Term 4 Week 7 Newsletter- November 13

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

It is very hard to believe that we are in week 7 of term 4 already. Time just seems to be flying by so quickly and we still have so much to achieve before the end of the year.

We had a very busy weekend last weekend with our school disco on Friday night, the Upwelling Festival parade on Saturday and then on Sunday our relay team won the primary school relay race at the 3 Bays Marathon. Well done to everyone who particiapted and thank you to anyone who was involved in organising these events.

Spare a thought for our teachers at the moment as they spend many hours outside of school time working on preparing student reports. Our teachers work very hard on these to give our families an accurate picture of student achievement. I thank our teachers for the work that they put into these reports.

Regards

Jamie  

Prayer

Remembrance Day - A Story of Past Present and Future

On Saturday, November 11th, it was Remembrance Day. It was a day for us as a community to remember and reflect upon the sacrifices that those who have gone before us have made and to think of those who are currently serving in the defence forces. In light of the tragedy that is unfolding in the middle east and for the war that continues in Ukraine, it is timely for us to relentlessly pursue peace and justice everywhere and all times- by beginning with our own words, actions and attitudes.

Invitation to prayer…

We pray that we will bring justice and peace. 

For all those affected by war in Ukraine, Gaza, Israel and throughout the world: for those serving in areas of conflict, for all who feel they must fight when there seems no other choice: for their families who wait in fear and anticipation for their safe return, for those who don’t return… In peace we pray.

We pray that we will bring justice and peace. 

For the world that in so many places stands on the brink of war: for organisations that work for peace where peace seems most unattainable; for wisdom and courage for all political leaders… In peace we pray.

We pray that we will bring justice and peace. 

For all people everywhere: for peace between people of different religions; for peace among those who share the same faith; for reconciliation and healing that will one day lead to unity… In peace we pray.

We pray that we will bring justice and peace. 

For peace in our neighbourhoods and streets; for peace in our homes; for peace within each human heart, For peace always in our own hearts… In peace we pray.

We pray that we will bring justice and peace.

Amen

Taken from the Catholic Education Ballarat Weekly Newsletter #35

Adapted from https://www.stbrendans.qld.edu.au/we-will-remember-them-remembrance-day-2019-reflection/

Learning and Teaching

Students of the Week

FCL: Masie Thomas & Victor Vassiliou

FRP: Ollie Peters & Zander Vaughan

1/2DW: Lexie Stavrakis & Theo Donovan

1/2ID: Savannah Sutton & Charlie Foster

1/2MR: Charlotte Norman & Hailey Schlemmer

1/2MN: Grace Stephanson & Lance Chase

3/4DL: Ivy Donovan & Millie Rogers

3/4JS: Zaila Cox & Vossie Vosloo

3/4GM: Ellie Rethus & Giro Gavino

5/6AD: Braxtyn Moore & Kelsey Taylor

5/6BS: Melodi Fairweather & Savarnna Loft

5/6RV: Summer Chow & Maria Kip

Science: 

Music: Alicia Iddon & Noah Kempton

PE:

PRINCIPAL'S AWARD: James Appleby

We congratulate these students on their wonderful work. Well done everyone!

Great South West Walk Art Exhibition

The Great South West Walk is celebrating their 40^th Anniversary this year. 

To celebrate this occasion there is currently an art exhibition at the Glenelg Library in Portland of works of art by school students from the Portland and District schools. Our Year 4 students create some wonderful art depicting their favourite spots along the Great South West Walk. They have done a great job in showcasing the beauty of nature including the forest, beaches, wildlife and scenic landscape of the walk. 

The exhibition will be open until Friday 17^th November and there is an open invitation to everyone to get along to the library to view the works of art and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Great South West Walk.  

Halloween Disco

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Upwelling Parade

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Leadership & Stewardship

2024 classes

Preparation for 2024 is in full swing and class lists are currently being finalised. If your family circumstances are changing in 2024 and you will no longer be attending All Saints, please advise the school office as soon as possible. 

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

The Scholastic Book Fair is up and running in the school libarary.  Families are welcome to visit the Book Fair after school from 3.30pm to 4pm, with books and novelty items available for purchase.  Students will have visited the Book Fair with their classes and will have an idea of items they would like.  Please note, this is a 'wishlist' only and parents are not obliged to purchase these items.  

The Book Fair is also a fantastic place to grab some Christmas gifts.  If you would prefer some of these to be collected by you separately please let the office know.

Book Fair runs until 22nd November in the school libarary (3.30-4.00pm)

Mini Fete - Friday 1st December

Our Year 6 students are excitedly organising our student Mini Fete.  This will be held on Friday 1st December from 12.30 -2.00pm.   There will be stalls, games and food for the students to enjoy.  

We would like to thank families who have already brought in donations for the Mini Fete.  There is a box in the school foyer for anyone still wishing to donate to place items.

School Christmas Carols Evening

Each year our the school hosts a Carols evening.  Families are welcome to bring along  a chair/blanket and some food to eat while they enjoy watching our classes each perform Carols numbers - accompanied by the music students. 

This is a wonderful chance for our school community to gather and celebrate their children and the lead up to Christmas.  Families are welcome from 6pm with singing commencing at 7pm.

We will also be raffling off gingerbread houses made by the 5/6 students, which is always a much anticipated event by our students!   Raffle tickets will be available soon for purchase.

Community Christmas Carols - Sunday 3rd December (Portland Foreshore)

Year 6 Events

The last week of school is a busy one for our Year 6 students.  Monday 11th December they will head to Portland Secondary School to spend the day doing activities with other Year 6 students within the Portland area.  This is a great lead in to the changes in store for students in 2024. 

Orientation Day this year is on Tuesday 12th December - except Bayview who will hold theirs on Tuesday 5th December).  On these days, students will attend their school of choice for 2024 - making their own way there and back.  Our Year 6 students will not attend All Saints at all on their orientation day. 

Wednesday 13th December is our End of Year School Mass at the Church and the following evening (Thursday 14th December, 6pm) will be their Yr 6 Graduation Mass - how exciting for them!! 

The last day of the year (Friday 15th) will finish with a final assembly, where we will again farewell our Year 6 students and those families departing All Saints at the end of their family's time with us.

Please check the events calendar for more details around these events (3-line hamburger button at the top left of the newsletter screen)

Catholic School Culture

End of Year Mass

Our End of Year mass will take place on Wednesday December 13 at All Saints Parish Church. Families are invited to join us to celebrate this mass.

Child Safety & Wellbeing

Komodo Wellbeing Platform

Our school is currently using a platform called Komodo to record some wellbeing data. Students complete regular surveys where they respond to questions about their emotional awareness, enjoyment of school, friendships, confidence, resilience and sleep quality. Children are also able to make a comment after answering the questions. It has been very interesting to look at the responses for individual students but then also to analyse it as group or whole school data.

One very interesting thing to come out of all of the data we have collected is that many of our children are often struggling with their sleep, some of them on a regualr basis. With that in mind I encourage you to consider the webinar below on 'Improving Sleep in School Aged Children'. 

Wellbeing- Improving Sleep in School Aged Children Webinar

Sleep Health Foundation is a not for profit health promotion charity that aims to raise community awareness about the value of sleep and its common disorders.
As part of our web-based Sleep Seminar Series, Improving Sleep in School Aged Children, Professor Harriet Hiscock and Dr Mandie Griffiths hope to give some context as to why children may be struggling with sleep, discuss why sleep is so important, and how to approach sleep challenges or improve sleep, whether at home or with professional assistance.
This webinar on Wednesday 22 November 7.30pm AEDT via Zoom is completely FREE and available for all members of the public. Our CEO Dr Moira Junge will be hosting & we are hoping this will be a valuable resource to parents and carers of primary school-aged children. Attached is a flyer or follow this link to our webpage and click on the pink Register button:https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/events/sleep-seminar-series-improving-sleep-in-school-aged-children
We hope to see you there!

Child Safety

Child Safe Standards (eleven in total) came into effect in July last year and are a vital part of what we do here at All Saints.  More information about these standards can be found here:

https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/the-11-child-safe-standards/ 

The Safety Commissioner has a number of free webinars coming up in Term 4. These webinars
provide parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have
safe, positive online experiences. They usually run at different times during the term. The dates and
times will be released early in Term 4. If you would like to find out more, please visit
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

Happy Birthday

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

STUDENTS: Lexie Elford, Axel O'Dea, Ruthvik Yedidi, Mia Prasad, Jack Lyons, Lara Waters, Zane Farrugia, Kelsey Taylor, Marli-Rose Charlery, Toa Rayson, Lexi Stavrakis, Zarlee Loft, Baylee Price, Indie O'Dea, Cassie Vecchio, Seth Hawthorne, Grace Iddon, Violet Jones, Hamish McMahon

STAFF: Rochelle, Flint, Regien, Shelley, Mrs Kennedy 

Praying With Children

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