From the Principal, Mr Cameron Herbert
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Traralgon Campus NEWSLETTER | SEMESTER 1, 2021
From the Principal, Mr Cameron Herbert
Welcome to 2021
The commencement of the 2021 school year is rapidly approaching, and we look forward to having students commence
on Monday 1 February. In addition to welcoming a large number of new students to St Paul’s in 2021, we also look
forward to welcoming the following new staff members.
New Staff
Traralgon Junior School Cath Paulet – Year 6 Teacher
Rachael Geerts (commenced mid 2020) – Year 6 Teacher Sheree Rees – Early Learning Centre
Samantha Giacobbe – Classroom Assistant Kathryn Spalding – Classroom Assistant
Richelle Harris – Early Learning Centre James Wardell – ELC Co-educator
Wendy Macdougall – Early Learning Centre
William Rilen – Physical Education Teacher Warragul Secondary School
Emma Stanistreet – Classroom Assistant Linda Bossard – French Teacher
Lauren Vercoe – Year 1 Teacher Cooper Burgess – Sports Trainee
Jade Chen – Mathematics/Science Teacher
Traralgon Secondary School Chihiro McConville – Japanese Teacher
Ronny Dent – Food Services Assistant (Canteen) Nyah Makin – Administration Trainee
Kirra Gill – Sports Trainee Sarah Moerke – Physical Education Teacher
Helen Lynn – Food Technology Teacher Relief Jennifer Nguyen – Mathematics Teacher
Deborah Rowley – Food Services Assistant (Canteen) Ellen Rijs – Dance Teacher
Christine Yule – Mathematics/Science Teacher
Warragul Junior School
Stephanie Clements – Dance Teacher Warragul Secondary School returning from leave
Janice Diston – Year 5 Teacher Kat Crow
Mary Hill – Classroom Assistant Tim Charles
Ondine Olsson – Administration Trainee Dane Morley
Mary Patrickson – Classroom Assistant
School Captains 2021
The St Paul’s School Captains for 2021 are Alice Greenall and Liam Lenders. Our Deputy Captains are Jordan Ashley and
Jacob Puddy. We are thrilled with their appointments, from a very competitive field of their peers and wish them
every success in their new roles.
VCE Results 2020 It is with great pleasure that we congratulate the entire class of 2020 on their VCE results. The 2020 Dux of St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is shared by twins Connor Ibbotson and Luke Ibbotson both receiving an ATAR of 99.6. Close behind were Sage Hyde of Warragul on 99.55, Tatum Cotterrell of Traralgon on 99.25, Jesse Buhagiar of Traralgon on 98.9 and Kieran Lewis of Arawata on 98.9. Other very high achievers included: Jessica Lo of Warragul on 97.85, James Gourley of Warragul on 97.6, Angus Guo of Moe on 97.3, Elyse Gordon from Traralgon South on 97.25, Scarlett Price from Newborough on 97.25, Ruby Zhang of Morwell on 96.95, Isaac Sadek of Pakenham on 96.85, Sophie Vale of Warragul South on 96.25, Claire Birks of Trafalgar on 96.1, Mae Williamson of Warragul on 95.9, Mia Alexander of Warragul on 95.85, Aarushi Pathania of Traralgon on 95.75, Phoebe O’Connor of Mountain View on 95.55, Kristin Skee of Moe on 95.3, Lachlan Hollier of Yarragon on 95.15, Callum van der Meulen of Traralgon on 94.7, Jarra Davis of Drouin on 94.25, Vansh Patel of Warragul on 94.25, Molly Francis of Warragul on 93.95, Jackson Clerks of Warragul on 93.7, Lilly Thomas of Seaview on 92.35, Samantha Edgar of Gormandale on 92.05, Hannah Remyn of Warragul on 91.8, Tomas Dowler of Traralgon on 91.75, Elodie Williamson of Warragul on 91.5, Mia Stevens of Traralgon on 91.35, Nixon Hall of Yinnar on 91.3, Jorja Halsall of Traralgon on 91.15, Bellamy O’Callaghan of Traralgon on 90.95, Emily Jaques of Warragul on 90.4 and Sophie Bennett of Tynong North on 90.35. The School is incredibly proud of the way our class of 2020 managed the complexities of a COVID year. Their focused approach to their studies never wavered and they managed online learning, internet reliability issues and personal circumstances with maturity, good humour and a distinct care for one another throughout the entire year. In all twenty-three per cent of students achieved an ATAR over 95 and forty-one per cent of students achieved an ATAR over 90. The percentage of students who achieved an ATAR of over 80 was an outstanding sixty-seven per cent, placing them in the top twenty per cent of the state. Ninety-seven per cent of students achieved an ATAR over 50. The fact that St Paul’s does not stream students out of Year 12 or offer a VCAL stream, means that these results are truly indicative of the quality environment of learning and teaching that St Paul’s offers. This year’s cohort plan to study a diverse range of courses from medicine and allied health to interior design and commerce. The next few weeks will be an exciting time for students who now await offers of places at a range of university and TAFE institutions, seek employment or GAP year opportunities. From the Acting Deputy Principal, Ms Laura Butterworth I extend a very warm welcome to all families to the 2021 school year. As is customary at this time of year there are several reminders, regarding procedures and compliance matters, that we need to bring to your attention. Each Head of School will communicate with families regarding COVID-19 protocols prior to the commencement of school. Anaphylaxis and Asthma It is timely to remind all school families of our need to be allergy aware when packing school snacks and lunches. We have several students across the school for whom contact with a known allergen can have dire consequences. Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 2
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening. Common allergens include (but are not limited to) nuts, eggs and shellfish. The School requests that parents, students and members of staff do not provide foods with known allergens for consumption at school. The school canteen will not use, provide, nor prepare foods containing known allergens for consumption or use at school but may stock those labelled “may contain traces of nuts”. Where necessary, the Head of School will inform families of any other foods which may not be brought to school. The School’s policy and procedures for the management of students with anaphylaxis and asthma is available on MyStPauls. Parents of children who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis or asthma are reminded that they are obligated to provide the School with an accurate and updated Action Plan each year. Students will not be able to attend school unless these documents are up to date. The School has a legal and moral obligation to keep the students safe and parent cooperation is vital to ensure that this duty of care can be fulfilled. Panadol and Nurofen (Analgesics) Administration Change Just a reminder that the School can no longer administer analgesics to students during the school day, despite parental permission. As has been previously communicated, there is concern that doing so may mask underlying symptoms that are then not addressed. When it comes to students being away on school camps or overseas tours, parents are asked to supply analgesics and any other medication to be taken, in a labelled zip lock bag with administration advice from their family doctor included. We apologise for any inconvenience but as always, student safety is our first concern. SMS Absence Notifications Please ensure you notify the School if your child/ren are going to be absent from school. SMS absence notifications to parents or guardians are now being used across all campuses. If there is an unexplained absence, all mobile phone numbers listed on the school database (unless we have been otherwise instructed) will receive an SMS notification. If you have called the School on the morning of the absence, sent a note earlier or your child is on an excursion or camp you should not receive an SMS. We appreciate your assistance in making sure that our attendance data is accurate and also ask that when you notify the School that your child is absent that a reason is provided (for example, illness, appointments and the like). Code Red Fire Danger Rating and School Closure Policy It is that time of year when we need to draw the attention of all school families to our Code Red Fire Danger Rating and School Closure Policy. Although our school is not listed as being at the greatest risk of bushfires, our students and staff travel from many rural areas within Gippsland which could (and have in the past) been significantly impacted by bushfires. Should a Code Red Fire Danger rating be posted by the Emergency Management Commissioner, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School will close both campuses for the day, in order to keep students and staff off the roads. Families will be provided with as much notice as possible of a planned closure. The final decision to close the School will be confirmed no later than 1:00 pm the day before the planned closure. The School will communicate the details of the closure to our community via SMS, email and Facebook. However, if unexpected weather patterns are experienced, closures may happen at short notice. To avoid confusion, once the decision to close has been confirmed, there will be no change – regardless of improvements to the weather conditions the following afternoon or overnight. Please take some time to read the full policy which can be found under ‘Parent Resources/Policies’ on MyStPauls (https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/homepage/6586). We certainly hope that it will not be needed again this year but it is always best to be prepared. Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 3
Child Safe School
St Paul’s takes matters of child safety very seriously. In keeping with the requirements of Ministerial Order 870, all adults
(over eighteen) who have contact with our students must undergo Child Safe training (online and takes approximately
forty-five minutes) as well as hold a current Working with Children Check or equivalent.
All teaching and non-teaching staff have completed their training and assessment and any parent or community member who
has or is likely to have direct contact with our students must also undergo the training. This requirement applies to coaches,
classroom helpers, those assisting with excursions, camps, sport, special celebrations and the like. In addition, adults assisting
in Junior School classrooms must also attend a short Parent Helper session and Heads of School will communicate when these
will take place.
Parent volunteers only have to complete these requirements once and, when completed, a record is added to our volunteer
registers. Parents will not be able to volunteer at any school event, nor assist in classrooms or with excursions, until they have
successfully completed these requirements.
We value your involvement with our school and hope that the additional expectation will not deter you. I am sure that you
will agree that in the end, making sure that we are a child safe school is well worth the additional effort. Should you wish to
complete the online modules, please email Carol Reid on creid@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au
Our Child Safety Code of Conduct
We would also like to remind you of the Child Safe Code of Conduct by which all adults in the school community are
bound. This document, and other Child Safety Policies, can be accessed on the parent policies page of MyStPauls.
The Child Safety Code of Conduct outlines appropriate standards of behaviour for all adults towards students.
The Code serves to protect students, reduce any opportunities for abuse or harm to occur, and promote child safety
in the School environment. It provides guidance on how to best support students and how to avoid or better manage
difficult situations.
St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School has the following expectations of behaviours and boundaries for all adults interacting
with students within our school community. This includes all teaching staff, non-teaching staff, Board Directors,
volunteers (direct and indirect), third party contractors, external education providers and parents/carers.
The School’s Board has endorsed this Child Safety Code of Conduct.
Do:
• Behave as a positive role model to students.
• Promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of students.
• Be vigilant and proactive with regard to student safety and child protection issues.
• Provide age appropriate supervision for students.
• Comply with guidelines published by the School with respect to child protection.
• Treat all students with respect.
• Promote the safety, participation and empowerment of students with a disability.
• Promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of linguistically and culturally diverse students.
• Use positive and affirming language towards students.
• Encourage students to ‘have a say’ and then listen to them with respect.
• Respect cultural, religious and political differences.
• Help provide an open, safe and supportive environment for all students to interact and socialise.
• Intervene when students are engaging in inappropriate bullying behaviour towards others or acting in a
humiliating or vilifying way.
• Report any breaches of this Child Safety Code of Conduct.
• Report concerns about child safety to one of the School’s Child Protection Officers and ensure that your legal
obligations to report allegations externally are met.
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• Where an allegation of child abuse is made, ensure as quickly as possible that the student involved is safe.
• Call the Police on 000 if you have immediate concerns for a student’s safety.
• Respect the privacy of students and their families and only disclose information to people who have a need to
know.
Do not:
• Engage in any form of inappropriate behaviour towards students or expose students to such behaviour.
• Use prejudice, oppressive behaviour or inappropriate language with students.
• Express personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of students or discriminate against any
student based on culture, race, ethnicity or disability.
• Engage in open discussions of an adult nature in the presence of students.
• Engage in any form of sexual conduct with a student including making sexually suggestive comments and
sharing sexually suggestive material.
• Engage in inappropriate or unnecessary physical conduct or behaviours including doing things of a personal
nature that a student can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes.
• Engage in any form of physical violence towards a student including inappropriate rough physical play.
• Use physical means or corporal punishment to discipline or control a student.
• Engage in any form of behaviour that has the potential to cause a student serious emotional or psychological
harm.
• Develop ‘special’ relationships with students that could be seen as favouritism (for example, the offering of
gifts or special treatment for specific students).
• Engage in undisclosed private meetings with a student that is not your own child.
• Engage in meetings with a child that is not your own, outside of school hours and without permission from the
School and the child’s parent.
• Engage in inappropriate personal communications with a student through any medium, including any online
contact or interactions with a student.
• Take or publish (including online) photos, movies or recordings of a student without parental/carer consent.
• Post online any information about a student that may identify them such as their full name, age, email address,
telephone number, residence, school, or details of a club or group they may attend.
• Ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse.
Our Child Protection Program includes a Staff and Student Professional Boundaries Policy that provides detailed
guidance for all staff and volunteers on how to maintain professional boundaries between students and adults at
St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School.
Online Learning Survey Results
By the end of 2020, all Heads of School had conducted a parent survey of online learning at their respective sub-school.
The results across the School were overwhelmingly positive (greater than eighty per cent across all sub-schools), with
parents acknowledging the efforts of students and staff and very pleased with the outcomes achieved.
However, we do acknowledge that the experience was particularly challenging for some families, with the age of the
children and parents’ work commitments playing a significant role in the degree of challenge experienced. We have
certainly taken on board the feedback provided by our parent community and are most grateful for the time many took
to write suggestions for the future.
Whilst we would no doubt all prefer not to experience such protracted periods of online learning again, should that
become necessary, we are well prepared to again respond rapidly to ensure the educational progress of our students.
We are very proud of the way our parents, students and staff weathered the challenges of 2020 together.
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Year 7 Coding Classes with CS in Schools move into Year 8 in 2021 Last year, St Paul’s joined RMIT University’s CS in Schools program to develop student and teacher digital technology skills. By 2022, an additional 81,000 workers will be required in the Australian IT sector. By working with CS in Schools, we are committed to building a world-class digital technology program that develops these skills in our students. CS in Schools offers a unique model that pairs an industry professional with secondary teachers and brings an industry professional into the classroom. Throughout 2020, all Year 7 classes undertook coding lessons for a weekly double period for one term. During this time they learnt the basics of coding and wrote their own code with continuous feedback and support. In 2021 these coding classes will be extended into Year 8 at both the Traralgon and Warragul Campuses. Over three hundred Years 7 and 8 students will be taught coding as part of the CS in Schools program at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School this year. Developing digital technology skills in our teachers and students is an important part of a well-rounded education at St Paul’s and we are excited to be continuing our partnership with RMIT University, CS in Schools, and embedding industry professionals in our classrooms. We are looking forward to working closely with the program in 2021 and expanding it into our Years 9 and 10 elective program in 2022. From the Business Manager, Mrs Leah Young Building and Facility Developments The 2021 Budget is focused on providing funding for major capital works, ICT, infrastructure, as well as maintenance, landscaping and minor capital improvements. New classroom furniture and musical instruments will feature across the campuses. Warragul Junior School Late in 2019 we received advice from the Minister of Education, The Hon James Merlino MP, that our application for a grant under the 2019–2020 Non-Government Schools Capital Fund had been successful for an amount of $2M. This grant, along with a contribution from the School’s Building Fund (Total cost $2.64M), will be used to construct this new building incorporating an Administration/Reception area, student services, toilet amenities, five classrooms and smaller breakout rooms as well as a staffroom. This project was deferred for a period this year due to COVID-19 but commenced late 2020 and will continue throughout 2021. Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 6
Warragul Junior School – Early Learning Centre Expansion Further to this, the School has also received advice of its successful application for a Capital Grant of $600K (total cost $754K) from the Victorian State Government to expand the Early Learning facilities at the Warragul Junior School. A ‘Bush Kinder’ kitchen garden is also being established for our students in 2021. Traralgon Campus – Performing Arts Improvement works have been taking place during the holiday period to refurbish the Performing Arts Music Rooms. Modifications have also been made to the stage of the gymnasium to create a suitable space for Dance. Also, a rehearsal space for the new Academy of Music is being developed along with a new grand piano being a welcome addition to Performing Arts! Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 7
Traralgon Junior School – Wellbeing Space The open plan space within the Year 5 building has been redesigned as the Junior School’s wellbeing hub. This space has been refurbished with furniture and equipment designed to provide groups of students with an opportunity to engage in sensory activities, to develop strategies for regulating emotions and to participate in wellbeing and mindfulness programs, enhancing mental health and social skills. Couches, tables, bean bag chairs, tents and a range of sensory equipment will be installed with careful consideration to make this space an enjoyable and well used addition to the Junior School. Years 5 and 6 classrooms have also been refurbished with new furniture. Future Building Planned for Traralgon Campus St Paul’s will embark on a staged building program of state-of-the art secondary facilities commencing in 2022 with the construction of the Futures Centre: a striking double-storied building with a welcoming entry and reception area, outstanding performing arts facilities, general learning areas, a modern secondary library adjoining a large spacious open cafeteria, a community hub and a range of student gathering spaces – both large and small. St Paul’s strong focus on academic excellence will expand and diversify the curriculum to include a broad range of VCE subjects and co-curricular activities, creating opportunities for every student to work toward their potential. From the Director of Information Services, Mr David Cope The Information Services teams have been busy setting up for the new school year. The IT Services team have worked through a large program of infrastructure and system improvements over the break. As well as configuring the new fleet of student laptops, upgrades to all the server systems have been completed. This will improve our printing and storage capacity, and further ensure improved reliability of all school systems and services. Trolley sets of laptops have been upgraded for use in both Junior Schools. Improvements to both the wired and wireless components of our network have been undertaken at all campuses. Further improvements will occur early in Term 2 as the School increases its broadband capacity to provide all students and staff with multimedia rich educational resources. Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 8
The Library team is looking forward to building upon the developments of last year. The Library team continue to expand their offerings with access to audio and eBooks through the Wheelers platform. This platform is accessed through student laptops, as well as iPads available for use within each Library. Teaching staff have been introduced to the new features of the ClickView Media Library system. The Warragul Secondary Library team is also aiming to undertake a minor refresh to improve the accommodation for students as they undertake collaborative research tasks. The Curriculum Services team is continuing the transition to Continuous Online Reporting. All families including parents of Junior School students, are able access their son or daughter’s formal assessment documents from MyStPauls at their convenience. The MyStPauls system has further developed its capability as a Learning Management System. It now has a fully integrated ‘Similarity Check’ function as part of its assessment submission process for secondary students. This function quickly scans all submitted files for plagiarism against other submissions and the wider internet. Not only does this system assist in making grading fairer, it provides students with the opportunity to re-work their submissions and continue developing their writing skills. If you have any thoughts, questions or issues regarding the Information Services Department, or any of the above initiatives, I can be reached via email at dcope@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School, Mr Brad McCabe Welcome Welcome to the 2021 academic year. I hope all of our Traralgon Secondary School families have enjoyed a break and some quality time together over the festive period. I would also like to welcome our new students and families at each year level; in particular, our Year 7 students who will shortly start their secondary school journey with us. Please find below some key dates and reminders to help the new school year to start smoothly. School Photos – Day 1, Monday 1 February 2021 A reminder that school photos are on the first day of school, Monday 1 February. Please ensure your child is well presented in their school uniform and has their blazer with them. The blazers of prize winners that were handed in for embroidery at the end of 2020 will be available for collection at the Secondary School Office. Boys are required to wear formal winter uniform, with no jumper. Girls are required to wear formal summer uniform, no jumper. Blazers are required for all photos and boys are required to wear their school tie. Consent2Go In 2020 the School started to use Consent2Go to collect and keep up to date each student’s medical record. Before each year level camp, all families will be prompted to update these records for their child/ren again. Of course, at any time, if your child has a change in any medical circumstances that the School should know about, please call us, and we will send you a link to update immediately. In 2021 the School will also be using Consent2Go for excursion permissions. We hope that all families will find this a much more convenient way to receive this information and to give consent. For families new to St Paul’s, Consent2Go is a digital solution that easily enables you to keep your child’s health records accurate and provide consent for school events, excursions and camps in a secure and timely manner. Consent2Go has now replaced our previous paper process and will allow you to update photo/video permissions, dietary requirements, and parent education and occupation details required by the government. Parents or guardians will be prompted by an email with a secure link from which you can check and update your child’s medical information and other details. The email will be from St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School. Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 9
New Parent Welcome Evening – Wednesday 24 February
For parents and students new to our campus, we annually hold a “meet-and-greet BBQ” at 6:30 pm, followed by a
brief presentation at 7:00 pm. This event will be held in the Secondary School gardens on Wednesday 24 February. It
is a wonderful opportunity for new parents of the School to meet their child’s teachers and other parents new to the
St Paul’s family.
Year 7 2022 Information Evening – Tuesday 10 March
Year 7 is an important milestone in the transitional stage between primary and secondary schooling. At St Paul’s
Anglican Grammar School, we focus strongly on fostering the social, emotional and academic skills necessary for a
successful transition to Year 7, along with leadership, independence, organisation and time management to prepare
our students for the rigours of Secondary School. To provide further information about the Year 7 program, an
Information Evening is being held for parents on Tuesday 10 March. Transition to secondary schooling is an exciting
time in your child’s educational journey. An understanding of the Year 7 program, and the supports in place, can assist
in alleviating any anxiety for students or parents. I encourage all Year 7 families to attend this information evening and
to find out what is so special about Year 7 at St Paul’s.
Year 7 Peer Support Camp – Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 February
This year the Year 7 Peer Support Camp will be held at Camp Rumbug. The camp is set on 200 acres overlooking Wilsons
Promontory National Park. Year 7 students, Peer Support Leaders and Year 7 teachers will all be involved in the camp
from Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 February. The camp is run by trained instructors who tailor the adventure sessions
to meet the objectives of friendship building, teamwork, problem solving and community. Adventure activities are a
great way to stimulate learning and growth. We know our Year 7 students will have a terrific time and we will love to
hear their camp tales upon their return.
Heads of Year and Mentor Teachers 2021
Mentor Teachers see their students every day and are key to the delivery of the pastoral care program. They are
typically the first point of contact for parents/guardians with any questions, concerns, or general information. They
are further supported by the Head of Year who oversees the wellbeing, behaviour, academic progress and co-curricular
involvement of students. In 2021 our Heads of Year and Mentor Teachers are as follows.
Ms Jennifer Witney Ms Kirsten Enders Ms Deborah Gatti Mr Garry Williams Mr Nathan Byrne
Head of Years 7 and 8 Head of Years 9 and 10 Year 7A Mentor Year 7B Mentor Year 8A Mentor
Mr Jason Addison Mrs Victoria Wilson Mr Andrew McGrath Mrs Sandra Mrs Sharon Pyle
Year 8B Mentor Year 9A Mentor Year 9B Mentor Timmer-Arends Year 10B Mentor
Year 10A Mentor
Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 10School Captains 2021
I wish to congratulate our Traralgon Secondary School Captains for 2021, Zoe Dowler and Lachlan Speairs. Both Lachlan
and Zoe were very worthy candidates who we are sure will make a significant contribution to the Secondary School this
year. Our Peer Support Leaders, Co-curricular Captains, Deputy House Captains and Student Representative Captains
will be formally inducted into their positions at the Leadership Induction Assembly Thursday 4 February at 9:10 am.
Zoe Dowler Lachlan Speairs
Uniform
At the start of the school year, it is timely to remind all families and students, of our uniform expectations. Please find
below the requirements in key areas.
Hairstyle and Grooming
• Girls must tie their hair back with a plain dark blue, burgundy or white ribbon, or a plain band in one of these
colours.
• Neither girls nor boys may have hair styles which are extremes of fashion in terms of length, style or colour.
Boys’ hair must be above the collar at all times or tied back neatly.
• Beards and moustaches are not permitted. Boys MUST be cleanly shaven.
Jewellery and Makeup
• No visible jewellery may be worn except for wrist watches. Girls only may wear one small, plain sleeper (gold
or silver) or stud (gold or silver) in the lobe of each ear. A small, discreet plain crucifix pendant on a thin chain
necklace is accepted but this must hang lower than the collar opening of the dress or shirt.
Nose piercings and ear piercings which are not in the lobe are NOT PERMITTED.
• Boys are not to wear piercings or jewellery (including bracelets, necklaces and rings) of any kind.
• Other than clear nail polish, cosmetics may not be worn at school. There should be no visible make-up. This
includes blush, lipstick/gloss, eyeliner, mascara and foundation.
The uniform policy is very familiar to our students and we insist that it is adhered to at all times. A copy can be found
on the website for both student and parent reference, https://stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/enrolment/uniform/
We also suggest that all uniform is clearly labelled prior to the school year for easy identification if it is lost.
Mobile Phone Policy change
Our Mobile Phone and Other Electronic Devices Policy was reviewed by the staff and Executive team of the School in
2019, and changes to this policy were implemented in 2020. We were delighted to see that this change to our policy
created an immediate and positive effect on our student body.
All students from Years 7 to 10 are required to lock their phones in their lockers when they arrive and keep them
there until 3:10 pm.
Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 11An excerpt from the policy is included below: 1. Students must sign and return an ICT User Agreement before they are permitted to bring their mobile phones to school. 2. Students who bring electronic devices to the School do so at their own risk. The School will not accept liability for any lost, stolen or damaged items. 3. All students are permitted to access mobile phones after the official school day, for appropriate purposes. 4. At all other times, phones and other electronic devices, brought to the School should be kept on silent and out of sight in students’ lockers (Secondary) or school bags (Junior). Headphones, earpieces and other accessories must also be kept in lockers. At the Junior Schools students must leave their phones in their school bags or give them to their classroom teacher to mind for the day. The exception to this rule is when a staff member specifically permits the use of these devices for camps, excursions or educational purposes in class time. What’s On – Traralgon Secondary School Monday 1 February Term 1, 2020 Commences School Photos Thursday 4 February Traralgon Leadership Induction Assembly Years 7 and 8 Swim Trials Wednesday 10 February House Swimming Carnival Thursday 11 February SEISA Summer Sport, Intermediate and Senior, Round 1 Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 February Year 7 Camp Thursday 18 February SEISA Summer Sport, Intermediate and Senior, Round 2 Wednesday 24 February Years 7 and 10 Immunisations, 9:00 am 2021 New Parent Information Evening, 6:30 pm Thursday 25 February SEISA Swimming, Badminton and Table Tennis Carnival Tuesday 2 March Traralgon Secondary Athletics Carnival Thursday 4 March SEISA Summer Intermediate and Senior Round 3 DAV Debating Round 1 Friday 5 March Steven Herrick (Author) Presentation to Year 8, 1:30 pm Monday 8 March Labour Day Public Holiday Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March Year 8 Camp Tuesday 9 March SEISA Visual Arts Wednesday 10 March Year 7 2022 Information Evening, 7:00 pm Thursday 11 March SEISA Summer Sport, Intermediate and Senior, Round 4 Thursday 18 March SEISA Summer Sport, Intermediate and Senior, Round 5 Tuesday 23 March Parent Student Teacher Interviews (PSTIs), 4:00 pm Friday 25 to Sunday 8 March Farm World Friday 25 March SEISA Summer Sport, Intermediate and Senior, Round 6 Tuesday 30 March House Athletics Carnival Wednesday 31 March Parent Student Teacher Interviews (PSTIs), 4:00 pm Thursday 1 April Easter Service SEISA Junior Trials End of Term 1, 2:30 pm finish Friday 2 April Good Friday Public Holiday Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 12
From the Head of Traralgon Junior School, Ms Tracey King To all of our students and families, new and returning, welcome to the 2021 academic year at St Paul’s Junior School Traralgon. I do hope everyone enjoyed some sunshine and rest during the holiday break and are prepared for the beginning of Term 1. With 2020 in our rearview mirror, it comes with some relief to be starting a new year and we are hopeful that many of the regular activities and events that we enjoy at school will run as they have in the past. We have certainly planned for this and look forward to our swim trials, school camps and excursions and family events. All of the Teaching and Education Support Staff are excited to welcome our students back to school and to get 2021 underway. Mrs Lauren Vercoe (Year 1) and Mr William Rilen (Physical Education) join our teaching team and Mrs Kim Moerke (Learning Support) returns from leave. Ms Samantha Giacobbe and Ms Emma Stanistreet join our classroom education support staff. Mrs Maria Hawkins will be on leave for 2021 and we look forward to her return next year. 2021 brings much excitement in the Junior School with many projects underway. The music room has been refurbished, new furniture for the Years 5 and 6 classrooms has been delivered and our wellbeing space, Odyessy Zone is taking shape and will be introduced to students throughout Term 1. Term 1, 2021 Term 1 begins for all Junior School students on Monday 1 February at 9:00 am. The first morning is always very busy, so please leave yourself plenty of time to arrive and to take care in our carpark. Our Kiss ‘n’ Go zone will be operating as it did last year in the Junior School carpark. Students can be dropped at the Junior School Kiss ‘n’ Go zone or along the bus loop. I would like to remind all parents to park only in designated parking spots if choosing to park in the Junior School carpark and to safely use the crossing. As always, please SLOW DOWN and take extra care when driving through our school. Prep students will be dismissed at 3:00 pm during the first week of school and a reminder that for Wednesdays (starting Wednesday 3 February), our Preps will enjoy a ‘rest day’. They will be asked to attend for a short time on one of these Wednesdays to complete the Early Years Entry task with their teacher. Times will be arranged at the beginning of the year. Our Early Learning Centre has slightly different commencement times with a staggered start enabling the students and staff to get to know each other in half group sessions. This is particularly important for children who are new to the program and our very youngest students in Pre-Kinder, who are beginning their education at St Paul’s. Parents have been advised of the orientation process for the ELC. I ask all families to please note the following events that will take place in first few weeks of term and hope you are able to join with us on these occasions when possible (depending on current regulations). Details of these, and other events, will be outlined in the fortnightly ‘What’s On’ and Junior School newsletter which are emailed to families. Monday 1 February Students commence Tuesday 2 February New students Years 3 to 6 swim testing Mad Science Show Welcome Assembly and Prep crossing of the Hats Ceremony, Junior School Gymnasium, 2:30 pm Wednesday 3 February No Prep students Thursday 4 February Traralgon Campus Leaders’ Induction, Junior School Gymnasium, 9:10 am Friday 5 February Swim Trials Years 3 to 6 Wednesday 10 February No Prep students Monday 15 February Year 5 Camp Sovereign Hill begins Year 6 Urban Camp begins Years 3 and 4 Swimming Week 1 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 13
Wednesday 17 February No Prep students
ELC Welcome Picnic
Thursday 18 February Year 5 Camp Sovereign Hill return
Year 6 Urban Camp return
Monday 22 February Years 3 and 4 Swimming Week 2 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday)
Wednesday 24 February No Prep students
Friday 26 February Family Fun and Information Evening (ELC and Junior School)
Family Fun and Information Evening
Families are encouraged to attend our Family Fun Evening on Friday 26 February. This evening will be an opportunity
to hear about some general Junior School details, meet our teachers and receive information about classroom learning
programs. Families will also be able to participate in activities led by Years 5 and 6 students and reconnect as a
community. This is an important session for parents to attend. A general information session will begin in the gym for
all families at 6:00 pm and will be followed by student activities and a schedule of classroom presentations. Families
can bring their own picnic to enjoy together or a sausage sizzle will be available.
Parents wishing to share specific information about their child with their classroom teacher at the beginning of the
year, should contact the Junior School Office or the classroom teacher directly to book in a time.
Junior School Captains 2021
I wish to congratulate our Traralgon Junior School Leaders for 2021. Chloe Ellen and Harrison Thomsen are both very
worthy candidates who we are sure will make a significant contribution to our Junior School this year. They will be
formally inducted into their positions at the Junior School Welcome Assembly on Tuesday 2 February. At this assembly,
we will also enjoy the Crossing of the Hats Ceremony for our Prep students as they begin their time in the
Junior School. All of our Year 6 Global Leaders will be inducted into their positions of leadership at the Traralgon
Leaders' Induction Assembly on Thursday 4 February.
Communication
There are a number of modes of communication families can access at St Paul’s. Parents are welcome to contact
our admin office via phone or use email at any time. Could I please ask if your email address, or any other contact
details have changed over the break that you contact the Junior School Office so we can update our system. It is
important that the preferred email address that you have provided us with is checked regularly to ensure you do not
miss any important information. Parents are also encouraged to regularly visit MyStPauls to keep updated with what
is happening at school, read our fortnightly newsletter and be aware of any emails from teachers and administration
staff. The Student Diary will also continue to be a major communication tool between home and school. Regular
communication between home and school is essential for a successful school year for your child. Please do not hesitate
to contact your child’s teacher or the office if you have any questions or concerns.
Consent2Go
In 2020, St Pauls Junior School started to use Consent2Go to collect and keep up to date each student’s medical
record. Prep to Year 2 families will be invited to update their child/ren records at the beginning of the year while our
Years 3 to 6 families will be prompted before each year level camp. Of course, at any time, if your child has a change
in any medical circumstances that the School should know about, please call us, and we will send you a link to update
immediately.
In 2021 the School will also be using Consent2Go for excursion permissions. We hope that all families will find this a
much more convenient way to receive this information and to give consent if it is required.
For families new to St Paul’s, Consent2Go is a digital solution that easily enables you to keep your child’s health
records accurate and provide consent for school events, excursions and camps in a secure and timely manner.
Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 14Consent2Go has now replaced our previous paper process and will allow you to update photo/video permissions, dietary requirements, and parent education and occupation details required by the government. Parents or guardians will be prompted by an email with a secure link from which you can check and update your child’s medical information and other details. The email will be from St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School. After School Care Care before and after school is available for all families (including Pre-Prep) and I ask parents interested in using this service to visit the Camp Australia website www.campaustralia.com or contact their Customer Service team on 1300 105 343 to register their child/ren. School Uniform All parents are asked to assist their children in ensuring that they have the correct uniform for the start of school. ELC to Year 2 students wear sports uniform all year. Years 3 to 6 students wear summer uniform during Term 1. There will be no formal PE or sport classes on the first day of school, therefore students should wear their summer uniform on Monday 1 February. Class teachers will inform your child/ren of the days in which sports uniform is to be worn to school. Years 3 to 6 students wear their coloured house top for both PE and Sport. (In Terms 1 and 4 during the warmer weather, students in Years 3 to 6 are not required to wear Blazers to School. However, Blazers must be worn to all formal assemblies and staff will inform students when the blazer is required. The jumper is not to be worn as the outer garment in public.) Please ensure that all school and sports uniform are ‘St Paul’s issue’ and are clearly named, including school shoes (it is a good idea to show your child where you have named their uniform). All students should have a school hat from day one, and I ask that you please contact Dobsons Uniform Shop (5175 9265) should you need to purchase any items. Please ensure your child/ren also bring a named Art smock and Library bag. All stationery and school books are supplied by the school. All students and parents are asked to please have a quick look at home for any Junior School library books or library bags that may be in bedrooms and return any to Mrs O’Malley in the Library. Friends of St Paul’s We have a very active Parent Group – FOSP (Friends of St Paul’s) which meets throughout the year to discuss ideas and support functions or organise and run events in the Junior School. At times, there are some minor fundraising activities conducted with all money raised going back into the Junior School. The group organise and run our Mother’s and Father’s day stalls and other special events. FOSP would love more parents to become involved and anyone is welcome to join them. You may only be able to help out from time-to-time, but the more the merrier so they can share the load. Please keep an eye out in upcoming newsletters for further information about FOSP. FOSP invites parents to meet on the first day of school for coffee and a chat at the Salvation Army adjacent to the school from 8:45 am. Junior School Focus for 2021 During the holiday break I spent time reading a number of texts and participating in professional learning related to the science of learning and developing young people who are resilient and empathetic. As we are learning to live with the challenges of COVID-19, there have been new opportunities provided to us via online learning and because of this I have been able to participate in some outstanding online webinars and conferences with other educational leaders from across the world all of who have the common goal of lifting literacy outcomes for all students. Over the past twenty or so years, the ever increasing use of technology to study the living human brain has provided us with a huge amount of information and evidence about how the brain learns. There are many scientists and researchers who have made it their life’s work to investigate and their share their findings. This evidence is essential for teachers to know, understand and apply. In 2021, our Junior School team will be focusing on developing evidence-based instructional practices, implementing the Science of Reading into classroom lessons and building our wellbeing programs. To further the skills of our team, we will be working with Joe Ybarra from Data works and participating in online professional learning to build teachers ‘capacity for explicit instruction. Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 15
We will also welcome Wilson and Julie McCaskill from ‘Play is the Way’ who will work with us as we explore practical
methodology for teaching social and emotional learning. It is looking to be an exciting year for our team and I will be
sharing our progress throughout the year with parents.
A new e-mag has also been launched during the holidays which has the purpose of supporting families and teachers
and increasing awareness of dyslexia. Dystinct Magazine is packed with evidence-based content from experts around
the world in the field of dyslexia and inspiring stories from individuals who have successfully learnt to embrace
dyslexia. It is hoped this magazine will help change the narrative around dyslexia for families of children struggling to
see the light at the end of, what can be, a long, isolating tunnel. Click on below link from your iPhone/iPad or Android
phones to get one-year free subscription to the Dystinct Magazine until February 2021: https://MagsFast.com/Get-
Magazine/?code=launch&mid=1339
Traralgon Junior School Leadership Team
Ms Tracey King Mr Rick Battista Mrs Gwen Hunter
Head of Junior School Deputy Head of Junior School Director of Learning
and Teaching
Ms Kassie Olivier Ms Rachael Geerts
Prep to Year 2 Team Leader Years 3 to 6 Team Leader
I look forward to starting an exciting 2021 school year with you and your children. Should you have any questions or if
I can assist you or your child with the commencement of the school year or throughout the year, please do not hesitate
to contact me at school on 5175 0133.
The Junior School team and I are looking forward to seeing you all on Monday 1 February.
Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 16From the Senior Chaplain, Reverend Daniel Lowe
Spiritual Life of the School
There are a few questions which we are often asked regarding Chaplaincy and Religious Education at St Paul’s and the
start of the year seemed like a good time to briefly answer some of them as we welcome new and returning families.
What does it mean to be an Anglican School?
There are many ways this question could be answered in terms of history, governance and affiliation but probably
the most important thing for students and parents to understand is the way in which the life of the School is marked
particularly by its Anglican ethos. Firstly, we affirm and value people as individuals, recognising the equal value of each
person, regardless of racial, ethnic, faith or cultural differences. Secondly, we seek to build in our students a desire to
seek justice, to respond to others in need and to be wise stewards of our natural resources.
What is the role of the School Chaplain?
Our Chaplains serve a number of functions within the life of the School. As part of the pastoral team, the Chaplain is
someone that students and staff can approach for support, advice or encouragement. As well as being a listening ear,
the Chaplain may also be a stepping stone towards accessing other support services such as a School counsellor or an
external service.
Chaplains are also responsible for the spiritual life of the School and, as part of this, oversee regular chapel services
along with elements of our School assemblies and formal gatherings. Our Chaplains are also educators and teach
Christian Studies classes at various year levels as part of the Christian Studies teaching team. Some of our Chaplains
have quite a heavy teaching load and much of their engagement with students happens in the context of classroom
teaching.
What is taught in Christian Studies?
Our Christian Studies classes have two main areas of focus. The first is an exploration and understanding of the Bible
(one of the most influential texts in Western history and thinking) and of the person of Jesus (one of the most influential
people in history). The second is an exploration of the values and beliefs of Christianity and opportunities for students
to consider and critique the range of values and beliefs that surround them in a pluralistic culture. Recognising that
students come with a whole range of views and backgrounds we respect each person’s right to their own belief system.
There are plenty of opportunities to learn about what Christians believe (as well as exploring a range of other beliefs)
and each student is encouraged to make their own well informed decisions about life and faith as part of their spiritual
growth and development.
Who are the School Chaplains?
Reverend Daniel Lowe Mr Glen Treble
Senior Chaplain Traralgon Chaplain Ms Deana Board
(Primarily responsible for Warragul (Responsible for both Warragul Junior School Chaplain
Secondary School and assists with Junior and Secondary Schools (Responsible for Warragul
Warragul Junior School) at the Traralgon Campus) Junior School)
Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 17We are also very pleased to be retaining the services of Mr Lynton Allan. Lynton will be operating in a pastoral role at
Warragul Secondary School alongside the Chaplaincy team.
Mr Lynton Allan
Are there opportunities for parent involvement?
We have a parent prayer group which meets monthly. Details of time and place will be announced in school bulletins
and any interested parents are welcome to come along.
Traralgon Campus | 46 Cross’s Road, Traralgon VIC 3844 Page | 18You can also read
