2024, Term 3, Week 2 Newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week we welcomed our first group of students from Koroit and District Kinder. The kinder students arrived excited and ready for a fun school experience. They were greeted by our wonderful Foundation teacher, Miss Rhiannon Lumsden, and treated to a storybook and fun activities. To end the session, they enjoyed playing on the 'big kids' playground'. As part of our transition to school program at St Pat’s, the kinder children will visit over the next few weeks, and we also have our Little Learners Program held every second Friday for any preschool-aged children.

On Thursday, students in Room 7 attended the Moyne Shire tree information session in recognition of National Tree Day, 2024 celebrated on Friday, 26 July 2024. They learned about the importance of tree planting and caring for the environment. After the session, they were gifted with a tree to plant back at school. The tree was planted with enthusiasm by the students, see images below. 

To end the week, today we had a special Potato Olympic Fun Day. Students arrived dressed as their favorite athletes, ready for a day full of excitement and friendly competition. 

Students began the day learning about the Olympics and preparing for our own St Pat’s opening ceremony in their classrooms. Each student got to design their own potato athlete, assigning it to a country and a sport. They even measured and recorded the height and weight of their potato athletes!

Next was the opening ceremony parade and the passing of the torch, where everyone gathered to cheer and get pumped up. Students then moved to their first activity station The teachers followed their groups around, ensuring everyone was engaged and having a great time. From hot potato, spoon and potato and roll the potato, the students and their potato athletes showed incredible sportsmanship and teamwork.

The highlight of the day was the closing ceremony, where we celebrated everyone's efforts and handed out special potato awards. It was a fantastic day filled with laughter, energy, and Olympic spirit!

Kind regards,

Tegan McDonald 

Principal

Olympics Fun Day

Check out the photos from all the fun at our "Potato Olympics"!

We had it all! Students created their "athletes" (decorated a potato) and then participated in Potato Olympics - including an Olympic Torch (genuine article from the 2000 torch relay!) at the opening ceremony.  The events were a spoon & potato race, sand jump, hot potato (musical chairs), potato diving, roll the potato, and a 100m potato run.  The games of course finished with a Closing Ceremony.  A huge thanks to our Grade 5 and 6 students who helped with organising and running the events along with staff.  Thanks also to Mugavin Produce for providing our "athletes".

There will be more on pictures ClassDojo & Social Media.

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NAPLAN Results

Hard copies of NAPLAN Results for students in Grade 3 and Grade 5 are now available for collection from the office.  Parents of Grade 5 students - please retain a copy of the results as they will be requested when completing Enrolment Applications for Secondary School next year.

An electronic version of the results will also be available in PAM. We are currently still waiting on the data upload to become available.

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) Framework

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework

As you all know from previous newsletters, St. Pat’s embraces the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) system to create a positive and safe learning environment for all students. SWPBS focuses on teaching and encouraging good behaviour to prevent problems before they start.

OUR THREE EXPECTATIONS: 

BE SAFE

BE RESPECTFUL

BE RESPONSIBLE

Below is the minors and majors chart used at school. These are the behaviours that will result in minor and major consequences at school if positive reinforcement and teaching do not help to correct the behavior. A minor behaviour issue will result in 5 minutes inside at recess or lunch and a restorative chat with a teacher. For more serious behavior (a major), the consequence is 30 minutes out of play and a phone call home to discuss the behavior.

If you have any questions, please make an appointment to see myself or Shona Louden

Staff - the Right to Disconnect

The Fair Work Act 2009, was recently updated to include provisions that give employees the right to disconnect from communication received outside of their designated working hours. This new rule takes effect from 26 August 2024. For schools, this includes communication from parents, students, colleagues, or others within the school community. 

Staff access their work emails normally between 8:00 am – 4.30 pm when possible and will endeavour to respond to emails within 24-48 hours. This applies to other forms of communication such as Class Dojo. Staff are not expected to respond in this time frame during weekends, public holidays, and, for teaching staff and during term breaks.

We ask all members of the school community to be aware of this new provision and to restrict communication with school staff to school working hours. If you communicate outside of these hours, please be aware staff may choose to but are not expected to respond outside their work hours.

School TV - Wellbeing Resources

Events at school this week may have heightened your child's emotions. We have selected some fact sheets from the School TV site which may help you to support your children.

Supporting Kids After Trauma

Helping Children Cope

We encourage you to explore all of the School TV site for a variety of wellbeing and parenting resources.

Shona Louden

Wellbeing Leader

Found - Jewellery

Two bracelets have been found in a small black pouch in the vacinity of the school.  If you think these may yours, please come to the office.

Lost Property & Second Hand Uniform

With the onset of colder weather, you may have noticed you are missing a school jumper (ot two!). Please take a look in the lost property basket to find your lost items. 

If you could please remember also to label your uniform items so your uniforms don't end up here!

Also, if you would like to get an extra jumper or clothes for wash day, please get in touch with our second hand uniform coordinator, Becc Sanderson on 0423 956 556.

STEM Resources

In term 3 in STEM, we are focussing on the Olympics and are making mini versions of some of the events. I would love for families to help contribute to getting some of these resources for our classes to use. Below is a list of resources I am after. 

-cardboard

-tin cans (e.g. diced tomatoes, tinned spaghetti or beans)

-cardboard tubes (cling wrap, al foil, baking paper. NO toilet rolls please)

Please make sure any food products have been washed and dried before bringing them to school. There will be a box in the STEM room for students to put resources in once we come back to school. 

Thanks for your support,

Bridget Van Den Broek

STEM Teacher

Beanies

Keep your head warm in winter! School Beanies are available for $15 on CDF Pay.

Parents & Friends

Catering

If you are able to help with supplying food or serving at future events, please indicate on the form below and we will be in touch when we have events scheduled.  If the date/time does not suit you, you do not have to commit to helping when you are contacted.

Catering Support Form

***We did have a someone reply recently who said they might be able to help Monday or Tuesday and supply apples or slices but your name and phone number didn't come through.  If you could call the office or email Kate (kdobson@spkoroit.catholic.edu.au), we will update your response.  Thanks.

Book Fair

Book Fair sales continue until Tuesday 30th July. 

You can also visit the Book Fair with your child at the beginning or end of the school day to make purchases.  When we reach the books with the "Last Copy" tag, we will place an order for your child which will be delivered in the coming weeks.

A portion of sales is returned to the school to allow us to purchase new resources.

Please note that this is different to "Book Week" which is held in late August.

NOTE: EFTPOS facilities are available  - a surcharge of 1% will apply on all EFTPOS terminal VISA and Mastercard and all iPhone Tap & Go payments.

Book Week - Reading is Magic

Advance notice for Book Week.  The theme this year is "Reading is Magic".  

We will have a dress up and parade on the Monday morning (19th August).  Students can choose to dress in theme or as a character from their favourite book.  There is no competition element to our fancy dress parade - all participating students will go into a draw for prizes.  Imaginative and home made costumes are encouraged.

Singing Lessons

Danielle from South West Coast Performing Arts has some spots available for singing lessons at school on a Tuesday.

Please contact her if you are interested in this for your child.

Assembly Roster

Parents, siblings, Grandparents and friends are all welcome to join us for our assembly - held on nominated weeks in the school hall from 2.45pm - any late changes will be notified via ClassDojo.

Volunteer Levy

There are many opportunities at school to claim off your volunteer levy.

As you would imagine, there are lots of jobs that need to be done at a school.  Between classroom responsibilites and duties during most breaks, there are many things that staff don't get the opportunity to do. In times gone by, some of these would be done at working bees.  In recent years, we have not had great success in attracting families to working bees as times do not always suit. 

If you see a job that needs to be done, that you are happy to take on, we would love your help and can arrange for the credit to your volunteer levy.

Some suggestions - Canteen deep clean, library tidying, lost property sorting.  This list is just a start.

Casserole Bank

The St Pat's community has a wonderful tradition of the "Casserole Bank" where families come together to provide a meal or snacks/lunchbox items for families within our school who are in need of support (for example, a new arrival, family illness or bereavement).

This year, the Casserole Bank will be coordinated through the school office.  If you are aware of a family requiring support, please contact the office.

If you are willing to help out during the year, please register your name details on the google form below & we will reach out when the need arises.  The more volunteers we have, the fewer times people will be called upon to help out.

Canteen & Cake Raffle Rosters

Thanks to those who have already signed up for the Canteen & Cake Raffle Rosters. We now have a new Canteen Sign Up Sheet available for Term 3.  We appreciate everyone's help with Canteen - without your assistance, it can not run.

Virginia Martin co-ordinates the canteen, arranging for the stocking of snack items and is happy to take questions from prospective volunteers  - 0419 883 657. 

Canteen Sign Up Sheet - volunteersignup.org/ACK7W

Cake Raffle Sign Up Sheet - volunteersignup.org/PTFPM

CANTEEN ROSTER

CAKE RAFFLE ROSTER

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to Max Hillam and Octavia Bidmade who celebrate their birthdays this week! We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends.

Star Of the Sea Parish Bulletin

Directwear Uniform

School Uniform is available from Directwear www.directwear.com.au  

Uniforms can be collected from the Directwear home address in Warrnambool or posted to you.

Contact details for Direct wear are:

email info@directwear.com.au or phone Dion Jansz: 0412 654 406

Sports Polo Shirts

The School Sports Polo shirts are purchased through the school via CDF Pay.

There has been an increase in the price of sports shirts to $50 - this is cost price from our supplier.

Dates to Remember

Please refer to the public calendar on the school website for the most up to date calendar items.

https://www.spkoroit.catholic.edu.au/news-events

Community News

Or access the details via this link: https://www.warrnambooltheatrecompany.com/colouring-comp

Warrnambool Roller Derby

Come join us for our new Learn To Skate 18+ program on Sundays from 3-4pm, $5 a session, all gear included! This is followed by Skate Fun, a fun social skate for all ages and abilities, gear available, 4-6pm on Sundays, $10.Skate Fit (also for all ages) from 6-7pm on Sundays.Junior Derby training runs in sessions according to age and ability. Primary aged students are welcome to come and try on Tuesdays from 5-6pm, and secondary aged students start on Tuesdays from 6-7pm. The first session is free to try! $10 per session, and gear is available.
Please contact us at warrnamboolrollerderby@gmail.com for any queries, or check out our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WarrnamboolRollers 

Warrnambool Winter Hunt

Lots of great prizes and free/bonus offers. The hunt is still on!