In this issue

• From the Chaplain
• Performing Arts Productions
• Safety at School Crossings
• Payment Fees

Grammarian Issue 13, 9 September 2022

Traralgon Junior School

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

I was very disappointed to have missed some exciting events over the last week in our Junior School however I am very much looking forward to enjoying the final week of term. Our Junior School experienced quite a bit of illness recently affecting our school community and teachers. Our teaching team again stepped up and ensured that important learning continued and that special events were able to go ahead. Many thanks to our teachers who have been just wonderful in working as a team and demonstrating their commitment to students and professionalism. Our students also managed well with changes to timetables and daily routines demonstrating their own resilience, positivity and care for each other. Many thanks also to families for their cooperation and understanding. Term 4 will bring some warmer weather and hopefully less illness.

Unfortunately we have postponed our Arts Showcase until early Term 4 to allow sufficient time to prepare for this special event and to have all staff, students and families in attendance. We will advise of the new date shortly.

Professor Bunsen
The end of Term 3 has certainly been busy and students most recently welcomed Professor Bunsen with delight as they engaged in his exciting science shows. This incursion was a fabulous way to conclude our term focus on science and further ignite students’ curiosity and interest in this curriculum area.

Father’s Evening and Friends of St Paul’s (FOSP) Stall
Celebrating our fathers and special friends was a hit with our ‘Minute to Win It’ evening. There was lots of laughter and fun as Dads and their children attempted some silly and some serious competitions in classrooms. It is amazing the fun that can be had with a few simple items such as plastic cups, ping pong balls, straws and cards! It was wonderful to hear from students about how much they loved the opportunity to have their Dad at school and to enjoy some fun together. From the feedback we have received, this evening is one which will become an annual event.

Our wonderful FOSP team again hosted a special Father’s Day raffle and stall. The raffle was drawn at the conclusion of the ‘Minute to Win It’ evening and the prizes were again very worthwhile. Congratulations to the winners on the night!

Students had difficulty choosing special gifts from such a lovely range of options at the Father’s Day stall. Many thanks to Sue McGee and all of the parents who assisted with the stall last Friday. This event is such a lovely opportunity for students to select a special gift for their Dad and one that they look forward to each year.

Sue has worked tirelessly for many years to provide really delightful Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls. Her attention to detail and organisation has been outstanding and the quality of the gifts are just beautiful. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sue on behalf of our school community for her generosity, hours of work and careful thought that she has given year after year. This is the final year for Sue and her family in our Junior School and her contributions and organisation will definitely be missed.

One of Sue’s key considerations each year has been to ensure that the gifts sourced for the stalls and the raffle have been from local businesses and she has worked hard to develop positive relationships in our Traralgon business community. These local businesses have been very generous in their support of St Paul’s and in return, we ask that you acknowledge their contributions by supporting them whenever possible.

Many thanks to the following businesses for their contributions to our Father’s Day stall and raffle:

• Endota Spa Traralgon
• The Athlete’s Foot
• Food Co on Franklin
• The Source Bulk Foods Traralgon
• Sky Fitness
• V Cases Traralgon
• Aussie Disposals (Traralgon)
• The Kitchen Cupboard
• Sportsland Traralgon
• NewspowerGO Traralgon
• Dark Queen Cheesecakes
• Traralgon Relaxation + Recovery Centre
• Monique Cawcutt – The Body Shop at Home
• Fiducian Financial Services
• Lloyd Street Tyre and Auto Service
• Lady & Beast – Hair designers

Congratulations to our musicians
Last week St Paul’s students attended the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod competitions in choral and instrumental categories and enjoyed much success with their performances of a very high standard. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience formally performing and to receive feedback from the adjudicators. Congratulations to all of our talented musicians and also to our dedicated and just as talented teachers; Dianne Kuyken, Tamara Warden Mary Mirtschin, Lauren Saulle, Ben Sim, Rachel Arthur and Cherie Bridgman.

Junior Choir – 2nd place
Junior band – 1st place
Year 5 band – 2nd place
Junior Drum Line Blake and Fraser – 2nd place
Year 2 Strings – 1st place

Camp Rumbug
Our Years 3 and 4 students have enjoyed a fabulous time at Camp Rumbug; having a go at all activities on offer and supporting each other with teamwork challenges. Camp Rumbug is an adventure camp that encourages students to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves with outdoor activities such as ropes courses, tyre challenges, canoeing, hiking, giant swing, mud runs and more. Students have returned from camp with big smiles, completely spent and ready for their own beds and some well-deserved rest.
Many thanks to our teachers who attended with students, Lorelle Cotterrell, Nicole Cross, Sarah Johnson, Dianne Kuyken, Carly Sellings, Rebecca Coulston and Gareth Waack-Hawkins and ensured everyone had a wonderful time together. A special thank you to Ms Lorelle Cotterell who organised and coordinated the camp.

R U OK? Day
Research has found four in ten Australians feel asking someone “are you OK?” is a conversation better had with an expert. However, R U OK? want you to know you don’t need qualifications to have an R U OK? conversation. The work of health professionals is vital, and their value cannot be underestimated however we can all play a role in supporting the people in our world.
You don’t need to be an expert to have an R U OK? conversation. Listening and giving someone your time might be just what they need to help them through. Ask R U OK? No qualifications needed, because a conversation could change a life.

Online Bullying
This week’s parent guide from ySafe is about Online Bullying:

Online bullying is the use of online communication tools to menace, harass, offend or intimidate others. It can range from abusive text messages to impersonations, as well as spreading gossip or rumours and ostracising others online. The impact of online bullying is serious and, in some cases, can even be life-threatening. Addressing online bullying directly and frequently within our homes is absolutely vital for the wellbeing of our children, and while it’s not always easy, that mustn’t deter us from trying.

What age is most vulnerable?
Online bullying behaviours often correlate with a child’s first access to social media and games. Negative online behaviours such as online bullying generally become more frequent at around ten years of age and decrease in frequency and intensity from 16 years onwards. 13 and 14-year-olds tend to be most vulnerable to online bullying.

How does it happen?
Online bullying has evolved significantly over the years from mean and nasty comments to a greater variety of negative online behaviours. It now includes online activities such as impersonation (setting up an account pretending to be someone else), roasting (which includes teasing others and is often seen in online gaming situations), screenshotting (making copies of someone’s texts without permission), or polling (putting up a survey, for example, ‘Who’s the ugliest girl at our school?’ for others to participate in). Exclusion from online chats and groups is also very common and has recently been coined ‘cyberostracism.’

Online bullying can occur on any platform, including social media, gaming platforms, general internet websites, and even unexpected places like inside Google documents. As parents, we need to be vigilant and prepared for our children to encounter these types of online harm.

Straight from the Experts
01 Most children won’t tell their parents they are being bullied online
Research shows us that children are unlikely to tell their parents if they are being bullied online because they fear their response will be to stop them from using technology or a particular platform entirely.

02 Look out for the red flags
Red flags include changes in behaviour, sleep disruption, agitation, or withdrawal. Children often become more fixated on their devices, as they want to know if anyone is making the situation worse or sticking up for them.

03 Tell your kids they can talk to you
It seems simple, but because most young people fear that you’re going to overreact or take their technology away, you need to make it clear to your children that this won’t happen if they talk to you and that you’ll help them work through it together.

What can you do about it?
If your child is being bullied online, here are the steps we recommend you take:

• Screenshot the content
• Have the content removed from the platform
• Ask your child how they would like to be helped
• Block the cyber bully
• Engage with the school

For further details about what you can do click here https://stpaulsags.onlinesafetyhub.com.au/parent/online-safety-guides/online-bullying#steps

OSHC update for families
Clubhouse Bootcamp is pleased to introduce itsnew Before and After School Care Educator, Rebecca Cooper. Some of you may know Bec from the holiday program. Bec will be at Before School Care every day and relieving at After School Care when needed, commencing Monday 5 September. Bec will also be assisting with Admin tasks including new enrolments, bookings, attendances, program planning and email enquiries.

The growing team of Bootcamp Educators at Traralgon ensures that a consistent and more tailored program, to suit the children in attendance, is delivered.

Educators
Rebecca (Bec) Cooper, Erin Hastie, Amy Hodgetts

Before School Care, 6:45 am to 8:45 am
Operates every morning.
The deadline for bookings is 8:00 pm the evening before.

After School Care, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Operates every day with last minute bookings available.
ELC to Year 6.

School Holiday Program, 7:45 am to 5:45 pm
Operates Monday to Friday with last minute bookings possible, pending availability.
Children aged between 5 years to 12 years.

Enquiries: admin@clubhousebootcamp.com.au
Programs: www.clubhousebootcamp.com.au

Staffing Update
At the end of this term, we will be farewelling Brian Johnson, our school counsellor, who will be heading off on some long service leave and then into retirement. Brian has worked at St Paul’s for 12 years and during this time has worked with many many students, families and staff. Brian is thanked for his work with us and for his kindness and care which has had a significant impact on our St Paul’s community at both the Traralgon and Warragul campuses. We wish Brian the very best in his new adventures.

Ms Lorrelle Cotterrell will be on leave during Term 4 and Ms Lara Gibbons will be teaching the Year 4 class in her place. Mrs Mim Cavanagh will also be taking leave during Term 4. The art teacher recruitment process is still underway and families will be advised of the plans for art classes shortly. We will look forward to Ms Cotterrell and Mrs Cavanagh returning from their leave at the start of Term 1 next year.

Footy Colours Day
We will finish our term with Footy Colours Day. Students are invited to wear their footy colours with pride on Friday 16 September and to bring along a gold coin donation in support of Fight Cancer Foundation. Footy Colours Day is a national community fundraising event that helps kids with cancer keep up with school and a day which St Paul’s supports annually. Everyone is encouraged to get involved. Our canteen is also offering a special menu on this day to add to the excitement and details about this have been sent home.

Our final day of Term 3 is Friday 16 September and dismissal is at 2:30 pm.

Tracey King
Head of Traralgon Junior School

WHAT’S ON

SEPTEMBER
7 to 9 September Years 3 and 4 Camp Rumbug
12 September Vicspell State Final
14 September Arts Evening Showcase 6:00 pm (postponed until Term 4)
Latrobe Valley Division Athletics
15 September AFLX excursion
16 September Footy Colours Day
End of Term 3, 2:20 pm Finish

OCTOBER
3 October Term 4 Commences

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

TRARALGON JUNIOR SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOURS

Monday 19 September to Friday 30 September Closed

DOBSONS HOLIDAY TRADING HOURS

Please note that some COVIDSafe procedures may still apply. We thank you for your cooperation.

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

Early Learning Centre (ELC)
This term in the ELC we have introduced an obstacle course that encourages the children to climb small and large A-frames, cross crawl over a ladder using hands and knees or feet, balance on a board, move in and out of cones in a clockwise movement, pull themselves up a ‘mountain’ using a rope and their feet, jump from a height onto a crashmat below, and then crawl through a tunnel before doing this all over again.

This incorporates many gross motor skills, eye-hand coordination, core strength, upper body strength, cross pattern crawling to develop both sides of the brain, as well as directionality and whole-body balance. Not to mention all the fun the children have as they take part in this physical activity.

Obstacle course.

Obstacle course.

Father’s Evening.

A big thank you goes to all the families who joined us for a Father’s evening last week. A great night was enjoyed by all.

Prep
The Preps have had a lovely two weeks of learning. They were very excited about dressing up for Book Week and sharing their favourite book characters with the school community. They also enjoyed bringing their special person to the ‘Minute To Win it’ night and had a go at many different tricky games for a lot of laughs.

We have been learning new phonic sounds ‘ay,’ found at the end of a word, and ‘kn’ found at the start of a word. Students have continued to perfect their craft of writing sentences, making sure each sentence has everything it needs and using their known sounds to record the words. In Maths we have made comparisons of objects based on their size and weight as well as adding numbers together. Students made a ‘friends of ten’ paper chain to show what two numbers equal ten.

We have continued to help the fairytale characters with problems and draw and construct ideas to make their life a little easier.

Year 1
Year 1 students were lucky enough to watch Professor Bunsen in action this week. The experiments focused on ‘push and pull’ and explored vocabularies such as ‘gravity’ and ‘friction’. Some Year 1 students were part of the demonstrations. Ariana showed how the push force propels objects across the room. Ari volunteered his hair to show how friction creates a force. Noah got to see up close how cellulose pulp quickly absorbs liquid. Denith enjoyed a hoverboard ride around the gym while demonstrating how air can lift objects. The students enjoyed talking and writing about what they saw and learnt during the incursion.

Year 2
Year 2 students have worked hard to prepare for their EXPO this week! They finalised their prototypes, edited and published their writing and reflected on the design process. In addition to that, they also practised answering questions that students, teachers and our families may have for them during the EXPO.

The EXPO was a real hit and we are very proud of our Year 2 students. To quote Benji, “It was a lot harder than I thought – we had to do lots of talking and explaining! There were so many people!”. It was wonderful to showcase their learning to the school community and come together to celebrate our wonderful students.

Year 5
In Year 5, we have been learning about adaptations and how they enable organisms to adjust to their environment in order to ensure their survival. Understanding that there are three different types of adaptations and that most animals and plants have a combination of these types of adaptations has been very interesting to learn.
One of the structural adaptations that help animals to survive in cold environments is blubber. We conducted a fair test to investigate whether blubber keeps animals warm in cold environments. The results from the experiment told us the thick layer of fat under an animal’s skin keeps them warmer.

To help build our comprehension and sentence writing we have been reading about Medieval Europe. We have been practicing writing complete answers using words from the questions provided. Student engagement has been high as we learn about Roman emperors, barbarians and Hadrian’s Wall.

Year 6
It is hard to believe that we are nudging the end of Term 3! We have not slowed down in the slightest in Year 6 – there have been learning opportunities and memory-making events galore!

Perhaps at the top of the Year 6 students’ list of enthralling opportunities was our action-packed incursion delivered by Professor Bunsen. During this interactive show, students took in an array of facts and understandings about chemistry and physics. Our passion for Science was definitely ignited!
Just as exciting and memorable was our Father’s Day ‘Minute To Win It’ night. When asked what was most enjoyable about the night, the feedback was a resounding ‘having fun and laughing with my dad/special person.’ Lots of laughs with … and maybe AT our dads as they undertook an array of activities to try and beat their little competitors! We also learned through these games that we have a few cheeky and sneaky dads in our midst!

What wonderful memories we have made in the last week!

Blow Bubbles Not Balloons – Gracie Hasthorpe
At lunchtime on Tuesday 6 September, Traralgon Junior School held a special Bubble Party to raise awareness of the “Blow Bubbles, Not Balloons” Zoos Victoria Program. Students were invited to join in bubble/ocean themed activities, including bouncing bubbles, mega bubbles, and ocean-themed water bead bowls. Zoos Victoria kindly provided some eco-friendly bamboo bubble wands for the students. The school yard came alive with bubbles and some of them were absolutely enormous!

At the Bubble Party the raffles were drawn with the following winners announced:

• Prep to Year 2 Winner – Areebah Alam (Prep)
• Year 3 to Year 6 Winner – Vishvak Kancherla (Year 3)
• Teacher Winner – Ms Hosken

A special prize was also awarded to Ruby Cawcutt (Year 3) for doing such a great job of spreading the message not to let balloons fly! Well done Ruby! It has been lovely to hear how enthusiastic the students have been in getting behind this program.

A big thank you to everyone who showed their support of this initiative that helps protect our wildlife and environment. A special thank you to Ms King, Mrs Vercoe and Ms Kuyken.

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Spread the word! Register here to join in what is sure to be a fabulous afternoon of reminiscing and celebrating!

FEE PAYMENTS

Instalment payments
A reminder for families paying tuition fees in four instalments that the final instalment was due on Friday 12 August 2022 and is now overdue.

Direct Debit payment option
All families are encouraged to participate in the school’s direct debit payment arrangement.

We offer weekly, fortnightly, monthly and quarterly direct debit arrangements.

Should families wish to commence payment by Direct Debit, please contact Ms Nicole Giddings, accountsreceivable@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au as soon as possible to set up an arrangement.

Please find the direct debit form on the School website at this link: https://stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/enrolment/school-fees/

Sundry Invoices
Term 3 sundry invoices for any co-curricular activities such as Performing Arts and VET Courses will be issued via email at the end of the term. It would be appreciated if payment could be made by 7 October 2022.

Please refer to your original fee statement issued in January for payment details or call Ms Nicole Giddings on 5623 5833 or email accountsreceivable@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au.

Click the poster for ticket sales.

Grammarian Issue 13, 9 September 2022

Traralgon Secondary School

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mrs Leonie Clark

The immense power of a ‘to-do list’
It is at this time of year that students once again start to feel the pressure of looming due dates and assessments. It is important for students to pace themselves. I advise Years 7 to 9 students to write a list in their school diary, ‘do not underestimate the power of an effective ‘to-do list’! As students progress to Years 10, 11 and 12 they are welcome to use the MyStPauls calendar or any other personal choice of diary. My preference is to keep a running list on an electronic sticky note on my desktop. When I sit down to work, I take a minute to carefully ‘curate’ my ‘to-do list’ by considering the tasks, adding any new items and prioritising them while making sure I delete items as they are completed.

“You should have your three most important tasks (your priorities) at the top of your to-do list. Resolve to complete your priorities… and not to move on to any other tasks before you have done so. Together with your three priorities, you should never have more than five items on your to-do list at one time.” (https://www.forbes.com)

Ultimately, as students progress to the senior levels of learning they need to find and refine an organisational process that works for them. As long as they are working on ‘something’ and are able to tick at least one thing off the to-do list each time they sit down to study or complete tasks, they are moving forward, increasing their productivity and learning brilliant organisational skills to focus their attention, persist and ‘keep going’.

Family Holiday Notification
We understand that, at times, families decide to take a holiday during term time. If you are planning to do this, then it is imperative that you notify your child’s Head of Year in writing prior to leaving. Missing a portion of any term is not ideal, but we can certainly support and help manage this absence if we are notified in advance. A list of each Head of Year is below:

Years 7 and 8: Mr Andrew McGrath, anmcgrath@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au
Years 9 and 10: Mrs Sandra Timmer-Arends, sgtimmer-arends@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

CYBER SAFETY UPDATE ‘BeReal’
It is extremely hard to stay in front of the fast-moving technological advances and apps that our children are using on their devices. ySafe has reviewed the new social media sharing app ‘BeReal’ and although it seems to have a different approach, it is still not without risks. BeReal “is a free photo-sharing social media app for iOS and Android. The app’s concept is to enable friends to connect regularly and authentically without the pressures often associated with social media, such as gaining likes and followers, using image filters, profile curation, or streak maintenance.” (ySafe) Please refer to https://stpaulsags.onlinesafetyhub.com.au/parent/hot-topics/bereal for further details.

The future is here!
The future is so very exciting! The ground has been broken on the Futures Centre at the Traralgon Campus and we are enjoying the changes that each day brings to the site. Diggers and rollers have been preparing the surface and their rumbling motors have been the source of much amusement to our staff, parents and students in the last week. Groups of students have been witnessed inspecting the site, nodding their heads in approval and admiring the development with eager anticipation. This is a very significant build for our school and we have no doubt will provide many opportunities for the Traralgon community for many, many years to come.

House Mini Olympics
Last Thursday we hosted the very first Traralgon Secondary School House Mini Olympics! We thought it was a lovely opportunity to see if the Traralgon students might embrace the chance to be a little bit silly so that they might enjoy some much-needed stress relief! I am very pleased to report that our students and staff enjoyed the event and that it was time well spent for everyone’s wellbeing. It is very important to take time from busy schedules and to forget the work for a little while and enjoy being present and in the moment! I have included some images below of some of the silly events. House points were tallied and the results will be shared with the students during our first assembly after the holidays.

Year 7 student Lucas showing his throwing skills in ‘Pool Noodle Javelin’.

Year 10 student Jude showcasing his ping pong skills in ‘Ping Pong Cup’.

Year 9 student Jai jumping over a hurdles course in the ‘Equestrian’ event.

Year 8 student Kydan testing his target aiming skills in ‘Handball’.

Professor Bunsen and Science Week
On Monday we enjoyed a ‘Science Week’ visit from Professor Bunsen who excited and inspired our students in all things STEM. Professor Bunsen’s passion for science and technology as well as his magnetic personality enthralled our Years 7 and 8 students in the afternoon session. We were very excited to have the Year 6 students from the Junior School join this session and loved that all students participated with great enthusiasm. Included below are some of the photographs taken throughout this experience for our students.

Year 7 Immunisations
On Tuesday 4 October, Year 7 students will receive their second round of vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV). The National Immunisation Program aims to protect the community from vaccine-preventable diseases. As part of the program free vaccines are offered to, and recommended for, Year 7 students.

This round of vaccinations will commence after Mentor Group and finish prior to recess. Please note that vaccines are administered by immunisation nurses, employed by local council immunisation services, who visit each Victorian secondary school a number of times a year.

On the day of the vaccination, students are permitted to wear the School’s sport uniform to assist with the administration of the injection. All students are encouraged to have breakfast the morning of the vaccination. Any student who is feeling a little anxious is encouraged to speak to Mr McGrath.

Fight Cancer Foundation – Footy Colours Day
On Friday 16 September, students are welcome to support ‘Fight Cancer Foundations – Footy Colours Day’. Students are encouraged to make a gold coin donation and come to school dressed
in their favourite sporting team colours. There will be some sports-related activities at recess and lunchtime. Students are also welcome to order a pie or hot dog through the Canteen to make it a
real ‘Pie and Footy’ day. A percentage of the canteen’s profits will go to the ‘Fight Cancer Foundation’.

‘Fight Cancer Foundation’s Footy Colours Day is a national fundraising campaign held during the month of September to support kids living with cancer. Schools, workplaces, groups and clubs across Australia are encouraged to wear their favourite footy team’s colours and host an event to raise much-needed funds. Every dollar raised supports Fight Cancer Foundation’s education programs to help kids with cancer continue with their education during treatment and recovery.’ You can find out more information on their website at https://www.fightcancer.org.au/.

Students who choose to participate must dress appropriately. Students who do not wish to take part on the day are permitted to wear casual dress. Correspondence has been sent to all Traralgon Secondary School families as well as an order form for ‘Pies and Hot Dogs’. Please do not hesitate to call Maddie and Kerryn in Student Services should you have any questions.

End of Term Arrangements
On Friday 16 September we will commence the September break at 2:30 pm. All bus travellers will be collected from school a little earlier at 2:00 pm. Bus travellers will need to sign out at Student Services prior to departing the Secondary School. Providing all assessment is completed, all other students will be completing the school day at 2:30 pm. The Heads of Year will be in touch with Parents/Guardians should your child/ren need to remain behind to complete an assessment.

Term 4 Summer Uniform Reminder
At last, we have enjoyed a couple of slightly warmer days as the sun has warmed our backs and started to defrost us, after what has seemed an exceptionally long winter! Students will return to Term 4 in their summer uniforms. All students in Years 7 to 10 are encouraged to find their summer uniforms and try them on over the holiday break. We have no doubt that students will have grown a little over the last few months. Students are also reminded to find their school hats ready to wear outside as invaluable protection from the sun in the coming months.

Leonie Clark
Head of Traralgon Secondary School