Dear Parents,

On Thursday we will be conducting a Literacy Day as apart of our Book Week celebrations. Thank you to Ms Butler, who has organised this event for us. All parents are invited to attend the Book Week parade on Thursday morning followed by a reading picnic at Eddison Park.

I am very proud of the strong reading culture we have at our school. This is exemplified through our Reading Club, which meets every Tuesday in the Library. This club is very well attended by large numbers of students and I believe it is a testament to the great reading practices, which are a feature of our Literacy Block in classrooms. During this time, every student is given the opportunity to engage in Free Choice Reading for 20 mins every day. 

This approach is supported by the prioritisation of Reading in our Home Learning policy. We know that reading impacts upon all aspects of a child's schooling and is something we should be heavily encouraging. I have included some Literature which highlights some of the benefits of having well-developed reading routines at home:

Relationship building

At the core of reading is a relationship, and it is the bond between children and parents that is enhanced through reading together. It only takes ten minutes a day to build this relationship.

Children’s reading improves

The research is conclusive: When parents successfully support their children’s literacy learning from an early age, everyone benefits. When teachers and parents work together to support children’s reading and academic success, learning outcomes for all children improve.

Children read more

Students who read with their parents are better prepared for school. They begin school with knowledge of book language and familiarity with concepts of print. They understand how books work and have many more exposures to text types and vocabulary.

Children’s self-esteem improves

Knowing someone cares enough to take time out of a busy schedule to give you undivided attention around a book makes a significant difference in how students perceive themselves as learners and readers. When parents show an interest in their children’s learning, children respond positively.

Reading unites families through shared stories

When a family reads together, stories form a common ground for communicating. Stories bind families and help students makes sense of where they fit in the world. 

Not only does parent involvement have a specific and profound impact on children’s reading, but also on children’s language and literacy learning in general. It is through interactions with parents and carers that children learn new vocabulary, seek clarification of new understandings, and learn to comprehend their expanding worlds. Establishing great reading practices with your children are incredibly powerful and is the reason why we place such great emphasis upon ensuring reading is prioritised in busy households through our Home Learning strategy. 

Mrs Pollard’s Farewell

I spoke with Mrs Pollard this week who was very moved by the large number of parents who attended her farewell on Friday last week. She was very grateful for the opportunity to say goodbye to the staff, students and parents. Thank you to the members of the Community Council who organised a gift from the parent body to thank Margaret for service to this community.

Father’s Day Breakfast

Over the last few years, we have listened to feedback from the community regarding our community breakfasts for Mothers and Fathers day. This feedback called for equality in making sure Mother’s and Father’s days were catered in the same way. Many people also requested a continental breakfast at these events. 

Unfortunately, with the recent closure of the Hughes Bakery, we have been unable to find a supplier who we can work with to ensure these community breakfasts are affordable for families. It is because of this, we have had to revert to a cooked breakfast for Father's Day instead of the planned continental breakfast. I apologise in advance to those who may be affected by this change.

Orders for the Father's Day breakfast are available through the Qkr! App and close at 3.00pm on Tuesday 27 August.  

School Renovation Works

Our renovation works have begun! You will notice that the hall will not be accessible from the office. Access to the hall during construction will be via the canteen doors. The builders have erected temporary fencing to cut off the site from the usable space in the hall. Priority will be given to finishing the hall before moving to the Front office areas during the school holidays. Staging the building like this means we will have minimal disruptions to these areas. 

New App for School communication

Our school has been undertaking a process to streamline our website, newsletter and communications with one provider. Our new website was launched last year, and our new-look online newsletter launched earlier this year.  The final step in this process is to phase in the SZapp as a way of communicating with parents and connecting all these forms of communication. Feedback from some parents regarding communication tools such as Skoolbag have been around too much communication and receiving messages that may not be related to your child. The SZapp addresses some of this feedback as it allows for greater control of notifications for the end-user, allowing you to subscribe to specific groups and receive notifications about content that is more relevant to your family.

From Week 7 this term, we will begin to phase in SZapp with a full change over expected to commence at the beginning of term 4. From weeks 7-10 content will be duplicated across both SZapp and Skoolbag platforms to aide in the switch. SZapp will replace the SkoolBag app, and SkoolBag will not be used after the end of this term.

For more information about the SZapp, please see the following links. If you need any further information, please contact the school.

Download and installation guide- http://www.schoolzine.com/szapp-installation

FAQ about SZapp- http://www.schoolzine.com/szapp

Blessings and best wishes,

Sean Rutledge

Principal (Acting)

My Body, My Life presentation for Year 5/6 students.

A team from the Archdiocese will be coming to Saints Peter and Paul Primary School on the evening of Monday 9 September 2019, from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm to present the My Body, My Life Puberty and Personal Development Program to our Year 5 and 6 students and their parents. The program is pitched at a level appropriate for 10 - 12 year olds and consistent with a Catholic understanding of the dignity of every human person and the dignity of human sexuality. Children must be accompanied to the evening session by their parent or guardian. Both or either parents are strongly encouraged to attend, and it’s great if a parent of the same gender can be present as they have been through the changes themselves. Boys and girls will be separated for this presentation so if you have both a boy and a girl in this age group, a parent or guardian will need to be present with each child. The parent/child evening session includes opportunities for the child and their parent or guardian to work together on fun, non-threatening activities while also being introduced to the same information and vocabulary regarding these topics for further discussion at home. Topics covered in the evening program will include:

• Changes during puberty: physical, emotional, social
• Personal hygiene: skin, hair, cleanliness
• Reproductive systems: growth, development, changes and experiences
• Human conception
• Mood changes and mental health
• Respecting yourself and others
• Cyber Safety
• Talking to trusted adults

In the coming weeks, we will be implementing the Seasons for Growth Program, which is an education program that builds the resilience and wellbeing of children who have recently experienced change and loss.

Many factors can cause change such as:

• Friends moving away
• Loss of someone or something you love
• Parents and families separating
• Moving to a new place
• Impact of illness
• Family work-life changes.

Change affects everyone differently, as does grief. It’s the impact of the change, not the event itself that Seasons for Growth focuses on.

Seasons for Growth aims to support young people to understand their feelings, help them develop skills for coping, restore self-confidence and educate them about the grief process. The program is underpinned by evidence about resilience, emotional competence and identity.

If you feel like your child may benefit from being part of this program or would like more information, please contact Melissa Neit, our Pastoral Care Coordinator, on Melissa.neit@cg.catholic.edu.au

Parish School Mass - 25^th August 9:30am

This weekend we will be celebrating our Parish School Mass for Term 3. During this Mass, candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation in our Parish will be presented. We will join together as a community to pray for them all as they continue along their faith journey. All are invited to join us on this special day.

Sunday Gospel: Luke 13:22-30, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

This week’s gospel makes it very clear that in order to gain salvation, you have to do more than just show up. Like those knocking on the locked door and claiming friendship, we can’t just turn up at the last minute and expect to be received. Salvation – entrance into the kingdom of God – belongs to those who accept the message of Jesus and act on it for the rest of their lives.

Youth Ministry at Transfiguration Parish

A message from our Youth Minister, Sarah Pearson:

This weekend, on Sunday 25th of August we will be having our first youth ministry gathering for Term 3. It will be from 4:30pm – 5:30pm at the Transfiguration Parish centre in Curtin. The youth group is open to all students from Years 4 -6, and it is a chance for students to grow in personal faith with friends. I invite you all to come along, and hope to see you there.

Dates for your Diary:

Sunday 25th August 9:30am – Parish School Mass- presentation of candidates for Confirmation & Liturgy Choir singing

Sunday 25^th August 4:30-5:30 in the Parish Centre, Holy Trinity Curtin.

Friday 31^st August 8:00am – Father’s Day Breakfast, followed by a Prayer Celebration led by 2M

Tuesday 10^th September– Stole Night for Confirmation Candidates, held at Holy Trinity, Curtin

Thursday 12^th September– Retreat Day for Confirmation Candidates, held at Holy Trinity, Curtin.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

SPORTS

Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival

If you haven't yet submitted your entry form and paid on Qkr! (please note that both of these steps need to be completed) please do so by 9.00am this Friday, 23rd August.  Thank you.

AWARDS

Literacy Day - Thursday 22nd August

Happy Book Week!

Celebrations have kicked off with our library Book Fair. Students are welcome to visit during lunchtime and before or after school (8:30-8:45 am and 3:10-4:00 pm), Monday-Thursday this week. Mrs de Jongh is also holding a colouring competition. Classroom teachers have distributed copies of the page to interested students. Entries are due to Mrs de Jongh in the library by 9 am on Thursday. Winners will be drawn on Literacy Day and will receive a voucher to spend at the fair (Years K-2, 3-4 & 5-6 categories).

Our annual Book Parade will commence after the morning assembly on Thursday morning. Students are invited to dress up as their favourite book character or in this year's CBCA theme, 'Reading is My Secret Power.' Weather permitting, this will take place outside on the blue top.

At approximately 10 am, classes will make their way over to Edison Park for our whole-school buddy reading picnic (with the generous cupcake donations!). You are welcome to attend and read a book with your child/children.

The middle session will consist of CBCA picture book reading, discussions and activities. During the afternoon, students will participate in mixed-group Literacy activities across the school.

Please keep an eye on our school Facebook page for photos and updates.

We look forward to this exciting celebration of all things Literacy!

Stage 3 Musical Performance Props and Costume Drive

As has been customary for the past few years, Stage 3 students conduct a musical performance every second year. This year we will be performing Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits. Rehearsals are already underway and we are currently looking into costumes and props. With that in mind there are a few items we thought we may be able to source from families in our school community. If you have any of the items listed below and are happy to donate/loan them to us we would be most grateful.

• Small/medium gong and mallet
• Selection of rugs to create a rug store effect and one to become a magic carpet
• Artificial flowers and large vases baskets to create a flower market stall
• Lengths of shiny material to create a fabric stall and some to sew costumes from
• Tea cosy
• Garden gnome
• Large toy ruby/diamond
• Empty perfume bottles
• Crystal ball
• Large stuffed toy snake and snake charmer’s basket
• Costume jewelry and the like to create a cave of treasures
• Treasure chests
• Wooden bucket 

Thank you for taking the time to consider our request.

Stage 3 Teachers

In a few weeks, we will be holding our Annual Science Day event. In preparation for this day, we need your help to send in recycled materials for the activities we will be conducting. If you have any of these materials that you were going to throw out anyway, could you please send them to school with your child. Here is a list of materials that we will need to make our Annual Science Day a  huge success:

• empty milk cartons (washed out)
• shoe boxes
• cardboard boxes
• cardboard tubes
• large bottle lids
• small bottle lids
• fabric scraps
• plastic jars with lids
• glass jars with lids
• old stockings

Thank you

Entertainment Books - A great Father's Day Present

Purchase an Entertainment Membership for Dad for Father’s Day and not only will you be supporting our fundraising but you will also go in the draw to WIN the Ultimate Father’s Day Prize - 2 tickets to the 2019 Toyota AFL Grand Final + a $400 flight voucher! Get your Membership today   https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/2j4040

Canteen Volunteer Roster for Week 6, Term 3

The Fruit Incentive ticket winner for last week was William D, 2W.  Congratulations William, you have won a $2.00 voucher to spend at the canteen.  Please see Mrs R at the Canteen to collect your voucher.

Do you want to win a $2 voucher to spend at the Canteen?  Simply purchase fresh or frozen fruit from the Canteen and be in the weekly draw to WIN!!

Now selling NEW SCHOOL HATS.

Cost $15.

We are phasing out slouch hats because there are no ties available on the hats.

The new “surf hats” have a wide brim, cooling airflow eyelets and adjustable crown cord. Made from lightweight, water repellent microfibre with 50+ UPF rating, the surf hat provides year-round coverage from sun and rain alike.

Sizes range from XS/S, S/M, M/L, L/XL. Now available on Qkr!