June 1st 2023
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Prayer
- A Note from our Principal.
- Movie Night June 2nd, 7pm
- Enrolments for 2024 now open
- Grade 3/4 Excursion - The Community Garden
- Grade 3/4 Health Expo!
- Pastoral Care Day
- Breakfast Club
- Hot off the Prep Press!
- Healthy Moves Walk to School!
- Digital Technology News
- St. Pius Book Club
- Australian Dental Health Visit
- The Arts
- Reconciliation Week.
- Let The Music Move You!
- Parents and Friends Raffle
- A special message........
- Footy Tipping 2023
- Canteen Roster
- Important Dates
- Second Hand Uniforms
- Before & After School Care
- Parish Contact
- COVID 19 Arrangements
Acknowledgement of Country
The St Pius X Parish School Community acknowledges the Gunditjmara / Marr Nation people who have educated children on these lands for thousands of years.
Prayer
Reconciliation Week
Let us pray
Creator Spirit,
All creation once declared your glory,
Your laws were honoured and trusted,
Forgive us our neglect as our country approaches the most critical moment in its history.
Listen to our prayer as we turn to you,
Hear the cry of our land and its people,
Just as you heard the cry of Jesus, your Son, on the Cross.
Help us to replace our national shame with true national pride by restoring the dignity of our First People whose antiquity is unsurpassed.
May our faith and trust in you increase.
Only then will our nation grow strong and be a worthy place for all who wish to make their home in our land.
Amen.
© Elizabeth Pike, September 1997
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Melbourne.
A Note from our Principal.
Ngata Families and Friends,
Dear Families,
Well done to all the students who have been participating in the Warrnambool Eisteddfod this week. The choral reading was a highlight on Monday, with each of our Grade 5/6 classes performing. Many children have taken up the invitation to participate. Thank you to Adele Webster for coordinating this and to those parents who were able to come along and show their support.
Thank you to those families who have already RSVP'd to our Movie Night here at school. The link can be found in the newsletter. Accurate numbers help us to plan for catering and adequate supervision.
A reminder to SAC members that we are meeting tonight, 7.30pm at school.
Kind regards,
Stacey
Movie Night June 2nd, 7pm
The St Pius X Movie night is back. All children welcome.
When: Friday June 2nd, 7pm
Where: The Function Room
What: A movie and snacks
Cost: $5 - Tickets purchased at the door.
Wear your PJs and bring your favourite pillow or bean bag.
Helpers welcome (Please note that a Working With Children Card is required)
Please RSVP for catering purposes via the linked form.
Enrolments for 2024 now open
If you know anyone who missed out on a tour but would like to look at our school, please ask them to contact the office to arrange an appointment.
We now invite all 2024 enrolments to login via our school website to complete the enrolment form for any 2024 Foundation students. Enrolments for all other Foundation families will open on May 22, 2023.
Online enrolments are now available and can be completed and submitted electronically.
For this process go to our school website and select the Enrolment tab. Complete the Enrolment Enquiry to add your details for reminders and updates.
Under the Enrolment Tab you will also notice an Online Enrolment Form - select this and away you go. A tip with this one is do not use a phone or ipad to complete the form, any laptop or desktop computer will work fine.
You will also need to make sure you have your child's documentation (birth, immunisation, baptism certificates and any specialist reports) loaded onto your device, either by taking a photo or scanning and uploading as you will be able to upload all of that as well.
Grade 3/4 Excursion - The Community Garden
On Monday, as part of our ‘Healthy Me!’ unit, the grade 3/4s went on an excursion to The Community Gardens. Whilst we were there we were given a tour of the gardens, learning the growing process and how we might be able to start growing some food at home! We were even lucky enough to feed some chickens by hand! We were very thankful of Rob and Heather who ran a fantastic session, even though the weather wasn’t quite in our favour for part of it!
Grade 3/4 Health Expo!
On Wednesday 6th June the 3/4 students will be running a Health Expo, sharing information and advice on ways to stay healthy! Parents are invited to attend the expo from 10-11am and learn some new facts about different health areas!
Pastoral Care Day
Next Monday our whole school will be participating in a Pastoral Care day. These days are a wonderful opportunity for ALL students to focus on their emotional health and wellbeing and to develop strategies that help them to navigate relationships within their classroom, their playground and their world.
Monday’s focus is ‘How to join in a game’. The children will explore and role play words and actions that can help them to enter into a game with their peers. These skills will help them to build their confidence when moving between friendship groups in the yard.
Mr Bacon has organised some fantastic activities to engage us throughout the day and the SRC and Senior school students will engage us in some helpful and fun play based games. Throughout the day the whole school including the teachers and the LSO staff will have the opportunity to revisit and adjust their safety plans if required. Our safety plans are an invaluable tool to keep us in the Green zone and Ready to Learn.
We will report back on how much fun we have in next week’s newsletter with some photos to share as well.
Breakfast Club
It has been great to see a huge involvement with the breakfast club over the past few weeks! We have had nearly 100 hungry mouths to feed over the past few Wednesdays which is fantastic! We love seeing the smiling faces of students come through the door as well as our wonderful helpers who run the program! A reminder that Breakfast Club runs every Wednesday morning from 8:15am - 9:00am, so please feel free to come down for some yummy toast, fruit, cereal, juice or even Milo bars!
Hot off the Prep Press!
Library Visit and Cramer Street Playground
Yesterday we went on an excursion to the Warrnambool Public Library. We went on a tour with Jules who showed us through all the different sections of the library and what types of resources we could find there. There were books, CD’s, DVD’s, magazines and lots of technology, too. We got to listen to a story written by Adam Goodes - ‘Somebody’s Land’ and we were able to look through all the beautiful purple flowers made for Reconciliation Week.
After our visit we went to the Cramer Street playground and had lots of fun playing together.
Merrivale Foundation Group Visit
Last Monday, we had a planned visit from the Merrivale Foundation class. They came for a visit while they were waiting to perform at the Warrnambool Eisteddfod which was held in the Big Hall. They were performing a choral reading ‘Chicken Spots’ which they performed for us. They were fantastic. We all got to meet each other and we shared and played Maths games together. It was a great opportunity to use our norms around different little people just like us.
Browsing the Bible
This week we have been exploring the different types of Bibles. We have learnt that a Bible is a book which has two parts - the Old and the New Testaments. Bibles come in all different shapes and sizes. They can be similar or they can be very different. The Bible has lots of stories inside them and some are about the ancestors of God and others are about Jesus and his life. We are looking forward to exploring some special stories next week. Do you have a Bible at your house? Open it up and look inside.
Healthy Moves Walk to School!
Well done to all our students who have been walking, riding, scooting or busing to school in this chilly weather! A reminder that any students who come to school in a healthy way, will go into the running to win a prize each Friday for the next few weeks so let's get moving!
Digital Technology News
The Warrnambool Library is offering a ‘Beginner Code Club for Kids’ on Tuesdays at 4:00 – 4:45 for FREE. It is suitable for ages 8-14 and requires parents/carers to book for each session. For interested students, please head to the ‘Warrnambool Library’ website and click ‘Events’ in the top-right hand of the screen.
St. Pius Book Club
Issue 4 of Scholastic Book Club is currently available ONLINE. Parents/Carers are able to order and pay for their Scholastic Book Club via the LOOP portal only (no cash based orders are available on this issue). If parents/carers wish to order, please follow the link below or alternatively, Google search ‘Scholastic LOOP orders’
Website: https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/book-club/
Australian Dental Health Visit
The Australian Dental Health van will be visiting St. Pius X the week beginning 17th July. This is a program funded by the Australian Dental Health and Child Dental Benefits schedule where students can receive a full check up, preventative and general dental care at school. Medicare covers these costs for eligible students via bulk billing, however if your child is not eligible, the ADHV will still do a free dental health screen. If your child needs further treatment, you will be called for consent. Forms have been sent home and if you would like your child to participate, could you please return the completed forms to school by the end of next week at the latest.
The Arts
Next week in the Arts all the students in our school will begin a very special Artwork for either the Junior Warrnibald prize or NAIDOC Week. This requires your child to submit a portrait of someone in their lives who they look up to. The subject must know and have a relationship with the artist. For example the artist’s subject could be a parent, a grandparent, a foster carer, a neighbour, a friend, a teacher, a doctor, a nurse or a shop owner.
To help with this process Mrs Keeley is asking you to please have a discussion with your child about someone they know and look up to and then if you are able, to please share a photo of this person with her or send a hard copy photo with them to school with their name on the back so it can be returned.
The creating of our masterpieces will begin next week, the week beginning Monday the 5th of June.
Many thanks for your support in this.
Julie Keeley
Reconciliation Week.
On Thursday we opened the art room for anyone interested in celebrating Reconciliation week. We watched Little J and Big Cuz on ABC iview and did activities related to this indigenous program. Thanks to those who came along to celebrate It was a wonderful way to celebrate!
Let The Music Move You!
On Wednesday afternoon our students were lucky to be part of a performance called Let the Music Move You. In the performance Karina taught us about Music’s place in society, past and present. There was lots of listening and participating. Students danced to different music styles such as rock, reggae, country and classic and created a soundscape using a variety of different instruments including boomwhackers and cymbals. We all sang, laughed and even did the hula. A great time was had by all.
Parents and Friends Raffle
The PnF have secured a very generous donation from Rafferty's- so we're having a bonus raffle this term. Tickets have been sent home last week, with more available at the office.
A special message........
Wishing the following students a very Happy Birthday for the coming week...........
Lenny Kelly, Mitchell Payne, Ethan Brown, Benji Miller, Sienna & Ruby Sharples, Lachlan Klose.
Footy Tipping 2023
Not a great round team. Top tippers only managed 5 and alas, I only tipped 2. That is terrible! Let's hope that things improve this week.
Well done to the Edwards Boys, aaronsearle85, Richo800, Nek minute, Thomas e Short and Rebecca Cain for tipping 5.
Don't forget that some teams have a bye. Probably not a great time to whip out the joker!
Our top 5 tippers are:
- Fynn20- 98
- Debra Redpath- 95
- Seurens- 95
- aaronsearle85- 91
- Letty Parkinson -90
Letty is looking the goods at the moment, with only 2 jokers played. Great work Letty.
Canteen Roster
Tuesday, 6th June -Tammy Karnajaya
Wednesday, 7th June- Sue Coulson
Thursday, 8th June - Cherie Geyer
Friday, 9th June- Alana Gleeson
Important Dates
Monday 30th May: Reconciliation Week begins
Monday 30th May: Eisteddfod begins
Thursday 1st June: SAC Meeting, 7.30pm
Friday 2nd June: P&F Movie Night, 7pm
Friday 2nd June: District Winter Sports
Wednesday 7th June: Middle Pod Health Expo
Monday 12th June: King's Birthday Long Weekend
Friday 16th June: Enrolments Close
20/21/22 June: Learning Conversations
Advance notice: Term 4 closure date Friday November 3rd
Second Hand Uniforms
Families seeking low cost uniform items are welcome to contact Angela Verspay (mum to Dylan and Finn) who has stock of many donated uniform items. Ph: 0477660119.
Before & After School Care
We remind everyone about TheirCare, our outside school hours care provider. Bookings can be made at https://theircare.com.au/
Please select St Pius X Warrnambool as the booking location.
Parish Contact
Sunday Mass 10.00 @ St Pius X Church. School families are always welcome.
The Parish office can be contacted on 5562 2231
Other information and contact details can be found on the Star of the Sea South West Coast website: https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/parish/southwestcoast/
FOR SALE! Personalised Zooper Dooper holders made by William Carey. They are $5.00 each and come in a range of colours. Please phone Jodie on 0459 115 004 for more information.
COVID 19 Arrangements
All famililes are asked to familiarise thesmselves with the updated COVID 19 regulations.
Managing a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19
- It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff if they:
- have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
- are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
- are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.
- The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians report their positive RAT result via the online form or by calling 1800 675 398.
- Principals are no longer required to inform their school community of a positive case associated with the school.
- Staff or students who are positive are strongly recommended to stay home and isolate for a minimum of five days.
- Symptomatic students or staff should not attend school, even if failing to test positive on a RAT or PCR.
Communication
There is no longer a requirement for schools to inform their communities of positive cases. All health information is held in accordance with the school’s privacy policy.
Masks
Staff and students who wish to wear a mask will continue to be supported to do so. Masks are available from the administration office for anyone wishing to obtain one.
Any staff or students who are close contacts are recommended to wear a mask indoors.
Any staff or students returning from isolation are recommended to wear a mask for 7 days after returning to school.
RAT Kits
RATs are available for all Victorians from council sites. Individuals can obtain two free packs (10 tests) for themselves and two free packs (10 tests) for each household member. People with disability and their carers can get up to four free packs (20 tests) in line with existing RAT distribution for people with disability.
The RATs are available at the Civic Centre (25 Liebig Street) and the Archie Graham Community Centre (118 Timor Street).
Vaccination
St Pius X strongly supports vaccination for all in our community who are eligible. There is no requirement for adults entering the school to declare their vaccination status.
All community adults are reminded of the child safety requirement to sign in when attending the school between 9.00am and 3.00pm
Transport
Parents who have tested positive to COVID 19 are permitted to drive children to and from school during their 7 day isolation period. They are required to return home immediately afterwards and not attend other locations.
Medically At Risk Students
Students who have chronic health conditions, especially affecting the respiratory system ie Asthma, must have up to date health support plans. Families who are unsure about the status of their child’s plan should make contact with teh school administration office.