In this issue

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mr Stephen Klemke.

House Oratory
We were pleased our Principal, Mr Cameron Herbert was available to join our judging panel for our House Oratory competition.  Thank you to Mrs Sharon Pyle for organising the event and for supporting our students to prepare for the competition.  Each student was required to give a one minute prepared speech in house meetings to earn house points.  From there, each house selected a student to compete in the prepared speech and the impromptu speech categories.

Mr Herbert was most complimentary in his feedback to the participants.  He was impressed that so many of the speakers made good eye contact and, overall, delivered speeches that led the listener to a logical conclusion.  There were also good examples of appropriate use of humour.

I was particularly pleased that three of the entrants in this competition were Year 7 students who had the support of the student body and the confidence to speak, in front of the whole school.

Congratulations to Franklin House on their victory.  Congratulations also to respective category winners: Emerson Arthur in the Prepared Speech and Ryan Stewart in the Impromptu Speech.  Emerson delivered a well-crafted and humorous speech on ‘Three things I can’t live without’.  Ryan’s impromptu speech on ‘If I were a character in a book, I would be…’ concluded by telling us we all should write our own story and he would be himself. This would have been great as a prepared speech, however, it was quite outstanding when one considers he developed that theme and speech in about five minutes.

House Oratory Results
• Prepared Speech:  First place – Emerson Arthur (Chisholm), Second place – Renee Collis (Franklin) and Honourable mention – Sanya Palta (Lalor).
• Impromptu Speech:  First place – Ryan Stewart (Franklin), Second place – Jarrod Guy (Monash) and Honourable mention – Niki Alexander (Paterson).

Year 12s Return
We had a wonderful visit and afternoon tea on Friday 25 October with the Year 12 students of 2019 who had previously attended the Traralgon Campus.  Our staff were very excited to catch up and see how the students were going.  It was lovely to watch them wander around our campus.  I could almost see their memories come flooding back.  To me it seems like they were here yesterday although, to many of our Year 12 students, Year 10 is a much more distant memory.  On behalf of the Traralgon Secondary School, I would like to wish all our Year 12 students the very best for the upcoming exam period.

Exhibition Night
I would like to warmly invite all families to attend our campus ‘Exhibition Evening’ this Thursday 7 November, beginning at 7:00 pm.  You will see all the details further on in this edition of the Grammarian.

Comparative Reports
At the end of each semester, parents may request that the School provide them with written information which clearly shows their child’s achievement compared to his or her peer group at the School.  The information will show parents the number of children in the group in each of the achievement levels/subjects.  However, where group numbers are less than twelve, this data will not be provided in order to protect the privacy of the students in the class.  Class teachers will instead explain the student’s level relative to their peers, without identifying the number in each band.

Melbourne Cup Day Weekend
A reminder that there is no school on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 November.

Stephen Klemke
Head of Traralgon Secondary School

WHAT’S ON IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL

NOVEMBER
4 November  Mid Term Break.  Student Free Day. Dobsons Uniform Shop CLOSED
5 November  Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
6 November  Studio Concert
7 November  SEISA Summer Sport, Junior, Round 4
Exhibition Evening, Traralgon Secondary School, 7:00 pm
10 November  Timor Garden Walk, Warragul and surrounds, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
14 November  SEISA Summer Sport, Junior, Round 5
19 to 21 November  Year 10 Exams
20 and 21 November  Year 9 Exams
22 November  Curriculum and Assessment Day.  Student Free Day
25 November to 6 December  Early Commencement

DECEMBER
2 to 4 December  Year 7 2020 Orientation
6 December  St James Community Lunch Excursion
10 December  Theatre Sports, Traralgon Campus Gymnasium
11 December  Presentation Assembly, 12:00 noon

Please note:  Monday 4 November – Mid Term Break, Student Free Day. Dobsons Uniform Shop is CLOSED.

YEAR 12 CELEBRATION DAY

On Wednesday 23 October the Class of 2019 celebrated the last day of secondary school.  The day started with a variety of wonderful costumes as the Year 12s greeted each bus on arrival.  Time capsules, breakfast and the big clean up then proceeded, before we headed off to Chapel and our very last assembly.  During the final assembly various awards were presented before each student was presented to the audience as part of the final roll call.

With glorious weather, the afternoon activities including bubble soccer, a waterslide and the barbeque which were enjoyed by the Class of 2019 as they relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019 on how you have conducted yourselves and the way you have respected our school community.  It was a great way to celebrate your final year of schooling. Well done and good luck with your upcoming exams.

PAST TRARALGON STUDENTS AFTERNOON TEA

On Friday 18 October, our Year 12 students from our Traralgon Campus returned to this campus to catch up with past teachers, to share memories, relive experiences and to enjoy some afternoon tea.  There was a great vibe in the air and much excitement from all as both students and teachers mingled to enjoy this occasion.  Students also went on a tour of the school and checked out the new gym facilities.

We would like to thank all Traralgon teachers for the success of this event, especially to Ms Enders for all her work in helping with the organisation.

Mr Ben Zanella
Head of Year 12

STEM SISTERS

Last Wednesday Amity Hunter, Jamilla Marriott, Renee Collis and Charlotte Di Toro attended the ‘Emerging Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) for Women Program’ on at Ecolinc Science and Technology Centre in Bacchus Marsh.  The day consisted of guest speakers, including Tiffany Yao, an electrical engineer at Ad Adstra Rocket Company in the USA and Sarah Duncanson, a Paediatric nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital.  They also attended STEM workshops and a ‘STEM Careers speed-dating’ session where the students got to meet, talk with and learn from, a range of women in the STEM fields.  It was a wonderful chance for students to discover career pathway opportunities and courses available for students in the STEM fields and all four girls were enthusiastic about what they discovered and learnt from the day.

Charlotte Di Toro undertakes the ‘Escape Room’.

GIPPSLAND TECH SCHOOL VISIT

On Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 October the Year 8 Hard Materials class took part in classes held at the Gippsland Tech School located in Morwell.  The students were given a design brief based on flat pack furniture, of which they had to come up with ideas and solutions.  They spent the better half of Tuesday coming up with ideas and making rough drafts of their ideas on paper.  They were then introduced to computer design software that would enable them to design and make a model using laser cutting technology.  As explained to the students, the software is quite complex and for them to achieve an accurate account of their design and meet the elements of the design brief was a credit to their determination.  Some designs were quite creative whilst others were very functional.  Once they had made a model of their design they needed to sell it to an audience similar to that of contestants on ‘Shark Tank’.

Transferring the design from paper to computer.

Laser cutting a design.

Gluing the parts together for the final product.

Bookcase design by Lachlan Speairs.

Speaker design by Fletcher Watts.

COFFEE!

Would you like a bag of rich, smooth East Timor Coffee?  $3 from every bag sold through the school goes towards our fundraising to build new classrooms for Ponilala Village School.  Growing and exporting coffee beans is also a sustainable and vital part of the Ermera district economy, where Ponilala is situated.  Your purchase will not only taste great but contribute to a worthy cause.

Bags of plunger, filter or beans can be purchased for $12.  Contact Andrea Heard aaheard@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or Kirsten Enders kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au to place an order.

From the Head of Warragul Junior School,
Mr Rowan van Raay.

It has been a ‘jam-packed’ couple of weeks at our ELC and Junior School.  We welcomed new student Jade Height to Year 6E.  Our Pre-Preps have been getting to know their Year 4 buddies and also had a visit from our Preps who read their narratives to them.  Our Year 3s attended their camp at Waratah Bay while the Year 2s and 5s have been on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary and Gumbuya World (Education Centre).  Our Years 3 and 4 and, 5 and 6 Hoop Time basketball teams participated in tournaments while our T20 cricket teams competed in a T20 Blast on Tuesday.  Last week we also had seven students (James Denton, Lachlan Rosato, Makoto O’Connor, Kade Cannon, Lucy Coulthard, Annabella Denton and Zac Mansfield) compete in the State Athletics.  Butterfly Education ran a session (“Just As I Am – celebrating the uniqueness and differences in every person”) for our Year 3s and 4s on Monday.  The Year 5s are currently in the middle of applying for their Year 6 Leadership positions and have completed their interviews with Mr Barkla and Mrs Davies.  This is an exciting time for our Year 5s as they begin to think about being leaders of our Junior School next year.  We concluded a busy fortnight with Preps running their ‘Prep Restaurant’ for families today.  There were lots of yummy food and full tummies!

Coming up, we have Grandparents and Special Guests Day next Thursday while our 2020 Preps commence their transition program next Friday.  Our Prep to Year 2 Soirée will be held in the Prideaux Centre on Thursday 14 November while our ELC 2020 transition session will be held on Friday 29 November so there will be no sessions for our 2019 Rosellas or Firetails on this day.

Tournament of Minds (TOM) – International Champions!
The Tournament of Minds International Finals in Hobart has been completed and I would like to congratulate our teams that not only represented St Paul’s Junior School, but the state of Victoria in the Language Literature and STEM Challenges.  Both teams won their division and are International Champions!  Mr Barkla, Mrs Smethurst, Ms Ellis, Ms Calafiore and I were very impressed by the exemplary way the teams conducted themselves during the competition and during their time in Hobart.  I would like to also thank Mr Barkla, Mrs Smethurst, Ms Ellis and Ms Calafiore (with support from Mrs Murphy, Mrs Davies and Ms Rapinett) for all of their time and effort during the whole TOM process leading up to and including the final.  We are very lucky to have such dedicated teachers.  Many thanks to the families who supported from home and those who made the trip to Hobart in what can only be described as a very successful few days, following months of hard work by the team.  “Tournament of Minds tournaments aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.”  These aims were certainly attained by our teams and we are very proud of their achievement.  Our sincere thanks the St Paul’s Alumni Association, Camp Australia, Through Life Physiotherapy and an anonymous donor for their support.

Australian Champion
Through the support of the School and Born to Soar, Year 6 student Braeden van de Beek entered the Future Problem Solvers competition.  He worked extremely hard on the high level challenge and won his way through to represent Victoria in Queensland.  He also won this competition and is now the Australian representative for his division (scenario writing) and will be going to America in June next year for the international competition.  He actually won two sections and has a number of awards.  Quite an achievement Braeden, well done!

2020 Staffing and Orientation Day
Staffing for 2020 is almost complete and parents will be notified of who will be teaching at each year level in the coming weeks.  Orientation day for our 2020 Years 1 to Year 6 students will be held on Tuesday 3 December 12:00 noon to 3:20 pm.  On this day, students will spend some time with their 2020 teacher and classmates.  We will also hold a short welcome assembly at 2:00 pm in the Junior School Gymnasium.  Next year’s class lists will be sent home to parents on this day.  Our Year 6s will be involved in a three-day Year 7 orientation at the Secondary School beginning on Monday 2 December.

Presentation Assembly
Our final day of school will be on Wednesday 11 December with our Presentation Assembly beginning at 9:30 am and concluding at 11:00 am in the Secondary School Gymnasium.  This will be an opportunity to celebrate the 2019 school year with all year levels giving a short presentation.  We will also be wishing our Year 6 students well as they complete their junior schooling and all parents are welcome to attend the assembly.  Students will return to class for half hour and are then permitted to go home with their parents at 11:30 am to enjoy a well-earned holiday!

Rowan van Raay
Head of Warragul Junior School

WHAT’S ON IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

NOVEMBER
4 November  Mid Term Break, Student Free Day. Dobsons Uniform Shop CLOSED
5 November  Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
7 November  Grandparents and Special Guests Day
8 November  Prep 2020 Transition Session 1
10 November  Timor Garden Walk, Warragul and surrounds, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
11 November  Warragul Junior School Report Writing Day,  Student Free Day
14 November  Prep to Year 2 Soirée
15 November  Prep 2020 Transition Session 2
20 November  National Walk to School Day
Prep to Year 2 Athletics Carnival
22 November  Prep 2020 Transition Session 3
29 November  Prep 2020 Transition Session 4

*PLEASE NOTE THAT MONDAY 11 NOVEMBER IS A STUDENT FREE DAY FOR JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY – ELC AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CLASSES WILL RUN AS NORMAL

DECEMBER
2 December  St Paul’s Parent Prayer Group, Prideaux Centre, 9:00 am
3 December  Orientation Day for 2020 Years 1 to 6
6 December  Community Christmas Concert
Years 3 to 5 Swim Trials
9 December  Year 6 Dinner
11 December  Presentation Assembly, 9:30 am to 11:00 am, Secondary School Gymnasium

Please note:  Monday 4 November – Mid Term Break, Student Free Day. Dobsons Uniform Shop is CLOSED.

GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL GUESTS DAY – Thursday 7 November 2019

A notice was sent home at the beginning of the term asking parents to return a reply slip to school with the names and addresses of the guests that will be attending Grandparents and Special Guests Day.  Please assist us by ensuring all details are returned as soon as possible as the students will be writing the invites to their guests and we need to get them in the post.  This event is always well attended and we will again divide the day into two sessions (Prep to Year 2 and Years 3 to 6).  Please find below the full program for the day to share with grandparents in case some invites do not make it to their destinations.

Prep to Year 2
9:00 am to 9:15 am  Guests arrive
9:15 am to 10:00 am  Prep to Year 2 Concert/Chapel, Junior School Gymnasium
10:00 am to 11:00 am  Visit Kitchen Garden, STEM Centre and Classrooms
11:00 am to 11:30 am  Recess.  Morning tea for Prep to Year 2 guests, Prideaux Centre
11:30 am  Guests depart or move on to Years 3 to 6 session

Years 3 to 6
10:45 am to 11:00 am  Guests arrive
11:00 am to 11:30 am  Recess.  Morning tea for Years 3 to 6 guests, Junior School Gymnasium
11:30 am to 12:15 pm  Years 3 to 6 Concert/Chapel, Junior School Gymnasium
12:15 pm to 1:30 pm  Visit Classrooms, Horizon, STEM Centre and Kitchen Garden
1:30 pm  Guests depart

We are expecting around five hundred guests to visit throughout the day and we will have our Maintenance team on hand to assist with parking, but could I ask that everyone is patient and park where they are directed.

YEAR 12 STUDENTS RETURN TO WARRAGUL JUNIOR SCHOOL 

On Friday 18 October our Year 12 students who attended our Warragul Junior School returned to this campus to catch up with past teachers.  They were able share memories, relive experiences, watch their Year 6 production and enjoy some morning tea.  Students also went on a tour of the school, checking out any major changes along the way.

We would like to thank all teachers who attended and especially to Mr van Raay for all his work in helping with the organisation of this event.

Mr Ben Zanella
Head of Year 12

COFFEE!

Would you like a bag of rich, smooth East Timor Coffee?  $3 from every bag sold through the school goes towards our fundraising to build new classrooms for Ponilala Village School.  Growing and exporting coffee beans is also a sustainable and vital part of the Ermera district economy, where Ponilala is situated.  Your purchase will not only taste great but contribute to a worthy cause.

Bags of plunger, filter or beans can be purchased for $12.  Contact Andrea Heard aaheard@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or Kirsten Enders kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au to place an order.

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

If you are interested in getting together with other parents of the School to pray, you are most welcome to join the following two prayer groups:
First Monday of the month, 9:00 am Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School.  (Next gathering 2 December)
Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937
Fridays Fortnightly, 9:15 am, Jenny Charles’ home
Contact: Jenny Charles 0402 249 036

“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all that He has done.” Philippians 4:6

From the Head of Warragul Secondary School,
Ms Laura Butterworth.

Farewell to the Class of 2019
On Wednesday 23 October we celebrated the final day of secondary school with our Class of 2019.  We have been very proud of this year level and their dedication to school life in the time that they have been with us.  Last Wednesday was a fitting farewell which began with the Year 12 students dressing up and decorating the school.  They then spent some time cleaning up before they attended their final Chapel and final Awards Assembly.

After all of the formalities were complete they spent the afternoon playing bubble soccer, enjoying the inflatable waterslide, reminiscing and celebrating their time at St Paul’s.

Congratulations to all of the student award winners and to the entire Class of 2019.  We wish them well for the remainder of their examinations and look forward to officially finishing their year with them at the Valedictory Dinner.  Thank you to our families for being patient with traffic on the day.

Presentation Assembly 2019 – a date for your diaries
A significant change to our program this year will involve the Presentation Assembly moving to a day timeslot rather than an evening.  It has traditionally started at 7:00 pm at night but this year students will finish their final day of the 2019 academic year with the Presentation Assembly.  This will be held on Wednesday 11 December from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.  Students can be dismissed from the gym with their families at the conclusion of this event or remain to catch their normal bus/transport home.  All students currently in Years 7 to 11 are expected to attend in full school uniform and all parents and guardians are invited to attend as well.  For those families who have a child at another campus their assemblies will run at the following times:
Warragul Junior School, 9:30 am to 11:00 am in the Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium
Traralgon Junior School, 9:30 am to 11:00 am in the Traralgon Secondary School Gymnasium
Traralgon Secondary School, 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm in the Traralgon Secondary School Gymnasium.

Comparative Reports
At the end of each semester, parents may request that the school provide them with written information that clearly shows their child’s achievement compared to his or her peer group at the school.  The information will show parents the number of children in the group in each of the achievement levels/subjects.  However, where group numbers are less than twelve this data will not be provided, in order to protect the privacy of the students in the class.  Class teachers will instead explain the student’s level relative to their peers, without identifying the number in each band.

Ms Laura Butterworth
Head of Warragul Secondary School

WHAT’S ON IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL

NOVEMBER
4 November  Mid Term Break, Student Free Day. Dobsons Uniform Shop CLOSED.
5 November  Melbourne Cup Day, Public Holiday
7 November  SEISA Summer Sport, Junior, Round 4
8 November  Year 10 Oaklands Recording Studio Excursion, Nunawading, 8:50 am to 3:30 pm
Secondary School Art and Design Exhibition, Year 9 Centre, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
10 November  Timor Garden Walk, Warragul and surrounds, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
11 November  Remembrance Day Service, 10:30 am
12 November  Exhibition 9, Year 9 Centre, 7:00 pm
14 November  SEISA Summer Sport, Junior, Round 5
14 November to 20 November  Year 11 Exams
18 November to 20 November  Year 9 Exams
19 November and 20 November  Year 10 Exams
21 November  Years 10 and 11 Exam Catch Up Day
SEISA Summer Junior Sport, Finals
22 November  Student Free Day
Valedictory Dinner, Lardner Park, 7:00 pm
25 November to 6 December  2020 Years 11 and 12 Students Early Commencement
25 November to 11 December  2020 Years 8, 9 and 10 Students Early Commencement
26 November  Middle School Concert Rehearsal, West Gippsland Arts Centre, 10:30 am to 3:15 pm
Middle School Concert, West Gippsland Arts Centre, 7:00 pm
27 November  2020 Year 12 Elevate Study Session, 9:30 am to 10:45 am
2020 Year 12 Elevate Study Session, 11:20 am to 12:40 pm
28 November  Elite Sports Performers Student Seminar – Launch of new Wellness App, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
29 November to 14 January  French Exchange Students Tour France

DECEMBER
2 December  St Paul’s Parent Prayer Group, Prideaux Centre, 9:00 am
2 December to 4 December  Year 7 2020 Orientation
6 December  Year 9 Swim Safety Assessment and Barbeque, Traralgon Campus
2020 Years 11 and 12 Final Day of Classes
9 December  Student Leaders Workshop
10 December  Prideaux Gallop
Presentation Assembly Rehearsal, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
11 December  Presentation Assembly, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Students Last Day of 2019 School Year, 3:30 pm finish

Please note: Monday 4 November – Mid Term Break, Student Free Day. Dobsons Uniform Shop is CLOSED.

YEAR 12 CELEBRATION DAY

On Wednesday 23 October the Class of 2019 celebrated the last day of secondary school.  The day started with a variety of wonderful costumes as the Year 12s greeted each bus on arrival.  Time capsules, breakfast and the big clean up then proceeded, before we headed off to Chapel and our very last assembly.  During the final assembly various awards were presented before each student was presented to the audience as part of the final roll call.

With glorious weather, the afternoon activities including bubble soccer, a waterslide and the barbeque which were enjoyed by the Class of 2019 as they relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019 on how you have conducted yourselves and the way you have respected our school community.  It was a great way to celebrate your final year of schooling. Well done and good luck with your upcoming exams.

YEAR 12 STUDENTS RETURN TO WARRAGUL JUNIOR SCHOOL 

On Friday 18 October our Year 12 students who attended our Warragul Junior School returned to catch up with past teachers.  They were able share memories, relive experiences, watch their Year 6 production and enjoy some morning tea.  Students also went on a tour of the school, checking out any major changes along the way.

We would like to thank all teachers who attended and especially to Mr van Raay for all his work in helping with the organisation of this event.

PAST TRARALGON STUDENTS AFTERNOON TEA

On Friday 18 October, our Year 12 students from our Traralgon Campus returned to this campus to catch up with past teachers, to share memories, relive experiences and to enjoy some afternoon tea.  There was a great vibe in the air and much excitement from all as both students and teachers mingled to enjoy this occasion.  Students also went on a tour of the school and checked out the new gym facilities.

We would like to thank all Traralgon teachers for the success of this event, especially to Ms Enders for all her work in helping with the organisation.

Mr Ben Zanella
Head of Year 12

HEALTH AND PE WEEK

Well Health and PE Week has once again come and passed in very quick succession.  With a week of fun filled activities on offer, it was great to see students involved and thinking about a healthy and active lifestyle.

Highlights of the week were the annual Teacher versus Year 12 netball match, where the students prevailed winners.  However, the teachers got their revenge against the Year 8s in ‘Capture the Flag’ where their wisdom and tactics were far superior.  The daily nutrition quiz and food activities once again proved a hit among all year levels.  The staff pedometer challenge also proved quite successful!

To reward those students who participated in the events, a raffle was drawn at the end of each activity, with the prize of a canteen voucher.  Hopefully the chance of winning some prizes in the future will encourage the students to become more involved next year.

Lastly, a big thank you to the all members of the Year 11 PE classes, the canteen for their ongoing support and the teachers who devoted their lunchtimes to help run these activities.  Their help is very much appreciated and without it this event could not take place, so thank you!

COFFEE!

Would you like a bag of rich, smooth East Timor Coffee?  $3 from every bag sold through the school goes towards our fundraising to build new classrooms for Ponilala Village School.  Growing and exporting coffee beans is also a sustainable and vital part of the Ermera district economy, where Ponilala is situated.  Your purchase will not only taste great but contribute to a worthy cause.

Bags of plunger, filter or beans can be purchased for $12.  Contact Andrea Heard aaheard@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or Kirsten Enders kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au to place an order.

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

If you are interested in getting together with other parents of the School to pray, you are most welcome to join the following two prayer groups:
First Monday of the month, 9:00 am Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School.  (Next gathering 2 December)
Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937
Fridays Fortnightly, 9:15 am, Jenny Charles’ home
Contact: Jenny Charles 0402 249 036

“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all that He has done.” Philippians 4:6

MATHS SUPPORT SESSIONS

A Maths support session will be offered in Room 3 (Year 9 Centre) each Tuesday at the end of the school day.  This session will operate from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm and students are able to attend for all or part of each session as required.

Participants may use this session to get assistance with and complete homework tasks, seek an additional lesson on a particular Maths topic or simply work with other students who share a similar love of Mathematics with extension activities provided as required.  This session is primarily aimed at students from Years 10 to 12 although all Secondary School students are welcome to attend.  These sessions are additional to those already provided by teachers from the Maths Faculty which occur regularly at nominated lunchtimes.

No formal registration is required.  Students simply attend whenever they feel the need for some additional support or extension.

For further inquiries please contact Mr Rowley via email jrowley@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

ANTI-FRAGILE  (Part two)

I can still clearly remember a moment of parental challenge that occurred over a decade ago.  I was standing at the edge of a public playground with a friend, watching my young son play on the equipment.  On the surface it might have looked like a wonderfully relaxing moment.  The child was happily occupied, I was chatting with a good friend and the sun was shining.  A picture-perfect moment.  The reality is that I was in a state of constant inner turmoil.  Two voices were doing battle in my head.  On the one hand, the protective instinct was constantly urging me to step in and help my child up the ladder or warn him to go slowly across the bridge.  On the other hand, I knew that jumping in would potentially disempower him.  The risks were minimal – a few cuts and bruises or at worst a broken arm if he did happen to fall.  More likely there would be a few tears, a cuddle and then back to it.  This was my first experience of a parental challenge that has continued throughout my childrens’ lives.

In the last edition of the Grammarian I talked about the concept of ‘anti-fragile’.  This is the idea that some things (like a crystal glass) are fragile – they break under stress; some things (like a child’s sipper cup) are resilient – they remain unchanged under stress; but some things are anti-fragile – they actually become stronger when exposed to stress.  Examples of this include the immune system and our bones.  It turns out that humans and especially children are also anti-fragile.  They do best when exposed to challenges, disappointments and even the occasional fight or insult.

So how, as parents, do we walk that fine line between protecting our children while still allowing them to experience challenges?  The first thing is to talk to them about risk-taking.  Model the process by articulating the thinking that happens when you are weighing up a risk.  As well as talking about it, allow them to experience it for themselves.  We can help children experience the benefits of taking controlled risks by allowing them the freedom to exercise personal choice in a safe environment.  It starts with the small child in the playground and eventually becomes the adolescent making decisions about more complicated things such as money, social media, alcohol, driving and of course relationships.  The School is your ally in this!  As well as providing education on many of these topics, the School also provides experiences such as Outdoor Education camps which are built around challenge in a safe environment.  Resist the temptation to excuse your child from camp because it sounds difficult and they do not want to go!  Learning to embrace challenge is part of understanding our anti-fragile nature.  Viewing challenge as something to overcome, rather than a setback, will help your child develop resourcefulness and resilience.  Defeating a challenge will not only help your child to grow in character but will help gain motivation for the next challenge they will inevitably face.

But what about when it comes to developing our children’s faith and beliefs both at home and at school?  Well it turns out that faith is also anti-fragile.  I am sure this is true of most belief systems and it certainly holds true from a Christian perspective.  In fact the Bible reminds us that challenges to our faith are pivotal for Christian maturity.  In the words of James, “You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested.  But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.” (James 1:3-4 CEV).  As a parent, nurturing an adolescent’s faith can be a challenging and complicated task which requires a delicate balancing act.  On the one hand, we have a responsibility to protect our children from truly harmful influences.  On the other hand, we cannot afford to shelter them from anything that might challenge their faith because without these challenges they will never develop a mature and robust faith of their own.  This is one of the potential benefits of a school like St Paul’s that welcomes people of all faiths and none, and views this diversity as something which enriches our school environment.  Just as ‘helicopter parenting’ can be harmful, so too can ‘helicopter discipling’.  So when you hear an adolescent asking tough questions about their faith, do not panic!  Resist the urge to give a pat answer.  Consider whether you need to give them an answer at all.  You may serve them best by encouraging their questions and helping them to discover the answers for themselves.  In this way we will help to produce in them a faith that is mature and lasting.

Reverend Daniel Lowe
Senior Chaplain

A significant number of staff and students from both Junior Schools were very busy participating in very notable activities last weekend.  The Traralgon Junior School Year 6 students and staff were once again braving the elements in the Relay for Life.  Thank you and well done to everyone involved!  Meanwhile, we had two Tournament of Minds teams from Warragul Junior School representing Victoria in the TOM International Finals in Hobart.  To my amazement, both of our Years 5 and 6 teams won!  Congratulations!  What an astounding achievement!

The VCE Examinations commenced this week, with our Year 12 English students taking the first written examination on Wednesday.  We thank all staff and students for their hard work and effort leading up to these exams, and in the days and weeks ahead.  Our very best wishes are extended to all Year 12 students sitting exams.

In other areas of the school, assessment and reporting are also in focus as we head into the final six weeks of the 2019 School year.  Additionally, preparations for the various end-of-year functions and celebrations of achievement are well under way at both the Warragul and Traralgon Campuses.  I look forward to being part of these events with you as we celebrate our children’s educational journeys.

We hope that as many families as possible are able to attend the Presentation Assemblies on Wednesday 11 December this year.  At these events, I will be making some important announcements regarding some exciting possibilities for St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School as we round off the 2019 academic year and progress into the 2020s.

Cameron Herbert
Principal