In this issue

Year 7 Information Evening
Family Fun Night
Sibling Enrolments
Secondary School Choir

Grammarian Issue 2, 24 February 2023

Traralgon Junior School

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

What a wonderful beginning to the school year. It is hard to believe we are already finishing Week 4! I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting classrooms and seeing happy and engaged faces as students have settled into routines and their learning programs. Students have been very enthusiastic about sharing icy poles and a little squirt of the hose to cool down on very hot days too!

The DISCOVERING RESILIENCE Parent Presentation Wednesday 15 March, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Teachers and classes have continued their engagement with the Resilience Project this term and we are excited to invite parents and carers to join a special Parent Presentation on Wednesday 15 March. To join this presentation please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tWLlDrq3QbmIOzKvO5-SpA

Through his high-energy humour and captivating storytelling, Martin Heppell and TRP team will share simple, practical tips we can use every day to improve our wellbeing. When building positive mental health in schools, we know the best impact happens when we work together. The ‘Discovering Resilience’ presentation helps do just that by sharing those same evidence-based strategies being taught in the classroom, so they can be also practised at home and beyond. Attendees will also be reminded of the importance of their own wellbeing – we bring the best versions of ourselves to our family and community when we make time to look after ourselves.

Joining our Wellbeing team this year is Sheree Ball, School Counsellor and Lara Gibbons, Pastoral Team Leader Prep to Year 6.

School Counsellor
Our new School Counsellor, Sheree Ball, has been visiting classrooms, meeting teachers and students and enjoying some activities in the Odyssey Zone during lunchtime. Sheree introduces herself below.

Hello, my name is Sheree Ball.

I am delighted to begin my journey serving your school community as the school counsellor at the Traralgon campus two days per week. I really enjoy working with all people, of any age or background, to assist them to discover answers to questions, implement coping strategies, and talk through difficult life events. I value relationship, empathy and each person’s individual and valued life story so much. Each child at St Paul’s is an integral part of the school community.

I finished a degree in counselling in 2008 and I am currently studying a master’s degree in counselling and psychotherapy. I live with Danny and our five beautiful children on a bush retreat property in Yinnar South. We are one big, happy, family with Maya 14, Ethan 12, Harry 11, Jada 11 and Will 9, three dogs, a horse and many, many parrots. In our spare time we like to ride our horse, Ella, bushwalk, visit family, mountain bike and travel to the many gorgeous states in Australia.

I appreciate that St Paul’s understands the important role mental health plays alongside academics. I hope that you feel comfortable approaching the school for your child to receive counselling; if you feel your child may benefit, I would be delighted to meet you and your family.

Pastoral Leader
Lara Gibbons has taken on the role of Pastoral Team Leader Prep to Year 6 for 2023. She will be working closely with Rick Battista, Sheree Ball and classroom teachers to support student wellbeing and enhance our pastoral curriculum and student learning experiences. Lara’s background includes fourteen years of working for Court Services Victoria. This gave her a close view on how things can end when people have a lack of support/education early in life and highlighted the importance of children having access to quality education and services. Lara introduces herself below.

Early in Prep, my own son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This gave me first-hand insight into the lack of awareness within education on how to cater for students with diverse needs and prompted me to retrain. As a graduate teacher, I worked as a Casual Relief Teacher and then full-time at Newborough East Primary School (NEPS). There I also filled the role of School Improvement Leader for Wellbeing and Inclusion. I supported the staff, along with other schools, to implement the Rights, Resilience and Respectful Relationships Initiative. This initiative is designed to bring about cultural change and to teach social-emotional learning and respectful relationships to students and school communities.

My interests include: anything crafty – sewing, crocheting, colouring, patchwork, reading and spending time with our Westy (West Highland White Terrier).

My passions include: watching my children grow and develop, quality picture storybooks, learning and sunshine.

At St Paul’s I look forward to bringing my passion for supporting individuals to grow into their independence to as many students as I can. I am looking forward to working with the dedicated staff and parents at St Paul’s.

Family Fun and Information Evening
Our Family Fun and Information Evening was eventful with some wild weather last Friday! Despite the heat and the storm, families and students arrived with smiles and a determination to have some fun together, welcome new families and enjoy information sessions with teachers. Our fabulous Years 5 and 6 students were well prepared with special activities for everyone to enjoy and kept our little people engaged and excited all evening. The farmyard animals were popular and the African drumming was again lots of fun. Many thanks to our super Friends of St Paul’s (FOSP) group who braved the weather and cooked up a delicious barbeque. The ‘Guess How Many Lego Bricks?’ competition was also popular and money raised will enable the purchase of a new freezer for school and FOSP use. Many thanks to Gippsland Jersey Milkshakes who were kept busy all night.

A special thank you to our teachers who prepared information sessions for parents and shared lots of details about the year ahead, routines and expectations. Thank you also to all of the parents who attended the evening. It was really lovely to have everyone together, to share classrooms and for teachers to share information about their year level and learning expectations. For any families who were unable to attend, teachers have posted their PowerPoint presentations on MyStPauls for you to access and you are most welcome to contact teachers with any questions.

District Swimming
Congratulations to all of our students who competed at the District Swim Carnival last week. Despite some tough competition, our students showed up with determination and resilience and swam the best they possibly could. Everyone can be proud of their efforts with our team placing second overall. A fabulous achievement!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races
Students came together for a special Shrove Tuesday Chapel Service with Mr Glen Treble which was followed by Pancake races and eating! The cheering and excitement could be heard across the school as each class flipped their pancakes whilst running their relays. Many students finished the day commenting, “That was the best day ever!” There were over 500 pancakes cooked on the day by our Education Support team which was amazing and ensured our day was successful. Many thanks to all teachers and a special thank you to Ms Shareena Boyd and Ms Stephanie Vozzo for their efforts in whipping up a very large amount of pancake mixture before we all arrived at school!

Sovereign Hill Camp
Year 5 camp to Sovereign Hill was enormously successful. Students have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the gold rush times and all of the associated activities – gold panning, dressing up, visiting the mines, Eureka Stockade, visiting the lolly shop and watching candles being made at the candle factory, the blacksmith and the bakery. So many wonderful experiences for our students. Many thanks to our teachers, Mrs Jayne Price, Mrs Jodie Bugeja, Mrs Anita Richmond-Smith, Mr Billy Rilen and Mr Gareth Waack-Hawkins, for all of their preparations and for taking such great care of our students. We are looking forward to hearing about everyone’s adventures when they return to school on Monday.

Friendships and Belonging
“The ability to obtain, maintain and retain friendships is, according to all the childhood psychologists in the whole wide world, the greatest predictor of wellbeing. Having a rich repertoire of friends is a true indicator of whether your child is travelling ok.” Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

It is not always easy for children and teenagers to always know how to manage friendships. Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some people these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a child’s wellbeing. Friendships are full of ups and downs and it is better for kids to learn how to manage and build their own friendships, even though as an adult carer you may be tempted to interfere.

For more information about supporting your child to develop and manage friendships head to: https://stpaulsags.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/friendship-belonging

NAPLAN
This year NAPLAN has shifted to March. The test window has been extended from 15 to 27 March. NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

Parent Teacher Interviews (PSTIs)
PSTIs will be held on Wednesday 1 March 3:45 pm to 8:00 pm and Thursday 2 March 3:45 pm to 6:00 pm. Parents are able to choose between online Zoom sessions or face-to-face meetings. Details about booking PSTIs have been emailed to all families. If you have any questions or need any help please contact the office for assistance. These PSTIs are an opportunity for parents and teachers to share important information about children’s learning, the start to the 2023 school year, to raise any concerns and build positive relationships together as plans for learning are discussed. I encourage all parents to take advantage of this opportunity and participate in the PSTIs.

Clean Up Australia Day
Friday 3 March is Clean Up Australia Day and we will be donning gloves and grabbing garbage bags to get to work within our school grounds and surrounding streets; cleaning up our community and doing our part. Parents are most welcome to join us from 2:30 pm and lend a helping hand.

Control Club
It is exciting to announce that Control Club is back for St Paul’s Junior School students during Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes. This is wonderful news and I am sure many students will take up the opportunity to develop their skills and fitness. Control Club offers thirty-minute sessions led by qualified sports science and strength and conditioning coaches. Sessions provide opportunities for students to build their physical skills and try new sports in a safe, positive and encouraging environment. Please contact Stuart for bookings and queries stuart@controlhighperformance.com.au

Carpark Safety
I would like to remind parents of the need to be extremely careful when driving and parking in our school carpark. Every student deserves to be safe and considered and I ask that all parents slow down and are mindful of our precious little people as you are entering and exiting the carpark. When using the carpark at arrival or dismissal times, please use the crossing to reach the school pathways. I have become increasingly concerned about parents who duck across the carpark with young children running after them. The crossing is manned from 8:45 am each morning and from 3:20 pm in the afternoons however, caution should be used at all times.

Tracey King
Head of Traralgon Junior School

WHAT’S ON

MARCH
1 March ELC to Year 6 Parent Student Teacher Interviews (PSTIs), 3:45 pm to 8:00 pm
2 March ELC to Year 6 Parent Student Teacher Interviews (PSTIs), 3:45 pm to 6:00 pm
3 March Clean Up Australia Day
7 March Parent Volunteer Induction, 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm and 7:00 pm to 7:45 pm
9 March Athletics Carnival
13 March Labour Day Public Holiday
14 March ELC Rabbit Rearing Program
Learning to Read Parent Evening, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
14 to 17 March Year 6 Urban Camp
15 March The Resilience Project Parent Presentation – online, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
17 March National Day of Action Against Bullying
15 to 27 March NAPLAN
23 March Morning Coffee and Chat, 9:15 am
24 March Performing Arts Scholarship Holders Concert, 7:00 pm
28 March District Athletics
ELC and Prep Discovery Morning
29 March Classroom Expo Afternoon, 2:30 pm

APRIL
3 April Year 6 Leadership Day ‘The Summit’
4 April Hoodie Up for Autism
Community Easter Hunt
5 April Cross Country
6 April Easter Service, 9:45 am
End of Term 2, Dismissal 2:20 pm

DOBSONS TRADING HOURS

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

CLASS UPDATES

Early Learning Centre
Welcome to 2023! Our Little Lorikeets, Possums, Joeys, Koalas and Wombats have all commenced after a smooth, successful transition. Thank you to everyone who has helped support our St Paul’s littlest learners. The children have all settled in and learning has commenced. We have seen the Pre-Prep children adjust to three days of learning, and fully explore the environment both inside and out.

We acknowledged the Anniversary of the Apology with many discussions and continue exploring the aboriginal culture. Aunty Vera is visiting the ELC soon to share a dreamtime story and art experience (Aunty Vera is a local Koorie engagement support officer. She attends kindergartens and preschools connecting with children and families.) We are very lucky to have her attend and share with the children some different aspects of her culture.

The children have ventured out into the school to participate in Library, Music and Sport (Pre-Prep) learning with the specialist teachers.

Last week we celebrated the start of the year with our annual Welcome Picnic. The weather was beautiful and we had great attendance. Many families enjoyed the opportunity to meet other families and enjoy a picnic together.

Prep
Prep students have been extremely busy continuing their learning about the different parts of the brain and what the brain is responsible for. Students made representations of their brains in the form of ‘brain hats’ and enjoyed showing each other what parts of the brain they were using to undertake various movements and activities. Students then proudly demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of the brain by completing their first bubble map.

In literacy, students have been discussing and identifying the difference between a letter and a word. They have also excitedly commenced learning about various letters and the sounds these letters make as part of our Let’s Decode program. In our Maths EDI lessons, students have focused on the names and properties of 2D shapes as well as counting objects to five. During our wellbeing sessions, students have begun to discuss emotions and have been eagerly identifying and classifying what makes us feel these feelings.

What a wonderful fortnight of learning it has been!

Year 1
In Year 1 we have been learning about our body systems – the way our bodies move and how our bones work inside them. We worked collaboratively to trace our partner’s bodies and drew our skeletons on these.

In Maths we have been learning about mass and hefting objects to determine which have more weight and which have less weight. In Literacy we have been practising writing complete sentences and learning about nouns and verbs.

We all enjoyed participating in the activities for Shrove Tuesday and had lots of fun racing with pancakes before eating some with delicious toppings.
Year 2
Year 2 students have had a fabulous first few weeks back at school. Lots of learning has taken place across both classrooms. We have focused on learning all about our brains and how they develop as we learn. Along with that, we have learnt how to care for our brains and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Our reading comprehension has supported this unit as we have learnt about the digestive system and how we use healthy food for energy.

During Literacy, there has been a strong focus on learning about statements and questions. We have been developing our understanding of how to identify both these sentence types by rearranging sequences of words into a statement or a question. In Maths, students have enjoyed splitting and combining shapes as well as using our knuckles to remember how many days are in each month of the year.
Year 3
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the forty days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were “shriven” (absolved from their sins). Today, the students enjoyed completing pancake flipping races where the pancakes look much less ‘pancakey’ at the end of the races.
Year 4
Year 4 students have been learning about Energy in their Core Knowledge curriculum sessions and the different forms of energy, realising how everything has stored/potential energy. They have also been able to show energy changes using thinking maps to consolidate their understanding of this unit of learning.

In Numeracy, our focus has been on the place value of numbers, counting, and odd and even numbers. In Literacy, the students have been working on writing good sentences, as well as developing their fluency in reading and improving their comprehension of different types of texts.

The students have also enjoyed engaging in PITW games as a whole Year 4 cohort and have discussed how to identify different emotions in themselves and others during our Resilience Project sessions.

A highlight of the week was definitely eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and the Years 3 to 6 pancake races.
Year 6
Year 6 students enjoyed planning, setting up and running their Family Fun Night activities for our St Paul’s families. Students used cooperative behaviour to work within a team to successfully run an interactive, fun activity to entertain children. Their resilience shone through as quick changes of location and modifications were needed to accommodate for the sudden change in weather. It was wonderful to see the proud faces of students as they realised their hard work and preparation had paid off. A highlight this week in Year 6 was eating pancakes and competing in our annual Traralgon Junior School Pancake Races after reflecting on Shrove Tuesday during Chapel. Students were thankful for the hard work of our Support Staff who ensured all students were able to participate.
From the Music Classroom
Year 1 students have started the year revising beat circles and writing the rhythm in the beat circles of a known song ‘Bee Bee’. Ask your child to sing you the song while they keep a steady beat.

ENROLMENTS REMINDER

Dear families,

The Enrolments team would like to remind families who plan for their next child to commence at St Paul’s in 2024 that enrolment application forms should be submitted prior to the end of Term 1. As the School currently has waiting lists at a number of year levels, please submit an enrolment application at your earliest opportunity to ensure all children in your family have a place on the School’s Enrolment Register. Please note that a separate Enrolment Application is required for each child.

Online Enrolment Application is available via the following link to our website: https://stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolling-at-st-pauls/ or you can collect a hard copy Enrolment Pack from Junior School Reception.

2024 ELC families please note that, due to the evolving nature of government funding for Early Learning, we will shortly be reviewing our program offering for 2024 and will provide families with an update as soon as finalised information becomes available. In the meantime, families should be aware that St Paul’s is currently experiencing large demand for places at Pre-Kinder, Pre-Prep and Prep in 2024, and the School recommends families and any interested friends in the broader community enrol at the earliest opportunity to reserve their child’s place on the Enrolment Register for 2024 and beyond.

Please contact our Enrolments Office on 5175 0133 if you have questions about enrolment at St Paul’s, or if you would like to arrange a tour of the ELC, Junior or Secondary School.

(Current families, please note that enrolment at St Paul’s is continuous from the point of entry until the end of Year 12 and your child’s place in the next year level is automatically allocated; you do not need to submit an enrolment application for your child to transition to the next stage of their schooling at St Paul’s).

FOSP (FRIENDS OF ST PAUL’S) NEWS

We had sweltering heat, wind, thunderstorms and hail at our very first FOSP event for the year at the Junior School Family Fun Night but it did not stop the FOSP volunteers from cooking up a storm on the barbeque! A big thanks to the parent helpers who cooked and served sausages and veggie burgers, and to Mitchell and Will for helping with the hugely popular ‘Guess the Lego Bricks’ game as well as selling Zooper Doopers. It was wonderful to see so many smiling families attend the event despite the challenging weather and we thank you for supporting the FOSP barbeque.
The aim of the FOSP barbeque was to purchase a new deep freezer for the school and we are proud to announce that we have achieved this goal. This will help us and the school store icy poles, ice packs, leftover sausages and bread as well as other items as required.

Next up on the calendar is the very popular FOSP Easter Egg Hunt on 6 April. We would love to have parent helpers on the day to hide the eggs for the Secondary and Junior Schools (ELC have their own Easter Bunny) and join in the fun. Please email us at tanyarong22@gmail.com or janey_andrew1980@hotmail.com if you would like to volunteer. We will also be running a Hot Cross Bun Drive through our wonderful partners at Bakers Delight, so keep a lookout for the order forms in March.

Tanya Rong and Janelle Szkwarek
FOSP

TEAM TIMOR

Team Timor is an active co-curricular group at both our Traralgon Secondary and Warragul Secondary School. Their focus is fundraising and community awareness of this small and appreciative developing country. Team Timor is currently committed to supporting the building and running of an English Language Study Centre in Malimea Village, East Timor. Over January during breaks in the rain, the building progressed at an impressive rate, with floors yet to be laid. After discussions with Manuel, the English teacher in charge of the project and facilitator of the English program, we settled on a tiled floor to reduce dirt and dust. Once furnished, we are looking forward to seeing the building in use soon!
One of the many fundraisers Team Timor relies on to maintain this project and others, is the sale of bags of 100 per cent organic East Timor coffee, described as being “famous for its Earthy taste, low acidity, brown sugar and chocolate notes, and a smooth and creamy body”. It is delicious! We source the coffee from The Bean Scene in Warragul and make a small profit per bag.

Feel free to email either, aaheard@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au if you are keen to try this wonderful coffee and place an order. Make sure to stipulate ground (suitable for many types of brewing) or whole beans.
Cost (Cash sales only):
250 g – $14
500 g – $28
1 kg – $56

Jindivick Market
Team Timor will be selling flowers at the Jindivick Market, Saturday 4 March. We are most grateful to one of our past parents who very kindly prepares these for us, donating the flowers, her time and wonderful skills. We would love to see you there if you happen to be passing or are keen on a lovely morning at the market.
Stay tuned for more fundraising activities during the year.

Andrea Heard and Kirsten Enders
Team Timor

SPORT NEWS

Traralgon District Swimming Carnival
The Traralgon District Swimming Carnival was held on Tuesday 14 February 2023, with eight schools from the district competing for the top spot. In the end, St Paul’s came second overall.

The day was full of excitement and cheering as the swimmers competed in the pool. Students competed in the 50m: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Also teaming up for the 4x50m freestyle relay and the 4x50m medley relay, the swimmers gave it their all, in order to achieve their best results.

St Paul’s had an impressive showing, with several swimmers placing in the top three in their events.

The school’s overall result was second place, narrowly missing out on retaining the Traralgon District Swimming Shield.

We are extremely proud of our swimmers for their performance. Well done to all students.

Results – Place, Name, Time.

Event 1: Girls 9-10 50 LC Meter Freestyle
1 Mittelmajer, Avaya 45.85
3 Demetrios, Ruby 50.75
6 Dean, Abi 55.44
7 Beckman, Cassie 57.46

Event 2: Boys 9-10 50 LC Meter Freestyle
5 Wu, Dylan 49.42
12 Kaminski, Jake 1:04.74
14 Phillipou, Seb 1:07.41
15 Ke, Bosco 1:08.21

Event 3: Girls 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Freestyle
4 Richmond-Smith, Ellie 40.45
15 Hasthorpe, Georgia 58.58

Event 4: Boys 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Freestyle
2 Hector, Nik 38.42
3 Ke, Tyrone 40.53
4 Rohanachandra, Rumindu 42.47
5 Wu, Patrik 44.34

Event 5: Girls 12-13 50 LC Meter Freestyle
10 Dodd, Sophie 52.05
11 Henthorn, Frankie 52.15
12 Bugeja, Ashlyn 54.42

Event 6: Boys 12-13 50 LC Meter Freestyle
2 Tran, Jayden 12 33.33
8 Chan, Mason 12 47.60
10 Rong, Fraser 12 49.09
11 Stockil, Ryan 12 49.51

Event 7: Girls 9-10 50 LC Meter Backstroke
1 Mittelmajer, Avaya 10 52.44
4 Dalla Valle, Charli 9 59.04

Event 8: Boys 9-10 50 LC Meter Backstroke
3 Vann, Relic 10 1:05.92
7 Vercoe, Ollie 10 1:19.73

Event 9: Girls 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Backstroke
6 Demetrios, Ruby 10 1:00.23

Event 10: Boys 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Backstroke
1 Hector, Nik 11 45.65
3 Ke, Tyrone 11 49.58

Event 11: Girls 12-13 50 LC Meter Backstroke
5 Henthorn, Frankie 12 56.44
8 Dodd, Sophie 12 1:00.14

Event 12: Boys 12-13 50 LC Meter Backstroke
3 Tran, Jayden 12 44.87
5 Rong, Fraser 12 59.45

Event 13: Girls 9-10 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
2 Beckman, Cassie 10 1:08.85
— Mittelmajer, Avaya 10 DQ

Event 14: Boys 9-10 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
3 Vercoe, Ollie 101:26.36

Event 15: Girls 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
— Dean, Abi 10 DQ

Event 16: Boys 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
3 Wu, Patrik 11 56.14
4 Lambert, William 11 57.45

Event 17: Girls 12-13 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
4 Dodd, Sophie 12 1:06.67
5 Bugeja, Ashlyn 12 1:06.90

Event 18: Boys 12-13 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
1 Tran, Jayden 12 46.05
4 Chan, Mason 12 59.14

Event 19: Girls 9-10 50 LC Meter Butterfly
2 Demetrios, Ruby 10 1:09.71
— Mittelmajer, Avaya 10 DQ

Event 21: Girls 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Butterfly
4 Hasthorpe, Georgia 11 1:10.36
— Richmond-Smith, Ellie 10 DQ

Event 22: Boys 11 Year Olds 50 LC Meter Butterfly
2 Ke, Tyrone 11 1:04.76
3 Hector, Nik 11 1:11.21

Event 23: Girls 12-13 50 LC Meter Butterfly
— Dodd, Sophie 12 DQ

Event 24: Boys 12-13 50 LC Meter Butterfly
2 Tran, Jayden 12 40.93
— Chan, Mason 12 DQ

Event 25: Girls 9-10 200 LC Meter Freestyle Relay
1 St Paul’s 3:35.30
1) Dean, Abi 2) Demetrios, Ruby 3) Beckman, Cassie 4) Mittelmajer, Avaya

Event 26: Boys 9-10 200 LC Meter Freestyle Relay
3 St Paul’s 4:52.54
1) Kaminski, Jake 2) Phillipou, Seb 3) Ke, Bosco 4) Wu, Dylan

Event 28: Boys 11 Year Olds 200 LC Meter Freestyle Relay
1 St Paul’s 2:50.31
1) Ke, Tyrone 2) Rohanachandra, Rumindu 3) Wu, Patrik 4) Hector, Nik

Event 29: Girls 12-13 200 LC Meter Freestyle Relay
4 St Paul’s 3:54.54
1) Dodd, Sophie 2) Hasthorpe, Georgia 3) Bugeja, Ashlyn 4) Henthorn, Frankie

Event 30: Boys 12-13 200 LC Meter Freestyle Relay
2 St Paul’s 3:02.23
1) Chan, Mason 2) Rong, Fraser 3) Stockil, Ryan 4) Tran, Jayden

Event 31: Mixed 200 LC Meter Medley Relay
1) Mittelmajer, Avaya 2) Bugeja, Ashlyn 3) Dodd, Sophie 4) Henthorn, Frankie

Event 32: Mixed 200 LC Meter Medley Relay
2 St Paul’s 3:07.24
1) Ke, Tyrone 2) Lambert, William 3) Tran, Jayden 4) Hector, Nik

St Paul’s AGS Traralgon District Team 2023.

Avaya all smiles after her 50m Freestyle.

Jayden diving into action for his 50m Butterfly.

Cassie finishing off strong in her 50m Breaststroke.

Little Athletics Victoria Gippsland Region Carnival
The Gippsland Little Athletics Region Carnival held at Casey Fields, Cranbourne on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 February was a highly successful event for our students, with multiple personal bests achieved.

David Ogabiela, competing in the U12 division, set a new personal best record in the Triple Jump with a jump of 9.46 metres beating his previous PB by 30cm, to finish 2nd overall in the event. His brother Victor also competed in the Junior division in the 70m, 100m, Long Jump, Discus and Shot Put.

David with his Triple Jump Silver Medal and Victor with his Participation Medal.

Congratulations to David and Victor on their efforts in all events.

Billy Rilen
Sport and PE Teacher

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

The Parent Prayer Group will meet on the fourth Monday of each month this year, starting on 27 February. The group consists of a number of people from different local denominations and if you are able to make it then we would love to see you there. The group meets between 9:00 am and 9:30 am in the Traralgon Junior School staff room. Contact the School Chaplain, Glen Treble for more details gtreble@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

FINANCE NEWS

Private Car Conveyance Allowance
Families driving students more than 4.8 kilometres to attend St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School may be eligible to receive a conveyance allowance. For further information on the eligibility criteria and application process, please refer to: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/conveyance-allowance/policy

Eligible families applying for the car conveyance allowance will have funds credited to their fee account during the year. If the fee account has been paid in full or is on a direct debit arrangement, any allocation will show as a credit on the following year’s invoice.

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. $125 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $225 per year paid for eligible secondary school students. Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student. For more information and to download the application form please refer to: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/resources

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately. The CSEF program for 2023 closes at the end of Term 2. All forms must be received by 16 June 2023 to be processed.

For parents who received CSEF at the school in 2022 (and the student/s are still enrolled in 2023), the school will ‘copy’ the application across from 2022 to 2023 on the CSEF system. The CSEF system will automatically validate the parent’s eligibility with Centrelink.

Annual Fee Account
Families have recently received via email an annual fee account for 2023. If you have any queries in relation to your annual fee account, please contact Ms Nicole Giddings on 5623 5833. As detailed on the second page of the account, payment options are:

Direct Debit
All families are encouraged to participate in the school’s direct debit payment arrangement. We offer fortnightly instalments (twenty-two payments) that commenced 10 February and monthly instalments (ten payments) that commenced 15 February 2023. Other direct debit payment dates are also available by arrangement.

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

Please find the direct debit form on the school’s website at this link: https://www.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Direct-Debit-Request-Form.pdf

Instalments (due dates)
Instalment 1 10 February 2023
Instalment 2 7 April 2023
Instalment 3 2 June 2023
Instalment 4 11 August 2023

OSHC NEWS

Decompressinf after a school day is so important for children. The last two weeks we have been offered and trialled different activities that help our children to calm their bodies and minds. Our sensory and mindfulness tub has been very popular as it provides opportunities for them to explore multiple senses including sight, sound, touch and smell.

Cath Stoney
Director, Club House Boot Camp

Grammarian Issue 2, 24 February 2023

Traralgon Secondary School

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mrs Leonie Clark

Giant Swings, Metacognition and Growth Mindset
As I followed the buses home from Camp Rumbug on Friday afternoon, I could not help but reflect upon the activities of the day and the astonishing acts of courage and persistence I had witnessed throughout my visit to Year 7 Camp.
I observed students with sustained focus and perseverance pushing themselves to solve initiative puzzles, with reflection and the employment of metacognitive strategies, they worked together as a team. I witnessed students jump at the opportunity to be suspended high in the air on the giant swing while others took it one step at a time, slowly increasing their height at each attempt and successfully conquering what had at first, seemed to them, a complete impossibility!

The giant swing as well as many other activities on the camp are the perfect metaphoric representation of a Growth Mindset. The persistence and courage to have another go, allowing space in between attempts at difficult or challenging problems to reflect upon understandings (metacognition), change an approach and extend themselves towards eventual mastery. Climbing higher and higher with each attempt until the greatest heights possible are mastered, conquering the task and ‘smashing’ any previously self-imposed limits placed on themselves.

“A Growth Mindset is an understanding that you’re capable of growth. An understanding that while you may not currently have the abilities to meet a challenge successfully, you can develop those abilities.”

What we see in someone with a Growth Mindset is a willingness to take on challenges, put in the effort and accept and learn from mistakes. They approach problems they do not know the answers to with confidence because they expect to eventually succeed. Their confidence is born of the knowledge that they have developed abilities before and succeeded at other challenges. https://mindfulbydesign.com/

As I reminded our students this week during our Secondary School assembly you have to step into the activity, learning task and educational space to ‘claim your education for yourself’. You have to step into the safety harness of the Giant Swing, agree to be clipped into the supporting ropes and take a leap of faith to move a tiny bit beyond your comfort zone.

Growth Mindset is an understanding that you are capable of growth. A belief that while you may not currently have the abilities to meet a challenge successfully, you can, with a spoonful of courage, a commitment to the learning process and a belief that you will and can eventually succeed with the support of your teachers, develop the ability to conquer each terrifying GIANT SWING.
YOU CAN AND WILL CONQUER IT! With a spoonful of courage, reflection and persistence every student can harness the power of a positive Growth Mindset to tackle each GIANT SWING!

References: https://mindfulbydesign.com/

Year 7 2024 Information Evening
We are looking forward to hosting our 2024 Year 7 Traralgon Secondary School Information Evening on Tuesday 7 March 2023 at 6:00 pm. All interested families are most welcome to come along, meet our staff and tour the facilities at our rapidly expanding campus. Registrations for new or continuing families can be completed on the school website by following this link https://www.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/events/year-7-information-evening-traralgon-campus/

ySafe and Formal Welcome to St Paul’s Evening – Current 2023 Year 7 Families
A number of current Year 7 families attended the online presentations both of Session 1 and Session 2 on Thursday 16 February. Kelly Longworth from ySafe presented topical information in relation to social media and providing safe access to the online space for children. I certainly learnt a great deal in the session about some concerning new negative behaviours that are occurring online in relation to Doxing, Distrack, Polling and Insult Tagging. If you have not already done so, I recommend a visit to the ySafe Safety Hub on MyStPauls. The Safety Hub https://stpaulsags.onlinesafetyhub.com.au/ contains over 300 app and game reviews as well as relevant blogs and articles to assist in the setting of parental controls and advice for managing difficult conversations with children. The ySafe session was closely followed by the formal welcome to Year 7 2023 session.

We have had some lovely feedback from our families about the evening and we are thrilled that our families found both the ySafe session and the formal ‘Welcome to Year 7 2023’ session informative. Please continue to reach out to the Year 7 Mentors, we warmly welcome your feedback, as well as any questions you may have in navigating the transition to Secondary School.

Year 7 and Year 10 Immunisations
All Year 7 and Year 10 students who have returned their immunisation permission forms will be immunised at school on Wednesday 8 March. We suggest that students wear their Physical Education uniforms for the day, as this assists with their level of comfort and makes access a little easier for the medical professionals when administering the immunisations to your children. Please contact Kerryn Doble (kdoble@stpaulsags.edu.vic.au) in reception should you have any concerns about the planned immunisations for your child.

Labour Day Holiday and Support Services
We imagine that all of the students are looking forward to a lovely long weekend on the weekend of Saturday 11 March to Monday 13 March inclusive. Whilst the school counselling team does not provide support over the school holidays or long weekends, should you find that your child needs help, your child is always able to speak to someone at Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), Headspace (1800 650 890), Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636 ). If you are after advice as a parent, you can also utilise these services, or call Parentline on 13 22 89.

Consent2Go Reminder
All Year 7 to Year 10 families have been invited to update their child/ren records at the beginning of the year. Consent2Go is used to collect and keep up to date with each student’s medical and emergency contact records. It will also allow you to update photo/video permissions, dietary requirements, and parent education and occupation details that are required by the government.

Consent2Go is a digital solution that easily enables you to keep your child’s health records accurate and provide consent for school events, excursions and camps in a secure and timely manner. Parents or guardians were prompted by an email with a secure link from which they can check and update their child’s medical information and other details. The email will be from St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School.

In 2023 the school will continue to use Consent2Go for all camps and excursion permissions. We hope that all families will find this a much more convenient way to receive this information and to give consent if it is required.

Of course, at any time, if your child has a change in any medical circumstances that the school should know about, please call us and we will send you a link to update immediately.

Leonie Clark
Head of Traralgon Secondary School