Traralgon Junior School

From the Head of Traralgon Junior School,
Ms Tracey King.

The past two weeks have certainly been busy in the Junior School with some special events and lots of excitement.  Staff and students have geared up and participated in Science Day, Walk for Purple Day and a number of events during Book Week including the popular Book Character Parade.  Our Years 5 and 6 students also have been treated to a special Japanese incursion and our ELC students kicked off their transition program with their first ‘come and play’ session.

Science Day involved all of the Junior School in a variety of hands on experiments and science learnings.  The smiles and engagement were wonderful to see as students participated in lessons which covered the following science activities:
•  Blood
•  Oobleck
•  Rockets
•  Carbon dioxide
•  Colour wheels and rainbows
•  Push and pull
•  Slime

Book Week was again a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the joy of literature and our school was a colourful sea of costumes of favourite book characters.  Many thanks to Mrs O’Malley and Ms Meadows for their terrific organisation of our Book Character Parade and activities.  Our Book Fair will be open for Week 6.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, parents will not be able to join us for the fair and sales on-site.  Students will be given an opportunity to view the items available at the book fair and then purchase.  Information about this process will be sent home to families shortly.

Walk for Purple Day was a highlight of the week and the atmosphere in the school was palpable with excitement and activity.  Students were determined to complete their laps of the school and contribute to the day’s goal; acknowledging Relay for Life and raising funds for the Cancer Council.  Congratulations to our Year 6 students for their outstanding organisation and to Mrs Ridger and Mrs Cotterrell for their facilitation of this important event.  Many thanks also to FOSP for their contributions and for providing our students with a much-needed icy pole after their walking challenge.

Ms Suetsugu from the Panasonic household battery division in Japan conducted online virtual educational workshops where Years 5 and 6 students were taught how to make their own batteries and LED neck lights.  The lessons were related to Japanese, Science and Art and the lessons were delivered in Japanese through video conference software.  All students enjoyed learning about batteries and LED lights and making their own batteries even though most instructions were in Japanese.  Well done to all Years 5 and 6 students and thank you to Mr Shinya Takusari for organising such a worthwhile event!

We also welcomed our new Prep 2021 students for their first come and play session.  They were very excited to receive their special yellow ‘Almost a St Paul’s Preppie’ hat from Mr Herbert and thoroughly enjoyed a play on the big kids’ playground!  We are really looking forward to our transition program with these gorgeous little people and getting to know them as they prepare to start their primary school journey.

Protective Behaviours
This term our Junior School students have also been participating in Protective Behaviours lessons.  Protective Behaviours is a framework for personal safety.  It is a dynamic, confidence building, empowering approach that links safety with having adventures and taking risks.

Protective Behaviours starts with a positive statement about feeling safe: We all have the right to feel safe all the time.  With that right comes a responsibility not to do anything that would leave other people feeling unsafe.  We can identify if we are feeling unsafe by tuning into our early warning signs, those things that happen in our body like butterflies in the stomach, wobbly knees etc, that let us know we do not feel okay in this particular situation.  If we get those ‘Early Warning Signs’, Protective Behaviours encourages us to think clearly about what our options are and work out what action we might need to take.  That action might be to contact somebody on a support network or access the Kids Helpline.  All children are encouraged to learn the idea that “We can talk with someone about anything, even if it feels awful or small”.

Protective Behaviours encourages the development of a clear ‘support network’ which we can call upon when we have identified that we are feeling unsafe.  On the support network we would ideally have five people who might be able to help us do some problem-solving.  They might be people who ask questions so that we can come up with our own solutions; they might be people who actually give some advice; they could be friends or family or even people at the end of a help line.  Sometimes it is easier to phone a help line as they and us, remain anonymous.  It does not necessarily have to be about something that is really terrible; it might be that we need to mull things over or celebrate an achievement.  Having four people plus the ones at home is suggested so that we have got a bit of variety and have back up options if our first choice of contact is unavailable.

In this way the developing Protective Behaviours knowledge and skills can increase our self-confidence and empower us to develop our own thinking and problem-solving skills. In turn, this can enhance our confidence to take protective action on our own behalf and seek the help of others when we need it in order to help us feel safe again. When we are feeling safe we are more likely to feel confident, strong and empowered so we can get ‘out there’, have some adventures and live life to the full within a framework of safety.

So if we believe we have the right to feel safe and have a support network, we then have the opportunity to push the boundaries and take a few risks – not restricting ourselves and staying indoors all the time, but getting out there and having some fun.  Protective Behaviours conversations can be terrific dinner table discussions for families.

World Teachers’ Day
Victoria will join the rest of Australia in celebrating World Teachers’ Day this Friday 30 October, to recognise the outstanding work and dedication of all teachers.   This year’s World Teachers’ Day theme ‘Teachers: leading in crisis, reimagining the future’ reflects the incredible contribution teachers have made in 2020.   The COVID-19 pandemic has asked teachers all around the world to change their routines and adjust how they teach, to ensure students have the support they need to continue learning.

World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity for our community to say ‘thank you’ to the teachers who continue to make such a profound difference to young lives throughout our country.  For many teachers the work with students is described as ‘extremely rewarding’.  Most of us love the feeling when a child ‘gets it’ and it ‘clicks’ and we have been a part of that.  The goal of every teacher is to see their students grow and learn and our teachers at St Paul’s go above and beyond to ensure they connect with and build positive relationships whilst providing learning opportunities that develop each individual student.  Our teachers continue to give so much of themselves to help students to learn and thrive at school.  Congratulations and thank you to all of Victoria’s teachers and especially to our awesome teaching team at St Paul’s for their outstanding work in response to the demands of 2020.

Class Updates

Year 1
Year 1 students have been enjoying our fun and busy term.  We have all enjoyed being involved in many special days.  We all thoroughly enjoyed Science Day.  Year 1 students got to launch rockets, play with slime, make raisins dance and have lots of fun together.

“I liked when we made a rocket because it was very fun making them blast off.  I had fun.”  Harrison Crane.

“I liked doing the rockets because they went super high and went over people’s heads.”  Oliver Vercoe.

Purple Day was a well organised, high spirited day.  The Year 1s used all their energy running, jumping, hopping and crab walking their way around their course.  We were so grateful for our delicious icy poles at the end of our long relay.  Thank you to the Year 6s for all their work to encourage us along the way.

“I liked Purple Day because we all got to have a good day.  I liked when we walked around the school and everyone wore purple.”  Seb Phillipou.

Throughout Book Week, Year 1s had the opportunity to dress up as their favourite book character and wrote about why they enjoyed reading their chosen book.

“I liked book week because I got to dress up in a book character.  I dressed up as ‘Pig the Pug’ and I loved it.” Ruby Cawcutt.

“I loved seeing the dress ups because they were looking very pretty and I loved the book parade.  I dressed up as ‘The Cat who loves Custard’.” Ava Steevens.

Year 2
“We dressed up as our favorite book character because it was book week and we paraded five laps around the humongous basketball court.”  Patrik, Rick, Tyrone, Blake and William.

“Book Parade Day was terrific because we got to see everyone getting dressed up and having fun.  We want to thank our parents for getting our costumes ready”  Charvi, Ryder, Nicholas, Jack and Oscar.

“Last week, Purple Day began with activities at recess which we used dollar coins to raise money for cancer research.”  Siena, Lani, Max, Indi and Ethan.

“Some of our favourite things on Purple Day was the walk, quiz and colouring competition.  We ran countless laps and after we had icy poles.  The icy poles were sticky!”  Sam, Avaya, Frank, Jessica and Saina.

“On Science Day we did lots of fun experiments.  We made raisins dance using soda water which involved carbon dioxide.  We also looked at push and pull.  We put our toy cars or marbles on different surfaces and compared how they moved.”   Mila, Ava B, Lewis, Josh and Benjamin.

“The best part about Science Day was when we launched rockets with Mrs Williams but not all of them worked.  Other activities included making slime and a walking rainbow.” Ava S, Liam, Bailey, Glodia and Evelyn.

Year 4
“On Science Day, my favourite experiment was putting a colour wheel on a motor and seeing what colour it made when it spun really fast.  Then we look through a clear prism and saw a rainbow.  It happens when light reflects through something clear you see a rainbow.”  Sarah Magee.

“It was Book Week and last Tuesday we dressed up.  I dressed up as the Mad Hatter from ‘Alice in Wonderland’.  We had a small parade on the basketball court.  It was great seeing everyone dressed up.”  Charlotte Zammit.

“On Purple Day our school’s Year 6s held stalls to raise money for cancer.  They usually go to Relay for Life (where you walk around a designated area) but they could not because of COVID-19 so we walked twenty laps of the school.  Afterwards we got an icy pole.  It was an amazing day!”  Isabella Slocombe.

Tracey King
Head of Traralgon Junior School

 

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
2 November  Mid-term Break
3 November  Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
4 November
  Maths Day
5 to 13 November  Book Fair
6 November  Year 2 Wetlands and Twilight Event
9 November  ‘Parenting in a Digital World’, via Zoom, 7:30 pm
10 November  Years 1 to 6 Personal Development Sessions
11 November  Remembrance Day Service
FOSP AGM, via Zoom, 7:00 pm
12 November  Years 1 to 6 Personal Development Sessions
2021 Prep Transition 1, 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
13 November  Years 1 to 6 Personal Development Sessions
18 November  Prep to Year 2 Athletics Carnival
19 November  2021 Prep Transition 2, 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
23 November  Student Free Day

 

PURPLE DAY

The Year 6 students were all very keen to organise a Purple Day Walk, in lieu of their normal Relay for Life involvement.  They understood immediately that it had to be a paradox; everyone was together but apart at the same time because of COVID-19 precautions.  Their inventiveness and creativity were beautiful to watch.  The whole school, from ELC to Year 6 had fun on this day.

They formed work teams to organise the separate parts.  Some decided the courses which would be walked by each year group.   In order to make it more fun, they suggested different ways of walking such as waddling like a penguin.  Sports leaders devised a series of fitness moves to complete during the laps and made signs telling the students what to do.  The audiovisual leaders organised a playlist of music to keep the atmosphere lively.

During lunch and recess, contactless competitions were organised, all with an entry price of $1 and some cool prizes, donated by Year 6 families.  Art leaders organised a colouring competition and some brainiacs found some fiendishly difficult questions to make a quiz.  It was clear that the whole school emptied their change into our buckets, because the walk raised $903 on the day, with additional donations made online.  All together we raised $2,942 and we are both proud of, and grateful to our families for supporting this event.

Fiona Ridger
Year 6 Teacher

 

 

ARTISTS OF THE WEEK

Finger painting of an elephant, by Charvi Mageswaran, Year 2.

Rainbow Serpent, in watercolour with Zen tangles, by Gracie Hasthorpe, Year 4.

Ceramic Koala Mug, fired in Traralgon Secondary School’s kiln and glazed, by Sarah Kerr, Year 6.

 

BOOK WEEK FUN AND BOOK FAIR

Last week, the Traralgon Junior School celebrated Book Week with a Book Character Parade, activities in the Library at lunchtime, a scavenger hunt and this week, Years 3 to 6 welcomed the illustrator Marc McBride via Zoom to their Library and Art classes.  Despite the limitations and restrictions imposed on us we all had a fantastic, fun time.  Our Library Leaders worked very hard to organise the scavenger hunt and had to run the craft activities over seven lunchtimes so that we could keep our year levels distanced, well done to you.

Next week the fun will continue with a Book Fair.  Again, because of restrictions there will be some different guidelines this year.  The students will have the opportunity to view the books for sale but books will not be shared across year levels.  While parents will not be able to come on campus we will do all we can to help them ‘view’ the books that their children have selected by directing them to relevant websites and answering questions by phone.  Payment can be made by cash or credit card by either sending in card details to us or over the phone directly with Lamont who provide the books.  If you have any questions or concerns please phone us at the Library or email Mrs O’Malley directly at ssomalley@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Ko made a curious creature at lunchtime directed by the Library Leaders via Teams.

 

PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

St Paul’s is pleased to be able to invite our parents to join us for a special virtual event, ‘Parenting in a Digital World’, hosted by an educational expert from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

This special presentation will be held on Monday 9 November 2020 beginning at 7:30 pm and will be held via Zoom.

This session will include an interactive sixty minute conversation empowering families with skills and strategies for positive online behaviours and overall digital wellbeing.

Deepen your understanding of the online world, social media and gaming with an analysis of the latest trends, risks and research.  See you on Zoom!

The meeting can be joined via this link esmart.page.link/stpauls (the link will be active on the night) or alternatively the Meeting ID is 860 2702 9854 with the passcode 09112020.

 

 

FINANCE NEWS

Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Extension of due date to 27 November
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions.   Applications received during this extension will receive fifty per cent of the normal payment.  $62.50 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $112.50 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.  Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student.  For more information and to download the application form please go to https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

To qualify for CSEF, a student’s family must meet the following eligibility criteria:
∗1  The student is of school age and attends a registered Victorian school

∗2  The family meets one of the eligibility categories below:
a – The parent/carer of the student is, on an eligible date:
i.  an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card; or
ii.  an eligible beneficiary of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
iii.  a temporary foster carer; or
iv.  the parent/carer of a student who is 16 years or older and who holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card).
b –  The family is, on an eligible date, on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, is in community detention or is an asylum seeker family.
c – The student is, on an eligible date, in out-of-home care.
d The student is, on an eligible date, in statutory kinship care.

∗3  The student has not been deemed eligible to receive CSEF at another Victorian school for 2020.

Any student who meets one of the above eligibility categories on any day up to and including Monday 5 October 2020 will be eligible to apply for CSEF.  Funding applications for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers will still be accepted until the end of Term 4, as normal.

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately.  The CSEF program for 2020 now closes on 27 November 2020.

 

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

Get ready, the Dobsons annual ‘Buy Early & Save‘ sale is about to begin!  Save on selected uniform items when you shop with Dobsons until 31 October 2020.  Beat the back to school rush and save on a range of selected items, including:
• Blazers
• Pullovers
• Summer Dresses
• Summer Shirts
• Bags
• Sportswear
With a pain free returns policy, now is the time to plan ahead.  Whether your child finds a few extra centimetres over the holiday break or not as many as you would have thought, Dobsons has you covered with a quick and simple returns policy*.

*Terms and Conditions apply.  Sale available online and instore.

Purchase uniforms from the Dobsons website here, Dobsons School Uniforms Online

Traralgon Secondary School

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School, Mr Brad McCabe. Exam Study Tips and Tricks Years 9 and 10 Examinations are approximately three weeks away …

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Traralgon Secondary School

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mr Brad McCabe.

Exam Study Tips and Tricks
Years 9 and 10 Examinations are approximately three weeks away with the first exam commencing on Wednesday 18 November.   We understand this will be the first time this year that students will be partaking in exams.  Exam success and execution is a skill that is developed over time with practice and effective preparation.  Traralgon Secondary School staff were asked for their top study tip or trick, and this is some of what we came up with:

  1.  Study small chunks of information at a time.
  2.  Develop a regular study routine and structure.
  3.  Use flash card and diagrams to remember and understand the content.
  4.  Establish specific goals on what you would like to achieve during each study session.
  5.  Teach someone else what you have learnt.
  6.  Practise, practise, practise.
  7.  Have a designated study spot.
  8.  Revise with no music.
  9.  Put your phone away.
  10.  Plan practice topics and write small responses that you can review carefully.
  11.  Go over tests you have completed throughout the semester and check class pages for practice tests.
  12.  Ask your teacher plenty of questions.
  13.  Do not just read, you learn much better if you read and write; it helps embed the terminology and therefore the concepts you are learning.
  14.  For each subject (or each topic within a subject) use a different room or space.
  15.  Eat healthy food, get some exercise, regular breaks and make a study plan.
  16.  Record your voice to hear terminology/vocabulary.
  17.  Check the exam tips and study unit page on MyStPauls.

Student Diaries a change for 2021
After consultation with students and teachers, at both the Warragul and Traralgon Secondary Schools, we have made the decision to move to an electronic diary system for our Year 10 students in 2021.  Our Years 7 to 9 students will still be provided with a hard copy diary and we will continue to use this to develop their time management skills.  Our Year 10 students will be taught to use Microsoft Outlook which is compatible with MyStPauls and allows students to import their timetable and other important dates. There were several reasons students cited for moving to an electronic system that include:
•  They already carry their laptop and they believe an electronic diary system suits their skill set better.
•  They believe using this device is practical and reduces what they need to carry around campus.
•  An electronic system allows for the use of other functions such as a yearly calendar and importing their MyStPauls calendar.
•  They also wanted to reduce the impact on the environment that the paper diary creates.

Our students are very capable users of technology and they presented some compelling arguments.  We will implement and monitor this change and review it midway through 2021.  If, after completing the Outlook training, a student decides they would prefer to continue working with a paper diary we will have some extra copies of the Years 7 to 9 diary that they can use.  They can also choose to supply their own.

Mid-term Break and Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
A reminder that there is no school on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November.

Brad McCabe
Head of Traralgon Secondary School

 

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
2 November  Mid-term Break
3 November  Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
9 November  ‘Parenting in a Digital World’, via Zoom, 7:30 pm
11 November
  FOSP AGM, via Zoom, 7:00 pm
18 and 19 November  Year 9 and 10 Exams
19 November  Year 10 Farewell High Tea
20 November  Year 9 and 10 Exam Catch Up Day

 

YEAR 8 HUMANITIES: OUR IDENTITY

During the second round of remote learning, Year 8 Humanities students from both the Warragul and Traralgon Secondary Schools embarked on a journey into citizenship, diversity and identity.  By grappling with their own identity and values in life, students were able to uncover connections between their own experience and those of minority groups who have shaped the Australian national identity more broadly.  So too, students produced an array of powerful investigations into the experience of a number of those groups – from our South Sea Islander population, to the post-war migrants from throughout the world who sought freedom and safety on our shores.  Above all, our students demonstrated their understanding and compassion for the experience of others who helped make Australia what it is today.  Thank you to all of our Year 8 students for their enthusiastic involvement in this important unit.

Philippa Foot
Humanities Teacher

Year 8 students from both Warragul and Traralgon with an item that represents their identity.

 

SRC NEWS

Footy Colours Day
Today I will be recapping the success of the Footy Colours Day that was held last Thursday 23 October on behalf of the Student Representative Council (SRC).   Firstly, I would like to thank each of the students who participated on the day.  The contributions of each student really made the day a success in my eyes.  Secondly, on behalf of all of the students, I would like to thank Ms Witney for organising the footy events during Pastoral.  For me, these were a highlight of the day and I am sure that they would have been for many other students as well.  During these activities, it was great to see each of the students getting into the spirit of the day, which was designed to allow people to wear their sporting colours and attire for a good cause.  As I said earlier, the highlight of the day for me came during Pastoral time, during which each of the students involved themselves in the activities in some way, shape or form.  Although some students are not usually keen in competing in football related activities, it was great to see that everyone was willing to have a go.  I am pleased to announce that the school raised $223.10, solely from the generous donations of students.  This money will be donated to Fight Cancer, which I will now provide you with some more information about.  2020 has forced thousands of cancer affected children into prolonged isolation, to avoid catching COVID-19 and many, now more than ever are falling more and more behind in school.  The $223.10 raised on Footy Colours Day will be donated to the national charity, Fight Cancer Foundation, which helps to secure their education.  With everyone’s efforts on this day we have helped to turn the life of children affected by cancer around for the better.  Thank you to everyone that participated!

Lachlan Speairs
SRC Member

Saints Supporter, Xavier Haberl showcasing an amazing mark in one of the activities ‘Handball Matball’.

 

PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

St Paul’s is pleased to be able to invite our parents to join us for a special virtual event, ‘Parenting in a Digital World’, hosted by an educational expert from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

This special presentation will be held on Monday 9 November 2020 beginning at 7:30 pm and will be held via Zoom.

This session will include an interactive sixty minute conversation empowering families with skills and strategies for positive online behaviours and overall digital wellbeing.

Deepen your understanding of the online world, social media and gaming with an analysis of the latest trends, risks and research.  See you on Zoom!

The meeting can be joined via this link esmart.page.link/stpauls (the link will be active on the night) or alternatively the Meeting ID is 860 2702 9854 with the passcode 09112020.

 

 

FINANCE NEWS

Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Extension of due date to 27 November
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions.   Applications received during this extension will receive fifty per cent of the normal payment.  $62.50 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $112.50 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.  Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student.  For more information and to download the application form please go to https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

To qualify for CSEF, a student’s family must meet the following eligibility criteria:
∗1  The student is of school age and attends a registered Victorian school

∗2  The family meets one of the eligibility categories below:
a – The parent/carer of the student is, on an eligible date:
i.  an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card; or
ii.  an eligible beneficiary of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
iii.  a temporary foster carer; or
iv.  the parent/carer of a student who is 16 years or older and who holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card).
b –  The family is, on an eligible date, on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, is in community detention or is an asylum seeker family.
c – The student is, on an eligible date, in out-of-home care.
d The student is, on an eligible date, in statutory kinship care.

∗3  The student has not been deemed eligible to receive CSEF at another Victorian school for 2020.

Any student who meets one of the above eligibility categories on any day up to and including Monday 5 October 2020 will be eligible to apply for CSEF.  Funding applications for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers will still be accepted until the end of Term 4, as normal.

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately.  The CSEF program for 2020 now closes on 27 November 2020.

 

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

Get ready, the Dobsons annual ‘Buy Early & Save‘ sale is about to begin!  Save on selected uniform items when you shop with Dobsons until 31 October 2020.  Beat the back to school rush and save on a range of selected items, including:
• Blazers
• Pullovers
• Summer Dresses
• Summer Shirts
• Bags
• Sportswear
With a pain free returns policy, now is the time to plan ahead.  Whether your child finds a few extra centimetres over the holiday break or not as many as you would have thought, Dobsons has you covered with a quick and simple returns policy*.

*Terms and Conditions apply.  Sale available online and instore.

Purchase uniforms from the Dobsons website here, Dobsons School Uniforms Online

Warragul Secondary School

From the Head of Warragul Secondary School, Ms Laura Butterworth. Farewell to the Class of 2020 Today we reluctantly farewell a wonderful cohort of students …

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Warragul Secondary School

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

Farewell to the Class of 2020
Today we reluctantly farewell a wonderful cohort of students and an outstanding group of young people, our Class of 2020.  We have not spent as much time with them this year as we would have liked to but we are very proud of the way they have approached the challenges they have faced.  They have always experienced a special bond with each other and the experiences of their final year have only strengthened their connection and friendships.  Our farewell and celebration will look different today but the effort, enthusiasm and care we have put into it will be equal to other years.  As they approach their final examinations we wish them nothing but the best and we look forward to seeing what life awaits these students beyond the grounds of St Paul’s.

Year 11 Semester 2 Examinations
Our Semester 2 Examination Period will begin in November.  The details for individual year levels are listed below:

Year 11
Examination Period:  Thursday 12 November through to Wednesday 18 November 2020.
The examination timetable has been published on the Year Level Page in MyStPauls.
Examination catch-up day, Thursday 19 November 2020
Year 11 not required, Friday 20 November 2020
Curriculum and Assessment Day, Student Free Day, Monday 23 November 2020

Year 10
Examination Period:  Wednesday 18 November through to Thursday 19 November 2020.
Examination catch-up day, students not required unless they need to sit an examination, Friday 20 November 2020
Curriculum and Assessment Day, Student Free Day, Monday 23 November 2020

Year 9
Examination Period:  Wednesday 18 November through to Thursday 19 November 2020.
A normal school day for Year 9 all students required in class, Friday 20 November 2020
Curriculum and Assessment Day, Student Free Day, Monday 23 November 2020

Early Commencement and 2021 subject allocation
Students in Years 7 to 11 will receive their 2021 subject allocation in the coming days.  Students who would like to discuss their subjects must see Mr Testa, Director of Studies, during recess or lunchtime.

Our Early Commencement program will begin on Tuesday 24 November 2020.  Our 2021 Years 11 and 12 students will finish their year on Friday 4 December and all other year levels will finish on Tuesday 8 December.  We look forward to the beginning of a new academic year.

Student Diaries a change for 2021
After consultation with students and teachers, at both the Warragul and Traralgon Secondary Schools, we have made the decision to move to an electronic diary system for our Years 10 to 12 students in 2021.  Our Years 7 to 9 students will still be provided with a hard copy diary and we will continue to use this to develop their time management skills.  Our Years 10 to 12 students will be taught to use Microsoft Outlook that is compatible with MyStPauls and allows students to import their timetable and other important dates.  There were several reasons students cited for moving to an electronic system that include:
•  They already carry their laptop and they believe an electronic diary system suits their skill set better.
•  They believe using this device is practical and reduces what they need to carry around campus.
•  An electronic system allows for the use of other functions such as a yearly calendar and importing their MyStPauls calendar.
•  They also wanted to reduce the impact on the environment that the paper diary creates.

Our students are very capable users of technology and they presented some compelling arguments.  We will implement and monitor this change and review it midway through 2021.  If, after completing the Outlook training, a student decides they would prefer to continue working with a paper diary we will have some extra copies of the Years 7 to 9 diary that they can use.  They can also choose to supply their own.

Ms Laura Butterworth
Head of Warragul Secondary School

 

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
2 November  Mid-term Break
3 November  Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
6 November 
SRC Meeting, lunchtime
Art Exhibition, 7:00 pm
9 November  ‘Parenting in a Digital World’, via Zoom, 7:30 pm
10 November to 1 December  Units 3 and 4 Exams
11 November  Remembrance Day Service, 10:40 am to 11:00 am
12 November to 18 November  Year 11 Exams

Art Club – runs throughout the week.
To access the Art Club page, https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/homepage/10926
Students can comment in the social stream to join or email cpowell@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Maths Help
•  Tuesday lunchtimes
Years 7 and 8, YS1
Year 9, RM 6
Year 10, RM 5
Year 11, RM 4

•  Year 12, Tuesday after school, Year 12 Common Room
Thursday Periods 5 and 6, VC3

 

TERM 4 BUS INFORMATION

Monday 2 November and Tuesday 3 NovemberMid-term break (Melbourne Cup Public Holiday), no buses running.
Monday 23 NovemberStudent free day, no buses running.
Tuesday 8 DecemberLast day of Term 4, buses running to the normal schedule.

 

PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

St Paul’s is pleased to be able to invite our parents to join us for a special virtual event, ‘Parenting in a Digital World’, hosted by an educational expert from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

This special presentation will be held on Monday 9 November 2020 beginning at 7:30 pm and will be held via Zoom.

This session will include an interactive sixty minute conversation empowering families with skills and strategies for positive online behaviours and overall digital wellbeing.

Deepen your understanding of the online world, social media and gaming with an analysis of the latest trends, risks and research.  See you on Zoom!

The meeting can be joined via this link esmart.page.link/stpauls (the link will be active on the night) or alternatively the Meeting ID is 860 2702 9854 with the passcode 09112020.

 

FINANCE NEWS

Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Extension of due date to 27 November
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions.   Applications received during this extension will receive fifty per cent of the normal payment.  $62.50 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $112.50 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.  Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student.  For more information and to download the application form please go to https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

To qualify for CSEF, a student’s family must meet the following eligibility criteria:
∗1  The student is of school age and attends a registered Victorian school

∗2  The family meets one of the eligibility categories below:
a – The parent/carer of the student is, on an eligible date:
i.  an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card; or
ii.  an eligible beneficiary of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
iii.  a temporary foster carer; or
iv.  the parent/carer of a student who is 16 years or older and who holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card).
b –  The family is, on an eligible date, on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, is in community detention or is an asylum seeker family.
c – The student is, on an eligible date, in out-of-home care.
d The student is, on an eligible date, in statutory kinship care.

∗3  The student has not been deemed eligible to receive CSEF at another Victorian school for 2020.

Any student who meets one of the above eligibility categories on any day up to and including Monday 5 October 2020 will be eligible to apply for CSEF.  Funding applications for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers will still be accepted until the end of Term 4, as normal.

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately.  The CSEF program for 2020 now closes on 27 November 2020.

 

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

Get ready, the Dobsons annual ‘Buy Early & Save‘ sale is about to begin!  Save on selected uniform items when you shop with Dobsons until 31 October 2020.  Beat the back to school rush and save on a range of selected items, including:
• Blazers
• Pullovers
• Summer Dresses
• Summer Shirts
• Bags
• Sportswear
With a pain free returns policy, now is the time to plan ahead.  Whether your child finds a few extra centimetres over the holiday break or not as many as you would have thought, Dobsons has you covered with a quick and simple returns policy*.

*Terms and Conditions apply.  Sale available online and instore.

Purchase uniforms from the Dobsons website here, Dobsons School Uniforms Online

 

VET SPORT AND RECREATION DAY WALK

On 12 October the Year 12 Sport and Recreation VET class embarked on an adventure, marking an end to online learning and the beginning of our final studies before exams.  Accompanied by Mr Kooloos and Ms Hoskings, the class of eight travelled to Noojee to explore the Toorongo Falls hike, enjoying the serenity and beautiful surroundings.  The trip then advanced to the Trestle Bridge walk and the weather could not have been better to complete our VET requirements.  Simulating the day as if the students were facilitating the excursion, students gave directions and ensured that students ‘Mr Kooloos’ and ‘Ms Hoskings’ were safe along the trip and that the day was conducted in a timely and professional manner.  Fulfilling our course requirements whilst enjoying the sun and the sights, it was a day to remember, a great last trip before exams and what is to come in the future.  Thank you to Mr Kooloos for making the day possible and running the sport and recreation class that we all enjoy.

Aaron Nabulsi and Neisha Ablett

YEAR 8 HUMANITIES: OUR IDENTITY

During the second round of remote learning, Year 8 Humanities students from both the Warragul and Traralgon Secondary Schools embarked on a journey into citizenship, diversity and identity.  By grappling with their own identity and values in life, students were able to uncover connections between their own experience and those of minority groups who have shaped the Australian national identity more broadly.  So too, students produced an array of powerful investigations into the experience of a number of those groups – from our South Sea Islander population, to the post-war migrants from throughout the world who sought freedom and safety on our shores.  Above all, our students demonstrated their understanding and compassion for the experience of others who helped make Australia what it is today.  Thank you to all of our Year 8 students for their enthusiastic involvement in this important unit.

Philippa Foot
Humanities Teacher

Year 8 students from both Warragul and Traralgon with an item that represents their identity.

 

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

If you would like to join with other parents of the school to pray, the regular monthly prayer meeting will be taking place on Monday 9 November.
Please get in touch with Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com for more information.
“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 Chaplain

JAZZ, DISSONANCE AND FINDING BEAUTY IN THE CHAOS. “I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn’t resolve.  But I was outside the Bagdad Theater …

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JAZZ, DISSONANCE AND FINDING BEAUTY IN THE CHAOS.

“I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn’t resolve.  But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone.  I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself.  It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God because God didn’t resolve.  But that was before any of this happened.”
(Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality)

If 2020 had a soundtrack it would probably be a cross between the soundtracks for ‘Jaws’, ‘Psycho’ and ‘The Imperial March’ all played at once!  Lots of minor keys, dissonance and a sense of foreboding!  I am sure I do not need to go over the list of things that have made 2020 such a difficult year.  As the AFL Grand Final commentators said ad-nauseam on Saturday night, “It has been a season like no other”, and we are all very familiar with the trials and tribulations of living through a global pandemic.

A little bit of music theory for you.  When two notes played together sound good, we call it consonance; when they sound bad, we call it dissonance.  If you happen to have a piano nearby, play two notes next to each other and you will see what I mean.  We call this a dissonant pair.  It is a particular combination of sounds that most of us find quite unpleasant.  You could say that much of this year has felt like those piano notes playing over and over again in our lives.  But let me tell you a curious thing.  If we add one or two more notes to a dissonant pair we get something that sounds quite beautiful.  And this, I think, could be the key to living with the ongoing impact of a global pandemic which, much as we would like it to, is not going to magically disappear with the new year.

So if we cannot remove the dissonance, perhaps we can find the right notes to add to it in order to make something consonant, something beautiful.  This is God’s modus-operandi.  Time and again throughout history we see God taking a dissonant moment and making it something wonderful.  From the enslavement of Joseph that eventually led to the salvation of a whole people from starvation, through to the ultimate moment of dissonance when God Himself in human form is put to death, only to conquer death and rise again three days later, God takes our human dissonance and makes beautiful music from it.  And Christians, at their best, have continued to find beauty in the mess of life.  I recently read about a woman named Irena Sendler.  Irena was a Polish Catholic social worker who is credited with saving the lives of 2,500 children from the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942–43.  Her story is an amazing one and well worth looking up but one of the beautiful parts of her story is the list she kept of the names of all the children she helped escape.  The names were written on tissue paper and hidden in a jar buried under an apple tree.  After the war she and others worked tirelessly to reunite these children with relatives where possible.  Sadly, most of the parents did not survive the war.

There are countless stories of people like Irena who have brought hope and beauty into the midst of the most horrific situations.  Even this year there have been some great stories of people bringing hope and joy to those suffering through the isolation and pain of a pandemic induced lockdown.  George Gershwin allegedly once said, “Life is a lot like jazz… its best when you improvise.”  Born in part out of the slave songs and spirituals of African-American folk music, Jazz epitomises the creation of consonance from dissonance.  It is music that is hard to describe but has a way of capturing the heart and soul when experienced.  A bit like the way God meets with us in difficult times – those moments when the discord of our lives meets the beauty of God’s love.  It might be through an act of kindness and generosity, a moment of grace that we never expected or simply an inexplicable peace of spirit that could only be divine.  As we continue to live with the dissonance of our messy lives, we are being forced to improvise when so much of the normal running of things is not possible.  Our lives may look more like a jazz piece than a symphony but whatever the soundtrack of lives might be, may we discover beautiful moments of divine harmony in the melody of our daily lives.

Reverend Daniel Lowe
Senior Chaplain

 

Warragul Junior School

From the Head of Warragul Junior School, Mr Rowan van Raay. I am happy to report that our students have settled quickly back into the …

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Warragul Junior School

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

I am happy to report that our students have settled quickly back into the school routines and it has been wonderful to have some continuity so far this term.  We were able to enjoy Book Week and Footy Colours dress up day last Friday with one particular theme song being played over the PA just a couple of times!

Increased support for students:  Following the students’ return from remote learning, we have increased staff resources for the remainder of Term 4 to assist students who require extra support, either academically or pastorally.

Remote learning survey:  Earlier this week, parents were emailed a SurveyMonkey link as we would like to collect your feedback and thoughts following Remote Learning 2.0.  The survey will remain open until next Wednesday and my thanks to the families who have already completed the survey.  This will allow us to review and improve our remote learning platform (from our families’ perspective) should we ever face remote learning again (let’s hope not!).

To complete the survey please click the link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2YZS8GZ

Junior School Musical:  Students have been having a lot of fun filming our musical during their Performing Arts lessons since returning this term.  Mrs Davies, Mrs Bramstedt and Mrs Adamo have worked hard to provide this opportunity for our students and we look forward to seeing the final cut later this year!

New building:  Works commenced on the new building this week and it is exciting to see this project finally getting underway.   Students enjoyed watching the excavation works earlier this week from afar and it is exciting to see the project starting.

Hats and drink bottles:  As the weather warms up, please do not forget that students are required to bring a drink bottle to school each day as the bubble taps have been closed off and replaced with taps for students to fill their drink bottles.  Students must also have their hat at school each day to wear at recess and lunch and during PE, Sport and other outdoor activities.

School photos:  School photos have been rescheduled for Friday 20 November.  At this stage we will be taking individual and class photos only, with family photos to be confirmed.  All Years 3 to 6 students will require their summer uniforms (with blazer).  Year 4M and Years 5 and 6 will need to change for PE and Sport after their photos.

A reminder that next Monday and Tuesday is our Mid-term Break with the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday weekend and there will be NO ELC or school.

Families should also note that the Student Free Day listed in the student diary on Friday 20 November has been moved to Monday 23 November to be in line with the Secondary School.  Our Early Learning Centre will operate as normal on this day.

Enjoy the extra-long weekend everyone.

Rowan van Raay
Head of Warragul Junior School

 

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
2 November  Mid-term Break
3 November  Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
6 November  2021 Prep Transition 1
9 November  Parent Prayer Group
13 November  2021 Prep Transition 2
18 November  Prep to Year 2 Athletics Carnival
20 November  Junior School Photos
2021 Prep Transition 3
23 November  Student Free Day
27 November  2021 Prep Transition 4
2021 ELC Transition Session

 

TERM 4 BUS INFORMATION

Monday 2 November and Tuesday 3 NovemberMid-term Break (Melbourne Cup Public Holiday), no buses running.
Monday 23 NovemberStudent free day, no buses running.
Tuesday 8 DecemberLast day of Term 4, buses running to the normal schedule.

 

PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

St Paul’s is pleased to be able to invite our parents to join us for a special virtual event, ‘Parenting in a Digital World’, hosted by an educational expert from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

This special presentation will be held on Monday 9 November 2020 beginning at 7:30 pm and will be held via Zoom.

This session will include an interactive sixty minute conversation empowering families with skills and strategies for positive online behaviours and overall digital wellbeing.

Deepen your understanding of the online world, social media and gaming with an analysis of the latest trends, risks and research.  See you on Zoom!

The meeting can be joined via this link esmart.page.link/stpauls (the link will be active on the night) or alternatively the Meeting ID is 860 2702 9854 with the passcode 09112020.

 

FINANCE NEWS

Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Extension of due date to 27 November
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions.   Applications received during this extension will receive fifty per cent of the normal payment.  $62.50 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $112.50 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.  Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student.  For more information and to download the application form please go to https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

To qualify for CSEF, a student’s family must meet the following eligibility criteria:
∗1  The student is of school age and attends a registered Victorian school

∗2  The family meets one of the eligibility categories below:
a – The parent/carer of the student is, on an eligible date:
i.  an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card; or
ii.  an eligible beneficiary of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
iii.  a temporary foster carer; or
iv.  the parent/carer of a student who is 16 years or older and who holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card).
b –  The family is, on an eligible date, on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, is in community detention or is an asylum seeker family.
c – The student is, on an eligible date, in out-of-home care.
d The student is, on an eligible date, in statutory kinship care.

∗3  The student has not been deemed eligible to receive CSEF at another Victorian school for 2020.

Any student who meets one of the above eligibility categories on any day up to and including Monday 5 October 2020 will be eligible to apply for CSEF.  Funding applications for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers will still be accepted until the end of Term 4, as normal.

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately.  The CSEF program for 2020 now closes on 27 November 2020.

 

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

Get ready, the Dobsons annual ‘Buy Early & Save‘ sale is about to begin!  Save on selected uniform items when you shop with Dobsons until 31 October 2020.  Beat the back to school rush and save on a range of selected items, including:
• Blazers
• Pullovers
• Summer Dresses
• Summer Shirts
• Bags
• Sportswear
With a pain free returns policy, now is the time to plan ahead.  Whether your child finds a few extra centimetres over the holiday break or not as many as you would have thought, Dobsons has you covered with a quick and simple returns policy*.

*Terms and Conditions apply.  Sale available online and instore.

Purchase uniforms from the Dobsons website here, Dobsons School Uniforms Online

 

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

If you would like to join with other parents of the school to pray, the regular monthly prayer meeting will be taking place on Monday 9 November.
Please get in touch with Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com for more information.
“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 Principal

YEAR 12 We thank our Year 12 students for their many contributions over the years as their time at St Paul’s draws to a close.  …

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YEAR 12

We thank our Year 12 students for their many contributions over the years as their time at St Paul’s draws to a close.  We particularly thank them for what they have done this year.  In an entirely unexpected 2020, they have led the way in adjusting and dealing with a variety of uncertainties and altered situations.  Rather than lamenting, there has been a general acceptance of what has not been able to occur in their final year of school.  As admirable as this attitude is, one cannot help but feel a little sad and sorry for this cohort.  My hope is that the year ends as positively as possible.  I trust that all students sitting VCE examinations commencing next week do so to the best of their ability, as a fitting reward for the hard work that has been done by staff and students in preparation.

Much of this year has been disrupted and difficult and we probably have to accept that challenges will continue well into 2021.  Let us continue to be patient, supportive of one another and grateful for what we have, both individually and collectively.  While the Year 12 students are heavily in focus currently, we wish everyone in our school community the very best for the remainder of 2020.

Cameron Herbert
Principal

Grace Balcombe, Aarushi Pathania and Callum van der Meulen.

Luke and Connor Ibbotson.

Nixon Hall, Angus Guo, Kieran Lewis and James Gourley.