Issue 11 - 1st July, 2021
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From the Acting Principal
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Board Retirement
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Religious Education
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Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
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Term Dates
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Plain Clothes Day & Special Lunch
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Grade 5/6 - 2022 Fundraising
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Aiming High Awards
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Swimming Term Three
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Parents and Friends News
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Kinder 2022 Timeline
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Fruit Break
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Silage
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2021 Science Gig
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Kites July 2021
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Hockey Clinic
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Creatively Curious
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Market - Christmas in July
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Fairy Godmothers
This week, the focus of our newsletter should rightly be on Mrs Greta Kay. Greta has recently resigned from the St Peter Chanel Board, and as you will read below, has been a longstanding, valued and much-loved active member of the St Peter Chanel community. I have only come to know Greta during my short time in the school, but she has been an asset to me with her wealth of knowledge. Whilst Greta is retiring from any official role in the school, she will always be warmly welcomed to join us in any way she chooses, if only to join us for a cuppa. Thank you Greta!
As we near the end of the first half of this year, I would like to thank our many other volunteers who contribute to our wonderful school - the SPC Board members, the SPC P&F Committee for not only attending events but preparing for them beforehand, Shae Bishop and Gemma Jenkins for assisting Debbie in the canteen, Gerry McMahon for volunteering in Year 3, CHAC for the activities they have organised for classes and any other volunteers who have so generously given of their time and resources through baking, donating Easter eggs, making Mother’s Day gifts, etc. I would also like to thank our staff who go above and beyond their working hours to contribute in so many ways to the life of our school. COVID-19 and the ongoing restrictions that were implemented as a result, has impacted on the nature of volunteering in a school that we have ordinarily enjoyed. We hope, in time, that we can return to some of these previous activities.
I wish all of our students a blessed, safe and rejuvenating holiday break!
Mrs Kerrie Flynn
Acting PrincipalMrs Greta Kay has retired from the School Board.
Greta has had a long and influential involvement in Catholic Education for approximately forty years. During this time, Greta has served as a teacher, predominantly in the Early Years, commencing as a teacher in 1983. Greta lead the community as Board Chair, re-establishing the school’s governing body and working in partnership with five school principals from a period of instability to a position of sustained growth and prosperity. Greta’s tenure as board chair lasted for three terms, being consistently unopposed during the nomination processes. For her third term, Greta annually volunteered to step aside and retire from this position of responsibility. However, such has been Greta’s leadership, the deep respect held for her presence, contribution and advice.
During Greta’s time as a Board Chair, her support of the school’s Principals, particularly those in their initial principalships, has been outstanding. Greta made herself readily available, often at short notice to hold conversation around important matters. During staff employment processes, Greta was an enthusiastic participant as a panelist, working with the school’s leadership to secure staff, many of whom were beginning teachers. Greta made a concerted effort to engage staff, ensuring they were settling into the Circular Head community, particularly with many staff moving to this beautiful, yet remote location.
Greta has always maintained a high level of Parish involvement, as a member of the Circular Head Parish Council, helping to connect and unite both the parish and school through her active involvement, communication and presence.
Arguably one of Greta’s greatest achievements was seeing the school’s 2017 capital project come to fruition after a five-year journey. Once more, Greta attended all project meetings and assisted the school’s leadership throughout the process. The project began as a $125,000 project, which evolved into a $2,000,000 full school redevelopment. Greta’s motivation to contribute was founded on her advocacy of the people of Circular Head; that they may have a Catholic school with suitable facilities, to meet the community’s needs. Greta’s contribution cannot be underestimated.
Furthermore, Greta played an active role in both reviewing the school’s vision during 2016 and 2017. She became involved in a working party in 2017 to establish a school farm which is still progressing and evolving today. This project helps to support and provide staff with the integration of local, primary industry and the curriculum.
Greta Kay’s contribution to Catholic Education in Tasmania has been phenomenal. Greta is without any doubt, one of the greatest contributors to the St Peter Chanel Catholic School community in its history.
SPC Board
We wish to welcome two new members to our Board, Mrs Denieka Korpershoek and Mr Pat Cotton.
The AGM was held on 24th June with the following positions:
Board Chair - Chase Armstrong
Deputy Chair - Kent Bishop
Secretary - Denieka Korpershoek
Treasurer - Erin Franks
Ordinary member - Patrick Cotton
Ex-Officio - Kerrie Flynn and Fr Crisanto
Kent Bishop has stepped down from his position of Board Chair and we thank Kent for the significant contribution he has made over several years.
We welcome Chase Armstrong to the role of Board Chair and Denieka Korpershoek to the Secretary role.
Outdoor Play = Happy & Healthy Kids
The days of “go outside and play” and “be home by dinner or before dark” are a bygone era. Stranger danger, environmental factors, bullying and technology are just a few reasons this unstructured outdoor playtime is nearing a point of extinction. From playing in the sandpit, riding bikes around the neighbourhood to games of football in the street, were once rites of childhood passage.
Outdoor play is an important component of child development at all ages. There are many benefits and experiences in nature, including a reduction in the symptoms of anxiety, depression and obesity. Unstructured play improves learning, social and physical development. Children can learn self-control over their own actions and decisions whilst unsupervised. They may develop a sense or ability to judge and manage risks on their own in this time alone without their parents.
Times may have changed but children’s need for unsupervised play and connection with nature has not. Our children need more free play outdoors so they don’t loose a connection with the natural world. Lets foster some of our older generation fond memories of climbing trees, making mud pies, or playing outside for hours during this mid year break.
Enjoy your break.
Ms Donna Porteus
Chaplain
A reminder for families of the Term dates for 2021:
Term 2 - concludes on Friday 2nd July
Term 3 - Monday 19th July - Thursday 23rd September (Friday, 24th September is a student free day)
Term 4 - Monday 11th October - Thursday 16th December.
We wish everyone a safe and restful break over the upcoming school holidays.
We are hopeful that our current Grade 4/5 cohort will get to go to Canberra in 2022. Therefore, we would like to proceed with selling Cadbury Fundraising chocolate boxes as the profit from these is very good. From Term 3, we hope to have chocolate boxes available for families. More information will go home next term.
Congratulations to the following students who received Aiming High awards at our last assembly:
Kinder - Reef & Cienna
Prep - Wesley & Isla
Grade 1 - Kaley & Max
Grade 2 - Carly & Ella
Grade 3 - Noah & Lucas
Grade 4 - Olivia & Eliza
Grade 5 - Levi & Jewel
Grade 6 - Luca & Tannah
Every Wednesday in Term 3, all students will participate in swimming lessons at SWIRL. Students in Grades 3-6 are expcted to dress themselves. No parents/carers will be able to access the change rooms. Kinder, Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2 parents will need to ensure they hold a current WWVP card and carry it with them should they enter the change rooms to assist their child.
SWIRL will accept spectators at the pool, there is a $2 cost if you choose to enter.
Students to wear PE uniform and have their towel, goggles and bag for wet clothing on the day.
Consent has been sent our via the Compass app. For those yet to provide consent, please do so prior to the start of Term 3 or alternatively, advise the office if your child has a medical reason for not participating.
Canteen will not be effected by these lessons.
Please ensure your child has a piece of fruit or vegetables (such as carrot sticks) in their lunch box for our daily fruit break at school. This is part of our Move Well Eat Well Policy.
Mr Plaza is on the hunt for some silage for our garden if anyone could spare a bale or two.