In this issue

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

Welcome to Term 4
It was lovely to see our students return from their break this week looking refreshed and ready to learn. Term 4 is always very busy and we encourage families to please check the ‘What’s On’ dates regularly or the School calendar available on MyStPauls to ensure you are aware of all the key dates and events that will be happening for your child or children. In this edition of the Grammarian, we have included a list of key dates for Years 7 to 11 below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list but does cover key events and dates that parents do need to be mindful of.

YEAR 7

YEAR 8

YEAR 9

YEAR 10

YEAR 11

Class of 2023 Celebration Day
On Wednesday 18 October we will be celebrating our Year 12 cohort and their final day of secondary school. This day really is a celebration and an opportunity to recognise their achievements as a cohort and contribution to our school. On this day traffic conditions are often slower than on a normal school day and we wanted to warn parents and guardians of potential delays.

Our Celebration Day includes students arriving in costume and celebrating their final morning together. They then move to their Principal’s Morning Tea, hosted by Mr Herbert, their Final Chapel Service, the Year 12 Assembly and then they enjoy a barbeque lunch and activities on the oval to end their day.

Parents and Guardians are invited to join us for the Year 12 Final Assembly commencing at 12:00 noon in the Secondary School Gymnasium.

Our current Year 12 families were emailed a letter on Thursday 5 October outlining key dates and other important information regarding their final weeks at school. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms Caitlin Powell, Head of Year 12, if you have any questions via cpowell@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au.

SPECIAL REPORT: A Guide To Safe Partying
Teenage gatherings provide young people with important opportunities to interact and build on their social skills and experiences. Celebrations, partying and socialising are a fundamental rite of passage and one of the most important aspects of a young person’s life. However, it is possible for the best young person to get carried away with their peers and the euphoria of the moment.

For parents and caregivers, keeping your young person safe can at times feel daunting and is often a compromise and a challenge. Most teenagers try to do the right thing most of the time, but your leadership as a role model is crucial. Your child may appear to be physically large and mature, but this is not necessarily matched by their emotional maturity and responsibility in behaviour.

Every party has the potential to get out of hand as sometimes it is hard for young partygoers to make good decisions. Communication and regular discussions are vital, particularly because young people are often faced with peer pressure to do things they prefer not to engage in. Hosting a celebration at home or at a venue can be a fun and memorable event but it is important to agree on the ground rules well before your event is announced to ensure there are no misunderstandings later on.

If hosting an event, you owe your guests a ‘duty of care’ and should ensure all reasonable steps are taken to keep partygoers safe. This special report provides caregivers with a list of things to consider when planning a celebration. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help. Here is the link to your special report https://stpaulsags.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-guide-safe-partying .

Free Parent Seminar – All Parents Welcome
Navigating a s*xed-up world: How can we help our children resist harmful messages from media and pop culture and aspire to respectful relationships?
Parents and caregivers are noticing children seem to be growing up too fast, worried about their appearance and more aware of se*ual issues at earlier ages. Children and young people are bombarded with hyperse*ualised messages from the media and popular culture. The lives of young people are increasingly socialised, conditioned and informed by exposure to online p*rn before their first kiss. Drawing from current global literature and the experiences of young people, Melinda and Daniel will explore how the proliferation of s*xualised images and messages contributes to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and se*uality, hampering their healthy physical, emotional and social development. They help parents address this toxic culture and provide practice tips on raising happy, healthy and resilient young people who value their dignity and self-worth and aspire to relationships based on respect and authentic connection. We hope many of our parents and guardians will take advantage of this opportunity to hear Melinda and Daniel speak on these important topics.

Register your attendance now here.

Hats and Hydration
During Terms 1 and 4 all students are required to wear a St Paul’s wide-brimmed hat when they are sitting outside. We would appreciate it if parents could please ensure students are attending school with a hat labelled with their name. We also encourage students to keep well hydrated and suggest that they carry a water bottle. Our drink taps are fully operational but hydration is important for brain health and function so we always welcome students attending class with a water bottle in the warmer weather.

Year 8 Camp
Our Year 8 students depart for their camp at Phillip Island on Monday 9 October 2023. The weather looks promising for them to participate in surfing lessons, stand-up paddleboarding and a whole range of other fun activities which will build resilience and strengthen their relationships. We hope they enjoy the adventure and make some lasting memories. Please refer to Consent2Go for packing information and further details. Please do not hesitate to contact Head of Year 8, Mr Scott Armour, via sarmour@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Laura Butterworth
Head of Warragul Secondary School

WHAT’S ON

OCTOBER
8 October  Academy of Music Sunday Workshop, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
9 to 11 October  Year 8 Camp
11 October  Complete Works – Romeo and Juliet, Year 9 English Incursion, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 1:30 pm to 3:10 pm
12 October  SEISA Summer Junior Round 1 – BYE
Academy of Music Kapelle Konzert Rehearsal, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 1:40 pm to 3:10 pm
16 October  Year 11 VET Sport and Recreation Surf Session, Phillip Island, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
18 October  Year 12 Celebration Day
Year 12 Final Assembly, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 12:00 pm
19 October  Year 12 Japanese Orals
SEISA Summer Junior Round 2
The Collective Shout Parent Seminar – Melinda Tankard Reist and Daniel Principe, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm
20 October  The Collective Shout – Years 9, 10 and 11 Boys, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 9:10 am to 10:45 am
The Collective Shout – Years 9, 10 and 11 Girls, Warragul Junior School Gymnasium, 9:10 am to 10:45 am
The Collective Shout – Years 7 and 8 Boys, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 11:10 am to 12:45 pm
The Collective Shout – Years 7 and 8 Girls, Warragul Junior School Gymnasium, 11:10 am to 12:45 pm
24 October to 15 November  VCAA Unit 4 Exams commence
26 October  SEISA Summer Junior Round 3
Year 11 2024 Transition Day (Traralgon Secondary School Year 10 to Warragul Secondary School)
Academy of Music Kapelle Konzert Rehearsal, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 1:40 pm to 3:10 pm
27 October  Year 11 VET Sport and Recreation Surf Kayak Session, Phillip Island, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Academy of Music Kapelle Konzert Rehearsal, selected students, Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, 9:00 am
Academy of Music Kapelle Konzert, Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, 7:00 pm

DOBSONS TRADING HOURS

Order online or click and collect: Please ensure that you only attend the store to collect your items once you have received notification that your order is ready, order here.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

We love to celebrate the achievements of our students, both in and out of school. As we near the end of the school year, the awards process is underway and the first set of presentations will take place in the final assembly for Year 12 students on Wednesday 18 October. The assembly for Year 12 students is a celebration of their entire time at St Paul’s and the contribution they have made to our community, culminating in a standing ovation from all the students, staff and parents.

The final Presentation Assembly, for current Years 7 to 11 students, takes place on the last day of the school year – Friday 8 December. All Years 7 to 11 students attend and it is completed within school hours.

Some of the awards we present include
•  Academic: to the student with the highest academic score for the subject
•  Academic Excellence: to students whose cumulative scores place them in the top ten per cent of their cohort
•  Citizenship: to students upholding the values of St Paul’s
•  Endeavour: to students who have displayed an excellent work ethic (but did not receive an Academic Award in that same year)

There are also a number of special awards, including:
•  Colours (Years 11-12) and Emblems (Blue for Years 7 to 9, Burgundy for Years 10 to 12): to students, nominated by coach or teacher in charge of an activity, who have upheld the school values and also displayed excellence and commitment in a particular field.
•  Triple Colour: to a student who receives three colours across two of the three categories (Sport, Service, Performing Arts).
•  A range of year-level specific awards, nominated by staff.
•  Valedictorian: a Year 12 student who will speak on behalf of the Year 12 cohort at the Valedictory Dinner – this is selected by a vote from the Year 12 cohort.

We love to share and celebrate all the wonderful things our students are doing as they pursue their potential at school and beyond.  If your son/daughter has experienced success outside of school, please let their Mentor and Head of Year know so we can add our congratulations and encouragement.

Gordon Oldham
Deputy Head of Secondary School – Warragul Campus

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

“Where two or three people gather in my name, I am there with them.” Matthew 18:20

The St Paul’s parent prayer group meets on the first Monday of each month during school terms. We try to keep the meeting brief (we are usually done by 9:45 am) and casual (younger children are most welcome). The group encompasses people both very comfortable with praying, as well as those newer to praying with others. Feel free to get in touch with any questions beforehand or just attend when you are able during the year.

Our next gathering is Monday 13 November, 9:00 am in the Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School
Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com

LOOKING RESPLENDENT!

Thank you, parents, for your support in having our students dressed resplendently when they attend school.  We know that wearing our uniform is part of being involved in the St Paul’s team, a community with shared values.

If your son/daughter is coming to school in an incorrect item (for example: socks or sports uniform when they do not have sport), please equip them with a note of explanation or email the Mentor and Head of Year. Students who are out of uniform – or have to be reminded multiple times to remove a spray jacket when it is not raining or to remove piercings – will be issued with a uniform slip. Heads of Year follow up on each one and, if a student receives three slips, they have an after school detention. The slips are also available to use if behaviour standards are not met. (The slips are not an entirely new process, they simply endured a COVID-prompted hiatus!)

Our favourite Term 4 reminders:
•  White socks with dress and sports uniform should not have a logo showing.
•  No spray jacket with formal uniform unless it is raining (and it does not rain inside a classroom!).
•  Black school shoes (not runners).
•  One piercing per ear lobe, sensible sleeper or plain stud (no nose piercings).
•  Hair tied back.
•  Winter uniform can be worn at any stage in Term 4 but it needs to be the full uniform (for example, the blazer and tie will be required).
•  Hats for Term 4!
•  Smiles on, ready to learn! (We know that this is a given!).

Gordon Oldham
Deputy Head of Secondary School – Warragul Campus

POSITIVE MINDSET

Positivity is the ability to perceive and focus on the good aspects of one’s life. Having a positive mindset can lead to an increase in self-esteem, as well as impact the way all experiences are perceived. Whilst the human experience is characterised by both positive and negative events, the ability to make the most of each situation is important for developing resilience. Having a positive mindset does not mean that we dismiss negative life experiences, but it does mean that we can find the good, even during difficult times. Like any other skill, being positive becomes easier the more it is practised. Here are two techniques you can use with your family to increase positivity.

Three Good Things
‘Three Good Things’ is a journaling technique that is proven to increase happiness. At the end of the day, preferably before bed, have your child sit down and identify three good things that happened in their day. These events do not need to be big, simply positive. Ask your child to write down their three good things and why the positive event occurred (for example: I had a yummy recess because I got dressed quickly in the morning and had time to pack my own lunchbox). If it is too hard for your child to write their answers, doing this as a discussion before bed could be an alternative.

What made you GLAD?
The GLAD technique is a reflective exercise where you answer four questions:
•  Gratitude: What are you grateful for today?
•  Learning: What did you learn today?
•  Accomplishment: What is one accomplishment you achieved today?
•  Delight: What delighted you or made you feel good today?

Similarly to the ‘Three Good Things’ technique, there may be some days where only “smaller” positives are identified. On a difficult day, simply getting out of bed or going to school may be an accomplishment. Try using this technique as dinner table conversation – each member of your family could answer each question one at a time. By focusing on the small positives and wins in their day-to-day life, your family should start to feel a little more positive overall.

Remember that the St Paul’s counselling team is available to students who are in need of support. Speak to your child’s Head of Year or Head of School if you think they would benefit from additional support. The My St Paul’s Student Wellbeing Information for Parents page also has a collection of resources and programs selected by the counselling team to support you in supporting your children. You can visit the page at https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/homepage/13368 .

Shannon Staples
Head of Counselling Services

WARRAGUL SECONDARY SCHOOL ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS

*Soul Band and Jazz Combo are audition/invitation ensembles only. Please contact Mr Chris Staben for further information regarding these ensembles: crstaben@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

New members and students having lessons outside of school are most welcome. Please contact Mrs Heather Mason and/or the listed ensemble director for further information: hjmason@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Heather Mason
Head of Performing Arts – Co-curricular

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Join the fun! Register here.

PETER PAN JR.

From Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 October, Traralgon Secondary School will perform ‘Peter Pan JR.’ at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) – an exciting first for Traralgon Campus productions!
Based on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale and featuring an unforgettable score by Morris “Moose” Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Peter Pan is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favourites of all time. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for sixty years and is now adapted for young performers.

Tickets are now available via Peter Pan JR | Latrobe City Council.

Please come along to support our wonderfully talented students and enjoy an outing to the theatre!

Susan Guy
Performing Arts Department – Traralgon Campus

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

Welcome to Term 4. I hope families were able to enjoy a break over the recent school holidays. It is always nice to have a change of pace, that’s for sure. We certainly have had a mix of weather this week. This term, we welcome new students, Harlow Pratt (2W1) and Summer Dixon (5W1) to our Junior School. Staff have already been very busy this term updating their CPR and First Aid qualifications after school. Their dedication to staying current with these skills is commendable and reflects their responsibility and care for our students, colleagues and visitors on campus. I thank them for their ongoing commitment in keeping the school a safe place.

Year 12 students come back to Junior School and Last Day
Next Thursday, we will hold a special morning tea for the students in Year 12 who attended the Warragul Junior School. It is a wonderful time for the students to catch up with staff and to reminisce about their time in our Junior School. On Wednesday 18 October, our Year 12 students will have their last day of school. On this day traffic conditions are often slower than a normal school day and we wanted to warn parents and guardians of potential delays. I take this opportunity to wish all Year 12 students well as they enter their final weeks of school and during their exam period.

Hats
For Term 4, students should have their school hat with them each day to wear during recess, lunchtime and all other outdoor activities.

Junior School Musical
Preparations are coming along nicely for our upcoming Junior School Musical, ‘The Lion King JR’ on Wednesday 25 October. All families should have received information from our Performing Arts team and I ask that you direct any questions to them if you need anything clarified. Tickets can be purchased online at www.wgac.com.au. As we are holding the two shows, one at 4:30 pm and one at 6:30 pm, please ensure you double check which show/s your child/ren are in. Tickets are selling fast, so be quick!

2024 Prep Information Evening
A reminder for our Pre-Prep families who have a child transitioning to Prep next year, that we will be holding an information session next Wednesday 11 October commencing at 7:00 pm in the Prideaux Centre. Children are welcome and our Before and After School Care provider, Club House Book Camp, will have staff running activities for the children.

Thriving Kids and Parents School Project
St Paul’s has joined up to take part in the Thriving Kids and Parents School Project. As part of the project, parents/carers are invited to attend three highly relevant Triple P – Positive Parenting seminars from one of the most effective evidence-based programs in the world, FREE of charge.

These interactive seminars will be delivered to parents/carers of children aged 4 to 12 years from your school/via a videoconferencing platform.

The three interconnected seminars will provide you with a toolkit of practical strategies to help your child thrive. These strategies will help you guide your child’s behaviour, manage everyday worries and build healthy peer relationships.

Attending all three seminars will provide you with the strategies you need to best support your child’s development.

•  The Power of Positive Parenting (Triple P Seminar) helps you to understand why kids behave the way they do and introduces practical strategies to support your child’s social and emotional development.
•  The Helping Your Child to Manage Anxiety (Fear-Less Triple P Seminar) is designed to equip you with the skills and strategies you need to support your child to manage their emotions and overcome challenges.
•  The Keeping Your Child Safe From Bullying (Resilience Triple P Seminar) helps you maintain good communication with your child, develop positive peer relationships and address conflict and bullying.

How can I get involved?
1.  Register for the seminar series and complete a short (approximately fifteen to twenty minutes) online questionnaire.
2. Attend the three online seminars in the TKPSP series (ninety to one hundred and twenty minutes for each seminar).
3. Complete post-seminar series questionnaires six weeks and twelve weeks following the registration. Each questionnaire will take around fifteen minutes to complete and will help us understand how helpful the strategies have been.

Yes, I want to be involved. What’s next?

Register through this link: https://able.adelaide.edu.au/education/thriving-kids-and-parents/for-parents#power-of-positive-parenting

Drop-off  and Pick-up times
A reminder that staff commence yard duty at 8:30 am each morning, so students should not be left unattended on campus prior to this time. Students who are not collected by 3:45 pm will be taken to the office and parents will be called. Students may be sent to After School Care if required. I ask that parents contact the office if you are running late so we can reassure and keep your child updated.

Rowan van Raay
Head of Warragul Junior School

WHAT’S ON

OCTOBER
6 October  Year 2 Sleepover
9 October  Hot Shots Tennis (selected students only)
10 October  Regional Athletics (selected students only)
11 October  Years 5 and 6 Canberra Tour (selected students only)
2024 Prep Information Evening
18 October  2024 Prep Play Afternoon
23 October  T20 Blast Cricket
25 October  School Production
2024 Prep Play Afternoon
30 October and 3 November  Prep to Year 2 Swimming

DOBSONS TRADING HOURS

Order online or click and collect: Please ensure that you only attend the store to collect your items once you have received notification that your order is ready, order here.

FREE PARENT SEMINAR – ALL PARENTS WELCOME

Free Parent Seminar – All Parents Welcome
Navigating a s*xed-up world: How can we help our children resist harmful messages from media and pop culture and aspire to respectful relationships?
Parents and caregivers are noticing children seem to be growing up too fast, worried about their appearance and more aware of se*ual issues at earlier ages. Children and young people are bombarded with hyperse*ualised messages from the media and popular culture. The lives of young people are increasingly socialised, conditioned and informed by exposure to online p*rn before their first kiss. Drawing from current global literature and the experiences of young people, Melinda and Daniel will explore how the proliferation of s*xualised images and messages contributes to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and se*uality, hampering their healthy physical, emotional and social development. They help parents address this toxic culture and provide practice tips on raising happy, healthy and resilient young people who value their dignity and self-worth and aspire to relationships based on respect and authentic connection. We hope many of our parents and guardians will take advantage of this opportunity to hear Melinda and Daniel speak on these important topics.

Register your attendance now here.

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

“Where two or three people gather in my name, I am there with them.” Matthew 18:20

The St Paul’s parent prayer group meets on the first Monday of each month during school terms. We try to keep the meeting brief (we are usually done by 9:45 am) and casual (younger children are most welcome). The group encompasses people both very comfortable with praying, as well as those newer to praying with others. Feel free to get in touch with any questions beforehand or just attend when you are able during the year.

Our next gathering is Monday 13 November, 9:00 am in the Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School
Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com

POSITIVE MINDSET

Positivity is the ability to perceive and focus on the good aspects of one’s life. Having a positive mindset can lead to an increase in self-esteem, as well as impact the way all experiences are perceived. Whilst the human experience is characterised by both positive and negative events, the ability to make the most of each situation is important for developing resilience. Having a positive mindset does not mean that we dismiss negative life experiences, but it does mean that we can find the good, even during difficult times. Like any other skill, being positive becomes easier the more it is practised. Here are two techniques you can use with your family to increase positivity.

Three Good Things
‘Three Good Things’ is a journaling technique that is proven to increase happiness. At the end of the day, preferably before bed, have your child sit down and identify three good things that happened in their day. These events do not need to be big, simply positive. Ask your child to write down their three good things and why the positive event occurred (for example: I had a yummy recess because I got dressed quickly in the morning and had time to pack my own lunchbox). If it is too hard for your child to write their answers, doing this as a discussion before bed could be an alternative.

What made you GLAD?
The GLAD technique is a reflective exercise where you answer four questions:
•  Gratitude: What are you grateful for today?
•  Learning: What did you learn today?
•  Accomplishment: What is one accomplishment you achieved today?
•  Delight: What delighted you or made you feel good today?

Similarly to the ‘Three Good Things’ technique, there may be some days where only “smaller” positives are identified. On a difficult day, simply getting out of bed or going to school may be an accomplishment. Try using this technique as dinner table conversation – each member of your family could answer each question one at a time. By focusing on the small positives and wins in their day-to-day life, your family should start to feel a little more positive overall.

Remember that the St Paul’s counselling team is available to students who are in need of support. Speak to your child’s Head of Year or Head of School if you think they would benefit from additional support. The My St Paul’s Student Wellbeing Information for Parents page also has a collection of resources and programs selected by the counselling team to support you in supporting your children. You can visit the page at https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/homepage/13368 .

Shannon Staples
Head of Counselling Services

WARRAGUL JUNIOR SCHOOL ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

New members and students having lessons outside of school are most welcome. Please contact Mrs Heather Mason and/or the listed ensemble director for further information: hjmason@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Heather Mason
Head of Performing Arts – Co-curricular

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Join the fun! Register here.

PETER PAN JR.

From Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 October, Traralgon Secondary School will perform ‘Peter Pan JR.’ at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) – an exciting first for Traralgon Campus productions!
Based on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale and featuring an unforgettable score by Morris “Moose” Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Peter Pan is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favourites of all time. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for sixty years and is now adapted for young performers.

Tickets are now available via Peter Pan JR | Latrobe City Council.

Please come along to support our wonderfully talented students and enjoy an outing to the theatre!

Susan Guy
Performing Arts Department – Traralgon Campus

HOLIDAY PROGRAM REFLECTIONS

What exciting holidays we have had. With six out of nine days booked out, we had a blast catching up with our holiday friends and welcoming many new friends.

The weather was shining and beautiful, so we could participate in all our fun outside planned activities.

At Club House Boot Camp, we love Science and these holidays we had fun with hands-on sensory experiments. We were lucky enough to complete our first aid. So, if you are ever in a tricky situation, you can rest easy knowing there are young first aiders around ready to bandage you up!

We struck it rich fossicking for gold in the Secondary School gardens on our Gold Rush day. Loaded with gold nuggets, it was off to the bank to cash some in to spend up big at our stalls, run by our Mentors.

Every holidays, we enjoy cooking, baking and even making gummy bears but this time we were spoilt with a full two-course meal on our Club House Café Day. We all took turns being the cooks, customers and the waitstaff.

The second week of our break took us on some fun excursions, where we got to challenge our friends at ten-pin bowling followed by loads of fun arcade games.
We had the whole cinema to ourselves to watch the latest movie screening of ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’. Both Traralgon and Warragul Club House friends came together to laugh and eat popcorn.

We ended our holiday program with fun dancing. Firstly, learning how to dress and dance Bollywood style then the grand finale on Party Day. We made delicious party food and homemade lemonade while we danced and played games with DJ Boom. The disco was SO awesome we have already asked him back for summer holidays!

We hope you will join us next holidays to see what fun and adventures we have in store for summer.

Operating Dates: 11 to 22 December and 8 to 31 January 2024. Book early to avoid disappointment!

In the meantime, you can join us at Before or After School Play where you are guaranteed delicious food and fun with friends.

We look forward to meeting the new Prep families at the Prep Information Evening. We will be in attendance to entertain your children while you are attending the information session.

Contact admin@clubhousebootcamp.com.au or visit www.clubhousebootcamp.com.au to enrol.

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mrs Leonie Clark

A Magical Adventure – Peter Pan JR. Neverland here we come!
There is nothing like a production to bring the community together and we certainly look forward to seeing our students perform at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre in the coming days. There has been a flurry of activity in the lead-up to this event. Lines have been learned and projected, paint brushes have danced across elaborate sets, hair and make-up have been twisted and sprayed, as feathers and sparkles have been sewn into the most impressive costuming. A production is a colossal team effort and the creativity, collaboration and commitment required to provide this incredible experience for our students by all those involved has been quite something to behold! Expertly directed by Mr Nathan Byrne, Head of Performing Arts, the process and collective effort of all staff and students has been impressive to say the least! If you have not booked your tickets yet there is still time, please see the information below for details.

Tickets are now available via Peter Pan JR | Latrobe City Council.

It was fabulous to see our students return this week in their crisp summer uniforms. I was extremely impressed with the way that our students presented themselves and thank our families for their kind and continuous support of our uniform policy in its entirety. Personal presentation is important in assisting our students to feel proud of their school community and connected to team St Paul’s. Term 4 is always very busy, and we encourage families to check the ‘What’s On’ dates regularly or the School calendar available on MyStPauls to ensure you are aware of all the key dates and events that will be happening for your child or children. In this edition of the Grammarian, we have included a list of key dates for Years 7 to 10 below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list but does cover key events and dates in what will be a very busy end to the academic year.

YEAR 7
YEAR 8
YEAR 9
YEAR 10

Year 10 Celebration ‘Save the Date’
On Friday 24 November, we will be celebrating our second last Year 10 cohort to transition to the Warragul Secondary School with an evening event. The evening is an opportunity to catch up with other Year 10 families and our Traralgon Secondary School staff and acknowledge the journey of the cohort, as well as their contribution to our Traralgon Secondary School community. All current Year 10 families will receive an invitation in the coming weeks to the evening and we look forward to spending time with you and your child, as we mark this significant transition and the next stage of your child’s educational journey.

SPECIAL REPORT: A Guide To Safe Partying
Teenage gatherings provide young people with important opportunities to interact and build on their social skills and experiences. Celebrations, partying and socialising are a fundamental rite of passage and one of the most important aspects of a young person’s life. However, it is possible for the best young person to get carried away with their peers and the euphoria of the moment.

For parents and caregivers, keeping your young person safe can at times feel daunting and is often a compromise and a challenge. Most teenagers try to do the right thing most of the time, but your leadership as a role model is crucial. Your child may appear to be physically large and mature, but this is not necessarily matched by their emotional maturity and responsibility in behaviour.

Every party has the potential to get out of hand as sometimes it is hard for young partygoers to make good decisions. Communication and regular discussions are vital, particularly because young people are often faced with peer pressure to do things they prefer not to engage in. Hosting a celebration at home or at a venue can be a fun and memorable event but it is important to agree on the ground rules well before your event is announced to ensure there are no misunderstandings later on.

If hosting an event, you owe your guests a ‘duty of care’ and should ensure all reasonable steps are taken to keep partygoers safe. This special report provides caregivers with a list of things to consider when planning a celebration. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help. Here is the link to your special report https://stpaulsags.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-guide-safe-partying .

Free Parent Seminar – All Parents Welcome
Navigating a s*xed-up world: How can we help our children resist harmful messages from media and pop culture and aspire to respectful relationships?
Parents and caregivers are noticing children seem to be growing up too fast, worried about their appearance and more aware of se*ual issues at earlier ages. Children and young people are bombarded with hyperse*ualised messages from the media and popular culture. The lives of young people are increasingly socialised, conditioned and informed by exposure to online p*rn before their first kiss. Drawing from current global literature and the experiences of young people, Melinda and Daniel will explore how the proliferation of s*xualised images and messages contributes to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and se*uality, hampering their healthy physical, emotional and social development. They help parents address this toxic culture and provide practice tips on raising happy, healthy and resilient young people who value their dignity and self-worth and aspire to relationships based on respect and authentic connection. We hope many of our parents and guardians will take advantage of this opportunity to hear Melinda and Daniel speak on these important topics.

Register your attendance now here.

Hats and Hydration
During Terms 1 and 4 all students are required to wear a St Paul’s wide-brimmed hat when they are sitting outside. We would appreciate it if parents could please ensure students are attending school with a hat labelled with their name. We also encourage students to keep well hydrated and suggest that they carry a water bottle. Our drink taps are fully operational but hydration is important for brain health and function so we always welcome students attending class with a water bottle in the warmer weather.

Year 8 Camp
Our Year 8 students depart for their camp at Phillip Island on Monday 9 October 2023. The weather looks promising for them to participate in surfing lessons, stand-up paddleboarding and a whole range of other fun activities which will build resilience and strengthen their relationships. We hope they enjoy the adventure and make some lasting memories. Please refer to Consent2Go for packing information and further details. Please do not hesitate to contact the Head of Year 7 and Year 8, Mr Andrew McGrath, via email  anmcgrath@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Leonie Clark
Head of Traralgon Secondary School

WHAT’S ON

OCTOBER
6 October ‘Peter Pan JR.’ show 2, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
7 October  ‘Peter Pan JR.’ show 3, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
‘Peter Pan JR.’ show 4, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
8 October  Academy Of Music, Combined Sunday Workshop
9 to 11 October  Year 8 Camp
11 October  Year 9 English Incursion, 9:15 am to 10:40 am
12 October  SEISA Summer Sport, Junior, Round 1 – BYE
Academy of Music, Kapelle Konzert Rehearsal, 1:40 pm to 3:10 pm
13 October  Year 12 Afternoon Tea

DOBSONS TRADING HOURS

Order online or click and collect: Please ensure that you only attend the store to collect your items once you have received notification that your order is ready, order here.

POSITIVE MINDSET

Positivity is the ability to perceive and focus on the good aspects of one’s life. Having a positive mindset can lead to an increase in self-esteem, as well as impact the way all experiences are perceived. Whilst the human experience is characterised by both positive and negative events, the ability to make the most of each situation is important for developing resilience. Having a positive mindset doesn’t mean that we dismiss negative life experiences, but it does mean that we can find the good, even during difficult times. Like any other skill, being positive becomes easier the more it is practised. Here are two techniques you can use with your family to increase positivity.

Three Good Things
‘Three Good Things’ is a journaling technique that is proven to increase happiness. At the end of the day, preferably before bed, have your child sit down and identify three good things that happened in their day. These events do not need to be big, simply positive. Ask your child to write down their three good things and why the positive event occurred (for example: I had a yummy recess because I got dressed quickly in the morning and had time to pack my own lunchbox). If it is too hard for your child to write their answers, doing this as a discussion before bed could be an alternative.

What made you GLAD?
The GLAD technique is a reflective exercise where you answer four questions:
•  Gratitude: What are you grateful for today?
•  Learning: What did you learn today?
•  Accomplishment: What is one accomplishment you achieved today?
•  Delight: What delighted you or made you feel good today?

Similarly to the ‘Three Good Things’ technique, there may be some days where only “smaller” positives are identified. On a difficult day, simply getting out of bed or going to school may be an accomplishment. Try using this technique as dinner table conversation – each member of your family could answer each question one at a time. By focusing on the small positives and wins in their day-to-day life, your family should start to feel a little more positive overall.

Remember that the St Paul’s counselling team is available to students who are in need of support. Speak to your child’s Head of Year or Head of School if you think they would benefit from additional support. The My St Paul’s Student Wellbeing Information for Parents page also has a collection of resources and programs selected by the counselling team to support you in supporting your children. You can visit the page at https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/homepage/13368 .

Shannon Staples
Head of Counselling Services

TRARALGON SECONDARY SCHOOL ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

New members and students having lessons outside of school are most welcome. Please contact Mrs Heather Mason and/or the listed ensemble director for further information: hjmason@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Heather Mason
Head of Performing Arts – Co-curricular

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Join the fun! Register here.

PETER PAN JR.

From Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 October, Traralgon Secondary School will perform ‘Peter Pan JR.’ at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) – an exciting first for Traralgon Campus productions!
Based on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale and featuring an unforgettable score by Morris “Moose” Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Peter Pan is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favourites of all time. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for sixty years and is now adapted for young performers.

Tickets are now available via Peter Pan JR | Latrobe City Council.

Please come along to support our wonderfully talented students and enjoy an outing to the theatre!

Susan Guy
Performing Arts Department – Traralgon Campus

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

Welcome back to Term 4!
Despite the excitement of our swimming program and the wild and wet weather this week, we have enjoyed a calm and productive first week of term. Many thanks to our parents and teachers for the smooth beginning of swimming lessons. Being well organised and prepared certainly assists.

I am excited to share with you that Jo-Anne Michie has joined our Administration team and will take on the responsibility of Office Manager. Jo-Anne has a number of years of experience in school administration and brings a positive and enthusiastic approach along with her many skills. Jeanette Marshall is thanked for her support of our Junior School office in Terms 2 and 3 whilst we completed our recruitment process. We are very appreciative of her professional and compassionate approach.

Quinn McGennisken and Luke Phillips have joined our Education Support team and are working with students across the school in Learning Support. Both Quinn and Luke have enjoyed meeting students and families.

Please join me in welcoming Jo-Anne, Quinn and Luke to our St Paul’s community.

A warm welcome is also extended to new families with students, Riaan, Katelyn, Franklin, Leni and Natasha who are joining classes this term.

Important Dates
There are many special events to look forward to and engage in throughout Term 4. Please note in your diaries the following whole school special evening events:
•  Thursday 2 November: Junior School Musical
•  Thursday 16 November: Arts Showcase

A copy of our Term 4 calendar can be found in the files on our Traralgon Junior School portal page. You can also find calendar events in the MyStPauls portal calendar if ever needed.

Red for Dyslexia
We also acknowledged Dyslexia Awareness Month on Friday with our CODE READ paper plane challenge and splashes of red across the Junior School. There was much competition in all classes about designing the best paper plane for distance and quite a lot of learning about flight, thrust, lift, drag and gravity.

CODE READ is a national not-for-profit organisation that has been created to raise awareness, support and empower Australians affected by Dyslexia. The work of this volunteer group is focused on the vision for all people with dyslexia to be understood, acknowledged and empowered, and to have equal access to opportunity. Code Read Dyslexia Network Australia provides dyslexia support and evidence-based information for those living in Australia who are affected by Dyslexia including families, individuals, educators and other allied professionals.  The group members have all been impacted by dyslexia in some way and are Australian parents, carers, educators, health professionals and people with dyslexia.
To access Code Read go to https://codereadnetwork.org . Other support groups for families and teachers include: Learning Difficulties Australia, Five from Five, RANZCO, Auspeld (SPELD associations), Australian Dyslexia Association and the International Dyslexia Association.

The Australian Dyslexia Association (ADA) conservatively estimates that dyslexia affects ten to twenty per cent of our population. Jamie Oliver, Richard Branson, Whoopi Goldberg and Steven Spielberg are some of the many famous people diagnosed with dyslexia. Dyslexia is described as a persistent challenge with acquiring and using written language and is often found to be hereditary.

The dyslexic brain is actually hardwired differently. Because the dyslexic brain is structurally different, the areas of the brain that activate during reading are different from those areas in a neurotypical reader’s brain! The structural differences in a dyslexic’s brain are neurobiological in nature and affect the organisation in the brain that controls the ability to process the way language is heard, spoken, read or spelt. In the dyslexic brain, the areas of the brain that activate when reading fire differently from a neurotypical reader’s brain. If we think of this process like a map, it is like the dyslexic brain has lost the map and is taking the scenic route. While dyslexics can still learn to read, the process in which the task is carried out is less efficient.  Whilst children with dyslexia may struggle to acquire skills with written language they often have been shown to have talented and productive minds.

Dyslexia is most commonly diagnosed in school-age children and early childhood educators and primary school teachers are vital in providing early learning pathways for children.

Junior School Assemblies
Assemblies for Term 4 are scheduled as follows:
•  Friday 6 October  NO ASSEMBLY due to Swimming
•  Friday 13 October  Whole School Assembly (Year 1 and Year 5 Performances), 2:50 pm
•  Friday 20 October  NO ASSEMBLY due to Purple Day and Relay for Life
•  Friday 20 October  School Leader Speeches, 9:00 am
•  Friday 27 October  Whole School Assembly (Year 2 and Year 4 Performances), 2:50 pm
•  Friday 3 November  Prep to Year 2 and Years 3 to 6 split Assembly, 2:50 pm
•  Friday 10 November  House Leader Speeches, 2:50 pm
•  Friday 17 November  Whole School Assembly (Prep, Year 3 and Year 6 Performances), 2:50 pm
•  Friday 24 November  STUDENT FREE DAY
•  Friday 1 December  Prep to Year 2 and Years 3 to 6 split Assembly, 2:50 pm
•  Friday 8 December  Presentation Assembly, 12:30 pm

Parents are most welcome to attend our assemblies. Please allow enough time to sign in at the Junior School office on arrival.

Control Club
Control Club is back for Term 4 and will begin lunchtime sessions in Week 2. This is a six-week program that provides the opportunity for students to enhance their strength and coordination while engaging in game-based sessions with a qualified Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning Coach. Monday lunchtimes for Years 3 to 6 and Wednesday lunchtimes for Prep to Year 2. For bookings or questions please contact Stuart Goddard, stuart@controlhighperformance.com.au

Writing Challenge Book
During Term 3, students in Years 5 and 6 participated in a creative writing project as part of the St Paul’s Writing Challenge. All students were encouraged to write a piece of poetry, edit and refine their piece before adding a complementary piece of artwork and submitting the final copy for publication. The culmination of all their hard work is now being published in a book called ‘Read, Grow Inspire’ and will be launched during the Art Showcase on 16 November.

The opportunity to have a fully bound, published copy of a book with your own writing and name in print, is an exciting prospect for our students and they are looking forward to having their own copy to share and treasure. Books cost $15 each. To purchase copies of the book please use this TryBooking link  https://www.trybooking.com/CLSAY

Early Learning Centre Construction
Construction of the new Early Learning Centre building has continued during the holiday break and the new space is taking shape quickly. Due to the construction works, the West Room drop off and collection location have changed. Drop off and pick up will occur on the east side of the building. Children will be greeted in the morning at the East door and walked through to their West Room. Access to the Junior School Administration is now open with a new path to the front door of the building and a new undercover area.

Road Safety
Included in this week’s Grammarian is another reminder about road safety. We have received some very alarming feedback about speeding cars in our carparks at both the Secondary School and Junior School this week. It is of particular concern when the weather has been so wet and windy which really reduces vision and increases time for safe braking. I implore all of our families to focus on obeying the speed limits and the safety of all students. Please make sure you:
•  Obey the ten kilometres per hour speed limit at all times.
•  Be aware of pedestrian crossings in the Bus Loop and Junior School and reduce speed further as you approach.
•  Use the school pedestrian crossings.
•  Allow plenty of time at drop off and pick up times so you are not rushing.

Cross’s Road Pedestrian Crossing Approval
It is very exciting to share the news that the council has approved a crossing to be installed on Cross’s Road. We are hopeful that this will occur and be completed by June 2024.

Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project
We have partnered with the Thriving Kids and Parents School Project and are excited to offer our families access to this wonderful program.

Parents and carers of children aged four to twelve years are invited to attend three free interconnected online seminars. These seminars will provide a toolkit of practical strategies that will help you guide your child’s behaviour, manage every day worries and build healthier peer relationships. Attending all three sessions will provide you with the strategies you need to best support your child’s development and help them thrive now and into adolescence. The seminar topics include:
•  The Power of Positive Parenting (Triple P Seminar) helps you to understand why kids behave the way they do and introduces practical strategies to support your child’s social and emotional development.
•  The Helping Your Child to Manage Anxiety (Fear-Less Triple P Seminar) is designed to equip you with the skills and strategies you need to support your child to manage their emotions and overcome challenges.
•  The Keeping Your Child Safe From Bullying (Resilience Triple P Seminar) helps you maintain good communication with your child, develop positive peer relationships and address conflict and bullying.

Register through this link: https://able.adelaide.edu.au/education/thriving-kids-and-parents/for-parents#power-of-positive-parenting

If you have any questions, you can contact the project team at: thrivingkidsandparents@uq.edu.au

Tracey King
Head of Traralgon Junior School

WHAT’S ON

OCTOBER
1 to 6 October  Years 1 to 6 Swimming
9 to 11 October  Years 1 to 6 Swimming
6 October  Red for Dyslexia Day
10 October  Region Athletics
11 October  Prep 2024 Parent Information Evening
11 to 14 October  Canberra Camp
12 October  Cricket Blast
16 to 19 October  Prep Swimming
17 October  Division Hot Shot Tennis/Cricket Blast
18 October  Prep 2024 Play Afternoon
19 October  Prep Swimming
20 October  Purple Day and Relay for Life
23 to 26 October  Prep Swimming
25 October  Prep 2024 Play Afternoon
26 October  Region Hot Shots Tennis
27 October  Kapelle Konzert

NOVEMBER
1 November  State Athletics,
Prep 2024 Transition Day 1
2 November  Junior School Musical – Matinee 1:00 pm, Evening 6:00 pm
6 November  Mid-term Break
7 November  Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
8 November  Prep 2024 Transition Day 2
10 November  Codetta Concert
Year 2 Sleepover
16 November  Arts Showcase
17 November  FOSP Shopping Tour
22 November  Prep 2024 Transition Day 3
23 November  Endeavour Program Showcase
Year 6 Rotary Dinner and Presentations
24 November  Student Free Day
28 November  Year 5 Market Day
29 November  Orientation Day – Step Up 1
30 November  Orientation Day – Step Up 2

DECEMBER
1 December  Orientation Day – Step Up 3
Christmas Celebration Evening
4 December  Year 6 Excursion
5 December  Christmas Service
Year 6 Graduation Dinner
6 December  Swim Carnival
7 December  Christmas Activity Day
8 December  Presentation Assembly
End of Term 4, 3:20 pm finish

DOBSONS TRADING HOURS

Order online or click and collect: Please ensure that you only attend the store to collect your items once you have received notification that your order is ready, order here.

CLASS UPDATES

Prep
It was great to welcome students back to school this week and hear about their holiday adventures. Students have adapted well to playing inside for a few days, as a result of the wet weather. They have enjoyed opening pretend grocery stores, building marble tracks and seeing if they can make a block tower taller than themselves.
In Literacy this week we have been editing sentences using full stops and capital letters. Our Maths lessons have focused on sharing items between groups equally and discussing the position of objects in relation to other objects.

Year 2
Year 2 students have dived into swimming lessons with both excitement and focus! Even the drenching rain on the way to and from the pool has not dampened their spirits. This term will be a busy term with the musical, sleepover and several other events. Students have been practising their song lyrics and their dance moves in readiness.

This term’s writing focus will be persuasive texts followed by narrative texts. Students will learn elements of each writing genre but will still be focusing primarily on sentence structure and grammar. They will continue to build their vocabulary across the term by learning new words and their definitions.

In Numeracy, students will continue to complete quizzes each week. They will be learning about fractions, area and volume.

The term’s integrated and CORE knowledge focus is on water and states of matter. This will be complemented by an incursion with Gippsland Water.

Year 3
Year 3 students have thoroughly enjoyed being back at school, meeting new peers and getting started with our swimming program. While the weather has been rather damp, this has provided opportunities during indoor play where students have been creative, played games and enjoyed one another’s company. Our students have excitedly learned and rehearsed their last dance for ‘Moana’, while quickly getting back into their learning with Play Is The Way, working together to solve problems while communicating effectively. In the classroom, students have reviewed concepts we covered late last term in Maths such as column graphs, solving division sums with remainders and finding perimeter and area. There has also been much enthusiasm with the practising of “I saw my teacher on a Saturday!”, a possible selection for the Arts Showcase presentation.

Year 4
Term 4 has kicked off with a splash. Our swimming lessons have been a highlight, with all kids loving the opportunity to learn and refine their water safety practices and stroke development. Stay tuned for updates … our final term as Year 4 students is jam-packed with special events and loads of learning.

Year 5
We begin Term 4 with eight days of swimming at the Ford Swim Centre. Below are a few pics of Year 5 children enjoying their lessons.

Year 6
Play Is The Way: During our Play Is the Way session this week, students played a chasey game with a difference. ‘Cat and Mouse’ is an unpredictable game and its outcome could change in an instant. Strategic thinking is required and the capacity to stay calm under pressure is of great advantage. During the game, the Cat and the Mouse are required to wear blindfolds. They are then directed on the game field by their ‘Controller’. The Controller’s job is to instruct their player through a minefield of obstacles while keeping safe. Our Year 6 students worked well together, had a giggle, experienced success and felt challenged by the difficulty of the game.

Maths: Locating and Drawing Coordinates was our Maths focus this week. Students have been busy learning about terms such as ordered pairs, cartesian planes, x-axis and the y-axis. They applied their new skills by writing coordinates for their partners to follow to draw their clever design.

FREE PARENT SEMINAR – ALL PARENTS WELCOME

Free Parent Seminar – All Parents Welcome
Navigating a s*xed-up world: How can we help our children resist harmful messages from media and pop culture and aspire to respectful relationships?
Although many families may feel that this Parent workshop is suited for when their children become teenagers, I would like to recommend that some early awareness and understanding is of great benefit and I encourage you to attend.

Parents and caregivers are noticing children seem to be growing up too fast, worried about their appearance and more aware of se*ual issues at earlier ages. Children and young people are bombarded with hyperse*ualised messages from the media and popular culture. The lives of young people are increasingly socialised, conditioned and informed by exposure to online p*rn before their first kiss. Drawing from current global literature and the experiences of young people, Melinda and Daniel will explore how the proliferation of s*xualised images and messages contributes to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and se*uality, hampering their healthy physical, emotional and social development. They help parents address this toxic culture and provide practice tips on raising happy, healthy and resilient young people who value their dignity and self-worth and aspire to relationships based on respect and authentic connection. We hope many of our parents and guardians will take advantage of this opportunity to hear Melinda and Daniel speak on these important topics.

Register your attendance now here.

POSITIVE MINDSET

Positivity is the ability to perceive and focus on the good aspects of one’s life. Having a positive mindset can lead to an increase in self-esteem, as well as impact the way all experiences are perceived. Whilst the human experience is characterised by both positive and negative events, the ability to make the most of each situation is important for developing resilience. Having a positive mindset does not mean that we dismiss negative life experiences, but it does mean that we can find the good, even during difficult times. Like any other skill, being positive becomes easier the more it is practised. Here are two techniques you can use with your family to increase positivity.

Three Good Things
‘Three Good Things’ is a journaling technique that is proven to increase happiness. At the end of the day, preferably before bed, have your child sit down and identify three good things that happened in their day. These events do not need to be big, simply positive. Ask your child to write down their three good things and why the positive event occurred (for example: I had a yummy recess because I got dressed quickly in the morning and had time to pack my own lunchbox). If it is too hard for your child to write their answers, doing this as a discussion before bed could be an alternative.

What made you GLAD?
The GLAD technique is a reflective exercise where you answer four questions:
•  Gratitude: What are you grateful for today?
•  Learning: What did you learn today?
•  Accomplishment: What is one accomplishment you achieved today?
•  Delight: What delighted you or made you feel good today?

Similarly to the ‘Three Good Things’ technique, there may be some days where only “smaller” positives are identified. On a difficult day, simply getting out of bed or going to school may be an accomplishment. Try using this technique as dinner table conversation – each member of your family could answer each question one at a time. By focusing on the small positives and wins in their day-to-day life, your family should start to feel a little more positive overall.

Remember that the St Paul’s counselling team is available to students who are in need of support. Speak to your child’s Head of Year or Head of School if you think they would benefit from additional support. The My St Paul’s Student Wellbeing Information for Parents page also has a collection of resources and programs selected by the counselling team to support you in supporting your children. You can visit the page at https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/homepage/13368 .

Shannon Staples
Head of Counselling Services

TRARALGON JUNIOR SCHOOL ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

New members and students having lessons outside of school are most welcome. Please contact Mrs Heather Mason and/or the listed ensemble director for further information: hjmason@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Heather Mason
Head of Performing Arts – Co-curricular

PETER PAN JR.

From Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 October, Traralgon Secondary School will perform ‘Peter Pan JR.’ at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) – an exciting first for Traralgon Campus productions!
Based on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale and featuring an unforgettable score by Morris “Moose” Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Peter Pan is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favourites of all time. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for sixty years and is now adapted for young performers.

Tickets are now available via Peter Pan JR | Latrobe City Council.

Please come along to support our wonderfully talented students and enjoy an outing to the theatre!

Susan Guy
Performing Arts Department – Traralgon Campus

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Join the fun! Register here.

HOLIDAY PROGRAM REFLECTIONS

What exciting holidays we have had. With six out of nine days booked out, we had a blast catching up with our holiday friends and welcoming many new friends.

The weather was shining and beautiful, so we could participate in all our fun outside planned activities.

At Club House Boot Camp, we love Science and these holidays we had fun with hands-on sensory experiments. We were lucky enough to complete our first aid. So, if you are ever in a tricky situation, you can rest easy knowing there are young first aiders around ready to bandage you up!

We struck it rich fossicking for gold in the Secondary School gardens on our Gold Rush day. Loaded with gold nuggets, it was off to the bank to cash some in to spend up big at our stalls, run by our Mentors.

Every holidays, we enjoy cooking, baking and even making gummy bears but this time we were spoilt with a full two-course meal on our Club House Café Day. We all took turns being the cooks, customers and the waitstaff.

The second week of our break took us on some fun excursions, where we got to challenge our friends at ten-pin bowling followed by loads of fun arcade games.
We had the whole cinema to ourselves to watch the latest movie screening of ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’. Both Traralgon and Warragul Club House friends came together to laugh and eat popcorn.

We ended our holiday program with fun dancing. Firstly, learning how to dress and dance Bollywood style then the grand finale on Party Day. We made delicious party food and homemade lemonade while we danced and played games with DJ Boom. The disco was SO awesome we have already asked him back for summer holidays!

We hope you will join us next holidays to see what fun and adventures we have in store for summer.

Operating Dates: 11 to 22 December and 8 to 31 January 2024. Book early to avoid disappointment!

In the meantime, you can join us at Before or After School Play where you are guaranteed delicious food and fun with friends.

We look forward to meeting the new Prep families at the Prep Information Evening. We will be in attendance to entertain your children while you are attending the information session.

Contact admin@clubhousebootcamp.com.au or visit www.clubhousebootcamp.com.au to enrol.

THE TIES THAT BIND

Many of you would know that I am a tie guy. I happily wear a tie to work (which is expected), I like to see ties worn well and I have a large collection of ties that I wear. As a ‘tie-guy’ I have been interested in a little sideshow that has been playing out in US politics.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had recently relaxed the chamber’s informal dress code, allowing lawmakers to wear whatever they want on the Senate floor, prompting a backlash from Senators on both sides of American politics. In response, the US Senate has voted to formally impose a dress code, unanimously rejecting the plan to allow lawmakers to wear casual clothing in the chamber. The resolution’s Republican author, Mitt Romney, said that following an official code would allow senators to show their “respect and admiration” for the institution of government. In a speech, Mr Romney noted that formalising the dress code is not the most pressing issue for the US Congress, … “But nonetheless, it’s a good thing …” He went on to say, “As senators, we should demonstrate a high level of reverence for the institution in which we serve and our attire is one of the most basic expressions of that respect.”

While much of the American political experience seems a world away from our everyday life in Australia, this particular debate struck a chord with me because it reflected similar conversations that often take place around the wearing of correct school uniform. I am sure that for as long as we have had school uniforms, students have rebelled against wearing them or attempted to put their own personal flavour on them. This is not unexpected behaviour for an adolescent and is usually defended with claims of ‘freedom of individual expression”. I am always amused when to assert their individuality, students opt to wear non-uniform items such as a particular branded sock – the result of this rebellious expression of individualism being a large number of students wearing exactly the same thing (and, of course, all being asked to turn their socks down to hide said logo). In a statement that could easily have doubled as a message to the US Senate, Deputy Head of Warragul Secondary School, Mr Gordon Oldham recently posted this reminder to students on MyStPauls:
“Part of your membership of our school community involves wearing your uniform correctly. We are proud of our uniform and proud of being members of the St Paul’s community. Some of you might wonder why we care about a hair tie or the wrong colour socks so it is important to remind you that it is part of the foundation of our standards as a school.”

So, the question for me is, “What might Jesus say about school uniforms and other institutional rules and norms?”

Australia is a very individualistic country. In fact, the United States, the UK and Australia are ranked the top three nations for individualism on the Geert Hofstede scale which is used to measure various cultural features globally.

We pride ourselves on individual freedom, freedom of expression, on looking after ourselves. As Miley Cyrus puts it, “I can love me better than you can.”

There are certainly positives about a strong sense of individual worth and self-expression but in a strongly individualistic culture like Australia, what we often need to be reminded of are the merits of self-sacrifice. The power of giving up our own individual rights for the sake of others or the benefit of the whole community.

I will confess that I did not pay much attention to the AFL Grand Final on the weekend and I certainly was not hugely invested in the outcome. I was struck, however, by the backstory to these post-match images.

Taylor Adams was in tears after Collingwood’s win over Brisbane in the AFL grand final. Image: Getty.

Here is how sports editor Sam Goodwin described it, “Taylor Adams looked a shattered man despite Collingwood’s win over Brisbane in the AFL grand final on Saturday, after the veteran Magpie missed the decider due to a hamstring injury … While Adams would have been rapt for his teammates and bursting with pride, he also would have been devastated to have missed the grand final. Adams was seen in tears after full-time as he embraced his victorious teammates. Collingwood coach, Craig McRae, had earlier revealed it was actually Adams’ decision to miss the AFL grand final in a staggering act of selflessness.”

Now I appreciate that the media loves to spin a good story but taken at face value this sounds like a great example of someone putting aside their own desires for the sake of their team. And we recognise it as something to be applauded. For all our individualism, we still understand the value of acting selflessly for the benefit of a sporting team, an organisation or even within a social group.

In Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we find a very well-known passage which he presents Jesus as the ideal model for how to approach life. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others … have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:3-7 NIV). Jesus was willing to set aside his own power, his own desires and interests, for the sake of humanity. In doing so, Jesus simultaneously affirmed the individual value of each person, whilst calling each of us to set aside our individual rights for the benefit of others. “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).

In our school and community, there will be times when we are called to give up our personal freedoms, preferences or desires for the benefit of others. It is important to cherish our personal freedoms, but it is equally important to recognise that giving up a little bit of our freedom can make a big difference in the lives of others and strengthen our community. Whether it is following school rules, wearing uniforms or even giving up your spot in the team, these acts of selflessness may seem inconsequential but they go towards building a culture that values others above ourselves, and where we look not to our interests but to the interests of others.

Reverend Daniel Lowe
Senior Chaplain