October 5th 2023
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Prayer
- A Note from our Principal
- School opening times
- Class Groupings 2024
- Twilight Fair
- Twilight Fair- we need your help!
- Year 6 Graduation
- Job Vacancy- Parish Secretary
- ReLATE Research
- Student Raffle
- Hot off the Prep Press!
- Library News
- A special message........
- Canteen Roster for next week.
- Updated Uniform Price List
- Important Dates.
- 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
Season of Creation
October 4th is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.
A Note from our Principal
Ngata Families and Friends,
I hope that everyone enjoyed the break. It has been lovely to have some sunshine this week. Thanks to everyone who sent their child along to school with their hat. Thanks also to families who have adjusted their morning routine based on our new opening times. A bell now rings at 8.40am to let children know that their classroom door is open. There is no formal supervision at school before this time.
Our Twilight Fair will be held this term, a bit later than normal, on Friday 10th November. Please consider how you can support this important event.
There is a lot happening this term so please read the newsletter carefully. Key dates are listed below. We’re looking forward to a great term.
Kind Regards,
Stacey
School opening times
Thank you to those parents who are supporting our change of morning routine.
Classes will not be open until 8.40am. Supervision of children also begins at 8.40am.
Breakfast Club still commences at 8.15am on a Wednesday.
Class Groupings 2024
In the coming weeks our staff will be drafting class lists for the 2024 school year. If parents have information that relates to their child’s learning needs and will assist in the placement of their child, they are encouraged to forward this information as soon as possible.
All submissions must be in writing.
Either email:
principal@spwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
or address a letter marked confidential to ‘The Principal’.
Parents are asked to submit this information before October 16.
Twilight Fair
Friday, November 10th 2023
Twilight Fair- we need your help!
The PnF are looking for volunteers to help with our Twilight Fair Stalls. This year we are hoping to have the following stalls.
Food
- Cake sall
- Popcorn
- BBQ
- Fairy Floss
- Coffee
- Snow Cones
And definitely some dumplings.
Activities
- Christmas Photos
- Face Paint
- Lucky Sticks
- Chocolate toss
- Step up the ladder
And other games.
The aim is for every family in our school to contribute an hour of their time to support one of these stalls on the night. To volunteer and pick your preferred time please fill in the form linked below.
Please support our Twilight Fair.
Year 6 Graduation
Our Yr 6s will be graduating on the evening of Thursday December 7th. Families will be sent a formal invitation to this event in due course.
We are seeking a Yr 6 parent to coordinate the organisation for a post graduation function.
The structure for this is already well planned from previous years and previous planning documents are available.
Please contact the office if you would be happy to take this role on.
Job Vacancy- Parish Secretary
Our Parish Secretary for the past 13 years, Leanne McElgunn, has advised of her intending retirement on Friday 24th November.
This position will need to be filled and the Parish seeks interest from either experienced and/or qualified individuals. Interested individuals may call into the Parish office at St. Joseph’s Warrnambool to collect a role description or call 5562 2231 for further information.
This is a role of about 32 hours per week (9.00am - 4.00pm) with award wages but this could be negotiable.
There is also a part-time administrative position as well. The work load has increased for our administrative staff due to our larger Parish. The latter position would be a 0.4 or 0.5 position.
Regards, Fr John Fitzgerald
ReLATE Research
Parents of students in Grade 4-6 are invited to complete this survey as part of our work with ReLATE.
The VOCAL-21 collects student views regarding their engagement, safety, and environment at school. Responses are completely non-identifiable.
The survey is linked below.
All results help us to evaluate what we are implementing at school including areas for improvement.
Student Raffle
Please consider purchasing tickets for our student raffle to be in the running for some yummy goodies! Tickets were sent home with students or mailed out at the end of last term. If you did not receive a booklet or would like another, please notify the office.
Please remember that all funds raised contribute to resources for your children.
Hot off the Prep Press!
Special Show and Tell
Show and Tell is one of the Prep’s favourite events on their weekly calendar. Normally they are asked to bring something from home that is special to them or something that they love. Tomorrow we would love them to bring something that links in with the theme ‘Search’. Some examples could be Where’s Wally books, magnifying glass, puzzles, binoculars or an item that you had searched for at a place (shells, crystals, etc). This is a kick off activity for our RE unit this term and we look forward to seeing all the wonderful things that come to school.
Back into it!
This week we have jumped straight back into learning and we have been having so much fun. In Maths, we are learning about Place Value and how numbers can have more than one digit and what those digits mean. We have been learning that numbers have tens and ones, some numbers are bigger than others and when we made models of numbers it can be easy to see the value of that number. We have been enjoying some great discovery activities including Snakes and Ladders, Whiteboards, Number Puzzles, Building beads and even hanging some washing on the line. Check out some of the happy faces that have loved their learning this week.
PREP PET PARADE
Next Friday (13th October) the Prep students will be holding a Pet Parade to introduce and show off their pets from home. This is an important event on the calendar as it links in and supports the learning of the students in their Science unit this term. We ask that all pets arrive at school by 9.30am with the parade to begin shortly after. There will be some special awards for the loudest pet, quietest pet, most unusual pet, naughtiest pet, best dressed pet and plenty more. We are all very excited!!
Library News
Library News:
Issue 7 of Book Club was handed out to children this week. Orders are due back by: Wednesday 11st August 2023. To purchase online, please Google Search “Scholastic Book Club LOOP”
Already thinking about Christmas?
The Gift Function for LOOP has automatically been turned ON.
Gift orders will be left at the office for parents to collect. Please select the ‘GIFT’ button on the books you would like to be kept as a present.
A special message........
The following students will be celebrating their birthdays in the coming week.................
Ruby Reddick, Nate Reed, Austin Francis, Byron Keane, Layla Vandijk.
Canteen Roster for next week.
Tuesday 10th October: Lauren Johnson
Wednesday 11th October: Merryn Payne
Thursday 12th September: Bec Stebbins
Friday 13th September: Jane Kelly
Updated Uniform Price List
Important Dates.
Wednesday October 18th: Prep excursion, Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters
Thursday October 19th: Junior school atheletics carnival
Friday November 3rd: Pupil Free day
Wednesday November 15: 2024 Prep information evening
Monday December 4th: Transition 1
December 5th-7th: Learning conversations
Thursday December 7th: Year 6 Graduation
Friday December 8th: Transition 2
Tuesday December 12th: Global Transition Day
Thursday December 14th: Carols and Celebration Evening
Friday December 15th: Last day of classes. Fun day/colour run
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/
Could you make a difference to a young life?
Could this be what you are looking for?
Foster carers come from all walks of life. They can be working, not working or retired; married or single; in same-sex relationships; and can own or rent their home. The most essential criteria are that they care, can provide a safe and nurturing home, and have room in their home to support a vulnerable child or sibling group.
If you would like to know more call MacKillop Family Services on 1300 791 677, visit www.mackillop.org.au/fostercare or ring Alana in our Warrnambool office on 5500 2000.
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.