Newsletter, week 6, term 1 , No 2
Principal's Report
After a slightly interrupted start I’m pleased to say that things are back to normal and moving along nicely here at school.
Last week we had our first whole school assembly for quite some time. We were perhaps a little rusty but it was wonderful to have our community back together to celebrate our school and our student’s achievements.
During the assembly the 2021 school and house captains were informally recognised. This week we will have the opportunity to officially welcome and congratulate this important group of students as we present them with their badges. We wish each of them well as they take on their student leadership roles. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank every single student who nominated for a leadership position. I can honestly say that I was absolutely amazed by the standard of the applications and the speeches given. It made me proud to be the principal and each student is a credit to themselves, their family and their school. Regardless of whether they were successful in their application or not, each nominee demonstrated that they are worthy of being a leader and they should be congratulated for their efforts. Well done to all of you!
Tomorrow we will celebrate a somewhat belated Beginning of the Year School Mass, again a first in quite a while. Being able to come together in this way to begin our 2021 journey and honour our faith as a whole school is a privilege and an important feature of our school. Staff will also be commissioned and blessed at the Mass as they commit themselves to providing our students with the best education and care possible for another year. The Mass will be celebrated in the gym at 9am tomorrow and it would be wonderful to see you all there.
Our swimming program is well underway. The updated approach we have taken this year has been a success so far and has enabled us to focus our time and resources on those who need it most while those who have already met the standard required of them are able to continue their learning here at school. Swimming lessons will be offered to our Junior students (P-2) later this year.
As you know, due to its proximity to our recent short lockdown, we postponed our planned school closure day. Please note that the school closure day, during which all staff will participate in professional learning around School Wide Positive Behaviour Support, will now take place on Tuesday July 27th (T3 W3). There will be no school for any students on this day. We will put out reminders closer to the date.
As you know next Monday is a public holiday. It is also the final rest day for our Prep students. As of next Tuesday our Preps will be at school everyday. It will be wonderful to see their smiling faces every day. The growth they are already demonstrating is simply amazing and we are looking forward to seeing them continuing to grow throughout the year.
Our newly founded Fundraising Committee is already hard at work with the Easter Egg Raffle and Hot Cross Bun order forms already distributed. Every cent that is raised goes towards improving the school for our students. The small but committed group is on the lookout for new members so if you think this is something you might be interested in please feel free to contact Nicole Zappia, Jess Baldock or Lisa Zappia. They’d be delighted to hear from you!
Take care everybody and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school soon.
Kind regards,
Andrea Welsh
Wellbeing
SWPBS - Next week our SWPBS focus will be sitting down during eating time and using the bins provided for our rubbish. This means that we sit at our tables inside our classrooms during eating time, we remain seated until we are dismissed by the teacher, even if we have finished eating. If students are still eating after the bell, they must take their food outside and sit down to finish eating. There should be no eating while on the oval or playing in the courtyard.
Our school wide positive behaviour awards are proudly sponsored by Irribiz Robinvale and Edlers Insurance Robinvale. Each week students who are displaying the positive behaviours shown in our school matrix are nominated for the award. The winners then receive a certificate and $20 REBA voucher.
Congratulations to the following students who received our SWPBS awards
We are RESPECTFUL - Chloe - Lee Jackson
We are SAFE - Peyton Benham
We are LEARNERS - Fononga Vakatau
Religious Education
On Friday March 5th we will hold our first whole school Mass in the gym. Parents, family and community members are welcome to attend. Fr Anthony will also bless all staff as they are commissioned for the year ahead.
As Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.
We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family has received a Project Compassion box for their donations.
Saint Oscar Romero is the inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
Here is a success story from Caritas Australia about Oliva, a 22-year-old woman from Tanzania. She did not have the opportunity to go to school and was embarrassed that she was unable to read, write or count. As an adult, her business was losing money because she couldn’t add up her money and give the right change to customers.
Then Oliva enrolled in Caritas Australia’s literacy and numeracy classes. She also set up a home classroom to teach her neighbours, for free, because they were too shy to attend larger classes.
Oliva has now graduated, attendance at her classes are growing, her kiosk is thriving and she is helping her children with their homework. She aims to become a pastor and run for leadership in the next local election - to help her community to ‘Be More.’
Our classes are developing ways in which we can fundraise and show compassion and understanding to the many communities around the world that Caritas Australia supports. As a whole school we plan fundraise by holding a coin money line on Friday March 26th. More information will follow on this event. I hope you can support the various fundraising events over the next few weeks?
We pray for the millions of adults that did not have the opportunity to receive an education.
That with our support, they find new opportunities to learn and grow
so they can be architects of their own development.
Amen
Primary School
Prep - We are all so excited to start learning about letters and numbers in class. In Literacy, we are learning the letters ‘m’ and ‘s’ and the sound that matches these letters. During handwriting, we are also practising how to correctly write and form these letters. In our Maths lessons, we are looking at the numbers 1-5 and using counters to match these quantities. Just a friendly reminder to ensure that all of your child’s belongings are clearly labelled (school bag, lunch boxes, water bottles and jumpers). Students have received their library bag with a picture storybook to enjoy. Please record it in their diary on a daily basis. If you have any questions or concerns at any time please feel free to contact the Foundation teachers on Class Dojo or via the school phone. Just a reminder next Monday is Labour Day public holiday, so students are required to come to school on Wednesday. From the 22nd of March, all Foundation students are required to attend school full time.
Year 1/2 - The Year 1/2 have had an interesting week investigating mealworms as part of our Science topic - Watch It Grow! We made predictions as to what they might grow into and started thinking about what we would like to know about them. We are looking forward to watching them change and grow! It is great to see take home readers being changed regularly and recorded in the reading diary. Well done! Year 3/4 - What an interesting couple of weeks it has been! We are delighted to observe that all the students and families managed the sudden calendar changes related to the recent lockdown. Our work has continued as it would with regular routines maintained. We started our Spelling Mastery program last week, again with the students managing the class transitions fabulously. Homework was also introduced last week. Students were provided with a reading diary to record their nightly reading to an adult as well as a math task to support their knowledge of times tables. Our swimming lessons started on Thursday and will continue for the next three Thursdays. Year 5/6 - The 5/6‘s have continued to settle into routines well. We have introduced homework and students should be taking their books home each Monday and returned on Fridays. In writing, students have been looking at the structure and language features of a persuasive text and will prepare to write their own persuasive this week. In reading, students have enjoyed skimming and scanning through texts and answering questions, which is an important skill in NAPLAN. Students are looking forward to our Beginning of Year Mass which will be held on Friday at 9am in the gym. All parents are welcomed to join us.
Art - Each unit is busy planning and designing for their upcoming artworks. The Year 1/2 students are looking at the work of American artist, Greg Mike and his fun “Loudmouth” characters. They are in the process of designing their own Loudmouths that will have a positive word or words to say in a speech bubble.
Year 3/4 Art - students are taking their inspiration from an American artist by the name of William Wegman. He takes photos of his dogs dressed as humans. The 3/4 students are collecting images to make their own animal human mash-ups.
Year 5/6 Art - students are working their way through the Elements of Art to help them recognise the different features that are included within an art piece. These features help the artist communicate their ideas and themes. They will create a cube showing all the different elements and how they can be used.
Library - Issue 2 of Book Club has gone out to families and is due back by Tuesday 16th March. We are hoping to have a book fair this year. Please save the date - Monday 17th May for this event. More information will be provided closer to the date.
Secondary School
Year 7/8 - The year 7 and 8 students who applied for School or House Captain positions presented their speeches to the leadership team, secondary teachers and students from year 5 to year 8 last week. Although it can be very daunting to speak in front, a big congratulations to all who presented!
Maths - Students have completed their second cycle test for Maths Pathways and are beginning to navigate the program more effectively. We will be completing our second diagnostic tests over the coming weeks to ensure work is at the correct standard for all students.
Technology - Students have begun using the wood burning tools and practicing decorating their key rings this week. We will begin working on our Boomerang designs over the coming weeks.
Art - The students have begun to paint their Aboriginal designs. They are now understanding the time and patience it takes to complete this style of art. There are some very unique designs being produced and I cannot wait to see the finished products.
Family Fee Assistance
Family Fee Scheme applies to families who hold a current Health Care Card.
Please bring you Heath Care Card into the School Office before the end of Term 1 to receive the discount off your School Fees.
Medical Consent Forms
A number of medical forms have not been completed and returned. Can you please
complete and send back to the School Office ASAP. If you have misplaced the form please contact the School office.
Family Contact Details
Have your contact details changed?
It is important that we have your up to date contact details
If you have changed your phone number, address or email can you please notify the school office with your updated details.
HOT CROSS BUNS DRIVE
Order forms have gone home with the students.
Families are welcome to place orders by completing the order form.
Traditional hot cross buns or chocolate hot cross buns can be purchased.
Orders need to be returned to school on Friday March 19th.
Orders will be available for collection on Wednesday 24th between 2.30pm - 4.00pm.
Order for yourself, family, friends or neighbours - all orders are welcomed!
Thank you for supporting our fundraiser.
EASTER EGG RAFFLE
Thank you to those families who have donated to our Easter Egg raffle.
Please keep sending in those Easter Eggs. The more Easter Eggs the greater chances you have winning.
Raffle books will be going home next week.
The Raffle will be drawn last day of term 1.