Week 7, Term 2, 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

Recently, Toowoomba Catholic Schools hosted a Parent engagement in student learning evening with Dr Janet Goodall.  After viewing this presentation and then working with the toolkit that was provided, one of the key messages is outlined below:

There is a difference between parent engagement with learning and parent involvement with the school.  See below graphic.

Whilst we do enjoy hosting several events at school each year (Welcome BBQ, Mothers' Day, Christmas Concert etc) where parents are involved and are part of the broader school community, we are also endevouring to place a significant amount of emphasis on seeing parents as partners in their child's learning.  Several examples come to mind including posting 'learning' videos on social media, weekly communication notes between school and home regarding learning and accepting feedback from parents around future planning.

However, as with anything, this is an area that can always be improved.  At the next Parent Engagement Network Meeting in Term 3 (August 1 -5.30pm) we will be working on some clear goals for how 'parent engagement in learning' at St Saviour's Primary is viewed, managed and what our next steps are.  All parents and carers are welcome to attend this meeting and for those who are unable to attend, further information will be included in future newsletters.

Sam Hannant

Dear Parents & Carers

This week we welcome Bishop Ken Howell as the new Bishop of Toowoomba Diocese. We look forward to welcoming Bishop Ken to our St Saviour’s Primary School community. Below is the media release dated May 24th 2023.

Bishop Ken Howell appointed seventh Bishop of Toowoomba

 Pope Francis has this evening appointed Bishop Ken Howell, who has served as Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane since 2017, the seventh Bishop of Toowoomba.

Bishop Howell will succeed Bishop Robert McGuckin, who has led the Diocese of Toowoomba since 2012, whose resignation Pope Francis has accepted.

“I am deeply humbled to be called by Pope Francis to shepherd this local Church and I thank him sincerely,” Bishop Howell said.

“I realise that I have been given a great responsibility to care for the faithful and to engage in the life of the broader community across the Diocese.”

After serving as a priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane for 40 years, and the last six as auxiliary bishop, Bishop Howell conceded there was a “touch of sadness” in leaving.

“However, I do not come to Toowoomba as a stranger,” he said.

“The close links between Brisbane and Toowoomba have been longstanding and I know many of the priests of the Diocese.

“I come with a desire to listen to God’s people and to understand and grow in love for the mission of this local Church. It is my firm hope that I may accompany the community of the Church of Toowoomba, as together we seek to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the world.”

In addition to parish ministry and leadership positions within the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Bishop Howell completed a licentiate in sacred liturgy at the Pontifical Institute Sant’Anselmo in Rome and served as vice rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, the Queensland regional seminary, for six years.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB welcomed Bishop Howell’s appointment.

“Having worked as secretary to Archbishop John Bathersby, and as Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General in Brisbane, he will arrive well equipped for this new ministry to which he has been called,” he said.

“He has been a valued member of the Bishops Conference for the past six years.”

Archbishop Costelloe also paid tribute to Bishop McGuckin, saying he “offered the Conference great service for more than a decade, providing exceptional leadership particularly in the area of canon law”.

“His episcopal ministry has been generous, extending well beyond the normal age of retirement to serve the people of Toowoomba and the Church in Australia,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

Bishop McGuckin said he had been “privileged” to serve as Bishop of Toowoomba for 11 years and wished Bishop Howell “every blessing as he takes up his pastoral ministry in this vast and special Diocese”.

“The people of the Archdiocese of Brisbane will be sad at losing Bishop Ken, but rest assured Bishop Ken will be warmly welcomed to Toowoomba,” Bishop McGuckin said.

Bishop Howell’s installation as Bishop of Toowoomba is scheduled for July 11 at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

This week at Monday's assembly, we held our Liturgy in recognition of Reconciliation Week (May 27 - June 3) This year's theme is "Be a voice for generations; We act today for a reconciled tomorrow.” Thankyou to the students from SSC for performing their dance as part of our celebration and for inviting our students to be part of their Indigenous games at lunchtimes this week. At St Saviour's Primary, we walk forward with hope and healing.

Loving God,

you call us to rise up and be people of love, people of peace.

May we work together in a spirit of reconciliation to bring hope and healing to our indigenous brothers and sisters whom we have treated so badly in the past.

May we move forward with hearts of compassion and generosity so that all people may be treated with dignity and respect.

We make our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

The Sacramental program journey continues for a number of our students. They will receive their First Eucharist on 16/17th June. Please keep these students in your prayers as they learn and grow in their faith by completing these sacraments. 

Have a great week and thanks for reading.

Ann-Maree

Dear Parents and Carers,

SEMESTER 1 REPORTING

A-E Definitions

Semester One Report Cards will be sent home in the final week of this term.  When you receive your child's report card you will notice that nothing has changed and we are still using A-E grades for each area of learning.  These A-E results come with definitions which you will also see on the report card.

An example of the 'C' definition is below:

Evidence of the student's work typically demonstrates that the student has the targeted knowledge and

• expected conceptual understanding
• expected application of skills
• they are able to transfer the above to familiar situations

As you can see above, a 'C' result in any learning area (Maths, English, Science etc) is the expected result.  Some other key terms that are included in this definition are below:

Evidence: a range of information that teachers collect including data, work samples, digital media, teacher notes, formal assessment tasks.

Typically: allows for those students who may not have displayed this during a particular assessment task, but it is evident in their work with the frequency required within this grade.  No longer are grades given based on one test or one assignment.

Conceptual Understanding: connected web of knowledge.  Different concepts in maths may include angles, perimeter, area etc.

Skills: These are often the things that students need to be able to do.  Some examples include creating texts, asking questions, re-reading and editing and there are many more. 

Transfer: transfer is the ability of a student to take their current knowledge, skills and understandings and apply this into a new scenario and/or different context.  

Of course, several students will achieve above or below a 'C' grade and the definitions do alter to take this into consideration.  The three key terms of conceptual understanding, skills and the ability to transfer knowledge are in all definitions and students show these at different levels and hence the A-E grade.

If you would like any further clarification on the A-E definitions, please don't hesitate to send me an email or talk to your child's classroom teacher.

Please see attached PEN Meeting Minutes and Principals Report from Term 2 PEN Meeting.

St Saviour’s Primary Athletics Carnival 2023

As you might be aware the 2023 athletics carnival will take place on Friday the 16th of June 2023. To streamline the carnival, we are going to trial running the carnival in one day meaning 200m and 800m events will be moved to the Friday instead of being run the day before. As this is the first year attempting this, we ask parents to be mindful that all events may not run to schedule, and changes may need to be made on the day of the carnival. We thank you for your understanding with this.

Field Event Qualifying

All students in Year Three to Year Six will participate in Shotput, Discus, Long Jump and High Jump. Students will throw and jump to determine the top eight in each age group (boys and girls) who will compete at the school athletics carnival on the 16th of June (9-12 Year Olds).  I will work out 1st, 2nd and 3rd for 8 Year Olds in Year Three from qualifying and they will be presented with a ribbon at the athletics carnival. Qualifying will happen in PE lessons again this year as the feedback from students is it is a much more relaxed and fun experience. Qualifying has been designed so all students get a chance to participate in each event in a fun environment regardless of ability. The top eight in each event (age group, boy and girl) then compete at the school carnival in a fun, but more competitive level. It is important to note that whilst all students are not doing all events at the athletics carnival, all students have participated in an event during PE sessions which is a part of the athletics carnival and have gained points for their house.

Friday 16th of June 2023 (O’Quinn Street)

DATE: 16th June 2023

TIME: 8am – 12pm – Prep to Year Two (Students will need to be dropped off by 8am, but transport provided back to school). Please respond to Microsoft Form sent by Miss Nicki Prentice about whether your child/ren require transport.

8am – 3pm – Year Three to Year Six (Students will need to be dropped off by 8am, but transport provided back to school if required). Please respond to Microsoft Form sent by Miss Nicki Prentice about whether your child/ren require transport.

VENUE: Glynis Nunn-Cearns Oval, 16 - 44 O’Quinn Street, Toowoomba.

EVENTS: Shotput, Discus, High Jump, Long Jump, 60m, 80m and 100m Sprints, 200m, 800m, Relays, Prep – Year 2 Rotations

WHO FOR: Prep – Year Six Students

TRANSPORT: Prep to Year Two (Students will need to be dropped off by 8am, but transport provided back to school). Please respond to email sent by Miss Nicki Prentice about whether your child/ren require transport.

Year Three to Year Six (Students will need to be dropped off by 8am, but transport provided back to school if required). Please respond to email sent by Miss Nicki Prentice about whether your child/ren require transport.

FOOD: The children will need to bring their own morning tea, lunch, and water. There will also be a canteen operating on the day. Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to help in the canteen.

SPECTATORS: We encourage as many parents as possible to come and support your child/ren at the St Saviour’s Primary Athletics Carnival. We ask that all spectators remember to keep their encouragement positive and to respect the officials’ decisions on the day. The main purpose behind this carnival is for the students to have fun, whist showing their school spirt gaining points for their house.

COST: This carnival and transport is all inclusive in your child/ren school fees.

UNIFORM: Students are welcome to dress up and can wear clothing of their  house colour. Hair spray and zinc is also allowed. If your child/ren does not wish to wear their house colours, can they please attend in their sports uniform. Please ensure your child wears shoes suitable for running.

NOMINATIONS: All students will run in either a 60m, 80m or 100m race and year level relay. Students in Prep to Year Two will participate in modified athletics activities to gain points for their house. Students in Year Three to Year Six will also compete in 200m and 800m races. The qualifying eight from PE sessions will compete in shotput, discus, high jump and long jump finals.

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

If you have any questions or concern, please feel free to contact me (brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au).

PE (P-2) Term One

Students in Prep to Year Two are completing a modified Athletics unit in the lead up to the school athletics carnival at the end of Term Two. They have focused on modified shotput, discus and high jump as well as sprints, relays and ball games. Students also 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 rachets, hopping, jumping, skipping, side stepping, animal crawling and balancing.\

PE (3-6) Term Two

In Term Two, students have been participating in Athletics, learning how to execute Shot Put, Discus, High Jump, Long Jump, Sprints, Relays and Ball Games. The skills the students have acquired will be utilised in the school athletics carnival at the end of Term Two.

Health (Year 3)

Students have been exploring the concept of sustainable practice and the ways that they can contribute to the sustainability of the environment in their home, classroom, and school. They also investigated the concepts of physical activity and sedentary behaviours while exploring the recommendations of physical activity for five- to 12-Year-Olds. Students also examined the benefits of physical activity, investigating ways to increase physical activity in their lives.

Health (Year 4)

Students identified health messages and the methods used to influence decisions looking at how health messages change over time. They then applied decision-making skills to different health scenarios examining and interpreting health information about cybersafety, cyberbullying and online protocols. With this knowledge they described and applied strategies that can be used in online situations that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Finally, they explored the importance of demonstrating respect and empathy in online relationships reflecting on young people's use of digital technologies.

Health (Year 5)

Students gained an understanding of multiculturalism by examining the changing nature of Australia's cultural identity. They examined how sharing traditional foods and physical activities from different cultures can support community wellbeing and cultural understanding. Students also explored developmental changes and transitions that occur as they grow older, investigating strategies available to assist them with the transition.

Health (Year 6)

Students explored drink products that contribute to health and wellbeing, focusing on investigating a variety of drink options, including soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juice, and the effects they have on the body. They then examined available alternatives to various drink options. Students also looked at the feelings, challenges and issues associated with making the transition to secondary school, devising strategies to assist them in making a smooth transition.

Darling Downs Basketball

Congratulations to Claire Ward and Akeer Adol on representing Darling Downs 10-12 Years in Basketball this past week in Townsville.  Pictured with Claire and Akeer is Mrs Conway who was coach of the Darling Downs Team.  We are very proud of you all!

School Sport

Congratulations to Matilda Crothers who made the Toowoomba Barbarian Team team for Rugby Union and will be travelling to Goondiwindi in June. What an awesome experience and we look forward to hearing all about it.

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 Two)

• SSPS Ball Games (3-6) – 15/06/2023 11:15am-2pm
• SSPS Athletics Carnival (P-6) – 16/06/2023 8am-3pm

Cheers

Brendan Luck

HPE Teacher

brendan.luck@twb.catholic.edu.au

Our 2023 Readers' Cup Team

Charlotte, Lily, Emily and Willa continue to read their way through 5 set novels for the competition in Week 9 this term. Charlotte is on her second reading, such an amazing effort! The team give up their break times each Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the books as a way to prepare for the competition questions. Thanks to you all for your ongoing commitment, keep going!!!

National Simultaneous Storytime

As participants in this national event last Wednesday, classes shared the story "The Speedy Sloth"  and were challenged to ask questions about sloths and how fast they actually did move. The examples of determination and resilience in the story were a perfect fit with our learner qualities and the humour and rhyme made the book a hit with everyone.

We celebrated with some sloth themed colouring during lunch-time activities

Volunteer Update

We are grateful to Donna Enders who has graciously volunteered to cover library books this year and to coordinate Book Club next year, thank you so much Donna!  We welcome any help with the book covering task, instruction will be provided.

Year 5/6 Parent and Student Bookclub

It isn't too late to buy your copy of Runt by Craig Silvey and read at home! Target and Big W stock this book for approx. $14.00.

We will meet on Monday afternoon in Week 2 of Term 3 to hear what you thought of this short-listed story.

Our Current Displays

We have some amazing books that speak to the reconciliation themes we have explored as a community this week

Happy Reading

Anne anderson

Teacher Librarian

The commonwealth-funded Thriving Kids and Parents Project offers high quality, evidence-based parenting programs to support parents and schools to develop a shared language and a toolbox of strategies to support every child’s learning and wellbeing. St Saviour’s Primary School families are invited to attend these online seminars, starting in late June. Information about this upcoming opportunity is provided below. If you have questions about this project, please contact our School Counsellor at anne.woodcroft-brown@twb.catholic.edu.au

Term 2 School Fees:

Term 2 School Fees are now overdue.  Please arrange for payment to be made as soon as possible if you have not yet done so.  Payments can be made via eftpos cash/direct deposit or bpay.  

Prep 2024:

Prep 2024 Enrolments are almost at capacity.  If you have a son or daughter who is eligible to commence Prep next year and have not yet submitted an application form, we encourage you to do so in the next few weeks. Please click on the following link to submit your application.  

https://enrol-ssp.twb.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-application/start

Updated information:

Please remember to keep us updated, if you have any changes to your residential address including phone numbers and email address.  Semester 1 Report Cards will be issued via the Parent Portal at the end of Term 2, so it is important that your records are up to date.  Contact us here via the school office, if you need to update your details on 4637 1700 or email us at ssps@twb.catholic.edu.au

MineCraft Innovation Games:

Congratulations to our Weekly Award Winners

Week 6

Week 7

We are proud to be involved in the

Toowoomba Catholic Schools ARTS FEST for 2023.

Year 4 Mini Vinnies are going to collect, organise and create Blessing Bags to be made and donated to one of the local women’s refuges here in Toowoomba.

Blessing Bags usually contain things that you would need, like toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, deodorants, shampoo and hairbrushes, sanitary products, lip balms and moisturisers. They can also contain treats like chocolate, healthy snacks, biscuits, as well as tea and coffee sachets.

We would like to collect all these lovely treats to help women who visit the refuge look good and feel good about themselves. We are asking for donations to help fill these bags and with your generous help we will be able to make a difference in the lives of many women within our community.

Posters will be up around the school this week, showing some of the items that you could donate to help fill these bags. We will be gathering donations from Week 5 until Week 9. All donations can be dropped off to the blue Mini Vinnies baskets that can be found at the office.

Service and simple acts of kindness to each other is very important, especially to those in our community who are vulnerable and need our help. We encourage all members of our school community to commit to this activity for the term and be of service to others, just like Catherine McAuley was.

Mrs Cooper

Year 5 Teacher 

Please save the date for the reimagined Derby Day. 

More information to come.

Volunteers

The Tuckshop is in need of regular volunteers particulary on a Friday, our busiest day in the Tuckshop.

If you can help out in the Tuckshop perhaps just for a few hours please contact our Tuckshop Convenor, Renee Kilpatrick.  Without volunteers our Tuckshop cannot operate.    

Pizza Treat Day:

Our Term 2 Pizza Treat Day is being held on Thursday June 15.  Ordering will be via Flexischools.  

The cut off date for ordering is Wednesday 14 June at 11.00am.  No late orders can be accepted.  Pizza Treat Day is a highlight of the Term for our children.   

Skool Dayz Uniform Shop:

Please note the change in times to Opening Hours for Term 2.  The Uniform Shop will now be open the following times:

Monday mornings 7:30am - 9:30am

Friday afternoons 3:00pm - 5:30pm

Monday Pupil free days, the Uniform Shop will open from 2:30pm to 4:00pm.

All other times are by appointment only.  Please contact Dan Eagleson via Skooldayz on 0481 318 398.

SkoolDayz Uniform Shop is also on Facebook - we encourage you to like and follow for updates, changes in times, and information on stock.