2024 Term 1, Week 2 Newsletter

Principals Report - Janine Butlin

 This year we commenced the school year with 189 pupils. When the school gates opened last Tuesday, we had a lot of excited students coming through the gates with stories to share and ready to start another year of learning. A warm welcome to Miss Sophie Shelton who joins us this year and will be teaching year 1 and Mrs Anita McVeigh who will be teaching Drama. Thank you to our year 1 parents who provided many plates of food to share with the new members of our community last Friday at our annual, ‘Tea and Tissues’ event.  This Friday I look forward to catching up with our families from our school community when we open up our classrooms at 5 pm for visitors, followed by a BBQ around the tuckshop, before heading up the Sports Hall at 6 pm for an evening of Bush Dancing. So, polish up your belt buckles and start practicing your dance moves as you have not got much time left before the band calls everyone to the dance floor to show off their moves. 

Staff returned to school on the 15th of January for 6 days of Professional Development, including two days where staff joined with other schools from around the Toowoomba Diocese. This year we will take part in the Illuminate Project where education officers will work alongside our teachers to enhance the confidence and capacity of teachers in the teaching of Religious Education. We continue to strive for excellence by implementing the Diocesan Approach to Reading and the use of a systemic approach to reading.  

By now you will have noticed that our newsletter has had a makeover this year. Schoolzine is providing the format for the new look newsletter. Newsletters will be sent out twice a term, at the beginning and end of the term. If you are new to the school, please ensure you have the Parent Portal on your phone to receive important messages and information relating to your child’s education. 

I look forward to another year of learning and growing with your children. Throughout the year we will unpack our newly developed learning dispositions with our pupils to assist them in their learning journey. 

At St Stephen’s School, we are “Learners with Heart”. 

 God Bless, 

Janine  

APRE Report - Fiona Drew

Welcome back to school! It was wonderful to see everyone on Tuesday and visit the classrooms and see the children back into routine! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and you were able to create some great family memories over the holidays.

Year 6 Senior Shirts

We began our first term with a celebration to present our Year 6 leaders with their senior shirts yesterday. For 2024, our Year 6 leaders have been ‘Rise Up’.  As we start the new year, we ask our leaders to commit themselves to act as servant leaders.  To be a servant leader is to lead by example and be willing to put others first.

MacKillop Club

This year our Mary MacKillop quote is ‘True happiness depends on ourselves not on those around us’. Students will have this quote in their classrooms and this will be referred to often. The charism of Mary MacKillop and St Stephen are important within our school community and our students are encouraged to live out these values in a variety of ways. Our MacKillop Club has started again for the year and students are invited to join this important group. We will meet in the library on Monday at second break.   While the Sisters of St Joseph are no longer present in our school, the spirit of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop continues to motivate us in all that we do at St Stephen’s. We reflect the diversity of the Josephite charism to serve God’s mission in the world through prayer and by social justice action.  

Celebrations

All parents are welcome to attend our celebrations. They will be held in MacKillop Hall from 2.15pm. For each Celebration, there is a theme for Student of the Week, and students from each class, who have been following this theme are selected to receive a ribbon to acknowledge their wonderful behaviour and learning!

The following classes will lead Celebrations for Term One

Year 4 – Wednesday 21^st February

Year 3 – Wednesday 6^th March

Year 1 – Wednesday 20^th March

Year 6 Just Leadership Day

The Year 6 students will participate in the Caritas Australia Just Leadership Day on Wednesday 7^th February. This program explores the qualities of leadership through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching and how students can put their theme of ‘Rise Up’ into action this year as leaders of St Stephen's. Further information will be communicated to Year 6 parents closer to the date.

Project Compassion Mass

Each year, a Project Compassion Mass is held at St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba to recognise the beginning of Lent. This year, the mass will be held on Sunday 11^th February at 9am. Students from schools in the Toowoomba Diocese are invited to represent their school for this mass led by Bishop Howell.

All Year 6 students are invited to attend this launch with their parents. Siblings are also welcome. I will be in attendance at the mass as well. If you would like to attend the mass, please email me by Monday 5^th February so I can RSVP for catering purposes. Students are asked to wear full formal uniform and to assemble on the lawn beside the Cathedral at 8.30am. 

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Toss)

On Tuesday 13^th February, after lunch, the MacKillop Club leaders will be running a pancake toss competition. This is open to all year 6 students. All Year 6 students wishing to participate are to bring along their own frypan (non-stick work best) and some premade pancakes (larger pancakes work better). We look forward to a fun game to mark the preparation for the time of Lent.

MacKillop Club will also be selling pikelets on Tuesday 13^th February. Pikelets can be purchased at morning tea for 50c each.

Ash Wednesday 

Prep to Year 2 students will participate in an Ash Wednesday liturgy in MacKillop Hall at 9am and Year 3 – 6 students will attend Mass at 12pm in St Stephen’s church on Wednesday 14^th February. Parents are welcome to join us.

Opening Mass

Parents are invited to join us for our Opening Mass which will be held at St Stephen’s Church at 9am on Wednesday 28^th February. During this mass, we will commission our Year Six Leaders for 2024 and present them with their badges.

Morning Tea will be held in MacKillop Hall afterwards. Year 6 parents are asked to bring a plate to share.

Date Claimers -

Family Mass – Sunday 25^th February 8.30am – St Stephen’s Church

St Joseph Feast Day Mass – 19^th  March 9am – St Stephen’s Church

Easter Liturgy – 28^th March

Middle Leader Report - Danni Conway

Reading Eggs and Writers Toolbox

Thank you to the Parent Engagement Network for funding P-3 Reading Eggs and 4-6 Writers’ Toolbox subscriptions. These programs can be used at school as well as at home.

Mathletics and Maths Seeds

Mathletics is being used again this year to support and consolidate Numeracy concepts from Year 1 to Year 6. Maths Seeds will also be used in the lower years classrooms in a similar way.

All teachers will give our usernames and passwords for these subscriptions and invoices have been sent out via email to all families. 

NAPLAN 2024

All students in Years 3 and 5 are expected to participate in NAPLAN tests each year. 

NAPLAN tests give you information on how your child is progressing against national standards. This information can be used to identify areas in which your child may benefit from additional assistance. NAPLAN does not replace, but rather complements, assessments run by your child's classroom teacher throughout the year. 

Wherever possible, please refrain from making any appointments for your child (if they are in Year 3 or Year 5) between Wednesday 13th of March and Friday 22^nd of March.   

Reminders for 2024

Communication

At St Stephen’s School, we believe that success in education comes in working in partnership with parents and the wider school community. We believe that all children and their families  have the right to positive educational and life experiences and that clear communication between school, parents and students is a key factor in this.   We have a commitment to improving parents’ understanding of our school and in encouraging parents to be active participants in their child’s education. Through communicating clearly and effectively with parents we will foster opportunities for parents to become   involved in the life of our school.

As the use of e-mail, communication apps and the internet becomes even more widespread, these tools become more valuable and useful in education for the purposes of increasing learning for students, and facilitating conversations between students, parents, and schools.

Guidelines for communication:

1. School diaries, emails and the Sentral for Parents app are the preferred methods of communication between the school and parents.
2. Because of the nature of their work, teachers spend almost all of their time in the classroom. When they are not in the classroom teachers may be in staff meetings, on excursions, or planning and marking. Added to this, all teachers perform a range of playground and co-curricular duties. Because teachers have a range of duties to fulfil, it may take longer than a parent might wish for them to respond to an email or telephone call. Generally speaking, teachers will endeavour to respond to an email or telephone call within 24-48 hours where practical.
3. It is important to reflect upon the tone, timing and content of a message before it is sent. Emails written in haste or in anger rarely help to sort out issues or problems; in fact, a poorly written or emotionally charged email will almost always have the opposite effect. Too often, harshly written and ‘angry’ emails result in later regret.
4. However to communicate urgent or critical matters. Eg, car broken down, natural disaster etc) It is always best to contact the school via phone .
   

School begins at 8:45am with morning duty beginning at 8:30am.  We ask that Year 2-6 wait at the eating tables in the quad until the teacher comes on duty. Year 1 are to wait on the chairs outside of the Prep rooms until the Teacher on duty comes. Preps are to be taken directly to the Prep Area.

Late arrivals & Absences:

Students who arrive after the bell must come through the front office to sign in to ensure all rolls are marked    correctly. Parents are asked to inform their class teacher and the office if they are aware of  particular dates their children will be away. This can be done via the Parent Portal, email or phone call to the office.

Early Departure:

If you need to pick up your child from school early you are required to call into the office to sign your child in or out. These arrangements need to be communicated with the office prior.

Adventure Playground:

Year 1-6 adventure playground, situated near the big sandpit is NOT to be used by children under Year 1 at any stage, including after school.  This is a WH&S regulation due to the heights of the various equipment parts and will be enforced at all times. Please keep your children under Year 1 off this equipment.

Uniform:

Formal uniform: Years 1-6 Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Sports uniform: Years 1-6 Tuesday and Thursday.

Exclusion:

To avoid the further spread of any illnesses, parents are asked to keep their children home for the recommended number of days, according to the illness. These exclusion days can be found on the following  Queensland Government website Poster.

Medication at School

Long Term medication

Medical management plans/action plans where ongoing treatment is required (asthma, migraines, epilepsy, ADD, ADHD, etc.)

• A medical management plan must be developed and signed by a medical practitioner and provided to the school. The plan must outline how the medication is to be administered.
• Medication that is outlined in the plan must be in its original packaging with the pharmacist’s label.
• Parent’s/Carers must complete a medication authorisation form. This can be found on the school     website, Parent Portal App or one can be obtained from the front office.
• The management plan/action plan must be reviewed every 12 months. A new Parent authorisation form must also be completed each year.

*A spacer should be provided for students with asthma.

Short Term Medication

It is preferred that parents/carers administer medication (prescription or non-prescription) to their children.  Where possible, parents should come to the front office and the child will be called to come to the office to  receive the medication.  If this is not possible, the following procedure must be followed:

• Parent’s/Carers must complete a medication authorisation form. This can be found on the school      website, Parent Portal App or one can be obtained from the front office.
• The medication must be provided to the school in its original packaging with the pharmacist’s label.

Short term medication is only applicable for the duration specified on the pharmacist’s label.  Unused      medication must be collected from the office by the parent/carer, it cannot be sent home with a student.

All medication must be brought to the office by the parent/carer.  Students should not be sent to school with medication.   

Sport News - Jodie Ferguson

Inner Downs Trials

There will be Inner Downs Trials held throughout the year. If you are born 2014, 2013 or 2012 and interested in attending any of the trials, please fill in the Representative Sports Nomination form 2024 which was emailed out to all eligible students. You can either return this form or email Mrs Ferguson at jodie.ferguson@twb.catholic.edu.au. When the nominations become available closer to the trial Mrs Ferguson will send home the necessary paperwork. Please keep your eye out in the school calendar newsletter for nomination, trial dates and further information.

Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival – Friday 9^th February

The students who were selected to represent St. Stephen’s School Swim Team for the Catholic Schools Swimming carnival have been notified via email. Spectators are welcome to attend. The preferred method of travel is by bus, as a team, which has been booked. We will be selling Zooper Doopers for $1 on Wednesdays at second break and holding a Hot Dog/Popper Meal Deal Day on Tuesday 30^th January to help cover bus costs. $5 has been added to your accounts to help with bus costs. Students need to meet Mr Minnikin – team manager, at the bus shelter no later than 7:40am. It is recommended that students bring their own food and drinks. All students swimming at this carnival must wear their school swimming caps. These are available to purchase from the office at a cost of $10.

Inner Downs Swimming Carnival – Tuesday 20th February

Qualifying students have been notified please ensure that if your child is one of these students that you return all appropriate paperwork and paid the fee via the QKR app.

Student Sporting Achievements

Please feel free to send through any photos of students and their sporting achievements if you wish for them to be included in the school newsletter to Mrs Ferguson.

jodie.ferguson@twb.catholic.edu.au

New Staff - Anita McVeigh, Drama Teacher

Hi my name is ANITA MCVEIGH and I am very excited to bring Drama into the classroom at St Stephen’s School.  I have been teaching classroom Drama for over 25 years throughout the Toowoomba Diocese. Here I have been successful in Eisteddfods and starting the Drama Festival at Mater Dei, Mary Mackillop and St Saviour’s schools.

I have always firmly believed that speaking in public should be an enjoyable experience as this is a necessary life skill everyone needs throughout their education and beyond.  In my lessons, I am conscious of exposing the students to different genres including Mime, Poetry, Tongue Twisters, Scripted Drama and Improvisation.  My lessons are very play based which makes the lessons enjoyable while the students are unaware that they are developing Drama skills that they will utilize in their presentations. 

I will be offering DRAMA CLUB  for students in years 5 and 6 who are interested in developing more skills in this area of the Arts.   This will be held every Tuesday lunch time where the students will prepare a presentation for the last week of each term.  Please be aware that this note will be given to the students who are interested and ready to commit to a Tuesday lunch hour weekly rehearsal.

 One of the big events I will be organizing this year is a DRAMA FESTIVAL which will be an opportunity for ALL students to either learn a Poem, Poem in pairs and Duologues etc.  Please look out for notifications on this event as the whole school is involved.

I look forward to exploring and developing Drama skills with your children and watching their confidence grow.  

Thanks, ANITA MCVEIGH

New Staff - Sophie Shelton, Year 1 Teacher

My name is Sophie Shelton and I have just completed my Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) at the University of Southern Queensland, and I am looking forward to commencing my teaching profession as a Year 1 teacher at St Stephen’s in Pittsworth! I have had previous experience as a Kindergarten Teacher in Toowoomba, as well as a relief teacher at St Stephen’s School and I am looking forward to learning and grow alongside your children.

Piano Lessons with Mrs Ruth Shepherd

If you are interested in your child learning piano from a fully qualified teacher with 30 years of experience, contact Mrs Ruth Shepherd on 0427 910 303 for more information. 

It is essential that students have a piano/keyboard at home on which to do their practice.  Music is fun!

PEN (Parent Engagement Network) News

Welcome to 2024.

Welcome to 2024. At the end of 2023, the St Stephen’s Parents and Friends association voted to establish a Parent Engagement Network. The first meeting of the year will be next Thursday 8^th February at 7 pm in the staff room.

This is the Network’s first forum for the year and the PEN will be seeking nominations for the following positions of the Executive:

• Chairpersen
• Secretary
• Working party co-ordinators (this role is a short-term role for specific event or activity the person is coordinating)
• CPSQ delegates

The Executive will meet separately from the forums as required during the term of its office to exercise its functions. There will be four forums held per year. One each term. Working party coordinators will be elected at the first forum of the year or as required at subsequent forums. Working party coordinators are required for the following projects/activities/events that we have previously held (this list is not exhaustive):

1. Chip Van at the Pittsworth Show
2. Mother’s Day Stall
3. Mother’s Day Breakfast
4. Grandparents Day/Open Day
5. Father’s Day Stall
6. Father's Day Breakfast
7. End of year morning tea
8. Volunteer’s morning tea
9. Christmas Concert
10. Working Bees
11. Fundraising activities such as pie drives, Club Pittsworth raffles etc
12. Grants applications
    

 If you are interested in any of these positions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Janine or Fiona.

Mrs McGlashan Year 2 - News

We have gotten off to a flying start this year! Year 2 have been working on building classroom routines, learning all about our new phonics program called UFLI and have spent time getting to know our new class member, Ivy Ruhle!  

We have also commenced our English unit which is based around the text Lester and Clyde. So far, we have discussed the type of text it is, looked at the theme of pollution, which is evident in the story, and have also looked at some features that the author has included to make the story more interesting.  

In Maths, we have begun learning about numbers to 500 and will continue to look at how numbers can be represented in a variety of ways.  

In Science, we are learning all about how living things change. Last week we looked at the similarities and differences between ducks and swans. A fun fact that we all found interesting was that swan eggs are very large and are usually about 11cm tall!  

In Religion we have started to discuss what we know about the Creation story. We have also looked at a video portrayal of the story, as well as some Dreamtime stories that also explain how different aspects of nature were created from an Indigenous perspective.  

In Health we have started our You Can Do It program. We learnt about Oscar Organisation, who is very good at being organised. We then brainstormed a list of things that we could do to help ourselves be organised. Some of us wrote things like washing the dishes, packing our bags and even doing our homework!  

This is only a small snippet of what we have been up to. We look forward to sharing more of our learning with you as the term progresses!  

Prep Vision Screening

The Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program is coming to our school.

They are a Queensland Government service that offers Free Vision Screening to all children enrolled in Prep. 

If your child is in Prep and you would like their vision screened, please complete a consent form using the below link or QR code.

The following video explains the benefits of having your Prep child's vision screened.

Collection Notice for Parent/Guardians

2024 Student Residential Address Address and Other Information

Sentral Parent Poral

Reminder to all parents to access the Parent Portal.

The Parent Portal is used for absentees, newsletters, parent teacher interview bookings, report cards, NAPLAN results, calendar of events, notices and letters to parents.

If you are having difficulty with the Parent Portal please contact the School Office for assistance. The Parent Portal is the communication method used for the day to day running of the school.

Flexischools - Online Ordering System

Flexischools is an online ordering system that the school uses for the ordering of Tuckshop, Event Catering and Special  Fundraising Food Days.

Tuckshop is open one day a week. Special Canteen days are also held sometimes throughtout the year. This is makes it easier for families and school staff.

Community News