Term 1 Week 7 Newsletter- Tuesday 11 March 2025

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.

All Saints Parish School Vision

Principal's Message

How wonderful was the weather for our long weekend? I hope everyone found some time for relaxation and fun with a few extra days off for our students over the weekend.

We wish our Year 4 students and teachers good luck as the venture to Dunkeld for their camp this week. Then our 5/6s head to Ballarat in search of their fortune at Sovereign Hill next week. We hope they all have a wonderful time and represent our school well.

The NAPLAN window opens this weeks and will continue for the next couple of weeks. Our Year 3 and Year 5 students will participate in NAPLAN testing in Writing, Language Conventions, Reading and Numeracy. While we value these assessments we are fully aware that they do not assess all that makes our students special and unique, there is so much more to them than what can be demonstrated in one assessment. We wish our students all the best as they participate in these assessments and encourage them just to do their best.

I would like to ask all families who use our 'Fast Pick Up Loop' at the end of the day to please be patient. If there is a car waiting in front of you please do not drive around it. Please wait patiently for the car in front to move off and then you can follow. A reminder also that all children must enter and exit the car from the passenger side so that they are not walking around the car at such a busy time.

As we continue the season of Lent, in preparation for Easter, we remember that it is a time of prayer fasting and almsgiving. We strengthen our relationship with God and with those in our community. Last Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, our students burned their Lenten promises and acts of Goodwill in a ceremony at school. The ashes from these were then used in our Ash Wednesday celebrations at school and in the parish.

As we continue to move towards the end of term I would like to thank all of our families for your ongoing support in our partnership as we continue to provide opportunities for your children and their education at All Saints.

We are Respectful! We are Responsible! We are Safe! We are Nurturing!

Regards

Jamie  

Burning our Lenten Promises and Acts of Goodwill

Catholic School Culture

Project Compassion 2025

This Lent, we are called to Unite Against Poverty through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. 

Families have had the chance to collect a Project Compassion box last week, there are some still available at the office if you would like one at home. There is also a Project Compassion box in each classroom if students have some money they would like to donate. This is an opportunity to collect change for those less fortunate around the world. The money will be sent to Caritas Australia for use in their projects. Some of these projects will be highlighted on the newsletter in coming weeks. 

Your generous support this Lenten season will enable Caritas Australia to provide life-changing support to communities facing poverty, food insecurity, lack of education, and water shortages, while building resilience against future challenges. Together, through faith and action, we can bring compassion and opportunity to those most in need.

Thanks for your support. 

ECSI Surveys for Families- we need your input!

All families should now have received a letter to invite you to participate in the ECSI Survey which will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic identity is expressed in work and practice here at All Saints Parish School.

The ECSI Survey is a key element of this process and we request your participation. The online survey gathers responses from students in Years 5 and 6, all staff and a representative sample of parents.

You will be asked to complete the survey online; it may take up to an hour to do so. We would really appreciate if all families could complete this survey. The more surveys that are completed will mean that we have more data to analyse. 

All families have received a letter regarding participation in the survey. 

In appreciation of your time taken to complete this survey, once you have completed your survey please take a screen shot of the final page to say that it has been submitted and email it to principal@asportland.catholic.edu.au to go into the draw for 1 of 5 vouchers on offer.

School Information

Assembly Timetable

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

Assemblies for Term 1

Week 8: 3/4DL

Assemblies for Term 2

Week 2: 5/6BS

Week 4: 3/4JS

Week 6: 5/6RV

Week 8: 3/4AJ

Week 10: 1/2DW

The Wellbeing Barometer Survey- 2025

A Special Report: The Wellbeing Barometer - 2025

The Wellbeing Barometer survey is an invaluable tool for schools, providing critical insights into the mental health and wellbeing of young people. This annual survey identifies areas of concern, highlights resilience and adaptability in students, and emphasises the importance of preventative strategies to promote positive outcomes.

Participation in this survey is strongly encouraged, as it offers a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements. By capturing a detailed understanding of young people's experiences, the survey supports a tailored approach to enhancing their mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. It helps to identify strengths and areas for improvement, as well as pinpoint opportunities for early intervention.

The survey is part of an ongoing longitudinal study, and we encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey for each of your children. Responses remain anonymous and should be based on your observations over the last 12 months. By working together, we can reduce the long-term impact of mental illness and make a meaningful difference to the lives of our young people for a brighter future.

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-wellbeing-barometer-2025-au

School Closure Days

Please add the following dates to your calendars. There will be no school for students on these days.

Term 1

Wednesday January 29 - SWPBS (completed)

Tuesday March 11 - Structured Literacy (completed)

Term 2

Thursday April 24 - Southern Zone Collaboration Day (DOBCEL determined date)

TBC- Curriculum Day- Maths

Term 3

TBC- Faith Formation & Religious Education

Term 4

Monday October 6 - Structured Literacy

Monday November 3 - Report Writing & Assessments

Please note: We will notify families of the TBC dates as early as possible so that any arrangements for supervision of your children can be arranged.

Important Dates

Term 1 

Week 7

Monday March 10 - Labour Day Public Holiday- No school for anyone

Tuesday March 11 - Student Free Day: Staff Professional Learning- Structured Literacy- No school for students

Tuesday March 11 - Bayview eDay for all Yr 7s in 2026

Wednesday March 12 - NAPLAN Testing Window opens

Wednesday March 12- Friday March 14 - Year 4 camp to Dunkeld

Week 8

Monday March 17 - Wednesday March 19 - Year 5/6 camp to Ballarat

Friday March 21 - Harmony Day

Week 9

Thursday March 27 - PHDSSA Interschool Athletics Carnival (for selected students)

Week 10

Wednesday April 2 - Sacrament of Penance

Thursday April 3 - GRIP Leadership Conference for Student Leaders

Friday April 4 - Last day of term 1

Term 2 

Week 1

Tuesday April 22- First day of term 2

Thursday April 24 - Student Free Day: Southern Zone Collaboration Day (DOBCEL determined date)

Friday April 25 - ANZAC Day public holiday- No school for anyone

Week 2

Monday April 28 - SCHOOL PHOTOS - sports uniform to be worn

Learning & Teaching

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.

This year the testing window begins on March 12th and takes place over several days. 

Please find below some information about NAPLAN. If you have any questions please contact your child's classroom teacher or contact the school office. 

Students of the Week

Term 1 Week 6 Assembly

FCL: Callum McPherson

FYW: Addy Wilson

1/2DW: Zoe Tait

1/2ID: Ryder Marra

1/2MS: Willow Cracknell

3/4DL: Atley Sutton

3/4JS:  Nash Neave 

3/4KD: Harriet Howman & Theo Donovan

3/4MN:  Jensen Inman

5/6AJ: Grace Iddon

5/6BS: Sonny Micallef

5/6DC:  Maya Dodson

5/6RV: Ashlynn Nickless

Indonesian: Izobel Oliver, Lucy Crimmins  & Hunter Jennings

Phys Ed:  Varia Green

The ARTS (Music): Kaden Holland

Principal’s Award:  Sunnie Chow

‘Never see a need without doing something about it!’

SWPBS Award: 

'We are Responsible' - Emmy Bicknell 

'We are Nurturing' - Aubrey Kerr

SWPBS- School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports

School Wide Expectations

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support is: A multi-tiered framework for establishing the social culture and behaviour supports needed for a school to achieve behavioural and academic outcomes for all students.

Each  newsletter we will share one aspect for each of our school wide expectations. We will focus on these at school and they may present an opportunity for some discussion with your children at home. You may ask them when they demonstrated one of the expectations or a time when someone displayed the expectation towards them.

We are RESPECTFUL!- Speak with a calm, kind and polite voice.

We are RESPONSIBLE!- Take ownership of ourselves and our actions

We are SAFE!- Report unsafe behaviour to an adult. 

We are NURTURING!- Speak positively to others and use kind words.

Leadership & Stewardship

New Research Highlights Lifelong Benefits of Catholic Schooling

Recent research has revealed compelling evidence of the lifelong benefits for individuals who attended Catholic schools. A study by the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES) at Victoria University, using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, found that Catholic school graduates enjoy significant advantages in employment, income, health and life satisfaction.

Key findings show that Catholic school graduates are more likely to be employed and earn higher wages—ranging from 4 to 11 percent more than those who attended government schools. They also tend to work in industries that contribute to the public good and are more likely to donate to charitable causes. Beyond financial benefits, the study highlights higher levels of life satisfaction and better personal health outcomes for Catholic school attendees.

The HILDA Survey, which tracks Australians’ wellbeing over time, underscores the long-term value of Catholic education. Led by Mr. Andrew Wade and his team, this research supports the notion that Catholic schools provide students with a foundation for success, both personally and professionally. It reaffirms the positive impact of Catholic education on graduates’ careers, financial security, and overall well-being.

Community Engagement

Working With Children Checks

It is a legal requirement that any person wishing to volunteer in our school must have a valid WWCC. This includes volunteering in the canteen, helping in classrooms, assisting with garden club and going on school camps or excursions. You can obtain a WWCC by visiting the following website:

https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check 

All you require is a 'volunteer' WWCC which is free. 

Once you have received your confirmation and your WWCC card please bring it to the office so that we can take a copy and add it to our records. 

We would love to see you involved in our school community.

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:

  • Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school
  • Algorithms and adolescents: the rewards and risks of recommender systems for young people
  • Download and share: Term 1 2025

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Student Attendance

It is a legal requirement for schools to contact families if students are absent from school without an explanation. As a result, our office staff are required to contact you from 10:00am if your child is absent from school and you have not let us know. Please phone, email or add Parent Notified absences through PAM. Thanks!

Safe on Social: Parent Library- free access

We have purchased a fabulous resource from cyber safety experts, Safe on Social, for families to use for the next 12 months. With the increase in online activity in everyday life it is important to be aware of and equipped to deal with any issues that may arise.

This resource is free for All Saints families under our school license but it cannot be shared with other families outside our school community.

It is all about keeping our students safe online.

As this is a new resource for our school we would really appreciate any feedback from families who use it.

SchoolTV - Wellbeing Platform

Because parenting doesn’t come with a set of instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting.

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

Below is a URL link to the All Saints SchoolTV platform. 

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

A Special Report: Social Media & Comparison Culture

Young people today are growing up in a world where exposure to other people's lives is constant. Through social media and other platforms, they are regularly presented with curated highlights - from flawless holiday photos and academic milestones to the latest fashion trends and fitness achievements. This continuous stream of idealised content fuels what is known as comparison culture, where self-worth is often measured by how someone stacks up against others.

For children and adolescents, who are still figuring out who they are, this culture can be particularly damaging. Constantly comparing their appearance, achievements, or social standing to friends, influencers, and even strangers can lead to unrealistic expectations and a skewed sense of self-worth. This relentless need to measure up can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety - undermining both confidence and emotional wellbeing.

It's vital that parents and caregivers understand how deeply comparison culture can influence a child's self-perception and sense of value. Left unchecked, it can foster perfectionism and a dependence on external validation, where a 'like' or comment becomes the measure of their worth.

The good news is, families have a powerful role to play in helping young people navigate these challenges. This Special Report will help you empower your child to build the resilience and confidence needed to navigate today's comparison-driven world and embrace their own unique path.

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-social-media-comparison-culture-au

Happy Birthday

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

STUDENTS:  Aubree Johnstone, Alice Vassiliou, Ezra Chase, Samantha Lyszczarz, Caleb Mayer, Van Mayer, Logie Tomkins, Isla Reid, Jarvis Toohey, Victor Vassiliou, Edward Blood, Isabella Camilleri, Lola Ford, Tayah Jackson, Lucas Kerr, David Staples, Indiah Gray-Brewster, Mia Tobolov, Trinidy Brewer, Charlotte Hawker, Billie-Lee Johnson, Amelia Tait, Noah Hill, Jayden Jackson, Banjo Mewburn. Ruby Patrono (Feb 24)

STAFF:  Boo Roberts, Jess R, Miss Mall, Mrs Anderson

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.

Please click on each of the flyers below to access the activities.

COMMUNITY NEWS