In this issue

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mr Brad McCabe.

Homework Club
Homework Club runs every Thursday after school from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in Room 1.   This is open to all students from Years 7 to 10.  Homework Club offers students a quiet environment to complete weekly homework, get ahead in assignments and to prepare for tests.  Staff are available to assist students with these tasks – where appropriate for the subject area.  Some students attend every week, others attend when they need to.  All are welcome!

Year 8 Science – Heart Dissection
This week the Year 8s were testing their dissection skills as they investigated the different chambers of a lambs heart in Science.  Students were able to explore and identify the left atrium and right atrium and ventricles, superior vena cava, and recognise where deoxygenated and oxygenated blood flows.  This now concludes their Biological Science unit.

Year 8 Camp
Year 8 camp was at Banksia Peninsula, Gippsland Lakes.  It was four days of spectacular weather and outdoor conditions.  Students were able to participate in sailing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain bike riding and an overnight bush walk.  Thank you to Garry Williams, Glen Treble, Chris Ambrozy and Jennifer Witney for supporting our students so wonderfully during the camp.  They were all glowing in their praise of the students’ energy, enthusiasm and behaviour.

Educating Students on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Turning on the TV or radio, scrolling through social media and out and about in public, we are all bombarded with updates on COVID-19/the coronavirus.  Children and adolescents are more susceptible to taking information at face value and can often confuse opinions with facts.  Hearing and seeing this information can lead to them feeling anxious, panicked and as though their world is no longer safe.
Here is some general advice for you as parents, to protect your child’s mental wellbeing during this time:

•  Do not avoid the topic:  Your child will be hearing about COVID-19 from peers at school and will be seeing the effects of this when they are out in public.  They may have misconceptions which can cause unnecessary anxiety.  Providing your child with age appropriate information (have a look at the resources created by the Child Mind Institute, UNICEF and DHHS) in a reassuring tone can help to relieve this anxiety.  Remind your child that COVID-19 is less common than the flu and usually affects children in a way that is similar to the common cold.

•  Stay calm:  Children and adolescents respond to how you act and speak just as much as they respond to what you say.  If you are feeling anxious or frustrated by the situation, your child is likely to pick up on this.  Take a moment to gather your thoughts and take some deep breaths before talking to your child about COVID-19.

•  Encourage your child to be proactive:  Providing your child with proactive solutions can enable them to feel empowered and as though the situation is under control.

•  Teach them to wash their hands correctly:  Make sure your child is using soap and water each time they wash their hands and that they dry their hands with a hand dryer or paper towel.  Hand washing should last for twenty seconds, which is the same length of time as singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice.

•  Teach them how to sneeze correctly:  Encourage your child to sneeze into a tissue, place this straight into a bin and then wash their hands.  If no tissues are available, they can sneeze into their elbow.

•  Encourage social distancing:  Explain to your child that sharing drink bottles and food is a way that germs can be passed on easily.  Encourage them to avoid non-essential contact with others.  Make the conversation light by watching some videos of people foot tapping instead of hand-shaking.

•  Keep the conversation positive:  It is easy to feel disappointed when planned events, family holidays and co-curricular activities are cancelled.  However, focusing on these negatives is likely to promote feelings of worry and anxiety in your child.  Instead, remind your child that people all over Australia and the entire world are working together to manage the virus and these cancellations are one way that we are trying to keep everyone safe and healthy.  Remind them of all the other things people are doing (setting up extra clinics for people who may be sick or working on a cure for example) to keep the focus positive and future focused.

•  Encourage your child to speak up:  Remind your child that there are people around them who are there to listen if they want to talk.  Allow them the opportunity to ask questions and answer these in a calm and reassuring tone.  Encourage your child to speak to you or a member of staff if they are feeling unwell and remind them that we are all here to keep them safe.  If your child is feeling anxious, encourage them to speak to a trusted adult or call Kids Helpline together on 1800 55 1800.

•  Stick to routine:  Predictability helps children and adolescents to feel safe and secure.  Try and keep your child engaged in as many of their regular activities as possible (including school) and ensure that their regular meal and bed times are observed.  If your child is unable to attend school due to self-quarantine requirements, try to observe the structure of a regular school day (working/studying from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm, with a break for morning tea and lunch).

•  Monitor technology usage:  With information about COVID-19 all over the newspapers, radio, TV and social media, it may be wise to supervise your child’s access to these platforms.  This way you can have discussions about any information they may read/see, allowing you to quickly correct any misconceptions and help them to separate fact from opinion.  If you are unable to supervise this use, it may be wise to limit your child’s access to technology.
Shannon Arfaras – School Psychologist

Brad McCabe
Head of Traralgon Secondary School

WHAT’S ON IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL

MARCH
27 March  End of Term 1, 2:30 pm finish

TRARALGON SECONDARY SCHOOL HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

Monday 30 March to Wednesday 1 April  Open, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday 2 April to 13 April  Closed
Tuesday 14 April  Regular office hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND UPCOMING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

As the Annual General Meeting of the School Company draws near, we would like to remind our school community that anyone wishing to take a greater interest in the strategic direction of the school should consider becoming a member of the School Company and possibly even a Director on the School Board.

The Board has chosen to call for Expressions of Interest.  Expressions of Interest may come from those within the school community and beyond.  A strong Board will always include a balance of those with a close connection to the school and others who may not be school parents but who bring expertise and experience on a range of matters essential for good governance. This process will enable the Board to consider interested candidates that will strengthen the skill set of the Board.

Anyone interested in the opportunity to serve the school as a Director of the Board, in the first instance, should contact the Company Secretary, Mrs Leah Young on 5623 5833 or email companysecretary@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au  

Expressions of Interest should be received by Tuesday 14 April 2020.

The Annual General Meeting of St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is to be held on Wednesday 27 May 2020.  Persons interested in applying for new membership of the Company can obtain an Application for Company Membership form from the School’s website or contact Mrs Carol Reid at creid@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au  Applications should be received by 22 April 2020 for consideration at the April meeting of the Board in preparation of this year’s Annual General Meeting.

DAV DEBATING DELIGHTS

On Thursday 5 March, eighteen students and two staff travelled to St Margaret’s School in Berwick for the first round of DAV Debating for 2020.  Sharing a bus with the Warragul Secondary School debaters, afforded a shared experience and reinforced the school spirit that exists between the two campuses – in fact, we had our very first combined Warragul/Traralgon Secondary School C-Grade team competing valiantly and coming away with a victory!  As always, our students conducted themselves beautifully and delighted in a number of wins and near misses over the course of the evening.

The coordinating staff would also like to take this opportunity to request that parents provide the school with written notification prior to the event should they arrange for their child to be collected by another parent upon return that evening.  This will help staff to ensure the safety of all students in their care.

Thank you to all involved as we look forward to Round 2 on 16 April.

Donna Byrne
Director of Learning and Teaching – Traralgon Secondary School
Classroom Teacher – English and Humanities

ELITE SPORTS PERFORMERS PROGRAM

This program was started in 2012 in recognition of the high number of secondary students at St Paul’s who were competing in their chosen sport at an elite level.  Many of the students in this program must train between fifteen and thirty hours a week, some of them must also train before and after school, as well as weekends.  Students competing at a high level need a greater flexibility of curriculum as they can lose face to face teaching time as a result of Melbourne based training/competitions as well as interstate and overseas sporting commitments.

This program aims to assist our elite student athletes as they seek to balance their educational demands with their sporting commitments.  The wellness and stress levels of ESP students are monitored weekly through the online software program, iNSPIRE.  The ESP Program also offers flexible curriculum and provides subject counselling.

Sandra Timmer-Arends
Head of Sport – Traralgon

NEW STAFF PROFILE – KATE MCCULLEY
EARLY LEARNING EDUCATOR, ST PAUL’S TRARALGON ELC

Kate McCulley joined St Paul’s this year as one of our ELC teachers at our Early Learning Centre at the Traralgon Campus. As a St Paul’s Alumna (Class of 2000) Kate is no stranger to St Paul’s. We asked her a few questions about her memories as a student and what she has been up to since leaving school.

“I graduated from St Paul’s in 2000, however, I’m still trying to process that it’s been quite that long! I started at St Paul’s in 1999 and soon realised that the school and culture was a very good fit for me. I have some wonderful memories and fitted a lot into my time there.

My greatest memories were of being ‘Bottom the Weaver’ in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, making new friends who strove for excellence in their areas of interest, enjoying my time and friendships on the school bus (I’m delighted to be teaching the son of one of these ‘bus friends’ this year!) and the responsibilities of being a prefect. Receiving a Top ACT for VCE Drama with Lucy Forge, Abby Foster and Luke Vesty and performing at the Melbourne Concert Hall was a highlight and an opportunity where we were proud to represent ourselves and the school. Being the lead with my friend Nick Kong in the school musical “Applause” was significant for me, although a big undertaking in Year 12 and I occasionally still get nightmares that I’m on stage and don’t remember any of the lines!”

After Year 12, Kate went to Melbourne University to study Arts and then the following year she went to the University of Ballarat Arts Academy to study her Bachelor of Theatre Performance. “After so many years of intensive acting (and waitressing!) I began studying Early Childhood Education at RMIT in 2006 after being a children’s performer to make ends meet for some time.”

Kate says that she feels fortunate to have found a vocation that gives her great personal and professional satisfaction.

“Four and five year olds make for a very generous audience! I’ve had extensive training in the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education including being an Australian delegate on a study tour to Italy in 2011. I have worked for the past ten years with Latrobe City Council Preschools where I’ve enjoyed developing programs such as an extensive animal therapy program and most recently Latrobe City’s first weekly Bush Kinder program based at Traralgon South Preschool, of which I’m very proud. I believe greatly in the need for children to experience Bush Kinder for their holistic development and I am excited to have the opportunity to explore the ‘Wetlands Kinder’ here at the Traralgon Campus of St Paul’s with my students and ELC colleagues. Embedding Aboriginal culture and education into our program is very important to me and I’m fortunate to have some good friends to learn from and to support me in doing this. I’ve valued and appreciated the opportunities I’ve had to teach children with additional needs and have become a better teacher (and person) by how much these children have taught me. I’m grateful to the many hundreds of families who have allowed me to be a part of their child’s journey to formal schooling.

There is the sense of coming a full circle as two decades later I have come to work at St Paul’s and my son starts his journey at three year old kinder here. At my New Staff Induction it was lovely to see many of my former teachers framed on the wall at the Warragul Campus, especially my favourite, Mrs Cutler/D’Arcy! I was also overjoyed to find Ms Sinclair in the staffroom, who I met backstage during “Applause” in her first year of teaching at St Paul’s!”

Kate thinks that she is a very different person from the one that left in 2000, but she senses that the heart and ethos of the school hasn’t changed a bit.

“There is still a culture that values and promotes kindness, innovation and the consistent strive for excellence.

The biggest difference I’ve noticed is the laptop is much lighter these days!”

MATHS CLUB

Maths Club is a great opportunity for students to use this time to receive Maths support and extension, complete homework tasks, seek an additional lesson on a particular Maths topic or simply work with other students who share a similar love of Mathematics, with extension activities provided as required.  All students are welcome to attend.
When and where:
Tuesday Lunchtime – Years 7 to 10 in Room 11
Thursday Lunchtime – Years 7 to 10 in Room 11

Victoria Wilson
Mathematics Teacher

FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE

Annual Fee Account
Families have been receiving monthly statements via email to keep them informed of fee balances.  If you have any queries in relation to your annual fee account, please contact Mr Peter Lees 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 for fortnightly or monthly instalments.  Should families wish to commence payment by Direct Debit, please contact Mr Peter Lees, accountsreceivable@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au as soon as possible to set up an arrangement.

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

•  Instalments (due dates):
Instalment 1 – 7 February 2020
Instalment 2 – 3 April 2020
Instalment 3 – 5 June 2020
Instalment 4 – 14 August 2020

The second instalment is due on Friday 3 April.

Sundry Accounts
Term 1 sundry invoices for any co-curricular activities such as Performing Arts and VET Courses will be issued via email by the end of term.   These invoices have fourteen day payment terms.

COFFEE

Would you like a bag of rich, smooth East Timor Coffee?  $3 from every bag sold through the school goes towards our fundraising to build new classrooms for Ponilala Village School.  Growing and exporting coffee beans is also a sustainable and vital part of the Ermera district economy, where Ponilala is situated.  Your purchase will not only taste great but contribute to a worthy cause.
Bags of plunger, filter or beans can be purchased for $12.  Contact Andrea Heard aaheard@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or Kirsten Enders kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au to place an order.

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

Well it has most certainly been a strange few weeks to say the least since our last newsletter, not only in our school community but all around the world.  As you would already be aware, we have either cancelled or postponed many events, however, we will not be shutting down unless we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our school community or we are asked to close by the Department of Education.  We are well prepared for a shutdown and to assist any students currently working from home for any reason.  We are also very grateful to our school parents for keeping children home who have colds or other illnesses.  We encourage families with any concerns to maintain contact with the school.  We have a large and very supportive community and we are grateful that everyone is pulling together in what is a very unusual time.

A reminder of what alterations have been made for the final week of Term 1:

Monday 23 March  Years 3 to 6 Assembly/Chapel  Cancelled
Tuesday 24 March  Year 6 Community Service  Cancelled
Wednesday 25 March  Parent Teacher Interviews  *Phone interviews only
RoboCup Introduction Workshop  Cancelled
Thursday 26 March  Parent Teacher Interviews  *Phone interviews only
FOSP Special Lunch Deal  Postponed
SRC Dress Up Day (Themes per classroom)  Proceeding as planned
Friday 27 March  Prep Excursion to Farm World  Cancelled
Prep to Year 6 Easter Service  Cancelled

* Face-to-face Parent Teacher Interviews have been cancelled, however, we would still like to offer parents the chance to speak to staff over the phone at the designated time that has already been selected.  Should you not wish to receive a call please cancel your scheduled time via your booking confirmation email.  Please contact the office should you require assistance.

To assist with the welfare of our students, below is some information from our School Psychologist, Shannon Arfaras, which families may find helpful.

Turning on the TV or radio, scrolling through social media and out and about in public, we are all bombarded with updates on COVID-19/the coronavirus.  Children and adolescents are more susceptible to taking information at face value and can often confuse opinions with facts.  Hearing and seeing this information can lead to them feeling anxious, panicked and as though their world is no longer safe.
Here is some general advice for you as parents, to protect your child’s mental wellbeing during this time:

•  Do not avoid the topic:  Your child will be hearing about COVID-19 from peers at school and will be seeing the effects of this when they are out in public.  They may have misconceptions which can cause unnecessary anxiety.  Providing your child with age appropriate information (have a look at the resources created by the Child Mind Institute, UNICEF and DHHS) in a reassuring tone can help to relieve this anxiety.  Remind your child that COVID-19 is less common than the flu and usually affects children in a way that is similar to the common cold.

•  Stay calm:  Children and adolescents respond to how you act and speak just as much as they respond to what you say.  If you are feeling anxious or frustrated by the situation, your child is likely to pick up on this.  Take a moment to gather your thoughts and take some deep breaths before talking to your child about COVID-19.

•  Encourage your child to be proactive:  Providing your child with proactive solutions can enable them to feel empowered and as though the situation is under control.

•  Teach them to wash their hands correctly:  Make sure your child is using soap and water each time they wash their hands and that they dry their hands with a hand dryer or paper towel.  Hand washing should last for twenty seconds, which is the same length of time as singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice.

•  Teach them how to sneeze correctly:  Encourage your child to sneeze into a tissue, place this straight into a bin and then wash their hands.  If no tissues are available, they can sneeze into their elbow.

•  Encourage social distancing:  Explain to your child that sharing drink bottles and food is a way that germs can be passed on easily.  Encourage them to avoid non-essential contact with others.  Make the conversation light by watching some videos of people foot tapping instead of hand-shaking.

•  Keep the conversation positive:  It is easy to feel disappointed when planned events, family holidays and co-curricular activities are cancelled.  However, focusing on these negatives is likely to promote feelings of worry and anxiety in your child.  Instead, remind your child that people all over Australia and the entire world are working together to manage the virus and these cancellations are one way that we are trying to keep everyone safe and healthy.  Remind them of all the other things people are doing (setting up extra clinics for people who may be sick or working on a cure for example) to keep the focus positive and future focused.

•  Encourage your child to speak up:  Remind your child that there are people around them who are there to listen if they want to talk.  Allow them the opportunity to ask questions and answer these in a calm and reassuring tone.  Encourage your child to speak to you or a member of staff if they are feeling unwell and remind them that we are all here to keep them safe.  If your child is feeling anxious, encourage them to speak to a trusted adult or call Kids Helpline together on 1800 55 1800.

•  Stick to routine:  Predictability helps children and adolescents to feel safe and secure.  Try and keep your child engaged in as many of their regular activities as possible (including school) and ensure that their regular meal and bed times are observed.  If your child is unable to attend school due to self-quarantine requirements, try to observe the structure of a regular school day (working/studying from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm, with a break for morning tea and lunch).

•  Monitor technology usage:  With information about COVID-19 all over the newspapers, radio, TV and social media, it may be wise to supervise your child’s access to these platforms.  This way you can have discussions about any information they may read/see, allowing you to quickly correct any misconceptions and help them to separate fact from opinion.  If you are unable to supervise this use, it may be wise to limit your child’s access to technology.
Shannon Arfaras – School Psychologist

Classrooms relocated
On a brighter note, work has continued on the relocation of the Year 1 and Year 3F classrooms and toilet block and this now complete.  Hopefully, all going well, classes will be moving back into these rooms ready for the commencement of Term 2.

State Swimming
Our congratulations to the following students who made it through to the State Swimming Championships:
Shae Nippers (11 y/o girls) 1st Backstroke; 1st Freestyle relay
Makaylen Di Sisto (11 y/o girls) 1st Breaststroke; 1st Freestyle relay
Ayvah Dennis (11 y/o girls) 1st Freestyle relay
Matilda Nave (11 y/o girls) 1st Freestyle relay
This is a wonderful achievement and these girls should be extremely proud of their efforts throughout the swimming carnivals.

Farwell Mrs Cosgrove
We thank Mrs Cosgrove for filling in for Mr Faumuina while he has been on long service leave this term. Shawna is heading back to the USA with her family and we wish her a safe journey home.

This will be the final Grammarian for the term and should we get through to the end of next week, a reminder that we finish at 2:20 pm on Friday.  I wish everyone a safe and happy break.  Please keep an eye out for further correspondence over the holidays with regards to the commencement of Term 2.

Please take care and look after each other during these uncertain times for everyone.

Rowan van Raay
Head of Warragul Junior School

WHAT’S ON IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

MARCH
25 March  Parent Teacher Interviews  *Phone interviews only
26 March  Parent Teacher Interviews  *Phone interviews only
SRC Dress Up Day (Themes per classroom)  Proceeding as planned
27 March  End of Term 1, 2:20 pm finish

APRIL
13 April  Easter Monday Public Holiday
14 April  Term 2 commences

Please note the Junior School office hours over the upcoming holidays

Monday 30 March to Friday 3 April:  OPEN 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Monday 6 April to Monday 13 April:  CLOSED
Tuesday 14 April:  Term 2 commences for staff and students
*subject to change

BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND UPCOMING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

As the Annual General Meeting of the School Company draws near, we would like to remind our school community that anyone wishing to take a greater interest in the strategic direction of the School should consider becoming a member of the School Company and possibly even a Director on the School Board.

The Board has chosen to call for Expressions of Interest.  Expressions of Interest may come from those within the school community and beyond.  A strong Board will always include a balance of those with a close connection to the School and others who may not be school parents but who bring expertise and experience on a range of matters essential for good governance. This process will enable the Board to consider interested candidates that will strengthen the skill set of the Board.

Anyone interested in the opportunity to serve the school as a Director of the Board, in the first instance, should contact the Company Secretary, Mrs Leah Young on 5623 5833 or email companysecretary@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au  

Expressions of Interest should be received by Tuesday 14 April 2020.

The Annual General Meeting of St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is to be held on Wednesday 27 May 2020.  Persons interested in applying for new membership of the Company can obtain an Application for Company Membership form from the School’s website or contact Mrs Carol Reid at creid@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au  Applications should be received by 22 April 2020 for consideration at the April meeting of the Board in preparation of this year’s Annual General Meeting.

FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE

Annual Fee Account
Families have been receiving monthly statements via email to keep them informed of fee balances.  If you have any queries in relation to your annual fee account, please contact Mr Peter Lees 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 for fortnightly or monthly instalments.  Should families wish to commence payment by Direct Debit, please contact Mr Peter Lees, accountsreceivable@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au as soon as possible to set up an arrangement.

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

•  Instalments (due dates):
Instalment 1 – 7 February 2020
Instalment 2 – 3 April 2020
Instalment 3 – 5 June 2020
Instalment 4 – 14 August 2020

The second instalment is due on Friday 3 April.

Sundry Accounts
Term 1 sundry invoices for any co-curricular activities such as Performing Arts and VET Courses will be issued via email by the end of term.   These invoices have fourteen day payment terms.

COFFEE

Would you like a bag of rich, smooth East Timor Coffee?  $3 from every bag sold through the school goes towards our fundraising to build new classrooms for Ponilala Village School.  Growing and exporting coffee beans is also a sustainable and vital part of the Ermera district economy, where Ponilala is situated.  Your purchase will not only taste great but contribute to a worthy cause.
Bags of plunger, filter or beans can be purchased for $12.  Contact Andrea Heard aaheard@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or Kirsten Enders kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au to place an order.

PERFORMING ARTS – NEW DANCE STUDIO OPEN

We are very excited to announce the completion of our new Dance Studio in the old ‘Curves’ space at the Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium.

Dance classes have commenced on Monday evenings under the guidance of our newly appointed and amazingly enthusiastic Dance Teacher, Jade Cameron.  Group and individual lessons are available for Warragul Junior and Warragul Secondary School students.

Application forms for Co-curricular Dance can be located on the MyStPauls portal.  Click on Co-curricular, Performing Arts, Performing Arts – Warragul and look under Permission Forms and Other Information.  Alternatively, hard copies are available from the Performing Arts Office in the DT Parker Centre.

Please contact the Performing Arts office on 5622 6358 or via email performingartsoffice@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au should you have any further queries.

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

We have sent a lot of correspondence in the last few days and I want to thank our families for their support and care as we navigate through unusual circumstances.  The communication thus far has focused on the processes we have in place and logistics but I wanted to use this edition of the Grammarian to turn our focus to student wellbeing.  Our school psychologist, Shannon Arfaras, has kindly put together a helpful list of tips and advice for parents.  We are trying to maintain the sense of routine and normalcy for our students at school and hope that some of these suggestions will be of assistance to you at home.

Turning on the TV or radio, scrolling through social media and out and about in public, we are all bombarded with updates on COVID-19/the coronavirus.  Children and adolescents are more susceptible to taking information at face value and can often confuse opinions with facts.  Hearing and seeing this information can lead to them feeling anxious, panicked and as though their world is no longer safe.
Here is some general advice for you as parents, to protect your child’s mental wellbeing during this time:

•  Do not avoid the topic:  Your child will be hearing about COVID-19 from peers at school and will be seeing the effects of this when they are out in public.  They may have misconceptions which can cause unnecessary anxiety.  Providing your child with age appropriate information (have a look at the resources created by the Child Mind Institute, UNICEF and DHHS) in a reassuring tone can help to relieve this anxiety.  Remind your child that COVID-19 is less common than the flu and usually affects children in a way that is similar to the common cold.

•  Stay calm:  Children and adolescents respond to how you act and speak just as much as they respond to what you say.  If you are feeling anxious or frustrated by the situation, your child is likely to pick up on this.  Take a moment to gather your thoughts and take some deep breaths before talking to your child about COVID-19.

•  Encourage your child to be proactive:  Providing your child with proactive solutions can enable them to feel empowered and as though the situation is under control.

•  Teach them to wash their hands correctly:  Make sure your child is using soap and water each time they wash their hands and that they dry their hands with a hand dryer or paper towel.  Hand washing should last for twenty seconds, which is the same length of time as singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice.

•  Teach them how to sneeze correctly:  Encourage your child to sneeze into a tissue, place this straight into a bin and then wash their hands.  If no tissues are available, they can sneeze into their elbow.

•  Encourage social distancing:  Explain to your child that sharing drink bottles and food is a way that germs can be passed on easily.  Encourage them to avoid non-essential contact with others.  Make the conversation light by watching some videos of people foot tapping instead of hand-shaking.

•  Keep the conversation positive:  It is easy to feel disappointed when planned events, family holidays and co-curricular activities are cancelled.  However, focusing on these negatives is likely to promote feelings of worry and anxiety in your child.  Instead, remind your child that people all over Australia and the entire world are working together to manage the virus and these cancellations are one way that we are trying to keep everyone safe and healthy.  Remind them of all the other things people are doing (setting up extra clinics for people who may be sick or working on a cure for example) to keep the focus positive and future focused.

•  Encourage your child to speak up:  Remind your child that there are people around them who are there to listen if they want to talk.  Allow them the opportunity to ask questions and answer these in a calm and reassuring tone.  Encourage your child to speak to you or a member of staff if they are feeling unwell and remind them that we are all here to keep them safe.  If your child is feeling anxious, encourage them to speak to a trusted adult or call Kids Helpline together on 1800 55 1800.

•  Stick to routine:  Predictability helps children and adolescents to feel safe and secure.  Try and keep your child engaged in as many of their regular activities as possible (including school) and ensure that their regular meal and bed times are observed.  If your child is unable to attend school due to self-quarantine requirements, try to observe the structure of a regular school day (working/studying from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm, with a break for morning tea and lunch).

•  Monitor technology usage:  With information about COVID-19 all over the newspapers, radio, TV and social media, it may be wise to supervise your child’s access to these platforms.  This way you can have discussions about any information they may read/see, allowing you to quickly correct any misconceptions and help them to separate fact from opinion.  If you are unable to supervise this use, it may be wise to limit your child’s access to technology.
Shannon Arfaras – School Psychologist

Ms Laura Butterworth
Head of Warragul Secondary School

WHAT’S ON IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL

MARCH
27 March  End of Term 1, 2:30 pm finish

WARRAGUL SECONDARY SCHOOL RECEPTION HOURS – SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Monday 30 March  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Tuesday 31 March  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Wednesday 1 April  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday 2 April  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Friday 3 April  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Monday 6 April  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Tuesday 7 April  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Wednesday 8 April  10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday 9 April  Closed – Maundy Thursday
Friday 10 April  Closed – Good Friday
Monday 13 April  Closed – Easter Monday

BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND UPCOMING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

As the Annual General Meeting of the School Company draws near, we would like to remind our school community that anyone wishing to take a greater interest in the strategic direction of the School should consider becoming a member of the School Company and possibly even a Director on the School Board.

The Board has chosen to call for Expressions of Interest.  Expressions of Interest may come from those within the school community and beyond.  A strong Board will always include a balance of those with a close connection to the School and others who may not be school parents but who bring expertise and experience on a range of matters essential for good governance. This process will enable the Board to consider interested candidates that will strengthen the skill set of the Board.

Anyone interested in the opportunity to serve the school as a Director of the Board, in the first instance, should contact the Company Secretary, Mrs Leah Young on 5623 5833 or email companysecretary@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au  

Expressions of Interest should be received by Tuesday 14 April 2020.

The Annual General Meeting of St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is to be held on Wednesday 27 May 2020.  Persons interested in applying for new membership of the Company can obtain an Application for Company Membership form from the School’s website or contact Mrs Carol Reid at creid@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au  Applications should be received by 22 April 2020 for consideration at the April meeting of the Board in preparation of this year’s Annual General Meeting.

YEAR 10 NEWS

The Year 10s have had a busy Term 1.  Amongst all of the learning that has taken place, Year 10 students have also been involved in excursions, SEISA summer sports, debating and music performances.

Deb Cumming (Head of Careers) has also spent some time with the Year 10s and most recently spoke to them about the development of their ‘soft skills’.  There are a number of opportunities coming up for students to develop their soft skills and the informative video that Mrs Cumming showed to the students last week helped to explain exactly what soft skills are and why they are so important.

Work experience proves, year after year, to be a very valuable experience for senior students and is a great opportunity to start developing soft skills.  Students are reminded that it is important to fill in the green work experience form ASAP so that the Careers office can help to secure work experience placement.

Also, keep an eye on the MyStPauls ‘Year 10 information page’ as well as the Careers Newsletter, both of which advertise all of the different opportunities available to students.  It was very heartening to see so many Year 10 students interested in finding out more about the Live4Life Program in a session conducted by Tanarly Hood from the Baw Baw Shire and there are two other programs currently on offer that have been introduced to the students, with more information to be found on MyStPauls.

Age Percy
Head of Year 10

YEAR 8 CAMP

Last week Year 8 students from Warragul and Traralgon went on their Outdoor Education Camp to Lakewood Park at Banksia Peninsula on the Gippsland Lakes.  The camp was run by Halls Outdoor Education group who also run the Year 9 Outdoor Education Program.  All one hundred and forty students headed off on Tuesday morning excited about the week ahead and also the magnificent weather that was forecast.  The four days were full of fun outdoor activities that included stand-up paddleboarding, sea kayaking, sailing, mountain bike riding, team initiatives, beach games and hiking.  The camp has been designed to be a stepping stone for the Year 9 Outdoor Education Camp and is a mixture of fun and challenge.  The weather turned out better than the forecast predicted, it was perfect!  Students returned on Friday exhausted but all had a very enjoyable camp.

Scott Armour
Head of Year 8

FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE

Annual Fee Account
Families have been receiving monthly statements via email to keep them informed of fee balances.  If you have any queries in relation to your annual fee account, please contact Mr Peter Lees 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 for fortnightly or monthly instalments.  Should families wish to commence payment by Direct Debit, please contact Mr Peter Lees, accountsreceivable@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au as soon as possible to set up an arrangement.

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

•  Instalments (due dates):
Instalment 1 – 7 February 2020
Instalment 2 – 3 April 2020
Instalment 3 – 5 June 2020
Instalment 4 – 14 August 2020

The second instalment is due on Friday 3 April.

Sundry Accounts
Term 1 sundry invoices for any co-curricular activities such as Performing Arts and VET Courses will be issued via email by the end of term.   These invoices have fourteen day payment terms.

MATHS SUPPORT

TUTORIAL CLASSES
Tuesday – Years 7 and 8, lunchtime, YS1
Wednesday – Years 9 and 10, lunchtime, RM6
Wednesday – VCE classes, lunchtime, RM6

MATHS SUPPORT SESSIONS
A Maths Support Session will be offered in Room 3 (Year 9 Centre) each Tuesday at the end of the school day.  This session operates from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm and students are able to attend for all or part of each session as required.  Participants may use this session to get assistance with and complete homework tasks, seek an additional lesson on a particular Maths topic or simply work with other students who share a similar love of Mathematics, with extension activities provided as required.

This session is primarily aimed at students from Years 10 to 12 although all Secondary School students are welcome to attend.  These sessions are additional to those already provided by teachers from the Maths Faculty which occur regularly at nominated lunch times.

No formal registration is required.  Students simply attend whenever they feel the need for some additional support or extension.

For further enquiries please contact your Mathematics teacher or Mr Dewhurst at St Paul’s.

Graham Dewhurst
Mathematics Teacher

COFFEE

Would you like a bag of rich, smooth East Timor Coffee?  $3 from every bag sold through the school goes towards our fundraising to build new classrooms for Ponilala Village School.  Growing and exporting coffee beans is also a sustainable and vital part of the Ermera district economy, where Ponilala is situated.  Your purchase will not only taste great but contribute to a worthy cause.
Bags of plunger, filter or beans can be purchased for $12.  Contact Andrea Heard aaheard@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or Kirsten Enders kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au to place an order.

PERFORMING ARTS – NEW DANCE STUDIO OPEN

We are very excited to announce the completion of our new Dance Studio in the old ‘Curves’ space in the Warragul Secondary School Gymnasium.

Dance classes have commenced on Monday evenings under the guidance of our newly appointed and amazingly enthusiastic Dance Teacher, Jade Cameron.  Group and individual lessons are available for Warragul Junior and Warragul Secondary School students.

Application forms for Co-curricular Dance can be located on the MyStPauls portal.  Click on Co-curricular, Performing Arts, Performing Arts – Warragul and look under Permission Forms and Other Information.  Alternatively, hard copies are available from the Performing Arts Office in the DT Parker Centre.

Please contact the Performing Arts office on 5622 6358 or via email performingartsoffice@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au should you have any further queries.

As we enter the final days of Term 1, we find ourselves in uncharted territory with this problematic new virus, not just as a nation but as a global community.  As everyone at St Paul’s should be aware, we are remaining in operation at this stage, in accordance with Government advice, with no confirmed cases in our school.  Next term might well be a different matter, but we will continue to communicate thoroughly in this regard to all our families.

Our thoughts and prayers are extended to everyone in the world who has been adversely affected at this point, and we sincerely hope that the measures taken to minimise impact will be effective for the great majority.  We will do our best to support our own school community during what is likely to be a challenging time ahead for some of our families.

While pain will inevitably be experienced during such times, it is worth remembering that from adversity also comes benefit.  A friend put it this way: “As the abnormal becomes the temporary normal, people will learn to adjust, and maybe a greater number of us will recognise the myopia of a selfish, singular life.”

In the meantime, let us all try to stay as healthy, positive and generous to one another as we are able.

Cameron Herbert
Principal

HOPE AND CHARITY IN THE FACE OF THE UNKNOWN

We live in an interesting season in history.  I think the unknown is sometimes the greatest fear and I find the unknown is what people currently wrestle with the most.  Some discount the unknown and deal with the tangible things of life, basing their world on the things they can touch, see and smell.  As a Chaplain, people may feel that I live in a world of the unknown but the truth is that God has made himself known.  We can understand him through the words given to us in the Bible and God revealed himself through his son, Jesus Christ.  The beauty of the Gospel is that we who believe, are saved by grace in Jesus Christ but also have a blueprint of how we are to live our day to day lives.  And what of the current situation, I think the words of Martin Luther, written some five hundred years ago during the Bubonic plague that ravaged Europe in the sixteenth century, are fitting to read.

Martin Luther’s pastoral advice during the Black Plague:
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us.  Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it.  I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.  If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.  If my neighbour needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above.  See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”
— Martin Luther, Works v. 43, p. 132.  Letter ‘Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague’ written to Rev. Dr John Hess.

Luther’s words are taken from an understanding of scripture where we are to love others (Matt 22:37-39), that we are to look after the sick (Matt 25:36) and that God is sovereign (Col 1:16-17).  God is not foreign to what is going on in the world.

So can I encourage you to abide by the current clean healthy living required of us at the moment and socially isolate where needed but not diminish as people of character, understanding the inherent worth of the people around us.  Let me finish with the writer of Hebrews (13:16), who encourages us with these words…  “But do not forget to help others and to share your possessions with them.  This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.” (CEV)

Glen Treble
Chaplain