St Paul's Catholic Primary School Newsletter Term 1 Week 6 2021

Principal's Message

Dear St Paul’s Families,

It is with great pleasure that this ‘delayed’ newsletter includes some news about our 2021 Swimming Carnival! What a wonderful community event it was – plenty of participation, copious amounts of generosity and some excellent results. It was so lovely to see so many families support their children on this day. Thank you to Miss Jemma for bringing the event together in a relatively short amount of time. We are also grateful to Bernadette McGrath and the P&F Team for cooking for us and feeding us and we appreciate the generous donations that supported this. We also want to thank the NET Team and our friends from 1CSSB (ADF) for their ongoing support for us at events such as this – we really do not know how we would manage with their help. We congratulate all of our students for their encouragement and participation. Our House Leaders were outstanding and we congratulate Chevelier on winning the House Spirit Cup and Hartzer as the overall winning house for the carnival.

As a means of supporting our parents and creating networks within our parent community, we are keen to run some parent evenings / forums on pertinent topics relating to wellbeing and academic growth in the areas of Literacy and Numeracy. We had planned on having one per term but with Term 1 coming to a hectic close with an Easter break in Weeks 8 and 9, we will begin these in Term 2.

Most of our teachers are currently undertaking a short course based on the Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) through La Trobe University. This has been excellent professional development for our classroom teachers and has assisted us in professional conversations about children’s learning and the analysis of data. Whilst some of the research we have been presented with challenges some long held teaching practices, we are excited to be able to bring this research to life in our classrooms.

As you may be aware, we recently had to have some trees removed due to their aging and dangerous deterioration. I am pleased to let you know that our Year 3/4 students are working with COOLmob https://www.coolmob.org/ to plant some new trees. Lots of work was done over the weekend by volunteers to prepare for planting to ensure our trees have a great start to their life. We are grateful to Mick from Northern Ground Maintenance and Shane from Freeform for their work on this project. We also wish to thank Tim for Territory Native Plants for assisting us with the plant selection.

On Tuesday evening, please pray for our students who are making their sacrament of Reconciliation.

May the Spirit of Jesus be evident in your daily lives, particularly in this Lenten season.

Ms Megan Evans

Some Photos from the Swimming Carnival on Friday - more to come

HEAD LICE INFORMATION

Dear St Paul's families,

There has been a case of reported head lice at our school. We ask you to please check and monitor your child’s head.

The following information is provided for you about head lice, even though your child may be lice free at this time. Please keep this for reference.

• Even though they do not jump or fly, they can spread from one student to another by sharing combs, brushes, clothing, hats and in bedding. Head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of poor health habits or being dirty.

• There are many lice treatment shampoos on the market as well as other manual methods of controlling the lice.

• Bedding, clothing, and hats should be laundered in very hot water (120 degrees) on the same day or evening your child is treated.

• Nits (lice eggs) are tiny, white, pearly eggs that attach themselves to the hair shaft close to the scalp. The nit can be removed manually by pinching between two fingernails and pulling it off the hair shaft, or by using a "nit comb", available in most pharmacies.

• All members of the household need to be checked when there is one case of head lice in your immediate family.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Upcoming Events

Curriculum News

Dear parents and families of students in Years 3 and 5,

In 2021, St Paul's is moving to NAPLAN Online for the first time. In preparation for this, on Thursday the 25th of March, the Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in the NAPLAN Coordinated Practice Test. 
The practice test will provide students with the opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions they will experience in NAPLAN Online and also to test the school's technical readiness. Students need no preparation for the test, and no results are recorded. Students in Year 3 will participate in an omnibus practice test (a combination of questions from different subject areas). The year 5 students will participate in the omnibus practice test and also a writing practice test. Each test will take approximately 40 minutes. Each child is required to please bring in a set of headphones prior to the 25th of March in readiness for the practice. 

The testing schedule will be as follows: 

8:30am-10:30am: Year 5 (Omnibus and Writing)

11:15am: Year 3 Omnibus 

It is an expectation that all students in Year 3 and 5 participate in the NAPLAN tests. If for some reason you have hesitations about your child's participation please indicate on the Operoo form. We need to convey this information to the National and Systemic Assessment team by the end of March.

If you have any questions or queries, please don't hesistate to contact either your child's classroom teacher or our curriculum coordinator, Lauren Penny. 

Please find information below regarding NAPLAN Online:

Class Dojo

Teachers will be using Class Dojo as their main form of communication of student learning with parents. By now you should have received a code from your teacher(s) to connect to your child(ren)’s class. If you are yet to receive a code or are having difficulties connecting, please see your classroom teacher to ensure you are not missing important messages and classroom updates. 

Homework Policy

St Paul’s Homework Policy is currently under review. We are working towards developing a consistent homework model throughout the school aligned with evidence based research.  Throughout Term 1, classrooms will be trialing different modes of homework delivery. We will be seeking feedback from families in the form of surveys soon.

RE News

The Sacramental Program is well under way. It is wonderful to see so many St Paul’s students participating. Everyone is welcome to join for the Sacrament to celebrate with the students at St Paul’s Parish Church.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The MJR focus for weeks 6 and 7 is Attitude of Gratitude.
It is alright to feel hurt or discouraged when things go wrong for us. How we react to these things is the most important. Focussing on the positive things in our lives will help us realise how fortunate we are. You are in charge of your attitude!
When we focus on the positive things in life, we realize how awesome our world is. Happy people are thankful for what they have!

The Lenten season has begun. Lent is a time we can reflect on ways we can change and follow Jesus more closely with prayer. In 2021, Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion theme is ‘Be More’. The Caritas project compassion boxes have gone home to families. All money raised is used to assist in project development for those communities most in need both in and out of Australia. The boxes are collected at the school or church after Easter.

On Monday 1^st March, Megan and I took our school leaders to the cathedral to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education. All schools across Darwin gathered to listen to the stories from different ears of Catholic Education and particularly acknowledge our humble beginnings when St Mary’s Catholic Primary School was established in Darwin in 1908.

 These students saw the spirit of Jesus: 

Dear Lord
Thank you for today. Thank you for ways in which you provide for us all. For Your protection and love we thank you. Help us to focus our hearts and minds now on what we are about to learn.
Amen

Rochelle De-La-Mare - REC

Bread Donations

A local bakery is kindly donating bread to the school each Thursday. There is enough bread that the eldest child in each family will receive a loaf of bread to take home. There will be an e-form going out on Operoo for families to advise us if they would not like to receive this.

Please note that we do not have a choice of which kind of bread we are given and therefore cannot provide a choice of bread to families.

Book of the week

Somewhere in Australia

This book Somewhere in Australia has some really pretty illustrations. The artwork is done in acrylic.

Somewhere in Australia, in a land of scorching sun, lived a mother kangaroo and her little joey one. "Hop" said the mother. "Hop" said the one, as they hopped over land scorched by the hot sun.

Join the little joey and many more familiar animals in this gorgeous Australian counting book based on the classic rhythm’ over in meadow.

We recommend this book is mostly targeted for young children based in transtition to Year 3, but is good for any ages.

Hope you get a chance to read it and enjoy it!

Written by: Tallulah and Alaysha.

This book is written & illustrated by Marcello Pennacchio & Danny Snell

We think this book is 5 star rated by us

CDU Children’s University returns to St Paul’s for 2021 and is open to students in years 3, 4, 5 and 6!

St Paul's Parents and Friends

St Paul's P&F is looking for new committee members to help organize and run events during the year. These events are a great way to meet new parents and be involved in your school community. We always need volunteers on the day of events too, watch out for our on line signup sheets.

If you are interested in helping please come to a meeting on the first Tuesday of the month or contact Bernadette McGrath 0432641999.

General Information

LOST PROPERTY: Please check the names on your children's hats and other property as we have discovered that children are accidentally taking other children's belongings home.

There has been a huge influx of lost property from the Swimming Carnival, please ensure you check lost property to ensure you have all your child's belongings.

SCHOOL FEES:  School fees will be sent out by the end of the month.   

SIBLING DISCOUNT: If you have more than 1 child studying at a Catholic School in the NT, you will be eligible for a sibling discount. Please contact finance.stpauls@nt.catholic.edu.au to inform our finance team of which schools your other children attend.

Rm  4 Transition - Miss Jo  & Sr Hilde   - SPORT DAY: Tuesday  LIBRARY DAY:  Friday

Rm 1  Yr 1-2  -  Miss Mona   -   SPORT DAY: Tuesday  LIBRARY DAY:  Thursday

Rm 2  Yr 1-2  -  Mr C   -  SPORT DAY: Wednesday  LIBRARY DAY:  Friday 

Rm 8  Yr 3-4 -  Miss Mandy & Sr Hilde  - SPORT DAY: Wednesday   LIBRARY DAY:  Monday

Rm 9  Yr 3-4  -  Miss Alex   - SPORT DAY: Tuesday  LIBRARY DAY:  Thursday

Rm 12  Yr 5-6  -  Mrs Del & Miss Margy - SPORT DAY: Tuesday  LIBRARY DAY:  Tuesday

Rm 13  Yr 5-6  -  Miss Lauren & Miss Jess - SPORT DAY: Wednesday  LIBRARY DAY:  Wednesday

Rm 18  Yr 5-6  -  Mrs Pond  - SPORT DAY: Wednesday  LIBRARY DAY: TBA

BACK TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS: Have you used your Back to School Voucher?  If not, please call into the office to complete your voucher. The NT Government provides $150.00 for each child attending school in the NT. This may be put towards uniforms or your book and resource levy. Vouchers are only valid for Term 1.  

BOOK CLUB ORDERS: Book Club orders are sent out from Scholastic through the school twice per term.   We use the “LOOP” system which means online ordering only.  For more information on how to do this please see the link below www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP Please remember to use your child’s classroom No when ordering.

SPORTS VOUCHERS: Parents are asked to order their voucher online at www.sportsvoucher.nt.gov.au  Simply visit the For Parents or Carers section and scroll down until you find the Request a New or Replacement Sport Voucher link. Please allow 2—4 weeks for delivery to your postal address.    

Semester 2, 2020 Learn to Swim and Sport Voucher applications are now open to apply online.

Semester 1 2021 Learn to Swim and Sports Voucher applications open 4^th January 2021

Parent or carers are able to print or save the voucher if the child/s details are in the system. If the child/s details are not found, you will receive a voucher to your nominated email within 7 days of applying. Please check your junk/spam folder prior to contacting us if you have applied and not yet received your voucher.

Sport Voucher:

The Sport Voucher Scheme is available to every urban school-enrolled child from preschool to year 12 and home-schooled children. Parents or carers need to apply for vouchers online each semester.

All vouchers expire on 31 May each year. Applications close 24 May each year.

Learn to Swim Voucher:

Children under 5 years old and not enrolled in preschool or school may be eligible to receive the Learn to Swim voucher. Children must be registered for the water safety awareness program run by Royal Life Saving Society before you apply. Parents or carers need to apply for vouchers online each semester.

All vouchers expire on 31 May each year. Applications close 24 May each year.

PARENT CONTACT DETAILS: Please advise the office of any changes to your contact details. This includes phone numbers, address details and emails. It is vitally important that we have the correct contact number in view of any emergency. Thank you for your assistance in this area.   

INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS: Instrumental lessons will take place again this year with Andrew Arthur, Violin lessons with Kirsty McCullum and Woodwind lessons with Eliza Tobin.  Instrumental lessons will take place each Friday and Violin lessons each Wednesday during school hours.  Contact details for Andrew are – dapa@live.com.au 0428153355 and Kirsty McCullum-  kirstymac@bigpond.com and Eliza Tobin for Woodwind lessons - elizatobin@hotmail.com.

SCHOOL START TIMES: We request that families drop their children off at school as close to 8am as possible.  Should you arrive prior to this time please wait on the steps outside the staffroom before going to the classroom.  At 8:10am the first bell will sound which means the children and parents can then proceed to the classroom.  The classrooms and office will be closed during that time however, recess/lunch trays will be accessible outside the classrooms. 

SCHOOL DENTIST:  St Paul’s does not have on onsite dental clinic, however you can use the Dental Clinic at Nightcliff Primary school. Parents are asked to contact the clinic on 89226466 to arrange an appointment. Parents are to accompany their child to the appointment. There is no charge for this service and it is highly recommended that children’s teeth should be regularly checked. This also includes pre-school children.  

PICKING UP CHILDREN at the end of the school day.  We ask that all parents/carers who will be picking up their child from school please wait in the area outside the office and staffroom. 

CARPARK PICK-UP: In an effort to move the traffic along more quickly and freely we ask that parents safely follow the appropriate procedures.  Should you need to get out and buckle your child in—we ask that you use the car spaces available to do so and not the pick up area. 

CANTEEN NEWS: 

The Canteen will provide recess and lunch through quickcliq.com.au (account set up required) on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. It seems that some children are choosing not to eat food brought from home and are instead requesting snacks and food from the canteen. Please note that families will be invoiced for this so please ensure your child is aware of what food is packed for them each day and that all food is labelled clearly (including packets of snack foods as it is confusing when children have the same snacks.

LUNCHES:  Lunch boxes are taken to the coolroom each morning between 8.15 and 8.30am.  It is important to be at school on time for the smooth running of this program and it is important that all recess and lunch boxes are labelled with your child’s name and Room No.

OSHC NEWS: If you have changed your child’s days from last year or would like more could you please let Anna-Lea or Ihrene know.  If you wish to enrol in the program—Enrolment Forms can be collected from the office or OSHC.  Thank you.

Please see the new 2021 OSHC Parent Handbook below.

Information for families receiving Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for the 2018-19 financial year

Your income must be confirmed by 31 March 2021 or CCS will reduce to 0% and paying full fees may apply when you access child care.

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