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Dear Parents,

I hope that all families enjoyed the extra break that Melbourne Cup holiday provided last week.

It seems to me that once we turn over the calendar to that first Tuesday in November, we all become a bit like the horses in the great race and our focus is on the finish line ahead. There is a danger that like the horses, blinkers become a necessity to ensure we stay focused on the countdown to the end of the year and the lengthy ‘to do list’ we create in the process.

I was reminded of the need to stop and ‘smell the roses’ on the day of the Cup whilst listening to a journalist on the radio. She commented on how fortunate she was to have the early morning shift that allowed her to be at Flemington before the gates opened. She marvelled at how this gave her the opportunity to stop and view all the beautiful roses in full bloom before their splendour was diminished by the bulging crowd and the focus on the race to the finish line.

I will admit that I am often guilty of putting on the blinkers and racing frantically to the finish line. So today, I am listening to the advice of the journalist and taking the time to ‘smell and view the roses’ around me and share with you two moments that made me smile in the busyness of last week.

The first was on Friday when our whole school participated in the walkathon. Whilst this day does have a fundraising focus, I would suggest that the sense of community that is apparent on this day is equally as important as the funds we make. Prior to the walkathon commencing, our staff room was bulging with parents, grandparents and friends who came along in support of the day. At times the friendly banter and laughter in the staffroom was loud – a great sign that our community were enjoying themselves. Whether the volunteers were engaged in cutting up fruit for the hungry walkers, supervising the laps the children completed or even getting physical and walking the laps with the children – we once again witnessed St Michael’s Primary school community working as one. Thank you to those who came along and supported us on the day and to the families who supported this fundraiser through their generous donations. My second ‘smell the roses moment’ was during the Prep mindfulness session on Friday. As the youngest members of our school community quietly walked into the hall, I stopped to marvel at how much they had grown as individuals over the year. Displaying that they had now mastered the routine of coming in and sitting down calmly and quietly ready to commence their practice of mindfulness, I

was reminded of how privileged we are as educators to witness the journey of growth and discovery that our students take during their time at St Michael’s. Life moves at a very fast pace for all of us. Maybe this week, you and your family might also take time to ‘stop and smell the roses’ surrounding you.

Kind regards and take care, Jenny Hanrahan Acting Deputy Principal

Our Vision: St Michael’s is a catholic school community inspired by the life of Jesus. We are life-long learners and thinkers who have the courage to live our beliefs. Our Mission: St Michael’s is a school called to serve the families of St Michael’s Parish, Traralgon. We are committed to nurturing personal achievement in an environment where relationships are authentic and collaborative

NEWSLETTER No. 34 DATE: 8th November 2016

News from the Principal

Selection of Grades Policy This policy is attached to the newsletter and is an indication of the process that is applied to the development of grade structures and student placement in grades.

If you have a request for your child/children’s placement for the 2017 school year, please forward your information, in writing to Jan Fitzpatrick, Acting Principal, by no later than 18

th November 2016. Parent requests

should be based on individual student needs and not requests for preferred teachers. These will be forwarded onto staff for consideration when placing students. This process for staff begins in November. Therefore requests received after this date will not be considered.

As professionals, our staff use academic, behavioural and social issues to ensure there is an effective balance within grades and across a level to provide the optimum learning environment for your child and all students. Please be aware that your letters are not guarantees. As stated in our policy “Parent letters regarding factors to be considered are based on individual student needs and not requests for preferred teachers”. Our policy also states “Student placement in classes will be formed on the basis of providing a balance between the intellectual ability of children, their social development, gender, previous class and friendship groupings and any other known factors that may have an impact on the class grouping. Individual needs and a whole school perspective must be considered.” Staff will always consider that a student needs to be placed with a child in which they have a positive relationship. This does not always mean that it will be their best friend or friends.

This week’s Scripture Challenge is based on the Gospel- Lk 20:27-38

The Sadducees try to put Jesus in conflict with Moses

Imagine Heaven Introductory Remarks Young children may not have had much experience with death and dying. We can begin to introduce them to the mysteries of our faith, especially those concerning death and resurrection, by using experiences and things with which they are familiar. Our appreciation for the eternal is often limited by our experiences. This is something that children learn as they mature. In the Gospel, Jesus applies this thought to some people's conceptions about life after death.

Our beginning point for discussion of this week’s Gospel with the children: What do you think heaven is like?

How might it be different to living in this world?

How might it be the same? (God is with us)

Jesus promises to be with us now and strengthen us as we do his will on earth.

What can we do that shows that God is with us?

After the Gospel reading we discussed… In the Gospel this week, Jesus tells us that after we die, we also will not need the same things we did when we were alive. Instead, we will have a new and different life with Christ.

We sometimes miss the most important things about what God has planned for us because we get stuck in the details of human existence. Jesus wants us to open our minds and hearts to the possibilities that God has in store for us. Our imaginations are too small when it comes to God!

Our faith tells us that when we die our life is changed, but it is not ended. This is good news because we know that we will continue to share a relationship with God even after our death.

We will be like the angels and will be God’s children During our life we prepare for a time when God will be with us forever in heaven. We talked with the children about what we can do to prepare for eternal life with God.

Student Numbers for 2017

An accurate prediction of student numbers is a vital part of developing grade and staffing plans for 2017.

Please advise the school office as soon as possible if your child will not be attending St Michael’s School

next year.

We acknowledge that circumstances can contribute to changes during the year, however notice of intention to

leave will aid in making class predictions.

Education in Faith News

LOTE WEEK 2016

St Michael’s School

This week, Signora Scholtes will celebrate LOTE week with the children in Grade 3 to 6.

The grade 3 to 6 classes will attend an Italian themed incursion in our hall and will also

be involved in cooking and sampling Italian food.

Wednesday, 9th November - Grade 3 to 6 students are asked to dress as an Italian character or simply wear clothes that are red/white/green (national colours of Italy). - 9.00am – Italian Parade. We invite all families and friends to attend the Parade.

- After the Parade students will be offered a serving of Gelato

(If any parents are able to help with serving Gelato please contact Signora Scholtes)

FAMILY MATHS When you divide Brian’s father’s age by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, the remainder is 1. If Brian’s father is less than 100 years old, how old is he?

There are three teams X, Y and Z in a hockey competition and each team plays both the other teams twice. i. How many games are played altogether?

ii. A team gets 2 points for a win, 1 point for a

draw and 0 points for a loss.

Complete the table to show the results of the competition.

Education News

Dates to Remember

After School at St Michael’s: Teachers will supervise the Seymour Street exit area until 3:30pm for safe departure from school grounds. No playground areas or equipment will be supervised by staff after 3:20pm. If parents and children remain after this time to use the play equipment, parents must provide direct supervision at the playground with the child. All responsibility for the safe and appropriate use of the playground equipment at this time is placed on the supervising parent. No child is allowed on the play equipment without their parent right there with them. All parents are asked to support St Michael’s in this safety requirement.

If students and siblings are using the equipment unsupervised, the need to ban all access after school will be exercised.

Whilst after school training of netball and basketball occurs in our yard, we ask that no siblings are left to wait unsupervised while training is being conducted.

If students are not collected by 3:30pm they will be required to wait for their parent in the office corridor. Due to staff commitments and to minimise students’ distress, parents are asked to be punctual in collecting their children.

NOVEMBER

7th Monday LOTE Week

9th Wednesday Yr 3-6 LOTE Week Parade – 9.00am

9th Wednesday School Advisory Board meeting

11th Friday Remembrance Day

11th Friday Mass 9.30am – 5/6A&B

11th Friday Lego incursion – Gr Prep

14th Monday Lego incursion – Gr Prep

15th Tuesday Gr 3/4 Radio Awareness incursion

16th Wednesday 2017 Sacrament Information night

18th Friday Gr 1/2 Coal Creek excursion

21st Monday Aboriginal Art incursion

22nd

Tuesday Yr 3/4 Radio Awareness incursion

25th Friday Mass 9.30am Prep A&B

25th Friday Lunch Order Day

25th Friday P&F Shopping Tour

29th Tuesday 2017 Prep Orientation Rotation

29th Tuesday 2017 Prep Information Night – parents

DECEMBER

2nd

Friday Prep Excursion Inverloch

2nd

Friday Mass 9.30am – Gr 3/4C&D

2nd

Friday Gr 1 after school stay

2nd

Friday Gr 2 School Camp Overnight

6th Tuesday Orientation Day for 2017 Preps & Yr 6

8th Thursday Carols & Family Picnic 5.30pm

9th Friday End of Year & Giving Mass 9.30am

9th Friday School Disco – P&F

12th Monday 9.00am Final Assembly for 2016

13th Tuesday Yr 6 Graduation Mass – 6.00pm

14th Wednesday School Reports sent home

16th Friday Last Day of Term for students 3.20pm

19th Monday Staff Planning Day

20th Tuesday Staff last day

Child Safety Code of Conduct

A reminder that a copy of the Child Safety Code of Conduct was sent home to each family last term a copy is also on the school app. It is a requirement that all volunteers and regular visitors to our school read this Child Safety Code of Conduct and acknowledge doing so by signing the last page.

For ease of management we are asking all parents/guardians of students in our school to read, sign and return the last page to the school. We thank all parents/family who have returned the signed form to school.

Congratulations to all of our Walkathon walkers.

The following children completed the most laps for their year level: Miah Moloney Tyler Zandona Violet Blackford Darby Murtagh Mal Quail Mica Nightingale Jorin Joske Alana Scholtes Lily Buckley Bill Wallace Sophie Goodwin Abraham Konyi Sid Cogan Asha Nightingale Ava Melbourne Emily Scholtes Adam Wilbraham Cohen Campbell Lucy Traill Ella Buckley Tom Gray Joel Scholtes

Well done to the above children for their enthusiasm and effort, they each received a voucher for Jump and Climb.

Special thanks and congratulations go to Tacen Davidson (Gr 2) he was the winner of the prize for the highest individual fundraiser.

The highest fundraising class was Prep A. Well done!

The total amount raised for the walkathon will be in the newsletter next week.

Once again thank you to everyone who helped on the day and to all our families for your donations.

Coming up this term:

Lunch Order Day: Friday, 25th

November

Shopping Tour: Friday, 25th

November- please note the flyer attached to this newsletter

School Disco: Friday, 9th

December - a note will be sent home this week.

Parent and Friends Contacts P&F email: parentgroupp@gmail.com Bianca Mason 0438 743 635 (President)

Deb Rowley 0417 014 175 (Treasurer)

Melissa Joske 0431 051 605

Teresa Potter 0412 354 330

Marianne Nightingale 0400 484 615

Tracey Townsend 0402 607 575

from the Parents & Friends Association

Sporting Achievements On 24th October the following Year 6 students participated in the SSV State Athletics

Championships in Melbourne. We congratulate these students for their determination

and efforts in representing our school:

U12/13 - Ashlee Downing - 5th in 100m

- Joel Scholtes - 7th in 1500m

- Tana Betera - 7th in High Jump

Remembrance Day - Friday, 11th November

This year 11 November marks the 98th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year on this day Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11 am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

At school we have the RSL Poppy Appeal badges for sale from $1.00 to $10.00

On Friday at 11.00am our school captains and a teacher will represent the school at the commemorative service by laying a wreath at the cenotaph in Kay Street gardens.

THANK YOU! To all families in our school community a big thank you for your support of the

Crazy Sock Day. Our school raised $350.65 for Catholic Mission (Sock it to Poverty).

St Michael’s Primary School, Traralgon

SELECTION OF GRADES POLICY

Rationale: At St Michael’s, children's learning is enhanced when classes are arranged with recognition of students varying abilities and behaviours and to optimise staff skills. A clearly defined, collaborative process for the placement of children into classes will lead to greater efficiency, increased understanding, and improved opportunities for learning.

Aims:

To provide each child with the opportunity to be part of a class of children that will allow them the optimum opportunity to learn.

To form well balanced classes of children that take into account the social, emotional, academic and physical characteristics of each child.

To ensure that optimum use is made of the existing knowledge that teachers, parents and others have of each child prior to class placement.

Implementation:

Expressions of interest will be sought from staff members via the Annual Review Meetings, as to possible grade teaching placements they would like to be considered for.

An ‘intention to return slip’ will be published in the school newsletter late term 3 early term 4 to inform enrolments for the following year.

The Principal will formally seek input regarding factors to consider in relation to the placement of a child within a grade via the newsletter at the beginning of term 4.

All parent factors to be considered must be directed to the Principal and placed in writing by the end of October. The factors to be considered must be based on individual student needs and not requests for preferred teachers. This written note indicating factors for consideration will help inform the process – it does not guarantee student placements.

These letters of input will be considered for the following year only.

The Principal will inform staff of parent input prior to the formation of classes.

Parent letters after this time will not be considered.

Under exceptional circumstances the Principal may reorganise classes throughout the year.

The principal, in consultation with the Consultative Committee, and all staff; and after considering the educational philosophies of the school, student numbers, and the effective balance of social, emotional, academic and physical needs will determine the number of classes, the type of class groupings and class sizes for the following year.

Class groupings will be formed depending upon the number of staff and school enrolments. The school will maximise the use of available rooms and staff to form class groupings.

These decisions will be based within Catholic Education Commission of Victoria awards and agreements as well as allocated staffing and funding arrangements as provided by the Catholic Education Office.

Student placement in classes will be formed on the basis of providing a balance between the intellectual ability of children, their social development, gender, previous class and friendship groupings and any other known factors that may have an impact on the class grouping. Individual needs and a whole school perspective must be considered.

The allocation of children and class compositions are ultimately the responsibility of the Principal and staff.

Staff members will not disclose the composition of proposed grade structures prior to any formal announcements.

Staff members will not disclose student’s placement in classes prior to any formal announcements.

Children who enrol at the school during the year will be temporarily allocated to classes, with the possible need to alter the placement once further information regarding the child is known.

Evaluation:

This policy will be reviewed as part St Michael’s five-year review

Ratification

This policy was last ratified by staff and the school board in 2011

from the Community

SUPPAUT

Latrobe Region Parent/Family Support group for those who have kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

From 10.30am – 12pm Nov 24

at LATROBE SPECIAL

DEVELOPMENTAL SCHOOL

Hickox St, Traralgon

ALL WELCOME TO COME FOR A

CUPPA AND A CHAT! Contact Louise Varsaci 51750877 varsaci@aussiebb.com.au Join our group on Facebook – SuppAUT Autism support group for families in Latrobe Valley Victoria