In this issue

• Rev Lowe’s ‘Top Ten Tips for lockdown’
• School Counsellor’s Report
• Year 9 Personal Projects
• Artists of the Week

Grammarian Issue 13, 3 September 2021

From the Principal

Our Head of Traralgon Secondary School, Mr Brad McCabe, has decided to transfer back to teach at the Warragul Campus in 2022. Many will be aware that Mr McCabe currently travels long distances each day. Moving back to the Warragul Campus will allow him to work much closer to home. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, Mr McCabe had planned to relocate to the Traralgon region, but changes in circumstances have now made that unlikely for the foreseeable future.

We thank Mr McCabe for his leadership of the Traralgon Secondary School during a highly unusual and unpredictable couple of years. Mr McCabe joined the staff of St Paul’s in 2014, moving from Beaconhills College. Returning to the Warragul Campus will allow him to be reacquainted with many staff and students who know him well.

The recruitment of the next Head of Traralgon Secondary School will commence immediately with a national search and advertisements in The Age newspaper over the coming weekends. The new Head will oversee the transition and growth of Traralgon Secondary from its current context to a significantly larger Year 7 to 12 secondary school in 2027. I am confident of attracting an outstanding candidate to succeed Mr McCabe and lead the Traralgon Secondary School during this most exciting time in the school’s history over the next five to ten years.

Cameron Herbert
Principal

Grammarian Issue 13, 3 September 2021

Traralgon Junior School

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

This week has been National Education Support (ES) Staff Appreciation week and we have celebrated our ES team and the significant contributions they make to student learning and wellbeing. We thanked all members of our ES team and particularly acknowledged Jayne Alexander, Rebecca Coulston, Karen Ashworth and Sienna Reid for their ongoing efforts in supporting on-site supervision during lockdown and online learning. We are very lucky indeed to have such a dedicated and skilled Education Support team at Traralgon Junior School.

Last week was Book Week and there were a number of special activities on offer for students and families to engage in. We were all disappointed to not be able to host our annual Book Character Parade in person at school however many teachers and students went ahead and dressed up, celebrating the day at home. Mrs O’Malley is to be thanked for her organisation of these special activities and her ongoing promotion of reading and literature. Mrs O’Malley’s ‘Queen of Hearts’ costume was particularly impressive this year!

Parent Student Teacher Interviews were held via Zoom last week and it was terrific to have many families online with teachers discussing student learning progress. Teachers are available for discussions at any time throughout the year and parents are encouraged to contact teachers with any queries as they arise.

Earlier this year our Years 3 and 5 students completed the National Assessment Plan – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) in the areas of Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy. This is a nationwide assessment and provides information about student learning progress. The NAPLAN offers valuable information on a cohort and individual basis. Student results are analysed by the school and all results are viewed in the context of the other information we have about student academic performance. NAPLAN reports have arrived at school and these will be posted home to families next week.

Father’s Day is this coming Sunday and on behalf of the Junior School team, all the special Dads and father figures in our students’ lives are wished a wonderful day where they are recognised and treated by those who love them.

There are some suggestions that the idea of Father’s Day may originate in pagan sun worship. Some branches of paganism see the Sun as the father of the universe. The history of a day honouring fathers can also be traced back to celebrations like St Joseph’s Day in early Christian times. The modern-day version started in the United States following a terrible mining disaster that killed 360 men. The idea of a special day to honour fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced by a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd who was inspired by the American Mother’s Day celebrations and planned a day to honour fathers early in the twentieth century. The first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. Father’s Day has become increasingly popular throughout parts of the world over the past hundred years.

As we finish the second week of online learning I would like to acknowledge the efforts of teachers and families and thank you all for your cooperation and support for our students. Our IT skills are definitely being developed along with our patience and resilience. I have received some lovely feedback from families expressing their gratitude for the work of their children’s teachers however, many people are sharing that their children (and themselves) are feeling fatigued. Mr Battista’s wellbeing tips are included below which may help your family.

Wellbeing tips from Mr Battista
As we embark on another few weeks of being in lockdown and online learning it’s as important as ever to consider what is going to support us all to effectively navigate the coming weeks. Now is a great opportunity to hit pause and reflect on what’s working and what has possibly waned throughout these lockdown periods for you and your family. Remember the most important thing is to do what is best for your family and each set of circumstances have different variables, however, here are some things to keep in mind:

Routines
Things will have worked throughout these periods and others will not. The key is consistency and having as much predictability throughout each day where possible. Plan for something each day. It may be a walk, bike ride, family board game or a video call with grandparents.

Sleep
Getting enough good quality sleep is essential to healthy growth and development. This can be impacted in uncertain times
It is recommended:
• Children aged 3 to 5 years get 10 to 13 hours sleep
• Children aged 5 to 13 years get 9 to 11 hours sleep
• Young people aged 14 to 17 years get 8 to 10 hours sleep

To establish and maintain healthy sleep patterns, it is recommended to:
• Have a consistent bedtime and wake-up time
• Avoid screens 1 hour before sleep
• Keep screens out of bedrooms

Exercise
Children are considerably more physically active throughout the day while they are at school playing on the playground equipment and running in the yard. Encourage your children to play outside during their breaks, go for a bike ride, for a walk, jump on the trampoline, kick the footy, play with the dog, dig in the sandpit, play on the swing set or any other activity which allows them to be physically active. Physical activity is also proven to improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Brain breaks during break times
Children need movement throughout each and every day. Encourage your child/children to move in between their periods of learning online. This can be low effort walking around the house or checking the mail, to vigorous levels of skipping or star jumps. This will support them to reset and allow them to focus on the next session more effectively.

Practising gratitude and random acts of kindness
Research shows the positive impacts of practising gratitude on a regular basis has on our brains and in turn our wellbeing. You could discuss some of the following while having dinner:

• What went well for you today?
• Who was someone you were grateful for?
• What made you feel happy today?
• What did you achieve today?
• What were you proud of today?
• What are you most looking forward to tomorrow?

There is also the possibility of completing random acts of kindness. Could you brighten the day of someone else? Why not create a fun task as a family to brighten someone’s day.

When all else fails, smile. It’s contagious!

Tracey King
Head of Traralgon Junior School

WHAT’S ON

SEPTEMBER
8 September Hush Education Years 4 to 6 Begins (rescheduled to Term 4)
Illustrator Visit (rescheduled to Term 4)
Dr Justin Coulson – Online Seminar (Anxiety in Your Child), 7:30 pm
10 September Author Visit (rescheduled to Term 4)
17 September Last day of Term 3, 2:30 pm finish

* Please note that all events/excursions are dependent on COVID-19 restrictions.
* (tbc) – to be confirmed.

STUDENT WELFARE INFORMATION

When people hear the term mental health, they often think of its negative associations (for example: depression, anxiety, panic attacks). Some people may think of good and poor mental health as being two discrete things with nothing in between. However, mental health is a continuum.

When your child has good mental health, they are able to take life’s ups and downs in their stride. This does not mean that they feel 100 per cent happy all of the time. They still experience a full array of emotions (happy, sad, angry, to name a few) but they are able to manage these feelings.

As they move along the mental health continuum, your child may find that things start to annoy them more than usual, or their eating/sleep may suffer. This is a sign that your child needs additional support (a gentle conversation with a parent or family member) and self-care (for example: going to a park, sport, playing a game, drawing).

If these strategies have not helped your child move back into a healthy headspace and your child is faced with prolonged feelings of sadness, anger or worry, then their mental health has entered the injured stage and it is time to seek professional help.

As it can take one to four months to get an appointment with an external psychologist or counsellor, it is recommended that you begin the process of arranging external support straight away. You can always cancel this if it is no longer needed. Whilst your child is receiving support, it is important that you continue to have conversations with them about how they are feeling. You can also help them practise self-care and positive coping strategies (some examples are breathing, mindfulness, meditation).

Whilst it is normal to experience negative emotions occasionally (particularly during a COVID-19 lockdown), it is important to seek help if your child’s negative emotions persist or begin to impact their day-to-day life.

The following telephone supports are available:
Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800
Headspace: 1800 650 890
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Griefline: 1300 845 745
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Care in Mind: 1300 096 269
Mental Health Triage: 1300 363 322
Parentline: 13 22 89

Please note: If you are concerned about the immediate safety of your child, call 000 or take your child directly to your local hospital’s Emergency Department. You will be assisted from there.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please reach out, AVincent@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Amelia Vincent
(on behalf of the St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School Counselling Team)

DOBSONS TRADING HOURS

Dobsons Uniform stores are currently closed in line with government restrictions. We thank you for your cooperation and patience. During this time you may continue to shop online with a $10 flat rate delivery: https://dobsons.com.au/schools/st-pauls-anglican-grammar-school

IMPORTANT NOTICES FOR PARENTS

Students who may be leaving St Paul’s
As per the Business Notice/Enrolment Agreement, it is a requirement at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School that a term’s notice in advance is given before any student withdraws. The School remains committed to supporting families who are experiencing changed financial circumstances due to COVID-19 and we encourage you to contact our Finance Officer, Mr Peter Lees, via email at plees@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au to discuss options that may assist your child/ren to continue. If you are planning to withdraw your child/ren, please confirm your intention in writing to our Principal, Mr Cameron Herbert, prior to the end of Term 3.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our Enrolments Office: Mrs Jen Christensen (Warragul) on 5623 5833 or Ms Rachael Langley (Traralgon) on 5175 0133 or by emailing enrolments@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

SPECIAL FOSP UPDATE

Dear St Paul’s Parents,

Firstly, thank you for supporting our FOSP Narkoojee Evening. It was planned to be a wonderful social evening in a beautiful setting and an opportunity to connect as a school community.
Unfortunately we have had bad luck with lockdowns. Due to the inability to predict or plan, we have made the difficult decision to refund ALL tickets and we will try again once we have more ability to plan. Your refund will be transferred back into your account via the Trybooking ticketing system.
It is definitely an event that we will organise again, so stay up-to-date with FOSP news.

We would like to offer Narkoojee Winery our support at this time. They have graciously offered a ‘FOSP START THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SPECIAL’ wine and antipasti platter that you can order directly from the winery for $50.00, the price of your ticket. This is the perfect lockdown accompaniment and a wonderful way to support a local business too.

To order a ‘FOSP SPECIAL’ – please contact Deanna at the Cellar Door on 5192 4257 to arrange for payment and discuss details including dates, local delivery options or contactless pick up.
You can choose ONE bottle from the Premium wines, including Lily Grace Chardonnay, Francis Road Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Harriet, Sparkling Merlot, Cabernet Merlot, Tumbaraumba Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Athelstan Merlot or Wild Rosé.

Take care of yourself and each other,
The FOSP team

ART IN LOCKDOWN

Stella O’Mara – Year 5.

Georgia Hasthorpe – Year 4.

Siena Rikken – Year 3.

Stella Rong – Prep.

Rusafa Mahveen – Prep.

Nicholas McLean – Year 2.

Stella O’Mara – Year 5.

Gracie Hasthorpe – Year 5 .

BOOK WEEK

Oh the disappointment! The biggest week on the library calendar with so many hours of preparation had to go online.

But wait, we can do this! And we did!

On-site students came to school dressed up. Others dressed up at home and sent in photos so we could share in the fun.

We all listened to the short-listed books on StoryBox Library (what a blessing that platform is).

Students found competitions, colouring in and puzzles to complete on the library page of MyStPauls. (Just quietly, the competitions are still open until the beginning of next week so enter for the chance to win prizes.)

I am pleased to announce that we will definitely still run a live Book Character Parade at school once we are back face-to-face.

In the meantime, keep reading everyone.

Year 1 student Isabella dressed as Piggie from “Elephant and Piggie” by Mo Willems.

Year 4 student Ahad dressed as “Harry Potter”.

Prep student Zohan dressed as “Tyrannosaurus Drip” by Julia Donaldson.

Prep student Myra dressed as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”.

Writing Wizardry: Prep student Jordy completing his handwriting during online learning.

Lil Zanella at home dressed as Silky from “The Magic Faraway Tree” by Enid Blyton.

Susan O’Malley
Librarian

YEARS 3 AND 4 CAMP TO WARATAH BAY BEACH CAMP

All students in Years 3 and 4 went to Waratah Bay Beach Camp at the beginning of August. This was a special camp for all students because it was the first time they had been on school camp, so the Year 4 students were just as nervous as the Year 3 students.

While there, students were challenged to solve puzzles, work as teams to succeed and of course face their fears. Some of the challenges seemed impossible at first sight, but with a bit of thinking and bravery, the students managed to get through them. Despite the dampness and the cold, the students loved being outside and active. The highlights had to be the Flying Fish, which was a giant swing that rose above the rooftop and the night walk along the beach, followed by marshmallows toasted on a campfire.

Crate stacking with Ahad Adeel on top. Jaxon Cane, Jayden Joseph and Ryder McGregor in background.

Sam Dockley on the Caterpillar Crawl.

Ashlyn Bugeja and Frankie Henthorn on the ropes course.

Lewis Sanderson climbing and Benjamin Howie having a rest at the top of the obstacle course.

ANXIETY IN YOUR CHILD

A seminar with Dr Justin Coulson
Wednesday 8 September 2021, 7:30 pm

Anxiety has become one of the leading causes of ill-health in our children. And it is also affecting more parents than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated what was already an accelerating problem.

Can we stop anxiety? Where is it coming from? Are our kids bubble-wrapped snowflakes that just need to “toughen up” and get over it? Or is there an approach to our children’s anxiety that can build them, encourage them, and give them hope? This webinar will provide the answers every parent needs to help their children – and even to help themselves.

Over the course of ninety minutes, Dr Justin Coulson will help you to:
• Recognise anxiety in your child and know how best to respond when anxiety flares up
• Become a supportive hope-giver to your child to empower him/her to be courageous in the face of anxious thoughts
• Uncover the research-based number one strength your child can develop to combat anxiety and develop remarkable resilience
• Identify how your own anxieties could be affecting your child and know how to manage them
• Learn proven strategies to help both you and your child navigate and manage anxiety when things get stressful

Once you have participated in this webinar, you will have strategies that you can put into practice on the spot to help curb anxiety, build confidence and restore resilience in your child. And if you struggle with anxiety yourself, you will be changed.

NOTE: this is a live webinar but a link will be available for seven days after the event.

Please use this unique link to register as a St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School family, https://happyfamiliesfamilyeducation.ac-page.com/st-pauls-anglican-grammar-school-anxiety-in-your-child

Grammarian Issue 13, 3 September 2021

Warragul Junior School

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

Term 3 continues to throw curve balls at us and I hope everyone is keeping safe and well during these trying times. I understand that this is a difficult period but hopefully we can continue to work together and push through. After yesterday’s announcements, it is looking like the beginning of Term 4 before we return to face-to-face learning, but as always, I will keep you all posted as updates come in.

It has been nice to join students and staff on their Microsoft Teams meetings this week, to check in with them and say hello. I wanted to acknowledge the wonderful effort everyone is putting into their online learning and to once again reassure you that we are here to support you any way we can. Please continue to ask for assistance whenever you need it. My message to everyone remains the same, do the best you can, be kind to yourselves and reach out to us if we can help in any way.

Feel free to email me directly ravanraay@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au should you have any queries or feedback about the current online learning process.

Parent Teacher Interviews
My thanks to the families who were able to meet teachers via Zoom last week for their Parent Teacher Interviews. Whilst they are not quite the same as face-to-face, I hope you were able to gain an understanding of your child’s progress so far this semester.

Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN
We have received Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN results, these will be posted to families early next week, so please keep an eye out for them in the post.

FOSP Pie Drive
My thanks to all the families who supported our FOSP pie drive recently. We have kept a record of any outstanding items and this will be sorted once we are all back on campus. My thanks to Mrs Leighton for organising the drive and the staff and students who assisted in sorting all the orders in the absence of parent helpers being able to come on-site at the moment. They certainly are yummy!

Junior School Musical
The new date for our Junior School Musical is Thursday 21 October. As you would be aware, it is difficult to know what the road map back to these types of events will look like but we will do our very best to ensure our students and families do not miss out on this opportunity.

Winter Round Robin
Congratulations to all our Years 5 and 6 Winter Round Robin sports teams that made their way through to Regionals recently. Unfortunately, our momentum has stalled with Regionals being cancelled for this year. At least we got to compete in a few games this year!

Dr Justin Coulson online seminar
A reminder to all families about the upcoming online seminar Anxiety in your Child with Dr Justin Coulson on Wednesday 8 September commencing at 7:30 pm. Please use this unique link to register as a St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School family, https://happyfamiliesfamilyeducation.ac-page.com/st-pauls-anglican-grammar-school-anxiety-in-your-child

September Holiday Program
Club House Boot Camp will once again run our holiday program during the term break. Please see more information and an outline of the program at the end of this newsletter or visit, www.clubhousebootcamp.com.au

Happy Father’s Day
Wishing all the dads in our St Paul’s community a very happy day on Sunday!

Please look after yourselves and hang in there everyone!

Rowan van Raay
Head of Warragul Junior School