OCT 19 2023 NEWSLETTER

CHILD SAFETY STATEMENT

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and Carers,

St Patrick's and Port Fairy Consolidated Primary Schools combined last weekend to perform with the Spring Music Festival Orchestra and Adult Choir.  It was a challenging yet amazing experience. Thank you to the parents who supported their children to attend the many rehearsals and the event itself on Sunday. Thank you also to Antonia Balmer for her time and enthusiasm. 

I often get enquiries from parents concerned that their children are spending much of their time at home gaming and online chatting.  I have included a link for parents who want to know more about online parental controls. 

Next week I will publish our classroom structure after meeting with the School Advisory Council.  We are in a phase of change as we take up the Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) pedagogy and participate in professional learning on a Strutured Literacy model of teaching reading, spelling and writing. 

Year 5/6 parents are invited to attend a Care Education Information Session on October 26 via Zoom at 7PM.          I strongly encourage parents to attend. It is important that both school and home are using the same language and age appropriate information when supporting the children's personal development. 

Olga Lyons (Principal)

FROM THE RE LEADER - ELIZA DWYER

ALL SOULS DAY

AWARDS

STEM NEWS

Citizen Science

This week it is the annual National Aussie Bird Count (16th-22nd October). It is important to monitor the biodiversity of our surroundings, to ensure that each species is able to thrive.  The children in Foundation have been bird spotting and recording their data using the tally system.  

If you would like to get involved with this at home, visit:   

https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

Hydrogen energy 

Mr Greene is involved in a curriculum research project for Deakin University, trialling some lessons on Hydrogen energy.  This term, Year 5 & 6 students have been learning about Hydrogen as an alternative energy source. They carried out an experiment to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water, using electrolysis.  Linking this to our community, they will be investigating how the Warrnambool Bus Lines may use hydrogen as fuel in the future.

Coding

Children in Year 1 & 2 have had fun programming the Beebots to move in a particular direction around a map or around the alphabet to spell their initials!  Coding helps teach students digital technology and problem solving skills.

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

PRIVATE GUITAR LESSONS

Dylan O'Keefe will be available to teach private guitar lessons during afternoons at St Patrick's Port Fairy in 2024.  If you are interested, please make contact with Dylan directly. 

SPRING MUSIC FESTIVAL

Grace Burris, Isla Burris, Leila Cryer, Tilly Hetherington, Poppy Robinson, Ben Mirtschin and Leah Mirtschin all represented our school by performing in Stefan Cassomenos'  piece - Requiem for the End Of Time.  This was the fourth part in the closing concert of the Spring Music Festival. The setting of this piece is the Latin text of the Requiem mass, which is a Christian service to commemorate a recent death. Several composers throughout the centuries have composed music to this text, most notably Mozart, Verdi, Brahms, amongst many others. Our students gave up their school holidays and weekends to rehearse this piece which was sung all in Latin. They were so fortunate to have the experience of working with renowned singing coach Dermot Tutty and to be able to take in the artistic brilliance of Stefan Cassomenos.  What an experience it was to sing on stage in front of a full house. We are very proud of our St Patrick's Students and our Consolidated friends who performed so professionally. Please congratulate them.

MUSIC VIVA - MUSIC IN MY SUITCASE

On Monday we were entertained by Music In My Suitcase. A group from Musica Viva, sponsored by the Sping Music Festival and Port Fairy Community Bank. They involved the children singing songs from around the world.

ONLINE PARENTAL CONTROLS

Do you need parental controls? What are the options? Do they really work? Here's everything you need to know about the wide array of parental control solutions, from OS settings to monitoring apps to network hardware.

Even if you've talked to your kids about screen-time limits and responsible online behavior, it's still really tough to manage what they do when you're not there (and even when you are). Parental controls can support you in your efforts to keep your kids' internet experiences safe, fun, and productive. They work best when used openly and honestly in partnership with your kids.

RIDE 2 SCHOOL

SWIMMING LESSONS

The Swimming Program will run for 10 weeks each Friday until December 8. Parents are welcome to attend junior lessons to assist with dressing after lessons.  These parents will need to have a current Working With Children's Card registered with the school and sign a Volunteer Responsibility Agreement and Safetguarding Children and Young Adults Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is on our Passtab sign in system.

Swimming lesson times 2023

10.00am - Foundation

10.30am - 1/2OR

11.00am - 1/2D

11.30pm - Year 5

12.30pm - 3/4MM

1.00pm -  3/4CF

1.30pm - 3/4L

GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

THRIVING KIDS & PARENTS PROJECT

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted children’s social and emotional development, resulting in increased levels of anxiety and significant challenges in developing healthy peer relationships.  

What is The Thriving Kids and Parents School Project (TKPSP)?  

The TKPSP aims to strengthen partnerships between schools and families by offering three FREE, highly relevant Triple P – Positive Parenting seminars for parents. These seminars are online and parents who register will be provided the Zoom link via email. 

The project offers 3 free, high quality, evidence-based parenting seminars and a complementary webinar for teachers to help parents and schools to develop a shared language and a toolbox of strategies to support children’s learning and wellbeing.

The parent seminar package includes:   

• Power of Positive Parenting (Triple P Seminar)   

• Helping Your Child to Manage Anxiety (Fear-Less Triple P Seminar)   

• Keeping your Child Safe from Bullying (Resilience Triple P Seminar)   

Parents/carers:   

1. Register for the seminar series and complete a short (15-20 minute) online questionnaire.   

2. Attend three online seminars in the TKPSP series (90 – 120 minutes each seminar)      

3. Complete two questionnaires (15 minutes) at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the first questionnaire.  

COMMUNITY NEWS

MOTHERS WHO PRAY FOR THEIR CHILDREN

This prayer group for mothers is held each Friday at the Infant Jesus Church in Koroit at 10.45am.  All are welcome!