Issue 3 - April 2024

I hope that you were all able to spend some time with loved ones over the Easter long weekend. This 10 week first term has certainly been a very busy one. With only five school days left of this term, and listing all that we have accomplished in addition to classroom teaching and learning, your children are very deserving of the break ahead! This term has seen us do the following:

Harmony Week

'On Country' Excursions

Water Awareness Program

Swimming Carnival

Year 3 & 5 NAPLAN

Year 6 PCYC Leadership Day

Year 6 MJR day at St Brigid’s

Children’s University activities

2024 Opening Mass

Ash Wednesday Liturgy

The Stations of the Cross

The students have just been exceptional this term. The SPC Way (The way we do things at SPC) that has all students and teachers using a common language around behaviour and explicitly knowing what is expected of them has certainly set a tone of calmness and engagement in learning across the school.

We look forward to all that Term 2 brings!

Mrs Kerrie Flynn

Principal 

SPC Way

The way we do things at SPC

The teachers have set routines for all entries, exits and transitions in the day. Students in every class know how they are to enter the classroom, how they are to leave the classroom and walk to another space and how they are to move between spaces in the classroom. In this way, students do not have to guess what the teacher wants from them. This gives them certainty and predictability. Often, behaviour issues come from children not knowing what is expected of them and being confused about what the teacher is asking of them. 

We have seen a marked improvement in behaviour just through consistent, structured entries, exits and transition processes!

We are very pleased to announce that Mrs Laura Korpershoek has been appointed as our Literacy Leader.  Laura is an experienced, local teacher who has worked in both primary and secondary school settings.  Laura will work three days per week.  We are excited for Laura to start with us next week.

I too hope that you all had the opportunity to spend some time with family and loved ones over the Easter break. With Term 1 being as busy as it was to this point, the extra long weekend was well earned. Easter marks the end of the Season of Lent and we now enter a 50 day period of celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. The end of Lent also brings the end of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. Can all money boxes please be returned to the school before the end of term so they can be counted and deposited during the upcoming term break. Thank you for all of the support you have given this program.  

The flowchart below shows how we at St Peter Chanel address any behaviour issues that may arise at our school. This is a consistent approach that all staff follow in the classroom and on the playground. This chart is displayed in all learning areas and will be regularly referred to so that students understand the response to behaviours that may cause an interruption to teaching and learning or safe play. This approach in conjunction with the SPC Way has led to improved behaviour school wide and we look forward to seeing how these programs develop over the year.

The AGM was held last week and Mr Patrick Cotton has resigned after serving a term of 3 years.  We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Pat for his incredible contribution over those three years.

We therefore have a position available on our school Board.  We are seeking expressions of interest for a new member. Please express your interest by email to: melissa.thorp@catholic.tas.edu.au

Students are invited to attend ANZAC day on Thursday, 25th April which falls in the second week of school holidays. Any students who would like to participate are asked to arrive by 10.15am in full school uniform, meeting outside the Reject Shop. Miss Danae Ling & Miss Shenae Marthick will be accompaning students. More information will be given closer to the date. 

Our lost property is overflowing with items.  If your child is missing something, please feel free to come in and check. Items in lost property include towels, goggles, jackets, jumpers & drink bottles. It will be emptied at the end of term as most items have been here since last year/early 2024.

Last week, Prep went on our 'On Country' excursion. We headed to Trawmanna to explore the vegetable patch, the garden and the grounds. While we were there we learnt about why an Acknowledgement of Country is important, we ate some edible plants and collected some gum leaves to decorate. 

When we arrived we ate our first lunch, then explored the grounds with Ebony and Shae guiding us through and showing us which plants, fruits and vegetables we could try. When we continued exploring the grounds, Ebony showed us the smoking area and we learnt that the smoking area is used in ceremonies for its cleansing properties.

After we explored the grounds, we created some necklaces using natural beads, created headbands or wrist bands using coloured strips of red, black and yellow and we also decorated gum leaves. 

Before heading back to school, Ebony explained and showed us some Aboriginal artefacts and what they would have been used for many years ago. 

We all had a great time! 

Bake Raffle

Congratulations to last month's Bake Raffle winners Luca Davis & Mrs Somerville! 

Easter Raffle 

Thank you to everyone for your donations, we were able to put together 9 prizes! Congratulations to the following: 

1st - Henry Dabner

2nd - Taite Walsh

3rd - Amiti Dennison

4th - Blake Humphrey

5th - Aileen

6th - Simone Hall

7th - Oliver Wright 

8th - Luca Farrelly 

9th - Dane Walsh 

Athletics BBQ

The P&F will be running a BBQ at our school Athletics Carnival. Families are able to order now via Qkr, prices are as follows:

Sausages in bread  $2.50

GF Sausage in bread $3.00

Veggie burger $4.00

Juice Box $2.00

Should the carnival be cancelled due to bad weather the students will receive their lunch orders at school. 

Donut Drive 

Please see below details for the upcoming Donut Drive. Order forms will be sent home in Week 1 of Term 2.

Congratulations to the following students who have recieved awards this month: 

Aiming High Awards

Kinder - Mikaiil Shaikh & Zoya Khan 

Prep - Logan Paterson & Harry Coombs 

Year 1 - Claire Wells & Louie Tonks 

Year 2 - Tilly Korpershoek & Jordy Medwin 

Year 3 - Logan Rutter & Max Williams 

Year 4 - Tayla Berechree & Jake Moore 

Year 5 - Nina Franks & Ella Berechree 

Year 6 - Naite Barker & Dane Grey

SPC Way Award - Ava Bryan 

Aiming High Awards 

Kinder - Dottie Fraser & Luca Davis

Prep - Jax Hardy & Quinn Courtney

Year 1 - Musa Shaikh & Louis Butt 

Year 2 - Rylah Langton & Hamda Usama 

Year 3 - Isla Burke & Xzavier Griffiths 

Year 4 -  Oliver Paterson & Amelia Khan

Year 5 - Myla Jenkins & River Bryan

Year 6 - Max Monson & Arah Blake 

SPC Way Award - Jaiden Spinks 

This year, St Peter Chanel will again be undertaking in Children's University, for students in Grade 2-6.  The program aims to ignite a further love of learning outside the classroom and school context, and allow students to be recognised for extracurricular activities that they undertake.  This program was a great success last year, and saw many of our students gain hours of learning outside the classroom and school environment, all contributing towards them being able to graduate at the end of this year.

For more information regarding this program, please see this link or search their Facebook Page:

https://www.utas.edu.au/community-and-partners/peter-underwood-centre/childrens-university

If your child would be interested in taking part this year, we ask all families to please complete this e-consent form (which can be provided to you in hard copy if you require):

https://au1.documents.adobe.com/public/esignWidget?wid=CBFCIBAA3AAABLblqZhCCmz7ctqfJX6BFRyhm3a_v--rCb1bw9P6KVy1UpHsRm4m8lsCGSR7sKAPOYNcJ2_c*

For students that took part in 2023, the students accumulated hours have been transferred to 2024 and will continue to be built upon.  We will begin lunchtime activities in Term 2 to assist students in gaining further hours. 

This weekend, EcoFest in Ulverstone is on and is a CU validated event, if you attend don't forget your passport as you can get this stamped here!

https://www.ecofesttas.com.au/

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Mrs Lardner, Ms Monson or Donna at school.

Families have been sent information regarding the Athletics Carnival next Wednesday, 10th April via compass. Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Come and Try Session by the Smithton Auskick/Superkick Centre

Date: Friday, 5th April 

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Age Group: 4 - 12 years (Kinder to Grade 6)

Location: Smithton Recreation Ground - bottom oval

Details: Join us for a taster of all things football! Lead by the Smithton Auskick/Superkick team and supported by AFL Tas. Come across to experience the fun that footy has to offer. A free, one-off session open to all abilities. 

Smithton Auskick and Superkick

Date: Fridays from 12th April 

Age: Group: 4 to 12 (Kinder to Grade 6)

Location: Smithton Recreation Ground - bottom oval

Details: Welcoming all footballers! Whether you've never touched a footy or are an aspiring AFL/W star. Everyone is welcome to attend our fun-filled sessions! Participants will work alongside their peers to develop their skills and learn all things footy!

Open to all genders, please spread the word and bring your friends. We can't wait for an exciting year of footy!!