Term 4 Week 3 Newsletter- October 21
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Principal's Message
- Catholic School Culture
- School Information
- School Hats for Term 4
- Important Dates
- Learning & Teaching
- Students of the Week
- Link to our school communication app
- Leadership & Stewardship
- Community Engagement
- Parent Newsletter - The Right to Disconnect
- 175 Years of Catholic Education in Portland
- Child Safety & Wellbeing
- SchoolTV - Wellbeing Platform
- Happy Birthday
- Praying With Children
- COMMUNITY NEWS
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 Message
What an extremely busy few weeks we have had to begin this term. We have certainly had plenty going on including some wonderful learning in our classrooms.
We began our term with a fantastic concert. All our students and staff should be so proud of your efforts and the performance that you put on for our families and friends. We have received some very positive feedback.
Last Friday, and over the weekend, we celebrated 175 years of Catholic Education in Portland. We had many visitors in our school including past students, teachers and principals who came back to have a look at how we work now as a school community. They were very impressed. Miss Cobby even caught up with her grade Prep teacher from All Saints, Mrs. Farrell. I was very happy to see Mrs. Council, who was principal when I started teaching in Portland many years ago. Mrs. Lyons even came back to visit us for mass on Sunday. It was great to see so many people still interested in All Saints Parish School. Thank you to all of our students for your participation on this day and especially those students and staff who made the effort to dress up.
I would like to inform the community that we have a teaching position available for 2025. We have conducted interviews and I am pleased to announce that Andrea Jennings will join our teaching team next year. Welcome Andrea.
Friday October 25 is World Teachers Day. We would like to celebrate and thank teachers everywhere but especially the amazing teachers we have here at All Saints. We are very grateful for and appreciative of all that you do.
Our Year 3 students and teachers will be going on camp this Thursday and Friday in Warrnambool. We hope they have a wonderful time.
Please keep and eye on the upcoming events as we still have some busy weeks ahead, including our Art Show, Grandparents' Day, School Disco, Upwelling Parade and many more...
RESPECT YOURSELF, RESPECT OTHERS & RESPECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT!
Regards
Jamie
Catholic School Culture
School Information
Assembly Timetable
Assemblies commence at 2:30pm every second Friday afternoon.
Assemblies for Term 4
Week 4 - November 1 - 3/4MN
Week 6 - November 15 - FCL
Week 8 - November 29 - 5/6AD
Week 10 - December 13 - 3/4MS
Final Assembly - Wednesday December 18 - Jamie & 5/6 team
2025 Class Groupings
The Leadership team, in collaboration with teachers, are beginning to consider class groupings for 2025. Classroom teachers have not been finalised and there will be some changes with current staffing allocations due to a variety of factors.
If parents have a genuine and urgent need to discuss class placement for their child they must be in writing to the principal via email (principal@asportland.
Please note that these requests should be related to an impact on learning and not just wanting to be with a friend or a teacher. No teacher requests will be accepted. Teachers take into account all factors when working out where to place children in future classes and put a lot of effort, time and thought into these decisions.
Parents are asked to submit this information before 6:00pm on Friday November 1st.
School Hats for Term 4
School hats are compulsory for all students for term 4 when outside. This includes recesses, lunchtimes, PE lessons and any outdoor class activities. It is extremely important that we be sun smart and protect ourselves as much as we can, even on the days when we think it is not very sunny.
School hats are available from the office or can be ordered through CDF Pay and will be delivered to your child at school.
Hats are $11 each.
Important Dates
TERM 4
Week 3
Monday October 21 - Year 3/4 Regional Hoop Time Basketball - Hamilton
Monday October 21 - Bayview Information Night for Yr 7 2025 6:00pm
Tuesday October 22 - Art Show Opening Night 6:00pm-7:00pm
Thursday October 24 - District Cricket Portland Yr 5/6
Thursday October 24 - Year 5/6 Surfing Session 1
Thursday October 24 - Year 1 Dinner 3:30pm-6:00pm
Thursday October 24 - Friday October 25 - Year 3 camp in Warrnambool
Friday October 25 - WORLD TEACHER'S DAY
Friday October 25 - Yr 6 English Games Day @ Heywood & District Secondary College
Week 4
Monday October 28 - Grandparents Day
Tuesday October 29 - Year 1/2 Excursion- Budj Bim
Thursday October 31 - 5/6 Regional Girls Basketball- Colac
Thursday October 31 - Friday November 1 - Diocesan Leadership Gathering in Horsham (Jamie away)
Friday November 1 - School Disco 6:00pm-8:00pm
Saturday November 2 - Upwelling Festival
Sunday November 3 - 3 Bays Marathon Event
Week 5
Monday November 4 - STUDENT FREE DAY- Staff Report Preparation Day
Tuesday November 5 - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY - Melbourne Cup Day
Wednesday November 6 - State Athletics Carnival
Friday November 8 - Year 2 Sleepover @ School
Week 6
PSG Meetings this week on Wednesday & Thursday
Monday November 11 - 2025 Foundation Transition Session 1
Monday November 11 - Remembrance Day
Wednesday November 13 - PSG Meetings
Thursday November 14 - PSG Meetings
Thursday November 14 - 5/6 Surfing Session 2
Learning & Teaching
Having Fun in Foundation.
Term 4 is our busiest and time of the year as well as being a time of celebration!
Our topic in Religion is based on the concept of ‘Joy’. Of course, Christmas is one of the most joyful times of the year and the children will be learning the true meaning of Christmas where we come together as a school community and with our family to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They will recall times of joy and identify how we can create joy in our lives. Some of the joyful things happening this term are…
The School Concert!
After many hours of practicing, the children finally got to dress up and dance on the big stage! They had so much fun and really loved performing for you all. Thank you everyone for all your compliments. We are very proud of their wonderful effort.
The children enjoyed our 175 years of All Saints celebration. They had so much fun dressing up in olden day clothes and playing the games.
We have started swimming lessons which we will continue until the end of the year. Bec and I were surprised to observe the whole class having lots of confidence in the water. The children are also very independent in changing their clothes all by themselves. Well done parents!
Other exciting things for this term are the Art Show, Grandparent’s Day, the Upwelling festival. It will be our term to present Assembly on November 15th. We hope to see you there!
Term 4 is a time of consolidating the achievement standards for Foundation level. We will be doing lots of reviewing as well as assessments. We are very proud of the children’s enthusiasm for learning and their achievements. They are certainly ready for Year One!
Finally, one of the best ways we have learnt to spread joy in our lives, is to be a ‘bucket filler’. That means, by being kind to one another, we not only fill someone’s heart with joy, but we also create happiness in our own lives. (To find out more about being a bucket filler go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOJy8-OC0iU )
Foundation Pics
Students of the Week
NO STUDENTS OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK.
‘Never see a need without doing something about it!’
Congratulations to these students for the wonderful work and effort that others have seen from you. Keep inspiring and encouraging those around you.
Link to our school communication app
Please click the link below if you have not yet joined DoJo, our school and classroom communication tool.
Important school and classroom information is shared via this tool so we ask families to have ensure they have access to this app and notifications switched on.
Leadership & Stewardship
All Saints Parish School Leadership Team
Jamie Walsh: Principal
Kerri-Ann O'Keefe: Deputy Principal & Religious Education Leader
Christine McMahon: Learning Diversity & Wellbeing Leader
Danielle Walsh: Learning and Teaching Leader- Junior
Bonita Silva: Learning and Teaching Leader- Senior
All Saints Parish School Leadership Team
Community Engagement
$400 School Savings Bonus
Not all students are eligible to receive the School Saving Bonus in Catholic Schools.
Non-government school students who will be in Foundation through to Year 12 in 2025, and who are receiving the means-tested Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF), are eligible for the School Saving Bonus.
Parents and carers do not need to apply, with the School Saving Bonus being paid to non-government schools for eligible students from late November 2024.
The $400 School Saving Bonus is available for each child in the family attending the school. That means an eligible family with three school-aged children will receive a total of $1,200. Importantly, the School Saving Bonus is available in addition to the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund.
Additional SSB payments will be made to schools in 2025, for eligible students new to the school in 2025, after schools submit the required information to the Department of Education.
Parents of eligible students are encouraged to discuss their needs with their school prior to the SSB being distributed. SSB payments are to be managed in consultation with the eligible student’s family.
Unused money from the SSB can be transferred to a sibling at the same school if one child finishes school.
The SSB cannot be combined across different schools, and cannot be transferred between government and non-government schools.
School Advisory Council Vacancies
We have some vacancies on our SAC. If you are a parent who is interested or would like more information please contact me at school via email at principal@asportland.catholic.edu.au
Parent Newsletter - The Right to Disconnect
Incredible as it seems, Australians are depending on legislation to enforce their right to electronically disconnect outside of work hours. In an education sector context, the new law presents some unique challenges as schools are now required to carefully evaluate and adjust out-of-work-hours for teachers. On the one hand, schools have legitimate operational needs that may require teachers to work outside of normal school hours, such as supervising school camps, sports activities, and extra-curricular programs. On the other hand, teachers should be allowed to have a private life as well and not be "permanently on call", but disconnect from work demands during their personal time. How can we manage this delicate balance?
175 Years of Catholic Education in Portland
Child Safety & Wellbeing
At All Saints Parish School we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school.
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:
- Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school
- eSafety 101: how eSafety can help you
- Download and share the Term 4 webinar schedule
- In case you missed it
Download the schedule
eSafety-Term-4-2024-Parent-carer-Webinar-Flyer (PDF, 93.84KB)
2024 parent and carer webinar schedule (PDF, 155.03KB)DownloadExternal link
Download
Thunderstorm Asthma – be prepared this pollen season
What is Thunderstorm Asthma?
Thunderstorm asthma is a serious and potentially life-threatening phenomenon that can occur during specific weather conditions. It is common throughout all parts of Victoria, particularly during spring when thunderstorms coincide with high levels of pollen in the air.
This combination can trigger severe asthma symptoms, even in people who have not previously experienced asthma or allergies.
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are uncommon and don't occur every year. In south-east Australia they can happen during grass pollen season from October through December.
What Causes Thunderstorm Asthma?
During a thunderstorm, pollen grains can be swept up into the clouds, where they break into smaller particles due to moisture. These tiny particles then get blown down by the winds and spread across a wide area. Because they are so small, they can be easily inhaled, reaching deep into the lungs and triggering asthma symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
CONCUSSION- IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If your child has experienced concussion, it is important that you follow recommended medical advice. Returning to school can be a graduated approach with the aim of increasing tolerance to a fulld ay, the sam situation could occur with sport. It is always important to check with your with your doctor and seek medical treatment after a child sustains a concussion.
It is important to inform the school if your child has sustained a concussion outside of the school setting so we can monitor for ongoing symptoms and adapt activities if required.
The factsheet link below from the Royal Children's Hospital is valuable to read and understand.
There is also a great evidence-based app from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute that walks you through what to do in the result of a concussion.
SchoolTV - Wellbeing Platform
All Saints Parish School’s ‘School TV’ can be accessed using the following link: https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me
A Special Report: The Cost of Living Crisis
In our ever-changing economic landscape, parents and caregivers are increasingly faced with the task of broaching the subject of growing expenses with their children. While the instinct may be to shield young people from life’s challenges, there's a growing belief that addressing real-world issues, including financial uncertainties, can actually foster resilience and understanding. Striking a balance between protection and education is crucial for those looking to empower their children.
To effectively introduce the topic of finances, we need to be mindful of the timing and setting of the conversation. Using straightforward, age-appropriate language helps maintain transparency, and openly discussing adjustments to the family budget can carry significant weight. By encouraging children to participate in finding creative ways to save and make thoughtful spending choices, parents can nurture a sense of responsibility.
This Special Report offers a valuable opportunity to enhance children's financial literacy, equipping them with the resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report:
https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-cost-living-crisis-au
Happy Birthday
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
STUDENTS: Ella M, Nestor V, Georgiana L, Raphael S, Willow S, Sarah D, Ebony H, Winnie F, Logan R, Phoebe B, Zayden L, Lance C, Bailey S, Liam W, Atley S, Bentley J, Amelia B, Zane O, Easton C
STAFF: Adele, Mr. Debono, Mr. Walsh, Miss Michelle, Fr. Greg, Miss O'Keefe
Praying With Children
Praying with Children resources offer an insight into the scripture readings from mass on the weekend. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to discuss the Gospel stories and complete some related activities if they wish.
COMMUNITY NEWS
