in the Acting Principal role from the commencement of the holidays.  At the start of Term 2, the leadership team will consist of myself, Mrs Ann-Maree Ward (APRE), Miss Nicarla Prentice (Acting APA), with the position of middle leader to be filled in the coming days.  Mrs Judy Smith will move into her Year 3 teaching position as previously agreed upon.  

Thank you for your support and understanding of these changes.  Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Share your thoughts on Catholic Education

The Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) is conducting an important survey with parents and carers about the Catholic education system in Queensland. QCEC would appreciate your feedback via a short online survey to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence families in choosing a Catholic school. QCEC are working with Market & Communications Research and the Online Research Unit to compile feedback. You can complete the survey online by clicking on the link below. All responses are anonymous.

Thank you for your contribution.

Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day 2023

Thanks to the Parent Engagement Network, it has been decided that in 2023 there will be a Mothers' Day event and a Fathers' Day stall.  This is the opposite to what has happened in previous years.

The Mothers' Day event will take place on Thursday 11 May from 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Event details to come in the near future. Please SAVE THE DATE.

Thanks for reading,

Sam Hannant

Dear Parents and Carers

We’re in the second week of Lent. How is your Lenten journey going? Feel like you don’t have time to stop and reflect? Finding it difficult to find time to pray, fast and give to those in need? You’re not alone. It is so easy to use the daily busyness as an excuse, and don’t get me wrong, I do that too, however, this Lent, I’m making it a priority and conscious effort to take time at the end of the day (usually when I’m just about to fall asleep!) to think about all the aspects of my day that I’m grateful for. From the fresh autumn air in the cooler mornings, the smell of my morning coffee, to seeing the smiling faces of our students when I speak on assembly and the “Hello Mrs Ward” welcomes I receive each day. Parts of our day, big or small, always have something to offer us. We can find the little reminders that the Holy Spirit is by our side through our daily interactions with others and for that, I’m grateful.

Our Religion focus for the year, is “Mercy Matters;” and this term the focus has been on the house of McAuley. At our assembly in Week 8, Lacey and Grayson (McAuley house leaders) will share with the students the history of our Mercy school, the key contributions made by Catherine McAuley and the importance of being of service to others in our community. Each term as a whole school, we will focus on and learn more about the Cornerstone values and what actions we can take to share the Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy. Term 2 will be a focus on Goretti house.  We will continue to work together with our students and the wider school community in order to walk in Jesus’ footsteps by serving each other and putting our Mission and Vision into action.  

Last Friday, our school leaders took part in the celebration of the World Day of Prayer held at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Sia, Charlotte, Isaac and Jimi were welcomers to the church and gave booklets to visitors. This event was hosted by our Parish church this year and next year it will be held at Middle Ridge Uniting Church. This event takes place every year and has done so since the 1800s. It’s an Ecumenical service where believers of all varying faiths come together and pray for the needs of the world. We learnt about the country of Taiwan, and it’s people. We heard their inspirational stories and prayed for them. It was our pleasure to be part of this prayerful community for the first time and we look forward to be invited to take part again in the future.

Again, thankyou to everyone who supporedt our Shrove Tuesday (Pancake) fundraiser. Over $200 was raised and this donation money is headed to the Sisters of Mercy and in particularly overseas to the Sisters who have a member who works in Cambodia with the Jesuit Refugee Services – Sr Denise Coghlan.  One of the ministries that she and the Jesuits promote is the care and provision of assistance to victims of landmines -  in particular teens and children. Denise is a Brisbane Sister of Mercy, who with local people hold the Nobel peace prize for their efforts to promote peace in the region. It is our pleasure to be able to support Sr Denise in her work and we look forward to continuing this commitment for many years ahead.

We welcome everyone to join us for our first School/Parish Mass on Sunday 19^th March at 9am at St Patrick’s Cathedral. We will have Children’s Liturgy for students in Prep – Yr 3 and light refreshments afterwards. Our choir will be singing and it will be a wonderful morning together. Please reply to the message sent via Sentral on Tuesday to RSVP. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Wellbeing Week in Week 9!

On Wednesday 22^nd March our school will take part in Wellbeing day. Students are encouraged to wear their house colours by donating a gold coin which will go to Project Compassion. We will enjoy a shared morning tea to which you’re all invited, and students will sit in their houses on the oval and enjoy time together as a house group. At lunchtime, there will be Teacher/Student handball games taking place. These activities have previously been most enjoyable for everyone involved and we look forward to spending the day checking in on eachother’s wellbeing.

A very practical way YOU can assist us is by being part of our Pastoral Care group for 2023. It is a very important, simple and effective method of contributing to our school community and one which is very much valued and appreciated. If you’re making a lasagne, spaghetti bolognaise, quiche or any type of family meal, please consider making two so that we can store one here at school in the freezer and then we’re able to support our families who are in need. It is the responsibility of each of us to find time in our day to be of service to others. Let’s be positive role models to our students by showing that we can make someone’s day brighter by a simple act of kindness. Thankyou for your support.

Have a great week and thanks for reading!

Ann-Maree

Date claimers!

Week 8 School/Parish Mass – Sunday 19^th March @ 9am St Patrick’s Cathedral

Week 9 Wellbeing week – Project Compassion fundraiser on Wednesday 22^nd March

Week 10 Cornerstone awards assembly - Wednesday 29^th March at 2pm then following on at 2.30pm our Easter Liturgy.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please take a minute to respond to our very short Feedback Form.

FEEDBACK re Breaktime Swap (Play first- Eat second),

As I mentioned at the start of the term, we have been trialling a change in eating/ playtimes at both Morning Tea and Lunch (Yrs 1-6). Keeping in mind that we are also seeking feedback from Staff & Students, from a parent/ carer's perspective, please respond to the following survey questions.

https://forms.office.com/r/dJVbhRLh6x

NAPLAN

Next week is the start of the NAPLAN window for our students in Years 3 & 5.  For 2023, there have been some changes to NAPLAN which are outlined in the QCAA Memo linked below.

Thank you to our teachers for their diligence in preparing our learners for this type of assessment and we wish all involved a stressfree NAPLAN experience. The timetable for the 10 day  period is outlined below, with "catch up times" available until Friday of Week 9.

Thanks for reading,

Regards,

Judy

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Celebrating Student Learning and Achievements at St Saviour’s Primary School

When you summarise the ways we formally celebrate student learning and achievements at SSPS (see below), the list is actually quite extensive! When you look closely at the different types of awards, we have some that celebrate our Learner Qualities, some our high achieving students, some our Cornerstone Values, some around following school rules and some that encourage.

One of the biggest things we noticed when we reflected on the awards we have at SSPS, is the absence of an award that celebrates progress. Our core business is learning, and while it is important to celebrate students who are high achievers, it is perhaps even more important to celebrate those students who have made positive progress in their learning. The student who moved from being below expected to expected in their knowledge in Science. The student who practiced reading everyday at school and home that enabled them to move past the expected level for their year group, when they were once behind where they needed to be. Or the student who went from being a reluctant writer who wrote 1 sentence in 15 minutes, to being able to excitedly produce quality writing in the same amount of time.

Celebrating progress over achivement allows EVERY student to be in the running for this award. It encourages EVERY student to believe in themselves and that they have potential to be better. It encourages all students to see themselves as learners who can improve everyday. We are very excited to introduce this award for Term 2 and Term 4 this year, we hope you are too! 

Warm Regards

Nicki Prentice

Middle Leader

Junior Swimming Carnival 2023 (Prep - Year 2)

DATE: 27^th March 2023

TIME:   Prep - 9am – 10am

            Year 1 – 10:15am – 11:15am

            Year 2 – 11:30am – 12:30am

VENUE: Glennie Aquatic Centre

WHO FOR: Students in Prep – Year 2

TRANSPORT: The Prep students will catch a bus from St Saviour’s to Glennie at 8:45am, Year One at 10am and Year Two at 11:15am. Children can then be picked up at the normal time of 3pm.

PLEASE BRING: togs (Prep students to wear to school under uniform), towel, goggles, swimming cap (from Glennie swimming lessons, supplied by Glennie), swimming bag and water.

COST: The cost of the swimming carnival has been covered by your child’s school fees.

PERMISSION: Permission has already been granted through ‘Physical Education Activities/Carnivals 2023’ on the Parent Portal.

UNIFORM: The children can wear their sport uniform. Thongs are fine to wear to and from the pool. No zinc, face paint or hairspray is allowed in the pool.

EVENTS: Your child’s events are listed below (All events are subject to time)

Prep – Year 2

1. 25m Freestyle/Pool Noodle
2. 25m Backstroke/Kick Board
3. 25m Pool Noodle Horse Ride

*** Race distances and events may change depending on students swimming abilities which will be assessed at your child/ren swimming lessons in Week 8 ***

PURPOSE: No ribbons will be awarded at this carnival as this is purely a non-competitive carnival to encourage fun in the water. As this is the first year we have had the Junior Swimming Carnival, we ask that parent be mindful that there may need to be adjustments made during the carnival.

Extra Information: I understand that all students are at different levels and this carnival has been designed to accommodate that. Each lane will have a swimming instructor in it to assist the students as needed. All students will also have access to a flotation device (kick board or pool noodle) if needed. Students do not have to use these if they can swim and are welcome to do freestyle or backstroke in the pool noodle/kickboard events. We encourage all students to attend regardless of their swimming ability. Having an instructor with the students and novelty races ensure that this is a memorable day, whilst building confidence in the water prior to joining the more competitive races at the Year Three to Year Six swimming carnival in years to come.

Parents and Grandparents are more than welcome to attend.

Thanks very much and if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au.

St Saviour’s Cross Country 2023

As you might be aware the SSPS Cross Country will be held on the 30^th of March 2023. Due to the success of last year, the cross country will be on the college oval again this year. Please find all information regarding the day and if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me Brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au.

• There will be teachers situated outside the school grounds on the course to help students around the track.
• Spectators are more than welcome at the cross country.
• We ask that spectators do not enter the middle of the oval and spectate from the outside of the track.
• The prep driveway will be used as part of the track and will be closed and unable to be used on the day of the cross country. Please park on Lawrence Street or the Cathedral Centre.

Order of Events:

The order of events this year will be:

1. Boys and Girls born in 2018 - 2 laps of College Oval (Year six students to form a wall around the inside and outside of the oval track to help cheer the younger students on for this race - not running with them or chasing them).
2. Boys and Girls born 2017 - 3 laps of College Oval (Year six students to form a wall around the inside and outside of the oval track to help cheer the younger students on for this race not running with them or chasing them).
3. Boys and Girls born 2011 - 2 laps of College Oval, 3 laps of school, 1 lap of College Oval
4. Boys and Girls born 2012 - 2 laps of College Oval, 3 laps of school, 1 lap of College Oval
5. Boys and Girls born 2013 - 2 laps of College Oval, 2 laps of school, 1 lap of College Oval
6. Boys and Girls born 2014 - 2 laps of College Oval, 2 laps of school, 1 lap of College Oval
7. Boys and Girls born 2016 - Start on college oval, out of college and down Perth Street, down Prep driveway and path onto primary oval. One lap of primary oval and back up path and Prep driveway to Perth Street and finish on college oval.
8. Boys and Girls born 2015 - Start on college oval, out of college and down Perth Street, down Prep driveway and path onto primary oval. One lap of primary oval and back up path and Prep driveway to Perth Street and finish on college oval.

This order is so the older students, who are running the most distance will be running in the cooler part of the day.

Starting Time:

The event for children born in 2018 will start at 9am and will follow in the order above. All races will take place with the boys first, followed by the girls. No races will begin before the times listed below. Please keep in mind, races may start after the start time if races run behind.

Cross Country 2023

Fitness Club

Fitness club is a fun way for your child to work on their fitness with their peers in preparation for the SSPS Cross Country in the last week of Term One. These sessions are offered to students in Year Three to Year Six. Fitness club runs every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7:15am - 8am running till Thursday 23^rd of March 2023. Your child is welcome to attend all sessions, once a week or whatever suits your family schedule. Thank you to Mrs McHugh, Mrs Wagner, and Mr Logan for helping with running these sessions. If you have any questions, please email me via Brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Toowoomba Twisters

Congratulations to Levi Holden and Mahaylie Weribone who both tried out and were successful in making the Toowoomba Twisters team. What a great accomplishment and I look forward to hearing about your experience (photo below).

Zone and Darling Downs Trials

All Zone and Darling Downs trials will be placed on Parent Portal. Please check Parent Portal 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. I am unable to nominate students after the closing date so please make sure you do keep an eye on Parent Portal. Any questions, please contact me at brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Upcoming Events (Term One)

• Swimming Lessons (Prep – 2) – 13-17/03/2023
• Junior Swimming Carnival (Prep – 2) 27/03/2023
• T-Ball Gala Day (Year 4) – 28/03/2023
• SSPS Cross Country – 30/03/2023

Cheers

Brendan Luck

HPE Teacher

brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au

Congratulations to our Weekly Award winners for Week 6 & 7

School Fees:

Reminder 

Term 1 School Fees are now overdue.  Thank you to those families who have already finalised their accounts.  Reminder notices will be sent to families who are currently overdue with their school fee payments.

Skool Dayz Uniform Shop:

The School Uniform Shop is now located at the top of the service driveway as you enter off Neil Street.  The shop is located on the bottom floor of the old convent building.  The Uniform Shop is open the following times throughout the Term every Monday afternoon from 2.30pm - 4.00pm and every Friday afternnoon from 3.00pm - 5.30pm.  If these times do not suit, please contact Dan Eagleson 0481 318 398 to arrange an alternate time or email directly on info@skooldayz.com.au  or log on to the skooldayz website for further information. https://www.skooldayz.com.au

Peak 2 Park:

Congratulations to all our families who particpated in last Sunday's Peak 2 Park.  We loved seeing the photos from the day, especially of the children who ran/walked in their St Saviour's Primary School Shirts. Peak 2 Park is an annual event which raises money for a variety of charities for the Toowoomba Community.  

The Farm Shop:

We are pleased to be able to support The Farm Shop here at St Saviour's Primary School.  The Farm Shop is a local business which is operated by one of our very own St Saviour's families.  Indea and Damon (parents of Heath in Prep H) source local fruit and vegetables from the farmers and offer home delivery of fresh produce, local meat, dairy, bread and lots of ohter products from our region.  The Farm Shop is owned by Indea and Damon both in Westbrook and Toowoomba.  

Heath and Indea have kindly offered St Saviour's Primary families a special code to use when ordering your farm box which entitles you all to some fantastic savings.  

Please see details below about how to order.  

Individual Chess Competition 

Congratulations to the seven children who competed in the Individual Chess Competition at Highlands Christian College on Tuesday 6th March 2023.   

There were over 300 children competing, with 25 schools represented.  It was wonderful to see a high representation of girls, with over 100 girls there. 

Cooper Skuse, Sam Hardy, Jaishan Francis (Year 3) and Jivanthy Francis  (Year 2) competed in the Novice Section in a pool of 110 children from different schools.  This was their first time competing in an individual competition and they did themselves and their school proud.  Well done! 

In the Open Section, there were 225 competitors.  Our Year 5 boys Hari Vinod, Jaxon Jessep and Liam McHugh (all who have participated previously) competed in this section. 

The children secured some wins, some draws and some losses.  The students’ behaviour was exemplary, representing St Saviour’s well and they reported having an enjoyable day of chess, handball, cards, footy and socialising. 

We have had several beginners start chess club this term. Hopefully they will continue and have the opportunity to also represent St Saviour’s in the future. 

Sara McHugh

Chess Club Coordinator