In this issue

• Good Friday Appeal

• House Athletics

• Kinder and Prep Discovery Morning

• Harmony Day

Grammarian Issue 4, 25 March 2022

Traralgon Junior School

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

The past few weeks have been incredibly busy for students, teachers and parents in our Junior School. We have engaged in Regional Swimming, Division Individual Tennis, District Athletics, Year 6 Summit Adventures, Year 6 Urban Camp, Parent Session “Helping Your Child Learn to Read”, National Day of Action Against Bullying, Parent Teacher Conferences, a visit from Emergency Services for Year 1 students and Earth Hour Day.

Congratulations to our Year 6 students who participated in Urban Camp activities with enthusiasm and interest. A successful camp was enjoyed by all who attended with highlights being indoor rock climbing, ice skating and the Old Melbourne Gaol. It was wonderful to receive some lovely feedback from the different venues about how well our students behaved and represented St Paul’s. Teachers were very proud of each student. A huge thank you to our teachers for taking such good care of students and ensuring everyone enjoyed such a wonderful camp experience: Mr Rick Battista, Mrs Carly Sellings, Mr Lucas Tripodi, Ms Rebecca Coulston, Ms Laura Vannapraseuth.

Last Friday, for the National Day of Action Against Bullying, students participated in class lessons to explore definitions of bullying, strategies to help, ways to be kind to each other and how to be a strong friend. Students wore orange on the day and were very excited to be spreading kindness.

Thank you to Mrs Jayne Price for celebrating our wonderful students, as they spread kindness around our school community, with this video on the National Day of Action Against Bullying. Every day is a day of action against bullying!

Mr Billy Rilen has not stopped organising sporting events throughout Term 1 and our students have been very lucky to be involved in swimming, athletics and tennis recently. Mr Rilen is thanked for his outstanding organisation and unwavering energy as he has ensured our students have been able to participate in so many worthwhile competitions and events. We look forward to announcing the winning house and age champions from our Athletics Carnival in the coming week.

Our Endeavour Program for Years 5 and 6 has had a successful start this term and students are fully engaged in their chosen elective which are a highlight each week. Students participating in CAFÉ 101 have enjoyed cooking pancakes, jam jelly donuts and baked potatoes. They are learning a range of culinary skills and have already shown flair and creativity in their presentation of dishes.

As we head into the final weeks of Term 1, there are few happenings to be aware of. Our FOSP Hot Cross Bun Drive is underway and orders can be placed via munch Monitor with deliveries occurring on Thursday 7 April. Our Community Easter Hunt will happen again this year on Tuesday 5 April, for children 12 years and under, in our gardens with a 4:00 pm start. Families are able to register at stpaulsags.vic.edu.au. Our Whole School Cross Country will take place on Wednesday 6 April and our final event for the term will be our Easter Service on Friday 8 April, which is the final day of term.

I am very excited to advise our families that we will be going ahead with our Family Fun Night next Friday 1 April. All families are warmly invited to join us at school for this outdoor open air community event and enjoy some information sessions from our specialist teachers, student led activities, African drumming, music performances, FOSP barbeque and each other’s company. This evening is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together in a relaxed and informal setting, to catch up with each other and for new families to make some new connections. FOSP barbeque can be ordered via Munch Monitor and further details can be found on the parent pages of MyStPauls.

I would like to thank all of our families for their ongoing support and cooperation with COVID guidelines and illness. We have had a few positive cases recently and this has had an effect on families and teachers. Thank you to everyone for being so flexible and understanding with each other as we have worked through absences from school. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or concerns during this time.

Unfortunately, our brains have not evolved fast enough to adapt to this digital landscape. The combination of constant access to information and having little control over the situations presented, can be stressful and overwhelming. It is therefore important for adult carers to check in with their children and be aware of what information they may have been exposed to. It may not necessarily be the information itself that is harmful, but more their inability to process and make sense of it. Providing children with the skills and strategies to cope will enable them to flourish and thrive, socially, emotionally and academically.

The blueprint for parenting, based on our own experiences, is no longer fit for purpose in raising kids as citizens of tomorrow. This can be inherently stressful and overwhelming, not only for parents and carers, but children alike. If left untreated or unmanaged, constant stress and anxiety can lead to a number of behavioural issues or health consequences.

This Special Report suggests a number of strategies to help manage any feelings of overwhelm that you or your child may be experiencing. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

To find this special report please login to MyStPauls at https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/login/, click on the School TV link, then ‘special reports’.
This recently added resource to the suite of wellbeing resources at St Paul’s, called SchoolTV, is designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies. Parents today face a multitude of contemporary challenges in raising happy, well and resilient young people. Whilst there is a great deal of information available, this can often be confusing and overwhelming for parents looking for guidance.

Junior School Class Updates

Prep
The Traralgon Prep students have continued to add new letters to their alphabet knowledge. This week they have learnt about the letters G and O and the sounds they make. They have practised writing the letters on whiteboards with the correct formation. They have been talking about the different emotions of happy, sad, surprised and angry. Students used their bodies to show how they were feeling and discovered that everyone shows their emotions differently and everyone reacts in different ways when things happen to them.

Emotions -Taj, Chloe, Rupert and Alba.

Whiteboard – Mason.

Year 1
Year 1 students have had an exciting few weeks writing some fantastic recounts of what they did on the recent long weekend. It was fantastic to see students using their knowledge of nouns, adjectives and verbs. We heard about their trips to the beach, the pool and even Monster Jam! On Wednesday, Fire Rescue Victoria attended for an incursion. Students learnt what to do if there is a fire, saw what is stored in a fire truck and even got to have a go at using the fire hose. This was a highlight in our integrated unit that focuses on Staying Alive.

Year 1 Incursion.

Year 2
Year 2 students have been continuing to make observations and predictions about our plants in our ‘Garden to Plate’ veggie garden and we have also enjoyed exploring seed parts and germination. We are very excited to start designing an ideal garden bed for growing food, incorporating our Maths learning of 2D and 3D shapes. Last Friday we enjoyed dressing in orange for National Day of Action against Bullying and enjoyed spending time with our Year 6 Buddies this week to share learning about Earth Hour and how we can care for the world by ‘switching off’ to shape our future.

Year 3
In Numeracy the Year 3 students have been using kilograms as a standard unit of measurement to determine the mass of objects. They have learned how to interpret both analogue and digital scales. They were quick to relate them to rulers and understand the importance of starting from zero, as well as reading the correct scale. Students were then delighted to estimate and measure classroom items to discover those that were more than and less than (< > ) 1 kilogram. They were then encouraged to investigate the mass of objects at home.

Year 4
During our integrated studies, Year 4 have been learning about their cultural identity. They have been busy preparing a mini research project using PowerPoint where students enjoyed using computers to show their understanding and new learning. The children are looking forward to presenting their information to the class later this week. In Mathematics we have been building upon our multiplication facts using multi-digit numbers. These lessons have required lots of brain power, but it is great to see all students stepping into the unknown and building their knowledge. In Literacy, students have been participating in explicit decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling) sessions and have enjoyed learning about the morphology and history of words.

Year 5
Year 5 students have been busy learning a variety of strategies they can use to solve multiplication problems. We are very proud of their eagerness to challenge themselves as well as take the time to support their peers by explaining the different strategies and the correct steps to take. Students have been planning and drafting their narrative piece of writing about the prompt ‘Under the Sea’. We have practised punctuating dialogue correctly and using conjunctions to transform our simple sentences into compound sentences. We started our new Integrated Studies unit ‘Healthy Habits’ and have so far explored the ways our health can be impacted in positive and negative ways. We found out that where you live can have a huge impact on your ability to access fresh food and adequate health care. We have also started making plans for our Family Fun Night next week and are excited about the activities that will be running. We are looking forward to sharing these with the school community on the night.

Year 6
The Year 6 students and staff have had a wonderful time at The Summit and Urban Camp. The Summit pushed everyone out of their comfort zones, all while working as a team and building leadership skills. The students spent the day climbing mud walls, navigating through monster courses and high wire challenges. It was a fantastic day, that left the students left wet, muddy and very happy.
Urban Camp was the very next week and it was an amazing experience for all that attended. Thanks again, COVID! Science Works, Old Melbourne Goal, Queen Vic Market, The Big Issue, The Zoo, Legoland and ArtVo were just some of the things the group got up to and it’s safe to say that we left Melbourne exhausted, yet grateful we were able to share in such a wonderful experience with an exceptional group of people.

Library
Lunchtime in the library is always lots of fun. Students can be found engaging in some mindful colouring, playing card and board games, reading together or alone or just chilling in a relaxing space. More exciting activities and challenges to come, watch this space!

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.
Teachers at St Paul’s are proactive and include regular and explicit teaching about appropriate social behaviours and interactions and we have zero tolerance for bullying at school. The term ‘bullying’ is used a lot by teachers, parents and students and in the media. It is important that we have a clear understanding of what it actually means. The national definition of bullying for Australian schools says:

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records). Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying. Behaviours that do not constitute bullying include:
• mutual arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
• not liking someone or a single act of social rejection
• one-off acts of meanness or spite
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.

However, these conflicts still need to be addressed and resolved. Likewise not all online issues are bullying. (Online bullying is sometimes referred to as cyberbullying and refers to bullying that is carried out through information and communication technologies.)

Bullying can happen anywhere: schools, sporting clubs, families, workplaces and can happen to children and adults. Children and young people who know what bullying is, and know what to do about it if it happens, also know they are not alone in dealing with it. They know that parents and teachers will be willing to help if needed.

Parents can use the many opportunities that arise to talk with their child about how people behave in various social situations and how people get on with each other. If your child tells you about things at school or clubs or you see things in public that involve conflict or bullying, and if it is appropriate, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is. Before talking about bullying to your child make sure you have a clear understanding of what bullying is and is not. Point out that bullying is not just when someone is mean to you once, but it happens over and over and makes you feel like you cannot stop it.

You could use some of these questions:
• What do you think ‘bullying’ is?
• Have you seen bullying happening? What did you do? How did you feel?
• Why do you think some people bully other kids?
• Who are the adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
• Have you ever felt scared to go to school because you were afraid of someone bullying you?
• Has someone tried to bully you? What ways have you tried to change it?
• What do you think parents can do to help stop bullying?
• Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
• Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?

Tell children that bullying can happen to anyone but it is never okay. Talk about how to respond to bullying safely. Make sure children know what to do if it happens to them or they see it happening to someone else. Most importantly, let children know how to get help if bullying happens. Encourage them to speak to an adult if it happens and to keep on asking for help if the bullying does not stop.

Talk with students about how they might handle other challenging social situations as well.

Parents and carers have an important role to help children and young people learn how to manage their own feelings and to work out how to argue or disagree with other people in appropriate ways. Everyday activities and issues can be valuable learning opportunities. Talk about bullying with the understanding that children and young people are growing and still learning how to be effective members of the community. When you talk about bullying, focus on more appropriate ways to act with others and positive ways to get on with other people.

Avoid describing a child as a ‘bully’ or a ‘victim’. Although these words are often used in research and in the media, they are not very helpful for finding positive and lasting solutions. Children can change the way they behave with support from parents and teachers. If the labels of ‘bully’ or ‘victim’ stick, it can make it harder for them to change. Using these words can suggest that bullying and being bullied are due to unchangeable things about the children involved. The labels of ‘bully’ or ‘victim’ can also cause further harm if a child accepts them as part of their social identity.

Children and young people will ask for advice and help with problems if they think teachers, parents and caregivers are interested in them and their concerns. When parents and carers spend some time each day asking about what happened during the day, and show genuine interest in their feelings and experiences, children will know that they can talk to their parents if they have a problem. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns. Ask them about issues they tell you about but do not jump in to solve their problems. Ask them what they think they can do about it.

Be alert too that children sometimes ‘shut down’ and become reluctant to talk if they are experiencing bullying and do not know what to do. Be alert to the signs of bullying. Sensitive and caring conversations about what is happening for your child can make a difference. Please do contact your child’s teacher/s if you have any questions or concerns. Teachers work very hard to ensure that we have a school which is safe for everyone and will act promptly to resolve any issues or concerns.

NAPLAN TESTS
The National Assessment Program, Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2022 for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students will be held on Tuesday 10 May, Wednesday 11 May, Thursday 12 May and Friday 13 May 2022. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals which can be used to improve student achievement.

Students are also required to participate in a Coordinated Practice Test (CPT) which was held on Thursday 24 March 2022. This allowed students to become familiar with the question types contained in the NAPLAN online tests and allowed them to become familiar with using the online system itself. Students and parents can also access the NAPLAN practice site at https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site to become familiar with these online tests.

All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN tests. During test week, catch-up sessions will be available for individual students who are absent on test days. These students may undertake catch-up sessions on the days in the test week after the scheduled test, up to and including Friday 20 May 2022.

Support can be arranged for students with disabilities, if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. The NAPLAN online system also allows adjustments to how the tests are presented. Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or an exemption, you should discuss this with his/her teacher prior to the tests. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the Principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a Student Withdrawal form. These forms are available at the school.

Later in the year, you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. These describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia.

I am confident that the information you receive as a result of your child’s participation in the NAPLAN tests will be valuable in helping you to assess your child’s progress in literacy and numeracy.

For more information about the tests, please visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or the NAP website at www.nap.edu.au

Latrobe Valley Division Individual Tennis
On Friday 11 March, eight students participated in the LV Division Tennis Tournament in Traralgon. All students played good tennis throughout the day against some quality opposition from other schools. Bailey, Nand, Jayden, William, Ryder and Jack all played to the best of their abilities but missed out on a Quarter Final berth. In the girls side of the draw Stella O’Mara and Sienna Rikken played off against each other in the Semi Final with Siena narrowly defeating Stella four games to three. Stella won her third place playoff match four games to one claiming third spot overall. Siena played off in the Girls Final putting in a great effort against a highly skilled opponent, the scoreboard did not do the match justice with Siena going down four games to zero. Both Siena and Stella qualified for the Gippsland Region Tennis Tournament on Wednesday 27 April at Traralgon Tennis Club.
Gippsland Region Swimming
Our Region Swimming team travelled to Sale for the Gippsland Region Swimming Carnival on Thursday 17 March. The team of thirteen students competed in individual events and relays against students from all over Gippsland. Our students brought home two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal for the day. Congratulations to Phoebe Balcombe who qualified for the State Swimming Championships to be held at MSAC on 29 April. Phoebe will be competing in the 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly. Here is a summary of the students results:

Phoebe Balcombe
12 to 13 Girls, 50m Backstroke, 37.60, First Place
12 to 13 Girls, 50m Backstroke, 35.11, First Place

Angela Guo
11 Girls, 50m Breaststroke, 54.82, Sixth Place
11 Girls, 50m Butterfly, 54.93, Sixth Place

Nik Hector
9 to 10 Boys, 50m Freestyle, 41.88, Fifth Place
9 to 10 Boys, 50m Backstroke, 57.11, Fifth Place

Anson Law
12 to 13 Boys, 50m Backstroke, 43.31, Second Place
12 to 13 Boys, 50m Breaststroke, 50.17, Third Place

Alexandra O’Brien
12 to 13 Girls, 50m Breaststroke, 52.16, Sixth Place

Jayden Tran
11 Boys, 50m Breaststroke, 48.26, Second Place

4 x 50m Freestyle Relays
9 to 10 Boys, 4:12.35, Fifth Place
12 to 13 Girls, 3:04.08, Sixth Place
12 to 13 Boys, 3:03.14, Seventh Place

Medley Relays
Girls, 3:17.08, Sixth Place
Boys, DQ

Traralgon District Athletics
On what was a beautiful sunny day this Tuesday, sixty-three students travelled to Harold Preston Park for the Traralgon District Athletics Carnival. Thanks to the amazing efforts of our students St Paul’s finished fourth overall in the school standings (a fantastic effort as we have half the amount of students the higher ranked schools have). At this stage we have nine students who have qualified for the Latrobe Valley Athletics Carnival which will take place on 14 September at the Joe Carmody Athletics Track in Newborough. Here the results of the top four place getters.

9 to 10 Boys
Ilias Clavarino – Triple Jump, Third
Sam Dockley – Shot Put, Fourth
Josh Huang – Long Jump, Third
William Lambert – 100m, Third; 200m, Fourth; 800m, Second; 1500m, Fourth
Rick Swanepoel – High Jump, Fourth

9 to 10 Girls
Evelyn Brady – Discus, First
Lani Greaves – Discus, Third; High Jump, Third
Georgia Hasthorpe -1500m, Third
Greta Laws – Shot Put, Third
Charvi Mageswaran – Triple Jump, Fourth

11 Boys
Mason Chan – Discus, Second
David Ogabiela – Long Jump, Second; Triple Jump, Second
Ryan Stockil – Discus, First; 4x100m Relay, Fourth

11 Girls
Anna Teuber – Long Jump, Fourth

12 to 13 Boys
Isaiah Clavarino – 1500m, Second; 800m, Third
Jack Riddle – 200m, First; Discus, First; Shot Put, First; High Jump, First; 4x100m Relay, Third

12 to 13 Girls
Mia Fitzpatrick – Discus, Fourth; Shot Put, Third
Aeva Haley – Long Jump, Fourth; Triple Jump, First

Tracey King
Head of Traralgon Junior School

WHAT’S ON

APRIL
1 April Family Fun Night, 6:00 pm
5 April Community Easter Hunt
6 April Whole School Cross Country
8 April Easter Service
End of Term 1, dismissal 2:20 pm

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

DOBSONS TRADING HOURS

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

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

FREE PARENT WEBINAR: BUILDING RESILIENCE IN TURBULENT TIMES WITH DR ANDREW FULLER

How can parents support their children in these turbulent times? Join leading clinical psychologist Dr Andrew Fuller for a free webinar, where he will share his expert advice.

Turbulent times call for resilient minds. From COVID-19, the Ukraine invasion and rampant flooding, it’s already been a tough start to 2022. As resilience is being tested, our children are looking to us for support and guidance.

How might we understand and reduce anxiety for ourselves and our children? How can we engage in conversation about tough times? And how can we create hope and positivity for the future?

Register for this free webinar event, a national Independent schools initiative, with leading clinical psychologist Dr Andrew Fuller for Tuesday 29 March, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Topics Andrew will cover in this live webinar include:
• Learn the three active ingredients of resilience
• Develop strategies to reduce anxiety
• Build self-esteem and deal with setbacks
• Gain strategies for engaging in tough conversations
• Help our children prepare for a better future.

YEAR 1 ART

The Year 1 students have been making minibeasts out of magiclay and pipecleaners.

HARMONY WEEK

We have been celebrating Harmony Week in the library. There is a large display upon entry with a number of related books for the students to borrow. Students have been contributing to the display all week during library lunch, decorating small cardboard hands to symbolise the continued unity we are achieving at St Paul’s. Library lessons this week are also including links to Harmony week, with most classes listening to Ms Taylor reading “I’m an Australian Too” by Meme Fox.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A ST PAUL’S COMPANY MEMBER OR BOARD DIRECTOR?

Membership of Company
Are you aware parents are able to become members of the St Paul’s School Company?

At present there are over sixty members of the School’s Company. Applying for membership involves completing an application form and submitting a fee of $20.00. Continued membership involves renewing your membership once a year and paying an ongoing annual fee of $20.00.

Company membership entitles the member to attend the School’s Annual General Meeting in May each year and also to cast a vote in the event of an election of Directors to the School Board.

Persons interested in applying for new membership of the Company can obtain an Application for Company Membership form from the School’s website or by contacting Carol Reid via email creid@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au.

New applications should be received by 25 April 2022 for consideration at the April Board Meeting in preparation for this year’s Annual General Meeting.

Becoming a Board Director
In keeping with the Board’s commitment to an inclusive governance approach within the School community, persons interested in potentially filling a Board vacancy are encouraged to become a member of the Company and respond to the nomination/election process prior to the Annual General Meeting on 25 May 2022.

Nomination forms for Board Directorship are required to be forwarded to the Company Secretary no later than Tuesday 26 April 2022 at 5:00 pm.

If you have any questions in relation to the Board vacancies or are seeking a nomination form, please contact Mrs Leah Young, Company Secretary via email companysecretary@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or phone 5623 5833.

Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 25 May 2022
The Annual General Meeting of St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is to be held on Wednesday 25 May 2022 at the Warragul Campus commencing at 5:30 pm for members of the Company.

FINANCE NEWS

Annual Fee Account
Families have recently received via email an annual fee account for 2022. 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.

We offer fortnightly instalments (22 payments) on Wednesdays or Fridays commencing 4 February and Monthly instalments (10 payments) commencing 15 February 2022.

Other direct debit payment dates are also available by arrangement.

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 on the School website at this link, https://stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/enrolment/school-fees/

Instalments (due dates)
Instalment 2 – 8 April 2022
Instalment 3 – 3 June 2022
Instalment 4 – 12 August 2022

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 go to, https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately. The CSEF program for 2022 closes at the end of Term 2. All forms must be received by 15 June 2022 to be processed.

For parents who received CSEF at the school in 2021 (and the student/s are still enrolled in 2022), the schools will ‘copy’ the application across from 2021 to 2022 on the CSEF system. The CSEF system will automatically validate the parent’s eligibility with Centrelink.

Grammarian Issue 4, 25 March 2022

Traralgon Secondary School

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mrs Leonie Clark

‘Learning To Lead’
This week we have enjoyed another brilliant assembly where we were able to complete the induction of our newest Year 7 student leaders. Our sincerest congratulations are extended to Layla Graham in 7A and Chloe Ellen in 7B upon their recent appointment to the Student Representative Council. I thought I might take the opportunity in this Grammarian to share, the messages conveyed to the students during our assembly regarding values-based, student leadership within our school community.

Head of School Address Assembly Week 8, Term 1 2022
Now we have completed the ‘Season of Student Leadership appointments for 2022’ I thought it might be time to consider what an effective student leader might look like.

A couple of years ago I was studying a postgraduate unit titled ‘Values and Leadership’.

The lecturer asked us to consider which current world leaders demonstrated leadership values we admire and would expect global leaders to uphold.

Not surprisingly, there were a plethora of terrible leaders in the world that we could easily and all too quickly identify. Leaders who were primarily interested in the power and position that comes with a particular role. Flexing their powerful and political might on a world stage with rhetoric and sometimes, even more powerful and destructive physical actions against vulnerable citizens and communities.

Sadly, as we all know, the names of these figures spring to mind all too easily.

But have you ever taken a minute to consider which current influential leaders might be people that we could admire or aspire to be, who are the ethical leadership role models of our time? It’s quite the challenge to think of and name current individuals and leaders who get it right, and let’s face it, no one is perfect!

However, there are a couple of current leaders who do seem, at the moment and on the whole, to get it right, most of the time! When I was considering contemporary leadership movers and shakers, I thought it might be far more relevant to our own context at St Paul’s to link their leadership ‘super strengths’ to each of our own four school values.

For Wisdom I have chosen the Dalai Lama.
His kind heart and considered words allow us space as well as moments to reflect. I thought this quote was particularly relevant to even our youngest Year 7 SRC representatives and newest school leaders. You are all in a position to make a difference to our community and our world, and you are never too little or too young to make a start. I love that the Dalai Lama has a sense of humour and delivers powerful messages with joy, while allowing space and time to consider. This example is one of those lovely moments of wisdom that he is known for sharing with the world ‘If you think you are too small to make a difference try sleeping with a mosquito’.

Source: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/345708

For Integrity I selected from the sporting world our very own home-grown Ash Barty. Integrity is your good character and your ability to make the sound decisions as well as your ability to accept that your actions and choices are your own responsibility. As Ash says ‘It’s about being your authentic self. Like I said, just trying to do the best you can, regardless of what you do. In sport, in life, in anything.

Source: https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2021/03/08/ash-barty-stay-true-to-yourself

For Compassion I selected Jacinda Ardern the current Prime Minister of New Zealand. Compassion and humanity underpin her leadership style, and for this, she has been widely criticised as weak and not aggressive or assertive enough … in response to this she has said ‘I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.’
Source: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/jacinda_ardern_954467

For Respect I chose Barak Obama. Some of you may remember him as a former President of the United States and the first African American President. His demonstrated and ‘lived respect’ for all people no matter their position or title, has been widely acknowledged and celebrated.
Source: https://time.com/5082975/barack-obama-2017

So, what is it that these people do that makes them such great leaders … people that we know to be wise, kind, good and compassionate?

They don’t aspire to be leaders for the ‘significance of the role’ or the ‘perceived power’ that comes with the role, their aim is to serve their community, their team, their people, their organisation and maybe even their country. They want to make a difference and leave the world a better place … they want and desire to leave a positive legacy.

They have a desire to serve others. They are compassionate leaders who respect others, embrace difference, lift others up and ensure that all voices are heard and respected. They are leaders who demonstrate integrity, that is, they say what they mean and they do what is right. They do what they know needs to be done because they know others are depending on them. And their sense of purpose stems from a desire to make a positive contribution and difference to their community.

So how can you take some of these skills into your own roles this year?
• Show up! 80% of leadership is turning up and being there for your team. Be reliable and a team player.
• Be a good listener.
• Be a clear communicator.
• Demonstrate empathy and compassion.
• Work for the benefit of a healthy and peaceful school community, consider moments for shared wisdom.
• Lift others up and coach/encourage younger students towards leadership.
• Consider all perspectives and give everyone a voice and opportunity to contribute.
• Take time to carefully consider decisions as well as the potential consequences of those decisions.
• Communicate a vision and put plans in action to see it through to completion.
• Assess risks and prevent speed bumps or difficulties.
• Hold your team accountable by allocating roles and follow up.
• Commit to your team and the project, work alongside your team with a sense of humour.
• Thank others, appreciate your team and recognise contribution.

It’s a lot to consider and a lot to learn. You will make mistakes, but the most important thing you can do as a leader of others is to reflect daily, to learn from your mistakes, try different approaches and aim to do better.

As school leaders you will be constantly learning, adjusting your response to the situation that presents and continuously reflecting, but I know … we know … that you are committed to your community and the roles you have kindly taken on this year.

• Remember that even the youngest of us can make a difference and do it with a sense of humour and joy for life.
• Be your authentic self and do your best every day like Ash, always aim to do better!
• Be compassionate and understanding just like Jacinda.
• Remember that everyone, no matter their role or position deserves respect, kindness and to feel valued and appreciated for their contribution.

We certainly look forward to working with all of our newly appointed student leaders, as well as experiencing the difference you make, however big or small, in your leadership role this year at our Traralgon Secondary School.

SPECIAL REPORT: Managing Overwhelm SchoolTV
Due to the pandemic, recent world events in the Ukraine and the impacts of the floods in Queensland and NSW, the world we now live in is a very different place. The hyperconnected nature of our current environment means that we are constantly being reminded of the challenges we face via numerous media and social media channels. Our connectivity to the digital world exposes us to a barrage of messages that can leave us feeling overwhelmed. As a result, many children and their parents are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety.
Unfortunately, our brains have not evolved fast enough to adapt to this digital landscape. The combination of constant access to information and having little control over the situations presented, can be stressful and overwhelming. It is therefore important for adult carers to check in with their children and be aware of what information they may have been exposed to. It may not necessarily be the information itself that is harmful, but more their inability to process and make sense of it. Providing children with the skills and strategies to cope will enable them to flourish and thrive, socially, emotionally and academically.

Year 8 Outdoor Education Camp
Our Year 8 students recently enjoyed four days at Lakewood Park on the Banksia Peninsula situated in the exquisite Gippsland Lakes region. Much fun was had as students safely experienced sailing, an overnight camp out, stand-up paddleboarding, initiative games and mountain bike riding. We were extremely proud of our students as they bravely tackled each new challenge and enjoyed making some brilliant memories with their friends at both the Traralgon and Warragul Campuses. I certainly enjoyed my visit to the camp and was a little disappointed I had forgotten a change of clothing as the stand-up paddleboarding in the warm weather was very tempting. A huge thank you is extended to Mr Andrew McGrath our Head of Years 7 and Year 8, Ms Nova Doherty, Ms Mikaela Petruccelli, Mr Nathan Byrne and Mr Glen Treble who ensured that a fabulous time was enjoyed by all.

House Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all students who participated and attended our fabulous, combined House Athletics Carnival on Tuesday. The weather was divine as students enjoyed the atmosphere while other students pushed themselves to break a number of personal and school records. I would like to sincerely congratulate our students for the way that they conducted themselves throughout the day. It was also an absolute privilege to travel to and from the event with our students on the bus and hear their joyful singing!

Parent Student Teacher Interview Zoom Evening Reminder
A gentle reminder that should you wish to speak to your child’s teachers we have one more night of Parent Student Teacher Interviews (PSTIs) on Wednesday 30 March commencing at 4:00 pm. The second evening of PSTIs will be conducted on Zoom rather than face-to-face. Should you require any assistance with booking interviews for your child/ren please do not hesitate to call Maddie in the Office.

COVID-19
COVID-19 Protocols remain unchanged but are included here for your additional reference.

If your child is not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and they have a negative RAT result, they can continue to attend school, but you should monitor for symptoms.

Students who show symptoms of COVID-19 cannot attend school and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Students should not return to school until symptoms have resolved, regardless of the test result.

Students should continue with twice-a-week rapid antigen testing on school days. There are no set days for testing, but in the interests of routine, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday each week would be helpful. Of course, if your child has any symptoms, or you have other cause for concern, the RAT can be administered on any day of the week.

If your child returns a positive RAT result and has symptoms and/or has been in contact with someone with COVID-19, it is very likely that your child has COVID-19.
• You must advise the school and the Department of Health about the positive result
• Your child must stay home for 7 days, and then only leave home once they feel well
• Everyone in your household is a close contact and must isolate for 7 days.

If your child tests positive with a RAT but does not have symptoms and you don’t believe they have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 it is recommended to get a PCR test within the first 48 hours of testing positive and stay isolated at all times until they receive their result.
• If your child’s subsequent PCR test is negative, they will be able to leave isolation and return to school.
• If the PCR test result is positive, they must follow the steps above.
• Students who have recovered from COVID-19 do not need to participate in surveillance testing for 30 days after their isolation period has ended.

For information on symptoms visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/symptoms-and-risks.

For more information on how to get tested visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/taking-test-covid-19.

REPORTING YOUR CHILD’S POSITIVE TEST
If your child was at school when they were infectious, you need to report the positive case to the school via email or phone. See below for contact details.

You must also report your child’s positive test to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.

Further information for languages other than English
Call the DET COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663 and they will help interpret.
For translated written information about COVID-19, please visit: Translated information about COVID-19 from the Coronavirus Victoria website.
For health advice in languages other than English, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/translated-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19.

Face Masks
Please remind your child to wear and bring a mask to school should they be travelling on a bus to and from school. Masks are also required for travel on buses during excursions. We know that they work and are effective at reducing not only the transmission of COVID-19 but also colds and flus. The flu season is fast approaching, and we hope to continue to keep our whole school community safe and well.

Carpark
Our students and staff are very dear to us and so we gently remind our parents and guardians to take their time and adhere to the 10 km/hr speed limit in our carpark as they move in and about the car parking locations. We are very lucky at our Traralgon Campus to have plenty of parking options for our families.

Last Day Term 1
A reminder that our final day of school this year will entail the Easter Service for our students followed by the annual Easter Egg Hunt coordinated for us by the Friends of St Paul’s (FOSP). We thank FOSP in advance for their kindness in providing this highly anticipated annual event for our students. This is my first Easter Egg Hunt and I have been told that you have to see it to believe it! My understanding is that it is much fun, albeit a little frantic! The day will finish at 2:30 pm which is a little earlier than our 3:10 pm finish. Should your child need to wait that little bit longer to be collected there will be plenty of staff on campus to care for them until you arrive.

Term 2 Winter Uniform
A reminder that it is time to pull out those warm winter uniforms ready for the start of Term 2. There is no doubt that children will have grown in the last six months and a quick check and top up of any additional uniform items might be timely prior to the holidays. We will continue to keep classrooms open as much as possible for ventilation in the cooler months. A gentle reminder that the school jumper is not to be worn as the outer garment when arriving to, or departing school. Students in formal attire are required to wear the blazer combined with the jumper for additional warmth.

Leonie Clark
Head of Traralgon Secondary School