Newsletter No. 22 | Term 3 Week 4 | Thursday 4th August 2022
Prayer
Prayer for Inclusion
Lord, give us new strength so that we can build places of belonging:
To create a community for all to share their gifts,
To know that each of us is loved,
To help us to see the light of Christ in all that we serve.
Let us remember that each of us is loved, each of us is willed and each of us is necessary.
Principal's Message
Dear Families and Friends,
The first four weeks of the Term have gone very quickly and very smoothly. It has been wonderful to see our attendance rates so high, given the amount of sickness that is out there in the community. For those of you who have had sick children, thanks so much for keeping your children home when they are unwell. That helps to keep the rest of our community safe.
Last Friday, it was the first time in over a year that we have had the whole school here on one day, a cause for celebration! A couple of years ago, this would have been relatively normal. Hopefully this is a turning point, and children will avoid illness and return to the normal routine of attending school every day. Children are certainly more settled and achieve more positive outcomes in schools when good routines are established.
Congratulations to the following students who achieved perfect attendance in Term Two:
- Kaitlyn Bourk
- Charlie Ferrari
- Eden Robb
- Jasmine Bourk
- Jess Beardsley
100 Days of Prep
It was so much fun to celebrate 100 days at school for our Prep students. Thank you to Miss Kluver for making it such a fun day and thanks to our families who joined in the spirit of the day by dressing up as 100 year olds!
Inclusion
You may be aware that last week, the Commonwealth Games began in Birmingham England. It is always a wonderful event in terms of uniting countries across the world and seeing athletes push themselves to the limit. This time it is extra special. The vision for these games is:
To deliver an inclusive and accessible Commonwealth Games experience for everyone.
Usually the Paralympics are run separately, after the ‘main’ event, but this time they will be run at the same time as other events.
This supports the view that ‘inclusion is not something you say but something you do’.
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be reflecting on this with our students. With recent findings from a survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealing that 1 in 5 Australians is living with a disability, it is important for us to instill in our children that we can all contribute to creating a positive, inclusive world for all. Being an inclusive community aligns with the school Vision and Mission of St. Brendan's, a community inclusive of all.
Our prayer in today's Newsletter reminds us that although we are all different, we are all loved.
Sounds Write PD - Camperdown College
Early in the week, our teachers attended Camperdown College to observe their Sounds Write Program in action. The teachers found it to be a valuable learning experience and came back with a number of learnings to help guide future planning for the teaching of reading and writing at St. Brendan’s.
Principal Leadership Days
On Thursday and Friday of this week I will be attending two Principal leadership days in Horsham. These are held once each Term and are valuable days to hear from CEB leaders, be updated on current issues, practice and pedagogies, and have the opportunity to engage in discussions with fellow Principals from across the Ballarat Diocese.
Hot Dog Lunch
Thank you to Sophie Alliband and Janet Ross for cooking the hot dogs on Tuesday. The children certainly enjoyed having a hot lunch and after paying for the hot dogs we had $133.30 to donate to Vinnie’s. This will be especially helpful to them with families facing rising costs in so many areas. Thank you for supporting this cause.
Book Week Parade - Date Change
We have noticed a clash with the proposed date for the Book week Parade and the Senior Winter Sports. Therefore the Book Week Parade will now be held on Thursday 25th August.
Sustainability
A reminder to please keep donating your plastic bottle lids in the front office!
Assembly & Liturgy
You are invited to attend a Year 2/3/4 Liturgy on Thursday 11th August at 2.30. The Liturgy will be followed by an Assembly which you are also able to attend.
ALL WELCOME!
Bush Excursion - Week 9
Our Bush Excursion for this Term will be on Friday 9th September.
Parent feedback has indicated that students are quite tired the day after the bush excursions so we thought that we would move them from Wednesdays to Fridays. We are thinking that we might head down to Lake Elizabeth for this one (tbc).
We would love parents to come along so put the date in your diaries. It should be fun!
Have a great week!
Leanne Eastman
principal@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
SchoolTV
In this edition of SchoolTV - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & EXERCISE
In the last decade, children’s participation in physical activity and exercise has been in decline. In this digital age, children are using computers and mobile devices, not only for learning, but for relaxation and recreation purposes. This sedentary lifestyle is having a detrimental effect on today’s youth. The key is finding the balance.
Research shows, that regular physical activity and exercise leads to changes in the brain. It improves cognitive function, elevates mood, enhances learning and improves academic outcomes. Playing sport helps kids develop fundamental movement skills impacting positively on their confidence, self-esteem and ability to develop social skills. Parents play an important role in helping children establish positive habits that will benefit their children in the long-term.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will discover practical advice relating to the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise, as well as tips on how to get their kids motivated and moving more.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Physical Activity & Exercise edition of SchoolTV
https://sbcoragulac.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-exercise
Child Safety
Child Safety eSafety Parent Webinars for Term 3
The eSafety Commissioner has a number of parent webinars coming up to help keep our children safe online. This webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8 to 13.
Popular apps: Learn about TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube and help your children stay safe online.
It will cover:
- case studies, research and targeted advice
- ways of supporting the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.
Term 3 dates (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
- Monday 1 August 12:30 to 1:30 pm
- Tuesday 16 August 7:30 to 8:30 pm
- Thursday 25 August 12:30 to 1:30 pm
To sign up for one of these sessions, click here or visit: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
Eleven new Child Safety Standards will come into place on July 1st. Key changes include new requirements:
- to involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
- for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
- to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
- for greater clarity on the governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe.
Prep/1 Classroom News
Congratulations to the Prep/1’s for completing 100 days of school! This momentous occasion was celebrated on Wednesday. The dress-ups were phenomenal! A class of little old people was a funny sight - there were shawls, grey hair, walking sticks, slippers, wrinkles and even a walker filled with all the oldie essentials (a cup of tea, painkillers, biscuits, newspaper and magnifying glass as well as a sneaky bottle of wine!). Thanks to all for the effort you put in!
Literacy: There have been some wonderful poems produced this week in class. The Prep/1’s are a creative and inventive bunch which reflects in their writing. I am constantly impressed with their ideas.
How to Make a Cat - By Milly Carlon
Take
The woof of a dog,
The purr of a lion,
And the roar of a tiger
For its voice.
Take
The sharp end of a knife,
A big snake’s bite,
And the teeth of a wolf
For its teeth.
Take
A dragon’s orange fire,
A goat’s soft fur,
And a slice of slate
For its coat.
Mathematics: We have continued learning about money. The students were very excited to set up their own shops in class this week. They practiced pricing items, collecting money and even giving change.
Religion: This week we explored the passage Micah 6:8 from the Bible. Micah implores that we must “live justly, love kindly and walk humbly.” We wondered about what this means and even identified times in our own lives where we have lived out these values.
Integrated Curriculum: Science has continued to be a big hit! On Friday we completed an experiment to discover what happens when you shake cream. The Prep/1’s were very intrigued to discover that you can make cream.
Allira Kluver
akluver@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
2/3/4 Classroom News
Welcome to Week 4!
It is hard to believe we are nearly half way through another term!
We have our Review next week then we are lucky to have Friday and the following Monday off. I hope we all get to relax and enjoy an extended weekend!
Literacy: In Literacy we have been learning about the Commonwealth Games and Mary McKillop((Australia’s first saint). We celebrate her Feast Day on Monday 8th August.
We are still looking at short plays and monologues with the class presenting them to each other. We are focusing on expression, volume and following punctuation cues.
Writing: In Writing, the children have been busy creating simile poems and are researching countries participating in the Commonwealth Games.
Below we a few samples of our simile poems.
Simile Poems
Eden:
I am as quick as a giant.
My eyes are as blue as the St. Brendan ‘s uniform.
My ears can hear like an elephant.
My brain is as smart as a fox.
My nose can smell like a pig.
My heart is as big as a stop sign.
Matilda:
I am as fast as a race dog.
My eyes are as blue as coral.
My ears can hear like a dog.
My brain is as big as the sun.
My nose can smell like an elephant.
My heart is as full as a river.
Jackson:
I am as quick as a cheetah.
My eyes are as brown as bark.
My ears can hear like a dog.
My brain is as smart as Albert Einstein.
My nose can smell like a wolf.
My heart is as big as the world.
Kaitlyn:
I am as fast as a greyhound.
My eyes are as hazel as a huge tree.
My ears can hear like a fox.
My brain is as giant as a dinosaur.
My nose can smell like a German Shepherd.
My heart is as kind as God.
Brennan:
I am as cool as a breeze.
My eyes are as blue as the sky.
My ears can hear like a bat.
My brain is as smart as a video game.
My nose can smell like a pig.
My heart is as big as the sea.
Religion: In R.E. we have been discussing the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. These sacraments fully incorporate us into the Body of Christ, the Church.
The three sacraments of Christian initiation closely combine to bring us closer to Jesus and to enable us to carry out the mission of the people of God in the Church and in the world.
Next Thursday we will be presenting a liturgy about Mary McKillop.
Integrated Curriculum: Our Integrated Curriculum theme for this term is ‘Changes happen all around us. What is the science behind it?’ We have been looking at the changes melting and heating have on solids.
Maths: In Maths we are looking at fractions focusing on the concepts below:
Year 2: identifying eighths of shapes and objects.
Year 3: identifying and comparing fraction sizes.
Year 4: identifying hundredths and decimal fractions.
Homework has been sent out with a worksheet focused on basic mathematical concepts.
The Star of the Week award goes to Jordon Price. Congratulations on your excellent work and effort!
Cheers,
Mandy Sutherland
msutherland@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
5/6 Classroom News
Welcome to Week 4 of Term 3! We have had another busy week in our classroom this week.
Leadership Groups: Just a reminder that the Earth Heroes are collecting plastic bottle lids (milk, water & soft drink lids). If you could please remember to collect these lids we would appreciate it very much. There is a Lids4Kids box near Gracesyn’s office.
Portfolios: It would be great if all portfolios could come back to school as soon as possible, thank you!
Writing: This week in Writing we have been working on Haiku and Parody poems. We took ourselves outside for inspiration for our haiku poems and have been enjoying writing some humorous parody poems to finish off the week.
Congratulations to Jimmy Armistead who was awarded his pen licence this week.
Maths: In Maths we have been investigating flipping, sliding and turning shapes. We have also been learning about triangular numbers and identifying the pattern in these.
Integrated Curriculum: In class this week we have been investigating gases. We have been looking at the properties of gases and have been discussing their shape, volume and mass.
I hope you all have a great week, please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any questions or concerns.
Tahlia Whytcross
twhytcross@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
Birthday Corner
We would like to wish a very big Happy Birthday to everyone who has celebrated their special day this week!
Important Dates
AUGUST
9th & 10th - School Review Panel at St Brendan's
12th & 15th - NO SCHOOL (Catholic Schools Long Weekend)
22nd - Book Week Begins
22nd - Scholastic Book Fair Begins in the Hall
25th - Book Week Dress Up Parade. Theme: 'Dreaming with Eyes Open'
30th - Indian Classical Dance Performance by Chandralaya
SEPTEMBER
9th - Bush Excursion to Lake Elizabeth
11th - Thomas Carr Open Day
16th - Final Day of Term 3
Fundraising News
Warrion Flower Show: Tombola Jars
Below are some ideas to help everyone with their Tombola Jars for our fundraising store at the Warrion Flower Show, which is being held on Wednesday 26th October.
It is not necessary to buy a brand new jar. Try to reuse/recycle jars you already have. Just give used jars a clean with hot water and vinegar to take the smell out of the jar.
Get the kids involved and it becomes a school holiday activity for the kids, as they decorate the jars. To have lots of jars to display for Tombola would be fantastic, as it would result in both a great looking stall and maximum fundraising potential for our school. Variety, colour, and the element of surprise is a big part of the fun of Tombola.
Ideas include, but are obviously not restricted to...
- Making a batch of jam/chutney/preserves/pickles? A jar of homemade goodness would be a lovely jar to receive in Tombola.
- You can reuse jars from the kitchen, simply wash, dry and fill.
Think pasta, nuts, lollies, lentils, mints, biscuits, spices.
- Perhaps make up a couple of biscuit/brownie/cookie mix jars (google it)
- Items do not even have to be edible.
Think pencils, puzzle, beads, buttons, screws, nails, clothes pegs, washing powder, bath salts, pot pourri, seeds for the garden.
- When at the supermarket grab a couple of extra items in jars. Job done!
- Have a family member or friend with a business to promote? Perhaps they’d like to contribute a voucher ($ value or deal offer) ...Pop it in a jar!
Last time the school collected 270 Tombola jars. Can we break the record this time?
Other ways to help with the Flower Show:
In the next month or two, a working group will be meeting to get our stalls up and running. We understand that we have new families in the school who may not know what is involved or how they can help out. There is a list below to give you an idea of what is involved.
St. Brendan’s Stalls 2022 (to be confirmed)
- Petting Zoo
- Flower Crowns
- BBQ
- Tombola jars
Families can assist by:
- Helping out at a working bee in the hall the day before the show, decorating the jars and doing other small jobs in preparation for the next day (the added bonus is having a coffee, a chat with other families and feeling good about working with others to do something for our school)
- Packing the trailer the day before
- Being rostered on for a shift on the day of the Show. This may be to sell Tombolas, help out with the bbq or supervise the petting zoo
- Setting up on the day
- Packing up post event
School Concert Videos - NOW AVAILABLE!
Copies of the school concert video are now available for purchase from the front office. We are selling these USB's for $15 each and all proceeds are going towards the community groups fundraising total. Perfect for grandparents and friends who may not have been able to attend on the night!
CDFNL Finals Gate Fundraiser
St Brendan's has again been given the opportunity to man the gates during the CDFNL Finals Series this year. Some parents may remember helping with this in previous years and it was a fantastic fundraiser for the school. We are able to raise significant funds and all we need to do is show up with some volunteer power!
We are looking for parent helpers to assist in covering shifts working on the gate. If you are able to help in any way please contact the office and we can put your name on your preferred shift. Thank you.
Acknowledgement of Country
At St. Brendan’s Primary School we pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land, the Gulidjan people and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
We will respect the land, animals and waterways, from the roots of the earth to the tops of the trees. Through the example of our first Australians, we understand that if we look after the country, then the country will look after us.
About Us
School Vision: 'For you I have a destiny and a hope.'
PARISH PRIEST: Fr Michael O’Toole PRINCIPAL: Mrs Leanne Eastman
SAC CHAIRPERSON: Ms Gayle McNabb CHILD SAFETY OFFICER: Mrs Leanne Eastman