Term 1 Week 3 Newsletter- February 12

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the traditional owners, the Gunditjmara people, on whose land we learn, work and play. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their elders- past, present and emerging believing that we can walk together for a better future.

Principal's Report

Our wonderful start to the year has continued and all children are doing an amazing job of settling back into the routines and procedures of school life. 

Thank you to all families who attended our Parent/Teacher catch up sessions to meet your child's teacher for the year. The teachers found these meetings very beneficial and loved meeting the parents or carers of the students in their care each day at school. If you were unable to attend last week please reach out to your child's teacher to have a chat or arrange a time to catch up.

At All Saints we have access to SCHOOLTV which is a wellbeing platform for schools. More information has been included in this newsletter.

Please also see further below in this newsletter for information about the Wellbeing Barometer Survey which is part of our SchoolTV platform.

Your participation in the Wellbeing Barometer survey is crucial in helping us gain insights into the mental health and wellbeing of our students. Your anonymous input this year will aid in identifying both strengths and areas for improvement, allowing for early intervention strategies to be implemented.

We kindly ask you to take a few moments to complete a survey for each of your children. Your feedback will guide us in providing the best support possible in the months ahead. Should you have any concerns or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your participation and ongoing support in this area.

We wish our 5/6 students and teachers all the best as they head to Melbourne later this week on camp. We are sure they will have a fun time.

We had a wonderful celebration last Friday for our Opening School Mass. Thank you Fr Greg and the parisioners for celebrating with us. Our Foundation students did an especially good job for their first time in the church building. Thank you to our families who also joined us for this celebration.

I encourage everyone to be mindful of our three important things to remember from assembly on Friday:

RESPECT YOURSELF, RESPECT OTHERS & RESPECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT!

Regards

Jamie  

Student Free Day - Wednesday 21st February

Students are not required at school on Wednesday 21st February as staff will be attending a Structured Literacy professional development day in Warrnambool. 

Prayer

Ash Wednesday

School Information

Assemblies for Term 1

Assemblies commence at 2:30pm every second Friday afternoon.

Families and friends are welcome to join us for assemblies.

Week 4 - Feb 23 - 5/6RV 

Week 6 - March 8 - TBC

Week 8 - March 22 - 3/4JS

Newsletters

Newsletters are distributed fortnightly on Monday afternoon. They will come out in Week 3, 5, 7 & 9 of each term.

Our newsletters are sent out digitally via email or can be accessed via the Schoolzine app or on the homepage of our website.

School Canteen

Our school canteen operates every Thursday (unless otherwise notified). Orders need to be placed by Wednesday night in preparation for Thursday.

Orders are placed through CDF Pay which can be accessed via the Schoolzine app, on the homepage of our website or on the web at asportland.cdfpay.org.au . Our canteen menu can also be found at these sites.

School Fees

The annual school fee statement has been emailed out to families.  We would like to remind families to please check their Junk Mail folders if they cannot find this account.  The statement has the school BSB and account number located on it for those families who prefer to pay directly into the school account.

The fee statement will have billed families for all costs associated with their child(ren) for 2024, and can be paid via direct debit, directly into the school bank account or at the front office by EFTPOS or cash.  Fees paid in full by 31st March will receive a discount.

Families who have opted to have the school direct debit their fees will have had their January payments already deducted.  If you would like the school to set up a direct debit you can collect a form from the front office. 

Health Care/Pension Cards

Reminder to all families who hold a valid Health Care or Pension Card to ensure the school has a copy of your card.  If this is your first year using your HHC or PC at the school you will also need to complete the CSEF Form required by the government - this allows you to receive a payment towards camps and excursions/sports activities.

Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Student Medical Information Updates Required

A reminder that we require all families to login to PAM and update their child's medical information if any details have changed or if you are a new family to All Saints School.   Please ensure that this is completed as soon as possible.

To update a medical profile for your child/children please follow these instructions:

1. Click on the link to PAM (found on SZ App or on the All Saints School website)
2. Click on student. (Remember that each child has their own medical profile)
3. Click on Medical Profile (blue writing to the left of screen)
4. Check all questions and select Edit Details for updates to be made.
5. Once you get to the end of the questions please confirm by clicking on the Green “Update Details” box found at the bottom right of screen.

As a parent/guardian you are able to access your child/rens medical profile on PAM at any time to update as needed.

If you have any queries or require your PAM login details, please do not hesitate to contact the office. 

Annual Permission Form

Families are asked to log into PAM to complete the Annual Permission form for each of their children attending All Saints School.  

Some Important Dates

Wednesday February 14- Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent)

Wednesday February 14- AFL Footy Super Clinic with the Geelong Cats (Yr 4 students)

Wednesday February 14-Friday February 16- Year 5/6 camp- Melbourne

Wednesday February 21- Student Free Day- Staff PD- Structured Literacy

Friday March 1- World Day of Prayer

Tuesday March 5- Free Parenting Forum @ All Saints 7:00pm (see flyer below)

Thursday March 7- Family Maths Night F-2

Wednesday March 13- NAPLAN Testing Window Opens

Wednesday March 13- Friday March 15- Year 4 camp- Dunkeld

Wednesday March 20- Sacrament of Penance

Thursday March 21- Harmony Day

Monday March 25- School Athletics Carnival

Thursday March 28- Last Day of Term

Learning and Teaching

Let's see what has been happening in Foundation

What a wonderful beginning for our Foundation children’s first year of school! They are settling in very well and learning to follow daily routines and expectations. The class is getting very good at listening with their whole body! Their big buddies are doing a great job looking after their little buddies in the playground and helping them to follow school rules during outside play times.

In maths we are focusing on counting and place value using numbers to 10. In English we are learning how to form letters correctly and listen for the sounds the letters make in words. This term we will focus on the letter sounds of s, a, t, p, I, n and c. We have also started learning Indonesian. We know that Nama saya means ‘My name is’ and ‘bagus’ which means ‘good’!

Our religion topic is ‘Belonging’. The activities are designed to help each child feel like they are an important member of the class and our all Saints community. This also ties in with our Inquiry topic ‘Learning to Learn’ where we explore how we can make a happy and productive learning environment. The children really enjoy ‘Investigations’ where that can develop their social and emotional skills through play-based learning-the best way to learn!

A big thankyou to all our parents and carers for all your support in your children’s learning journey in their Foundation year, 2024.

Foundation Fun

Students of the Week

FCL: Austin Annett & Zimi Lyons

1/2YW: Isabella Camilleri & Zade Edwards

1/2DW: Zane Oliver & Jaisshu Yuvaraj

1/2ID: Bailey Sharam & Benji Smith

1/2MR: Hunter Jennings & Willow Sutton

3/4DL:  Dolly Buchner & Charlotte Norman

3/4MS: Bonnie Shippard & Sharlotte Gordon

3/4JS: Indiah Gray-Brewster & Emmy Bicknell

3/4MN: Maya Dodson & Rose McCallum

5/6AD: Travis Barnes & Lillianna Richardson

5/6BS:  Kaylee Johnstone & Ollie Rethus 

5/6RV: Toa Rayson & Nevaeh Stephens

5/6DC: Darcy Webb & Olivia James

Indonesian:  Bridget Akers & Liam Webb

Science: Harley Johnstone & James Appleby

Art: Kaden Holland & Lewis Polkinghorne

Phys Ed: Laura Watson & Sophia Budde

Principal's Award: “Never see a need without doing something about it”: Miss O’Keefe

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE STUDENTS FOR BEING AN AMAZING MEMBER OF YOUR CLASS AND OUR SCHOOL!

All Saints Clubs

This year we are providing opportunities for our students to engage in a variety of different clubs to be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes.

Some of the positive outcomes of running our clubs are described below:

• Boosts Confidence: Participating in clubs helps our students to realise their talents and boosts their self-esteem.

• Networking Opportunities: Meeting new peers and building relationships.

• Develops Life and Social Skills: Working in a team and facing challenges helps children develop important skills.

• Enjoyment: Students attending clubs that they are genuinely interested in promotes happiness and positive wellbeing for our students.

• Mindfulness: Clubs offer a calm, safe space to engage in passive play and mindfulness activities.

Clubs began this week for 2024 and we had lots of enthusiastic students come along!

Christine McMahon

Wellbeing Leader

Lunchtime Clubs

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Structured Literacy

We are thrilled to announce that our school - along with many others - has joined the Diocese of Ballarat's Structured Literacy Project. In 2024 we will be taking the first steps towards a renewed, evidence-based approach to Literacy instruction through participation in this award-winning research partnership with La Trobe University.

The Sciences of Reading and Learning tell us that a systematic, explicit approach to the teaching of the alphabetic code and the grammatical rules that underpin written English offers our students the best chance at becoming confidently literate. The approach we are strategically adopting is called Structured Literacy, which is the approach endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association, the International Literacy Association and the Australian National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy.

Our whole staff group will be working closely with the Structured Literacy team from the Catholic Education Office over the next few years, to learn more about the principles, elements and characteristics of a Structured Literacy approach with a school closure on Wednesday 21st February dedicated to this new learning.This is a substantial change that will take time. However, we are assured by the results achieved in the pilot schools and the endorsement of the La Trobe University researchers.

We will strive to keep you updated on the progress of this important project, but for now you may wish to watch this short video from the DOBCEL Structured Literacy team to find out more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLLrFOqmg7k

Attached to this newsletter is important information regarding the collection of data for the research project. If you do not wish for your child/children’s data to be used in the study, you may opt out by:

1. Printing and returning the attached form.

2. Requesting a hard copy form from the office.

3. Emailing your form to the office at admin@asportland.catholic.edu.au 

SchoolTV - Wellbeing

Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting relating to youth mental health and wellbeing. Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources with practical strategies to help alleviate some of the challenges being faced by young people today.

Watch video interviews with leading wellbeing specialists and browse a library of resources. Each topic is accompanied by factsheets, podcasts, books, articles, apps and other videos.

This award-winning resource helps families build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It will assist you in starting those conversations on topics that can sometimes be awkward or difficult to tackle.

Parents and caregivers are the greatest influence on a young person's life and SchoolTV focuses on empowering confident parenting.

Explore SchoolTV today!

SchoolTV is freely available to our school community in 2024. 

It provides a wealth of information in a wide range of areas. 

Some of these include:

• school transition
• managing screen time
• school refusal
• youth anxiety
• online gaming
• friendships
• & many more

In accessing school TV, you can be assured that the information you are receiving is approved by experts, including Dr Michael Carr-Greg.  There are short videos of specialists answering common questions, fact sheets, and additional resources.  

We will regularly share snippets from SchoolTV in our newsletter.

All Saints Parish School’s ‘School TV’ can be accessed using the following link: https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me

This link will also be added to our school website in the near future.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Wellbeing Barometer 2024

The Wellbeing Barometer survey has proven to be an invaluable tool for schools, providing insights into the state of youth mental health and wellbeing. Whilst last year’s results focussed the spotlight on areas of concern, there were also many highlights that demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of students and emphasised the necessity of prevention strategies.

Participating in this year's survey, will assist in identifying areas of strength and concern, as well as pinpointing opportunities for early intervention. Previously gathered information has helped support families as they navigate difficult conversations that enable understanding and foster connections to build relationships.

This survey is part of an ongoing, longitudinal study, with the results being instrumental in tailoring support for students and their families. Participation is strongly encouraged, as it provides a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements over the past year. Its aim is to capture a comprehensive picture of young people's lives, allowing for a tailored approach to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.

We encourage you to take a few moments to complete a survey for each of your children. This will help us determine the nature and extent of your concerns and how best to support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.

Acquiring the skills for future independence, taking healthy risks, and giving young people the opportunity to emancipate from parents, are key developmental tasks that are essential if we are to stave off the impact of mental illness in the future. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the school or seek professional medical advice.

Here is the link to your special report https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-2024-au

Save the Date: Family Math Night - Foundation, Yr 1 & Yr 2

Thursday March 7th our Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 families are invited to join us for a Family Maths Night at school from 5:30pm.

More information will be shared in the coming weeks.

Leadership & Stewardship

Congratulations to our 2024 School Leaders.

Zena Howman, Harry Rogers, Charlie Dainty & Sabra Campbell

2024 House Leaders

Congratulations to our 2024 House Leaders

Community Engagement

Working With Children Checks

There are many opportunities for parents and carers to get involved in our school community and volunteering is one of those.

It is a requirement under our Child Safety Policy that all volunteers must have a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC). We recommend that anyone who is thinking they may like to volunteer in the canteen, in classrooms or maybe even on a camp at some stage apply for a WWCC. They are free for volunteers and can be found at https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check

When you have received your WWCC card just bring it to the office so that we can take a copy of it and add it to our files.

Free Parenting Workshop @ All Saints

Relay for Life- Saturday March 16

This year we are delighted to again be participating in the upcoming Relay For Life event on Saturday March 16th.

At All Saints Parish School, we firmly believe in instilling values of compassion, empathy, and social responsibility in our students. Participating in events like Relay For Life not only aligns with our educational ethos but also provides an invaluable opportunity for our students to actively engage with the community and make a positive impact beyond the classroom walls.

If you would like to join our team or make a donation please use the following link.
https://www.relayforlife.org.au/fundraisers/AllSaintsParishSchool4400

Catholic School Culture

Opening School Mass

On Friday our whole school travelled down to All Saints Church to celebrate our Opening School Mass with Fr. Greg and the parishioners.

At this mass we commissioned our staff and School and House Leaders. Our leaders also received their badges. and a blessing from Fr Greg.

Opening School Mass

The Season of Lent

This week we begin the Liturgical season of Lent in the Church calendar.  It begins with Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days until Easter. Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, people of Catholic faith seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; they serve by giving alms; and they practice self-control through fasting. They are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as they seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. It is a journey that brings them closer to God and closer to each other.

Sacrament of Penance

During this season of Lent, there are a number of students preparing to receive the Sacrament of Penance at the end of the term. Throughout their preparation students will explore themes of realising error or faults, acknowledging mistakes, asking for forgiveness and rebuilding relationships.  

Preparation of this Sacrament is completed at home with their families. We wish them all the best during this period of preparation and look forward to gathering on Wednesday 20^th March when students will receive the Sacrament.

Any students (Yr 3 and up) wishing to take part in this sacramental preparation are asked to contact Miss O’Keefe. 

Child Safety & Wellbeing

Webinars for parents and carers

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars 

Join one of our free webinars for parents and carers.

These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.

On this page:

• eSafety 101: How eSafety can help
• Understanding how to support your child with online gaming
• Understanding parental controls to safeguard your child
• Online safety and social media: TikTok, YouTube and Instagram
• Download and share the Term 1 webinar schedule
• In case you missed it

Download the schedule

2024 parent and carer webinar schedule (PDF, 99.3KB)Download

Happy Birthday

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

STUDENTS: Emma G, Indianna M, Emmy B, Kaylee J, Kaziah M, Bonnie S, Ilaria T, Charlie M, Ethan A, Dylan H, Sonny D, Gabby D, Willow B, Nate L, Jarvis L, Ryan C, Harriet H, Sylvester V 

STAFF: Bec, Mrs Silva, Miss Wood, Kieran, Miss Simpson

Praying With Children

COMMUNITY NEWS

SEA Change Community Workshop

Do you have a community event, project or activity idea that supports healthy eating, physical activity or social connection that you’d like to get off the ground?
Why not come along to our next action planning workshop and pitch your idea!

This workshop will bring like-minded community members and organisations together to plan their projects and activities that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the Portland and district community.

Don’t have a project idea, but have skills you’d like to share? You are most welcome to come along and get involved.

Thursday 22^nd Feb
Portland Library (Small Meeting Room)
Bentinck Street, Portland
1pm-2:30pm OR 7pm-8:30pm

(You will only need to attend one session)

Must register through Eventbrite, as there are limited spots available.
Afternoon session: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sea-change-community-workshop-afternoon-tickets-807372552037
Evening session: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sea-change-community-workshop-evening-tickets-807390234927?aff=oddtdtcreator

Any questions, please contact the Health Promotion Team at Portland District Health on 03 5522 1197 or email promotions.pdh@swarh.vic.gov.au

Introducing ACA – People Outdoors: Camps for People Living with Disability

‘Adventure For All’
ACA - People Outdoors, a program of the Australian Camps Association, was established in 1989 to provide outdoor recreation for people of all ages living with disability. Our programs include two-night weekend through to four-day residential camps held during the school holidays. Our participants are looked after by our team of disability support workers for the duration of camp. So, if you’d like the opportunity to experience the social and developmental benefits of adventure outdoors, please contact our team on 03 9863 6824 or visit our website for more information – www.peopleoutdoors.org.au