In this issue

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

Remembrance Day

On the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, a minute’s silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation.
At 11:00 am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the Allied terms of unconditional surrender.
The conflict had mobilised over 70 million people, leaving between 9 and 13 million dead, and as many as one-third of these with no grave.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month attained a special significance in the post-war years. It became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war.
Originally known as Armistice Day, it was renamed Remembrance Day after World War II to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars.
Today the loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts is commemorated on Remembrance Day.

We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Ref: https://www.army.gov.au/about-us/history-and-research/traditions/remembrance-day

With Remembrance Day falling on a Saturday this year we recognised the significance of this day with a service on Friday 10 November. Students from Prep through to Year 11, and our staff, gathered for a moving service beside our Aleppo Pine, a descendant of the Lone Pine of Gallipoli. Many in our community may not be aware that an Aleppo Pine was donated to the Warragul Campus by Legacy on behalf of the family of a local ANZAC Soldier many years ago. It was planted and has grown to a level of maturity that now allows us to hold our ANZAC and Remembrance Day Services beside it.  The Lone Pine is significant in our history because when Australian troops arrived at the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 1915, there was a ridge on which a solitary pine stood. Turkish troops had felled the area to fortify their trenches and the single pine stood out on the horizon. Soldiers used it as a reference point and the area became known as Lone Pine. Students stood side by side as our 2024 Prefects and several Junior School students led the service honouring the significance of Remembrance Day.

We were also honoured to attend the Warragul Remembrance Day Service on Saturday 11 November, held at the Warragul Cenotaph. We were once again represented by a number of Prefects and our Warragul Junior School students Felix Kooloos and Elizabeth McKerrow who placed a wreath from each school. We had a number of staff and students involved in other aspects of the Service including the bugler, Magnus Percy, from Year 10. We thank them for their respectful involvement and the way in which they represented our School community.

Spring Racing Carnival and exposure to gambling

Michelle Green, the Chief Executive of Independent School Victoria, published an article ahead of the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival regarding gambling and its effect on our young people. Knowledge of, and access to avenues for gambling, has increased substantially with the introduction of smartphones and it has become another very serious community issue that we must address together. We have increased education, especially in our senior year levels, regarding the dangers of gambling and the potential for addiction in recent years. Michelle’s article includes some alarming statistics as well as links to the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and eSafety Commissioner’s website which provide resources for those who may like further information. Please click here to access the article “The kids are alright? Don’t bet on it” written by Michelle Green.

SPECIAL REPORT: Gambling and Young People

The digital era has made gambling more accessible and certain factors are elevating the risk of problematic gambling among young people. A new grey area is emerging, with smartphones at their fingertips blurring the boundaries between gambling and entertainment, especially within the realms of video games and social media. The current generation of young people is growing up in an unprecedented time and research highlights that a significant percentage of adolescents are involved in gambling activities.
Reports of young people gambling are frequent with many experiencing adverse consequences such as diminished academic performance and strained relationships. Today’s youth are growing up in a digital age characterised by constant connectivity, and the gambling industry has evolved significantly during their formative years. Simulated gambling, such as in video games, can further increase the likelihood of teenagers transitioning to real-money gambling and developing future gambling-related problems.
It is crucial to foster open discussions about positive media choices to help children navigate through responsible online gaming and gambling. Encouraging a balanced approach to screen time and promoting alternative activities, will help set some clear boundaries to avoid potential gambling-related issues.
This Special Report provides guidance on how to empower young people to make responsible choices in this digital age. 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 consider seeking medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://stpaulsags.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-gambling-young-people-au

Early Commencement

On Monday 27 November, we will begin our 2024 Early Commencement. We will welcome a number of new students to our School and our Year 10 students from the Traralgon Campus will transition to Warragul for their final two years of schooling. Early Commencement is highly valued by staff and students who enjoy the opportunity to begin the new year. I am always amazed at how resilient our students are as they finish their final assessments, Years 9 to 11 students complete their examinations and then after a long semester they muster the energy to start the new year ahead of time. Early Commencement always seems to reinvigorate us, and we enjoy watching our students transition to their next year of secondary schooling.

Comparative Reports

At the end of each semester, parents of a student in Year 7 through to Year 11, may request that the school provide them with written information that clearly shows their child’s achievement compared to his or her peer group at the school.  The information will show parents the number of children in the group in each of the achievement levels/subjects.  However, where group numbers are less than 12 this data will not be provided, in order to protect the privacy of the students in the class.  Class teachers will instead explain the student’s level relative to their peers, without identifying the number in each band. A Comparative Report is not available for Year 12 students. Please contact your child/children’s Head of Year if you would like to request a Comparative Report.

Student Supervision Before and After School

We have been experiencing an increase in the number of students arriving at school quite early in the morning. Staff are not required on campus until 8:30 am and active student supervision begins at 8:35 am. It is important that parents know that their children will not necessarily be actively or passively supervised prior to 8:30 am.
Active supervision in the afternoons ends at 3:35 pm but our Library is open until 4:45 pm and students are welcome to complete homework, access the library’s resources or wait in the Library for a parent or guardian to collect them.

Laura Butterworth
Head of Warragul Secondary School

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
17 November  VCE Art Exhibition, Year 11 and Year 12, DT Parker Centre, 7:00 pm
20 November to 22 November  Year 11 Exams
22 November to 23 November  Years 9 and 10 Exams
23 November  Year 11 Exam Catch Up Day
24 November  Curriculum and Assessment Day (Student Free Day)
Years 9 and 10 Exam Catch Up Day
27 November  Early Commencement Begins
28 November  Studio Concert, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm (select Performing Arts students)
29 November to 1 December  Year 7 2024 Orientation

DECEMBER
5 December  Student Leadership Day, 9:00 am
7 December  Prideaux Gallop, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 9:15 am to 10:50 am
Presentation Assembly Rehearsal, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 11:15 am
8 December  Presentation Assembly, Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium, 1:30 pm to 3:10 pm
End of Term 4, 3:10 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.

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 on Monday 4 December, 9:00 am in the Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School
Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com

METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES

At St Paul’s, we ask students to continuously seek improvement and note that effort and perseverance are integral ingredients towards making progress.
We have an overarching ideology of Growth Mindset, Carol Dweck’s theory which was described again in the most recent edition of the Grammarian.  Underneath this umbrella, we utilise a range of teaching strategies and programs.
Our staff are involved in our own internal professional learning community and Warragul and Traralgon Secondary have shared a focus this year: Metacognitive Strategies.
The year began with a full-day seminar for all staff from psychologist Dr Andrew Fuller, who spoke about the way the brain develops and made specific links to the way young people process information.  Dr Fuller’s material related directly to metacognition and formed the foundation for the year ahead: to encourage everyone to be conscious of their subconscious thinking. Dr Fuller noted that an awareness of our thinking also allows us to recognise and regulate emotions.

As noted in the Grammarian and via MyStPauls posts throughout the year, the following strategies received specific attention and discussion in staff meetings, with a focused effort on explaining them to students in class and making them aware of their thinking:

Our discussions as staff concentrated on how we utilise these strategies and included teachers from different faculties talking to each other about things they try in class to help students learn. During these meetings, we have also looked at education developments in Australia and around the globe, trialled Thunks (thinking funks – from Philosophy for Children), modelled ‘thinking aloud’ by explaining brainteasers to peers and a range of other activities.
The aims of the year were repeated each time – we want to foster the growth of students who are:

• Independent
• Self-sufficient
• Reflective
• Questioning

The focus on learning ties in effectively to our school values of wisdom, integrity, compassion and respect.
Our final meeting takes place this month, when staff will hear from Sally Learey. Sally is an education consultant who specialises in metacognition and she will be summarising our year and reminding us why the metacognitive strategies are so effective for learning and why it is so important for us to model and openly discuss these strategies with students.
The final survey of students will also take place before the end of the year and we will soon find out if students (and staff) are more conscious of their thinking than at the beginning of 2023!

Gordon Oldham
Deputy Head of Warragul Secondary School

LIVE4LIFE CREW

St Paul’s is a member of the Baw Baw Shire’s Live4Life program, a group that is focused on raising awareness and developing strategies to help the wellbeing of young people in the region.
A number of St Paul’s students are part of the ‘crew’, helping to organise the Launch event for all Year 8 students in the region and driving projects within their own schools.
The ‘crew’ at St Paul’s this year were Year 10 students Cassie Matthews, Magnus Percy, Regan Smith, Justice Rui and Year 9 students Courtney Leighton and Lucy Fergusson.  The crew recently celebrated the end of the year with Live4Life with a day of activities at The Summit.
The Live4Life program also helps drive and guide the Teen Mental Health First Aid program, which all Years 8 and 10 students completed this year at St Paul’s. Last year, the Year 8 students completed the program and we helped the University of Melbourne Centre for Mental Health with data and evaluations.  From 2024-2026 we have been invited to help the University of Melbourne Centre for Mental Health with their next research project.
The launch event from the start of the year was an engaging and enjoyable event with guest speaker Beau Vernon, local football coach and well-known presenter, talking to students about his journey.  It was also a proud moment for St Paul’s to have two students MC the event – Brodie Pyle from Year 10 and Sharni Boote from Year 12.
Reverend Lowe looks forward to recruiting more crew members for 2024!

Gordon Oldham
Deputy Head of Warragul Secondary School

Elephant Education

As part of the pastoral program at St Paul’s, we have regular visits from guest speakers or workshops with external organisations.
Each year, Heads of Year map out a plan to use the Thursday block to cover a range of topics to complement the academic program.  The Thursday block also includes Chapel several times a term, as well as assemblies.
On Thursday 16 November, Elephant Education returned to St Paul’s to work with Year 9 students. The workshops they delivered were titled ‘Language and Labelling’, encouraging our students to consider the power of language and the impact of labelling others.  The presenters focused on highlighting how an awareness of language and labelling can help to promote more respectful relationships.
Elephant Education will return to St Paul’s next week with Year 7 students to focus on Body Image. Some of the key messages from these workshops will build on the presentations from Melinda Tankard-Reist and Daniel Principe last month, particularly around the ‘distorted and unrealistic ideals’ perpetuated by the media and promoting ‘diversity and body positivity’.

Gordon Oldham
Deputy Head of Warragul Secondary School

2023 YEARS 9 TO 11 SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATIONS

Students from Years 9, 10 and 11 are well on their way preparing for the upcoming examination period that commences on Thursday 16 November until the following week. Below you will find the 2023 Semester 2 examination timetable.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the requirements of formal examinations and understand the importance of building key study habits in preparation for the future. Our Heads of Year and classroom teachers have been working with students to help them manage their time and understand the nature of formalised examinations.

Occasionally, due to the large volume of subjects offered at St Paul’s, students may be timetabled for multiple examinations at once. Implicated students, if they have not already, will need to contact me and arrange for an alternative session time to complete one of their examinations.

All students are required to wear full formal school uniform to examinations, sports uniform is not permitted. Unauthorised materials such as mobile phones and smart watches are not permitted in the examination hall.

If you have any concerns or queries regarding the examination process, scheduling or would like to discuss specific requirements please do not hesitate to contact me via email azanella@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Alice Zanella
Director of Studies – Middle School

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.

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

The finish of the 2023 school year is just around the corner with only three weeks remaining!  Students will be working hard right up to the end of the year, and it is always an enjoyable time as we get close to wrapping up and celebrating another school year.

Remembrance Day
Our whole campus Remembrance Day service was held at the Lone Pine last Friday. All students were given a poppy to wear. Two of our Year 6 students, Elizabeth McKerrow and Felix Kooloos, attended a service in the township on Saturday with other Secondary School leaders and Deputy Principal Ms Sweeney.

Prep – Year 2 Swimming Program & Carnival
A huge congratulations to our Prep to Year 2 students who participated in our swimming program over the past two weeks. We finished with a fun carnival last Wednesday where students participated in several events. There was a wonderful atmosphere at the carnival with students and families cheering loudly during the races. Our thanks to Mr Boraston for organising the program and carnivals, and to all the staff for their support and assistance throughout the program and carnival.

Codetta Concert
Congratulations to our students who performed at the Codetta Concert last Friday evening at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to perform in front of family and friends.

Chickenpox outbreak
As I communicated to all families recently, we have had an outbreak of chickenpox in the Junior School. Gippsland Public Health Unit has provided us with some information and this can be found later in this newsletter. Once again, please notify us as soon as possible if your child has chicken pox.

Book Fair
Our Book Fair commenced today with our Book Character Dress-up day and will run until Wednesday 29 November. The book fair will be open before and after school and Mr Rock will be available to assist any students or families with purchases. Could you please remind your child/ren to not make purchases for their friends. There will be lots of fun activities in the Library on offer next week and I wonder how many different book characters Mr Rock will dress up as throughout the Book Fair?

The Lion King Jr – Digital copy
A digital copy of “The Lion King Jr” will be available for purchase at the Book Fair for $15. Both shows have been uploaded on a USB.

Regional Kanga 8s Cricket
Our Kanga 8s cricket team competed at Regionals on Wednesday. They performed really well and we congratulate the students who participated and thank Mr Boraston for overseeing our Kanga 8 cricket teams again this year.

Year 3 Camp
Our Year 3 students head off to camp on Monday to Merricks Lodge. This will be their first school camping experience and we wish them well and hope the weather is kind to us.

2024 Transition Program
The 2024 Preps will enjoy their final transition session next Wednesday where they will spend time with their 2024 class and teacher.  Our Early Learning Centre will also hold its 2024 Transition Day next Wednesday and a reminder that there will be no 2023 Pre-Prep classes running this day. Club House Boot Camp will be running a service from 1:00 pm following the 2024 Prep session for families who require care. Please ensure you have registered your child in this service if you need to access it.

2024 Orientation Program
Our current Prep to Year 5 students and new students in 2024 will spend time with their 2024 teacher and class on Thursday 30 November. Students will go to their 2023 classroom as normal when they arrive where they will be told their 2024 class and then move to their new classroom at 9:10 am. They will then spend the full day with their 2024 teacher and new classmates. 2024 class lists will be sent home with students on this day.  All 2023 Years 3 to 6 classes will have sport during the day so they should wear their sports uniform to school on this day.

End of Year Reports
End of year reports will be available for families to view on MyStPauls on Wednesday 6 December. Information on how to access these will be emailed to families on this day.

2024 Junior School Leaders
Our 2024 Junior School Leaders will be announced on Tuesday 28 November and I would like to congratulate all the Year 5 students for applying for a leadership position. My thanks to Mr Barkla and Kooloos Sensi for overseeing the process this year.  An official handover from our current Year 6 students will take place at our Presentation Assembly on Friday 8 December.

Looking forward to a wonderful final few weeks of term.

Rowan van Raay
Head of Warragul Junior School

St Paul’s Parent Prayer Group

“Where two or three people gather in my name, I am there with them.” Matthew 18:20
The Warragul St Paul’s Parent Prayer Group will again be meeting on the first Monday of each month during school terms in 2024. The group is a wonderful way to connect with other families of faith and bring the needs of the school and our communities before God in prayer. There is no obligation to pray aloud, nor ongoing commitment to attend each month. We try to keep the meeting brief (we are usually done by 9:45 am) and casual (younger children are most welcome).  Feel free to get in touch with any questions beforehand or just attend when you are able during the year.
Our final gathering for 2024 is Monday 4 December at 9:00 am in the Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School.

Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937

The below information is provided by Gippsland Region Public Health Unit

Chickenpox
Exclusion:
·       Legislated under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Schedule 7) – link provided below.
·       Cases of chickenpox in primary schools and children’s services centres must be excluded until all blisters have dried. This is usually at least five days after the rash appears in unimmunised children but may be less in previously immunised children. Note that some remaining scabs are not a reason for continued exclusion. Cases in secondary school are recommended to be excluded as above, but there is no statutory exclusion.
·       Children with an immune deficiency (for example, leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be excluded from school or children’s services centre for their own protection. Otherwise, contacts are not excluded.

Information:
·       Provide health information regarding transmission, signs and symptom prevention and treatment, refer to Chickenpox factsheet – link provided below.
·       All parents and staff should be alert to the potential for exposed (especially unimmunised) children to develop illness 2 to 3 weeks following exposure and to exclude them at first sign of illness.
·       Pregnant or immunocompromised staff who could have been in close contact with the cases should seek advice from their GP.

Vaccination:
·       Vaccination reduces the likelihood of chickenpox infection and can lessen the severity of the disease.  Vaccination of exposed persons during outbreaks has been shown to prevent further cases and control outbreaks.
·       Identify and record details of non-immune children and staff (ie those who have never had chickenpox illness or are unvaccinated for chickenpox).
·       In outbreak settings (two cases within 21 days at the school), recommend vaccination for all non-immune children and staff in the same classroom (if cases are confined to the same classroom) or same year level or entire school/childcare centre (if cases are in multiple classrooms).
·       A second dose of a varicella vaccine is recommended for children under 14 years of age who have received only one varicella vaccine. The second dose provides additional protection and minimises the risk of breakthrough varicella. However, a second dose of a varicella vaccine for children is not funded by the National Immunisation Program.  Parents and careers should discuss this option with their GP.
·       Post-exposure vaccination should be administered within five days, and preferably within three days, after exposure.
·       Immunosuppressed people or pregnant women should not be given the varicella vaccine, and anyone receiving the vaccine should avoid becoming pregnant for at least 28 days after vaccination.

For further information please refer to the following links:

• Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 school exclusion table https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table
• Chickenpox information sheet Better Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chickenpox
• Chickenpox – immunisation sheet Better Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/chickenpox-immunisation

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
17 November  Book Fair Commences and Dress Up Day
20 to 22 November  Year 3 Camp
22 November  2024 Prep Transition, session 4
23 November P-2 Athletics Carnival
24 November  Student Free Day
29 November  2024 Year 7 Orientation
Book Fair Closes
30 November  2024 Years 1 to 6 Transition Day
2024 Year 7 Orientation

DECEMBER
1 December  2024 Year 7 Orientation
4 December  Christmas Service Assembly, 2:20 pm
6 December  Year 6 Dinner
7 December  Year 6 Activity Morning
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.

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 on Monday 4 December, 9:00 am in the Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School
Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com

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.

Year 2 and Year 5 Performing Arts Application for Lessons 2024

Dear Years 2 and 5 Parents and Guardians

A reminder that Performing Arts Lesson applications for Year 2 Strings and Year 5 Symphonic Band Program students wishing to continue with individual lessons in 2024 are now due.
The 2024 Application for Lessons form can be found on the Performing Arts MyStPauls Portal page under Permission Forms and Other Information.
For further information please contact the Performing Arts Office performingartsoffice@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Heather Mason
Head of Performing Arts – Co-curricular

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Join the fun! Register here.

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mrs Leonie Clark

COMMUNITY, CONNECTION AND BELONGING

At St Paul’s we acknowledge the value of purposeful service for adolescents. We know that students with a role in the community that allows them to share their gifts or provide care, improves not only the lives of recipients, but greatly enhances and improves connection and wellbeing for those students who are kindly providing service to and for their community. For adolescent students, it is hugely beneficial to their wellbeing to participate in purposeful community service, as a member of a sporting organisation  or other community groups. This fosters opportunities for meaningful purpose, belonging and connection within the broader community, one of the key protective factors for optimal adolescent mental health and wellbeing.

“A new report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has found that if a child is involved in volunteering before the age of 13, the odds of having poor mental health are reduced by around 28%. As well, children who demonstrate ‘prosocial’ behaviours, such as caring for others or doing acts of kindness, were 11% less likely to experience mental ill-health. The data was collected as part of Growing Up in Australia: A Longitudinal Study of Children (LSAC) which has been following the development of 10,000 children since 2003.”
Reference: https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/Media-release_Teens-volunteering-protects-against-poor-mental-health.pdf

It was with enormous pride in our collective St Paul’s community that many in our Traralgon community attended several key community events last week that were wonderful opportunities for our students to serve and give to their community. We held our very own combined Traralgon Junior and Secondary Schools Remembrance Day service on Friday morning. This year the service was expertly coordinated by our School Chaplain, Mr Glen Treble. It was a solemn and professional service for all students and staff from the ELC all the way through to our Secondary School students and staff. Our Student Representative Council from both sub-schools were proficient in their delivery of the service as the Junior School and Secondary School Captains each laid a wreath. The recognition of this historic moment was followed by the traditional music of the Last Post and Rouse expertly played on the cornet by Mrs Victoria Wilson.

Left to Right: David Ogabiela and Arlo Agustin Year 6 (Traralgon Junior School Captains), Riley Alko Year 10 (Peer Support Leader and Library Captain) Axel Sellings and Georgia Vardy Year 10 (Traralgon Secondary School Captains, SRC Presidents and Peer Support Leaders).

On Friday evening there was an ambience of excitement in the foyer of GPAC (Gippsland Performing Arts Centre) as parents as well as a number of staff from both the Warragul and the Traralgon Campuses came together for “Codetta”. The Traralgon Junior School Choir had the entire audience transfixed as they graced the stage while each supported a yellow rubber duck which swam in synchronicity across the stage to commence the evening with “Rubber Ducks and With The Beat by Rule”. Many other performances followed and were just as remarkable. They entertained the audience who were finally treated to Chopin’s Ballade Op. 52 No. 4, a ten-minute Pianoforte performance by Hanting (George) Huang of Year 10 Warragul Secondary School. It was indeed an evening to remember and contemplate the incredible talent at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School.

Asmi Pathania Year 9 Traralgon Secondary School – Pianoforte ‘Arabesque No.1 Debussy’

The very next morning several familiar and dedicated students, parents and staff involved in the evening prior, turned out in ‘uniformed style’ to support and participate in the community RSL Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in the Traralgon City Centre. Our St Paul’s families were well and truly represented as you will see below in the ‘St Paul’s family photograph’ taken in front of the cenotaph just prior to the service. These significant moments for our collective community are of the utmost importance to our students as we teach them that they belong to a growing school community but that they are collectively a part of a much wider community and society with shared values of service to community, mateship and compassion.
It certainly filled many hearts to observe the kindness of our community at St Paul’s last week at these three key events. Special thanks are extended to all staff, students and families who gave their own time to ensure that fabulous memories were created, not only for our own St Paul’s students and families but for the wider community of Traralgon and the Latrobe Valley.  Your kind service to your community is appreciated, admired and respected.

Front Row: Mrs Victoria Wilson (Secondary School Teacher and City of Traralgon Band), Fraser Rong (Year 6 Student and City of Traralgon Band), Rheid Haley (Year 10 Peer Support Leader and Team Timor Captain)
Back Row: Axel Sellings (Year 10 Traralgon School Captain and Peer Support Leader), Myra Krafft (Current Parent and City of Traralgon Band), Amelie Krafft-Murat (Year 10 Student, Peer Support Leader and City of Traralgon Band)

SPECIAL REPORT: Gambling and Young People

The digital era has made gambling more accessible and certain factors are elevating the risk of problematic gambling among young people. A new grey area is emerging, with smartphones at their fingertips blurring the boundaries between gambling and entertainment, especially within the realms of video games and social media. The current generation of young people is growing up in an unprecedented time and research highlights that a significant percentage of adolescents are involved in gambling activities.
Reports of young people gambling are frequent with many experiencing adverse consequences such as diminished academic performance and strained relationships. Today’s youth are growing up in a digital age characterised by constant connectivity, and the gambling industry has evolved significantly during their formative years. Simulated gambling, such as in video games, can further increase the likelihood of teenagers transitioning to real-money gambling and developing future gambling-related problems.
It is crucial to foster open discussions about positive media choices to help children navigate through responsible online gaming and gambling. Encouraging a balanced approach to screen time and promoting alternative activities, will help set some clear boundaries to avoid potential gambling-related issues.
This Special Report provides guidance on how to empower young people to make responsible choices in this digital age. 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 consider seeking medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://stpaulsags.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-gambling-young-people-au

SUN SAFETY

It is that time of year again when we gently remind our families to double-check that their child has a school bucket hat to wear. Recent wet weather events have perhaps seen us forget the importance of sun safety at this time of year but when that sun finally emerges once again we will be asking our children to wear their hats outside to protect them from harsh exposure to UV. We have been delighted with the standard of the uniform in recent weeks and thank our families for checking their child’s uniform in the mornings. Thank you for kindly supporting us to assist your children in preparing for the world of work in which processes and procedures will need to be followed. We do appreciate the pride our students and families have in our uniform and the assistance they provide in maintaining our outstanding reputation and standard of presentation within the community.

EARLY COMMENCEMENT

On Monday 27 November, we will begin our 2024 Early Commencement. Early Commencement is highly valued by staff and students who enjoy the opportunity to begin the new year. We are always impressed with the resilience of our students as they finish their final assessments. Years 9 and 10 students complete their examinations and then after a long semester, they muster the energy to start the new year ahead of time. Our current 2023 Year 10 cohort will commence their journey each day to the Warragul Secondary School where they will begin their 2024 Year 11 VCE studies. Early Commencement always seems to reinvigorate our St Paul’s community and we enjoy watching our students transition to their next year of Secondary schooling.

COMPARATIVE REPORTS

At the end of each semester, parents of a student in Year 7 through to Year 10, may request that the school provide them with written information that clearly shows their child’s achievement compared to his or her peer group at the school.  The information will show parents the number of children in the group in each of the achievement levels/subjects.  However, where group numbers are fewer than 12 this data will not be provided, in order to protect the privacy of the students in the class.  Class teachers will instead explain the student’s level relative to their peers, without identifying the number in each band. Please contact Kerryn Doble or Kelly Read at Student Services if you require would like to request a Comparative Report for your child.

 STUDENT SUPERVISION BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL

We have been experiencing an increase in the number of students arriving at school quite early in the morning. Staff are not required on campus until 8:30 am and active student supervision begins at 8:35 am. It is important that parents know that their children will not necessarily be actively or passively supervised prior to 8:30 am.
Active supervision in the afternoons ends at 3:35 pm

Leonie Clark
Head of Traralgon Secondary School

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
20 and 21 November  VCE Exams
22 to 24 November  Years 9 and 10 Examinations
23 November  SEISA Summer Sport, Junior, Finals
24 November  Student Free Day
Year 10 Celebration Gathering
27 November  Early Commencement Begins
27 November to 1 December  Year 9 Edutest
29 November to 1 December  Year 7 2024 Orientation Days

DECEMBER
5 December  Christmas Service Assembly
7 December  Run for East Timor
Presentation Assembly Rehearsal
Theatre Sports
8 December  Presentation Assembly
End of Term 4, 2:10 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.

TRARALGON PARENT PRAYER MEETING

It has been wonderful having parents pray for our school community this year.  Our last our Prayer Meeting for the year will be held on Monday 27 November.  Anyone is welcome to come along and join us.  We will meet in the Junior School Office from 9:00 am to 9:30 am.  If you have any questions, then speak to our Chaplain, Glen Treble.

Years 9 and 10 Exam Timetable

Years 9 and 10 exams begin on Wednesday 22 November and VCE exams on Friday 17 November.  Please find below a copy of the exam schedule.  Please also note the following:

•   All Years 9 and 10 exams will be completed in the gymnasium.

For exams in the morning, students are not required to attend their normal mentor group but should head straight to the gym.
All Years 9 and 10 Exams will be in the gymnasium.

Year 11 Biology and Legal Studies will be in the rooms allocated.

Study session rooms: Year 9A – EC 1, Year 9B – EC LAB 2, Year 10A – Room 4, Year 10B – Room 6.

Chris Ambrozy
Director of Studies

METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES

At St Paul’s, we ask students to continuously seek improvement and note that effort and perseverance are integral ingredients towards making progress.
We have an overarching ideology of Growth Mindset, Carol Dweck’s theory which was described again in the most recent edition of the Grammarian.  Underneath this umbrella, we utilise a range of teaching strategies and programs.
Our staff are involved in our own internal professional learning community and Warragul and Traralgon Secondary have shared a focus this year: Metacognitive Strategies.
The year began with a full-day seminar for all staff from psychologist Dr Andrew Fuller, who spoke about the way the brain develops and made specific links to the way young people process information.  Dr Fuller’s material related directly to metacognition and formed the foundation for the year ahead: to encourage everyone to be conscious of their subconscious thinking. Dr Fuller noted that an awareness of our thinking also allows us to recognise and regulate emotions.
As noted in the Grammarian and via MyStPauls posts throughout the year, the following strategies received specific attention and discussion in staff meetings, with a focused effort on explaining them to students in class and making them aware of their thinking:

Our discussions as staff concentrated on how we utilise these strategies and included teachers from different faculties talking to each other about things they try in class to help students learn. During these meetings, we have also looked at education developments in Australia and around the globe, trialled Thunks (thinking funks – from Philosophy for Children), modelled ‘thinking aloud’ by explaining brainteasers to peers and a range of other activities.
The aims of the year were repeated each time – we want to foster the growth of students who are:

• Independent
• Self-sufficient
• Reflective
• Questioning

The focus on learning ties in effectively to our school values of wisdom, integrity, compassion and respect.
Our final meeting takes place this month, when staff will hear from Sally Learey. Sally is an education consultant who specialises in metacognition and she will be summarising our year and reminding us why the metacognitive strategies are so effective for learning and why it is so important for us to model and openly discuss these strategies with students.
The final survey of students will also take place before the end of the year and we will soon find out if students (and staff) are more conscious of their thinking than at the beginning of 2023!

Gordon Oldham
Deputy Head of Warragul Secondary School

Sport News/HOY

House Tug of War
The annual House Tug of War competition created an atmosphere of intense rivalry and excitement, as all six houses put forth their best efforts to claim victory. The event served as a testament to the vibrant house spirit that flowed through every corner of the stadium. For each round the House Deputy Leaders nominated their members to represent them, ensuring that a sense of unity and pride ran deep within their team.
After five rounds, semi-finals and preliminary finals, it was the two best houses that fought it out in the grand final; Gilmore House versus Monash House. Gilmore has their names etched on the trophy for quite a few years in a row, so it was up to Monash to take the honours as they have never won the title in the years this competition has been running. Both teams took hold of their rope with unwavering determination, with their teammates cheering them on from the sidelines.
After an intense struggle, Monash House managed to gain a slight advantage, inching toward victory. The battle continued before sending Gilmore House sprawling across the line. Monash House were super excited to finally have their name etched on the trophy.
While each house fought tooth and nail to claim victory, they shared a collective sense of pride in the spirited battle they had just witnessed. The House Tug of War competition showcased the very essence of house spirit and camaraderie. As the students celebrated and congratulated one another, it was evident that the spirit of healthy competition and house pride was truly alive within the school.

Year 9 Exhibition Night
As Head of Years 9 and 10 it was a pleasure to see so many parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers and siblings congregated in the main building for an unforgettable event – the Year 9 Exhibition Night. This annual event celebrates the culmination of a term-long project, during which students dedicated their energies to exploring an area of interest in a self-directed manner. The exhibition showcased their exceptional creativity, critical thinking and perseverance.
One of the highlights of the evening was witnessing the powerful conversations taking place throughout the room. Students eagerly shared their knowledge and experiences, engaging in spirited discussions with our community.
The Year 9 Exhibition Night exemplified the remarkable potential of student-driven projects. The passion, motivation and self-expression exhibited by the students left an indelible impression on all who attended. Not only did the event provide an opportunity for parents/guardians and teachers to witness the talents of their students, but it also instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment within the students themselves.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Ms Kirsten Enders and Ms Annette Young for supporting and guiding our Year 9 students through this journey and I must say it was one of the best exhibitions I have seen based on the variety of exhibits that were on display.

Sandra Timmer-Arends
Head of Years 9 and 10
Head of Sport – Traralgon Campus
Health and Physical Education

ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL TIMETABLE

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.

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

It has certainly been a busy time at Traralgon Junior School!  Students have participated in Moana JR the Musical, Codetta, Remembrance Day Service, Student Leadership elections, Sports, Year 2 Sleepover, Writing Challenge Book Launch and Arts Showcase.  It is wonderful to see so many of our students strengthening their resilience and being brave by participating and at times managing disappointment and frustration as well as celebrating successes.

Arts Showcase

Our Arts Showcase was a delightful evening and all families are thanked for their involvement and support of this key event.  Beautiful student visual art was on display, year levels presented class poems, individual student poetry recitals were impressive, and our Junior Symphonic Band and Year 5 Band and Strings Ensemble played some fabulous music. Our Junior School Choir entertained us with their delightful singing too.  The evening certainly invited many students to demonstrate resilience and bravery as they stepped out of their comfort zones and performed to a large audience.
Not only were we treated to a wonderful evening of visual and performing arts with students developing their skills and talents but we also provided an opportunity for students to take risks and face challenges.  During the evening, I spoke about resilience and the need for our children to experience some struggle and challenge in order for their resilience to develop. I have reproduced my comments here.

Trees need wind, rain and storms for healthy development. So do people!  Biosphere 2, a research facility in Arizona, USA built in the 1980s was designed to be a completely enclosed environment capable of supporting human life. It was created with the idea that perhaps one day it would be needed for humans to colonise another planet or attempt to sustain life on Earth.
A wide range of vegetation was planted inside Biosphere 2. The trees grew more quickly than in the outside world but would then die off and collapse. It was thought that the weather patterns inside Biosphere 2 were important. Biosphere 2 could produce a gentle breeze but could not generate more extreme wind, rain or storms. It was discovered that winds and storms are necessary for young trees to develop and grow into strong resilient trees.  During such weather, trees stretch and bend and develop a structure called “stress wood” which allows for further bending and stretching. This stretching and bending it turns out, is vital for a tree’s healthy growth and development.
In our gardens, we plant seeds either in a hot house or in a propagator tray. The seeds are watered daily and given specific nutrients. As the seed begins to grow, the seedling is moved to progressively larger pots, giving it the room to grow, while keeping it inside the hothouse. As the sapling grows it may be placed outside for some time each day to “harden off” or get used to the elements outside. When the tree is ready, it is planted in its permanent outdoor position. At this stage, wise gardeners place two stakes on either side of the young tree and tether the tree to them. This will provide some protection as the young tree experiences its first winter storms and spring gales. Eventually, those stakes in the ground will rot and fall away and a healthy strong tree is left that can withstand all but the most extreme weather events (just like palm trees bend and flex during a hurricane).
Growing our little people is much the same. When our babies are small, we hold them very close, provide all that they need and protect them from as much of the outside world as we can. As our children grow, we slowly, bit by bit allow them out into the world and allow them to experience some of the “stormy weather” out there. Eventually, our children are ready to be in the world full-time, but we don’t just let them get on with it alone. Parents and other adults remain, like the tree stakes in the ground, as support.
All of us have been exposed to life’s weather and have experienced life’s stressors. We have, therefore, developed to some degree, skills and resources to assist us to be resilient in the face of stressors. We have discovered our own internal resources for coping, things like being flexible, persistent, or patient. We have learnt skills for managing stress, like problem-solving or making hard decisions. We have gained resources such as healthy relationships that see us through tough times. Alternatively, if we try to avoid or deny these metaphorical storms, we do not discover the personal attributes which make us resilient. Neither do we learn strategies that add to our natural resilience. Likewise, if we try to protect others, such as our children, from life’s storms, we are denying them the opportunity to develop their own resilience.
It is stress that allows us to discover and build our resilience.  We want our children to have success within their grasp but never guaranteed so that they are required to work hard towards their achievements, experience some disappointments and enjoy successes that have been earned. This allows them to grow and develop into strong and healthy young people.
The greatest challenge for us as parents is finding the balance between protecting our children and enabling them to experience enough of life’s ups and downs to develop their resilience and character so they can eventually be independent and resilient young people able to bounce back from whatever life throws at them.

Practical Advice About Resilience From ‘Raising Children’

The Australia parenting website  https://raisingchildren.net.au/

Resilience: what is it?
Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’ after challenges and tough times.
For children, challenges and tough times include experiences like starting at a new school or kindergarten, moving house, or welcoming a sibling into the family. They can also include serious experiences like being bullied, family breakdown, family illness or death.
Children build resilience over time through experience. You can help your child learn skills and develop resilience by having a warm, supportive relationship with them.

Resilience: why it’s good for children
Children who are resilient can recover from setbacks and get back to living their lives more quickly. And when children overcome setbacks and problems, it builds their confidence and helps them feel more capable the next time a problem comes up.  Resilient children are often good at solving problems and learning new skills. This is because they are more willing to try again even if things don’t go the way they want the first time.
When things don’t go well and children feel anxious, sad, disappointed, afraid or frustrated, resilience helps them understand that these uncomfortable emotions usually don’t last forever. They can experience these emotions and know they’ll be OK before too long.  Resilient children are less likely to avoid problems or deal with them in unhealthy ways, like getting defensive or aggressive or intentionally hurting themselves. Resilient children are also likely to have better physical and mental health than children who struggle to be resilient.
All children experience challenges but children with anxious temperaments, learning difficulties or disabilities might find certain situations particularly challenging – for example, completing a task at school or being left with an unfamiliar carer. When children build their resilience skills, they can better manage their emotions and overcome setbacks.

Relationships and resilience
Relationships are the foundation of your child’s resilience.  Your child’s most important relationships are with you and their other main caregivers. Strong relationships with you and other carers helps your child feel loved, safe and secure. This sense of safety and security gives your child the confidence to explore their world and to recover from any setbacks they experience.  Your child’s relationships with grandparents, aunties and uncles, early childhood educators and teachers, and friends are also important. These family and community connections give your child a sense of belonging and the feeling that they’re valued. These feelings help to build your child’s confidence and resilience.
Children learn about resilience from watching how you and other important people in their lives respond to tough times and setbacks. When your child sees you try again, let anger go, or think positively in difficult situations, they learn that they can do the same.

Building resilience in children
Children learn resilience through experience. Each time your child overcomes a problem, it builds their confidence in their ability to handle the next challenge.
Here are some ways you can build your child’s resilience:

• Support your child but try not to solve every minor problem or disappointment. For example, if your child doesn’t get invited to a birthday party or doesn’t get what they want for their birthday, you could talk about how they feel instead of trying to fix the problem.
• Avoid predicting and preventing problems for your child. This might mean letting your child hand in homework that’s wrong or not replacing a broken toy. Overcoming small challenges builds your child’s resilience for bigger setbacks.
• Help your child to identify and manage strong emotions. For example, your child might be worried about a family member who’s sick. You could say, ‘I can see you’re really worried about Grandpa. It’s OK to be worried. But remember we’re doing everything we can to help him get better’.
• Encourage your child to have another go when things don’t work out the first time they try something. Praise your child for trying, no matter the result. You could say ‘I’m proud of you for finishing the race’ or ‘Well done for giving it another go’.
• Build your child’s self-compassion. Self-compassion helps your child deal with disappointment, failures or mistakes by being kind to themselves. In turn, this helps them to move on from difficult experiences.
• Make it a habit to recognise and acknowledge when things are going well. For example, during family meals, you could each share one positive thing from your day.
• Help your child to develop problem-solving skills in an age-appropriate way. For example, if a child at school says or does something unkind to your child, brainstorm how your child might respond next time.
• Find a positive role model who has experienced similar challenges to your child. For example, your child might find support in an older friend whose parents have separated or who has lost a family member.

Children develop resilience over time, so try to be patient and supportive while your child works out how to respond to challenges. You might want to make everything all right for your child, but sometimes your child has to go through uncomfortable feelings so they can work things out for themselves.

School TV Report: Transitions

Transition to a new learning environment is a major event in a child or young person’s life as it changes the social connections that they have built.  They are a period where we must adapt to new circumstances, expectations, people, environments or routines. Whether big or small, transitions are a significant part of children’s and young people’s lives, as well as the learning community.
Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!
However, for many, it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children. Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety so the process is an enjoyable experience for all. It is important for children to attend transition or orientation programs offered by schools. Familiarisation is often the key to reducing stress levels. It is also important for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs.

For more information about supporting your child with school transition see School Transitions | St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School (schooltv.me)

The end of the year is quickly drawing to a close and we are gearing up in the Junior School for our final special events and activities.  There are a number of sport competitions ahead, Endeavour Showcase, Swim Carnival, Orientation Day and Step Up, Year 5 Market Day, Year 4 Conferences, Year 6 Rotary Presentations, Christmas Celebration Evening, Year 6 Graduation, Christmas Service and Activity Day and Presentation Assembly.  Please ensure you have these dates in your calendars.

Tracey King
Head of Traralgon Junior School

FOSP Shopping Tour 2023
Friends of St Paul’s (FOSP) warmly invite you to join us for an exclusive night of shopping and fun.
Gather a group of friends, family, workmates and shop ’til you drop’ with exclusive discounts and special offers – some of our fabulous local stores are offering a whopping twenty per cent off!
Participating stores include Changing Seasons, The Shoeroom, Growmaster, Toyworld, Feminine Touch, Jilly M, Sugarbabies, Traralgon News & Books plus many more. A great opportunity to get a start on your Christmas shopping for your family (or just for yourself!)
Date: Friday 17 November, 5:00 pm start at Growmaster Traralgon.
Tickets: $25 per person
Ticket price includes a delicious Dal Mondo’s Pizza supper at 8:30 pm to finish off the night.
As you rest, chat and enjoy supper, there will be fabulous prizes up for grabs in the FOSP Shopping Tour Raffle!
Tickets for the FOSP Shopping Tour are now available to purchase via TryBooking here.

FOSP Friends of St Paul’s 20th Anniversary Project – Personalised Engraved Pavers
Friends of St Paul’s (FOSP) invites all families, friends and alumni to be a part of our St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School Traralgon Campus 20th Anniversary project to be featured as part of the new Future’s Centre landscape.
Purchase a personalised engraved paver for your child or family and acknowledge your contribution to St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School. All students, current and former, will love finding their name on the path. This is a legacy that the St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School Traralgon family can and will enjoy for many years to come.

Click here to order a paver for your child/family.

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER

16 to 23 November  Book Fair
17 November  FOSP Shopping Tour
21 November  State Hot Shots Tennis
22 November  Prep 2024 Transition Day 4
Division Bowls
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
State Cricket
Christmas Celebration Evening, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
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, 12:30 pm
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.

Traralgon Parent Prayer Meeting

It has been wonderful having parents pray for our school community this year.  Our last Prayer Meeting for the year will be held on Monday 27 November.  Anyone is welcome to come along and join us.  We will meet in the Junior School Office from 9:00 am to 9:30 am.  If you have any questions, then speak to our Chaplain, Glen Treble.

Class Updates

Prep
This fortnight in prep has been filled with preparations for our Arts Showcase! Students learnt a poem called ‘I Helped My Mum Make Dinner’ and could not wait to show it off to their families.
In the classroom, students have been continuing to work on expanding sentences by adding when and where details. They have also been comparing numbers up to 120 using the terms bigger, smaller, more and less.
During our Integrated lessons, students have been learning how they can protect and improve their environment. They designed a bug house to encourage bugs to be safe in the local environment, turtle houses to protect turtle eggs from being eaten by predators and a device that stops rubbish from going down into our waterways and to the ocean.
It was great to see the designs they came up with and how they could be used to improve our environment.

Year 1
We have been excitedly preparing for the Arts Showcase and cannot wait to perform our poem ‘Dad Meets the Martians’. We enjoyed making headbands, each with its own personality.
To tie up our learning about ‘Waste Warriors’ we have been using our new knowledge to write a persuasive paragraph about the importance of caring for our environment by recycling, reducing and reusing.

Year 2
The last couple of weeks have been full of performances, rehearsals and the Year 2 Sleepover. We have still been fitting in a whole bunch of other learning!

In writing, we have focused on compound sentences and independent clauses. We have used some great vocabulary words to demonstrate our understanding of these sentences, linking with and, but, and so. We  have had the benefit of fancy pens to publish our persuasive writing drafts. Look out for them as a COR task.
Our maths has focused on basic multiplication and division facts, locating places on a map, giving directions and classifying 2D and 3D shapes.
In Integrated Studies, we have continued with our focus on water. We designed and built basic water filtration devices after learning more about the inequality of water access.

Year 3
In Year 3, we have been learning about sustainability. We have learnt about reducing, reusing and recycling. We discovered that our own classroom practices of disposing waste needed to be reviewed. We learnt that we could make simple changes to our own waste management processes and that these changes could in turn have a greater impact on the environment as a whole. As a result of this discovery, we decided to take on a STEM challenge to recycle and reuse some old materials like boxes, bottle tops, tin cans and other discarded items from around our homes. We have repurposed our waste and feel very proud of what we have accomplished.

Year 4
This week, the Year 4 students have been practising very hard for their poetry performance at the Arts Showcase and feeling both excited and nervous about performing in front of an audience.
In Literacy, the students have been reviewing work on vocabulary, sentence structure and spelling rules covered over the course of the semester. In Numeracy, they have consolidated their understanding of the names of different angles, as well as measuring angles using protractors.
They have also continued to gather and reflect on samples of work completed this year that they want to include in their portfolios and are looking forward to sharing their work with their parents later on in the term.

Year 5
The Year 5 children are well on their way with making Market Day products to sell during Week 9 on Tuesday 28 November. Our handmade designs range from fidget spinners, hydro-dipped pencils and rock friends, paper flowers and egg carton plants, along with so many more.
We are excited to be selling our pieces and raising money for the Cancer Council.

Year 6

In class, we have been busy honing our poetic skills and gearing up for our end-of-year graduation celebrations. Several of our Year 6 students have successfully achieved their Rotary Award and are currently preparing presentations to showcase their accomplishments at the upcoming awards night. The Rotary Junior Service Award has encouraged students to be involved in a direct, positive way using their skills and abilities to benefit the local community. Students have reported that completing the award has given them a greater understanding of what makes our communities work. It has provided them an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of community service. They appreciated being able to see their own potential value to the community regardless of academic, physical, or other abilities. The Rotary Junior Community Award is offered to Year 6 students each year. This year we congratulate Will, Eshan, Georgia, Hayley and Fraser for achieving this award.

THE BOOK FAIR IS COMING

Update Alert! Our Scholastic Book Fair is finally here! It will open at 8:30 am 17 November so come along to find the best new books and help to earn free books for our library! The fair will run from 17 to 23 November, our school will be buzzing with literary excitement!

New Additions: This year, we have got even more amazing books to spark curiosity and ignite imaginations. From the latest release of fiction to fun non-fiction, there is something for every reader!

Community Support: Your book purchases directly contribute to expanding our school library and nurturing a love for reading.

Let’s make this Book Fair a celebration of literacy, learning and the joy of books! See you there, before school 8:30 am to 9:00 am and after school 3:20 pm to 4:30 pm daily.

Jannet Taylor
Head of Libraries

TRARALGON JUNIOR SCHOOL ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

Traralgon Junior School Ensemble Rehearsal Schedule.  New members, including students receiving tuition 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 .

Year 2 and Year 5 Performing Arts Application for Lessons 2024

Dear Years 2 and 5 Parents and Guardians

A reminder that Performing Arts Lesson applications for Year 2 Strings and Year 5 Symphonic Band Program students wishing to continue with individual lessons in 2024 are now due.
The 2024 Application for Lessons form can be found on the Performing Arts MyStPauls Portal page under Permission Forms and Other Information.
For further information please contact the Performing Arts Office performingartsoffice@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Heather Mason
Head of Performing Arts – Co-curricular

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Join the fun! Register here.

 The blessing of boredom

“How long the same things? Surely I will yawn, I will sleep, I will eat, I will be thirsty, I will be cold, I will be hot. Is there no end?” So says Roman Stoic philosopher, Seneca, in a lament not dissimilar to many students around exam revision time. Boredom is generally not something we welcome and will in fact go to great lengths to avoid. James Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, writes of 007 that, “boredom, and particularly the incredible circumstance of waking up bored, was the only vice that Bond utterly condemned”. Hard liquor, dangerous women, fast cars and death-defying missions – Bond was up for all of these. But boredom, the feeling of missing out on life and an ever-pervading sense of greyness, were too much for Britain’s greatest spy. And many of us would agree with him. For most students, the greatest condemnation of a lesson or activity is that it was boring.

So why are we so opposed to boredom? Writer Mark Sayers, drawing on the work of Mark Fisher, the former late British cultural critic and blogger, links our fear of boredom to the prevailing culture of hedonism or pleasure seeking. Fisher suggests that our modern Hedonism is less like, “I’m going to break away from the disciplinary society like a hippie and just enjoy pure pleasure”. It is more that you are expected to continually be in pleasure. Sayers explains, “And to not be in a state where I’m experiencing some kind of pleasure would mean that something’s wrong. So boredom, difficulty, challenge, all these things become signals that you’re not experiencing something pleasurable and entertaining. So something must be wrong. So this means that you then become tremendously afraid of difficulty”. The problem of course is that to learn something, to create or build something, you are inevitably going to have to experience difficulty and probably boredom.

Psychologists James Danckert and John D Eastwood, the authors of ‘Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom’ suggest that boredom has been widely misunderstood, perhaps even unfairly maligned. Boredom evolved to help us, says Danckert. It signals that we are unengaged and in need of an activity to satisfy us. “I think that’s a good thing, in a lot of ways. How we respond to it is up to us. I think you can minimise it. But do you want to totally eliminate it? I don’t think you do.” That hasn’t stopped us trying though. Thanks in part to technology, we have plenty of distractions from boredom literally at our fingertips. Although it turns out this may not actually be helping. Columnist Elle Hunt reflects on this in her article, ‘Why it’s good to be bored’.
“But this over-abundance of things to do itself can exacerbate boredom. Eastwood evokes the “paradox of choice”, saying “options are not necessarily freeing and do not necessarily make us happy”. Seeking relief on the internet “can feel like trying to drink from a fire hose” Danckert and Eastwood write. Not only that, in hijacking our attention, technology may, over time, compound the issue it seems to alleviate. “It takes time and attention to scroll through Instagram or play Candy Crush, but at the end of it, you’re not satisfied, because you didn’t do the harder work of figuring out: ‘What do I really want to do?’ It’s a vicious cycle: you got some engagement, but it wasn’t the thing you needed,” says Danckert. That is the challenge that boredom lays down, he says: “to figure out what is going to be meaningful and useful to you in your life.” https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/may/03/why-its-good-to-be-bored

Boredom is an inevitable part of life and is not something we need to fear. As parents, your child’s complaint of boredom is not something you need to fix. It might actually be a good thing if your child is bored. No teacher sets out to create a boring lesson, but it may not be a bad thing if our students are occasionally bored at school. Valerie Kirk from Connections Academy suggests six benefits of boredom.

1.       Boredom can stimulate creativity.
2.       Boredom can help students learn how to solve problems.
3.       Boredom can help students discover new interests.
4.       Boredom can help build self-esteem.
5.       Boredom can help students learn how to overcome failure.
6.       Boredom can help kids make connections.
(https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/why-boredom-could-be-good-for-your-student/)

This is not a new idea of course. The author of the Book of James in the New Testament wrote this: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

We will all struggle with boredom at times, but we don’t need to fear it and we need to help our young people to cope with it. One of the ways Danckert and Eastwood suggest responding to boredom is to find purpose. Boredom is not an absence of things to do, it is the struggle to find value in any of the options available to you. Being able to connect with a reason “why” for doing something can make it less boring. Instead of agitating for anything to do, we should try to determine what’s really important – whether right now, or for the future.

So, the next time you or a young person near you reaches for a device out of boredom, pause a moment, sit with the boredom and use the time to ask, “What is something of value I could do right now?” You might be surprised by the fruit that a moment of boredom bears!

May you be blessed with moments of boredom in this busy season.

Reverend Daniel Lowe
Senior Chaplain