All Saints Parish School Portland eNewsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the traditional owners, the Gunditjmara people, on whose land we learn, work and play. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their elders- past, present and emerging believing that we can walk together for a better future.

All Saints Parish School Vision

All Saints Parish School Community is centered in Christ and as partners in Catholic education; we pursue fullness of life for all.

Principal's Message

What a wonderful day we had today for our school athletics sports. It was great to see our students trying their best in all of the events and challenging themselves to compete in the events that weren't quite their favourite. Everyone who participates contributes top their team score throughout the day and it all makes a difference in the end.

Congratulations to MINERVA on winning the overall trophy and to OTWAY for winning the much sought after Spirit Cup. Well done to all teams. We will share some photos in the coming days.

It was terrific to see so many parents and families at Nelson Park to support our students and cheer them on. Special thanks must go to those who helped cook sausages or those who sold sausages and icy poles to our hungry competitors. We really appreciate your support.

Relay for Life is on this coming weekend March 1 from 10:00am-10:00pm at the Portland Soccer ground. We encourage all families to come and walk with us to support this community event. Whether you can come for a long time or just a short time we would love to see you there. Our theme for this year is Country & Western.

Wednesday March 5 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent and preparing for Easter. Lent is also a time for Project Compassion. The theme for 2025 is Unite Against Poverty! Project Compassion boxes will come home to families who would like one in the coming weeks.

Our next newsletter will come out on Tuesday March 11 due to the Labour Day public holiday on Monday March 10.

We remember to keep Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, in our prayers as he is dealing with some current health battles.

We are Respectful! We are Responsible! We are Safe! We are Nurturing!

Regards

Jamie

Catholic School Culture

Project Compassion 2025: Unite Against Poverty!

Lent is a special time of year. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, a time to be the good news for the poor.

Caritas Australia invites you to put your compassion into action this Lent. As individuals we can help others, but when we come together though Project Compassion, our good becomes great. Our combined kindness grows. And when we unite with each other – and with people living in poverty – we can create BIG, lasting change.

Let’s all Unite Against Poverty! There is no time like 2025!

“A Family for All.” The Passionist Family Group Movement in All Saints Parish, Portland.

Passionist Family Groups provide an extended family for anyone who wants to belong, whatever their faith tradition, or whether they are married, single or divorced.

We want people to feel welcomed in their local Parish and to have a true sense of belonging. We want members to accept and appreciate each other and to support each other in times of need and to assist people to live their faith in a truly practical way.

All Saints Parish has two Family Groups. “The Southern Stars” consists of both young families, with pre-school, primary and secondary school-aged children and their parents, as well as older couples with adult children, and single members. “The Briny Bunch” consists of older, retired couples, and single members.

Both Groups provide an opportunity for strangers to become friends, faces to become names and names to become family. Groups gather once a month for a picnic, barbecue, shared meal or other activity, in order to enjoy being with one another and gradually members develop supportive relationships that are as strong as those in any true family.

Are you new to our community and wanting to make friends? Or, are you a longstanding community member, and looking for a deeper engagement with others with whom you might share your values and life experiences.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Passionist Family Group Movement in All Saints Parish please contact Fr Greg Tait, during Office Hours (9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. most Tuesdays to Fridays) on Mobile 0475 512530.

ECSI Surveys for Families

All families will soon receive a letter to invite you to participate in the ECSI Survey which will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic identity is expressed in work and practice here at All Saints Parish School.

The Catholic University in Leuven was commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) to design a process and tools, based on sound research, to accomplish the goal of understanding our current Catholic identity and where the school community might like to see itself in the future.

The ECSI Survey is a key element of this process and we request your participation. The online survey gathers responses from students in Years 5 and 6, all staff and a representative sample of parents.

You will be asked to complete the survey online; it may take up to an hour to do so. We would really appreciate if all families could complete this survey. The more surveys that are completed will mean that we have more data to analyse.

All families will receive a letter this week regarding participation in the survey.

In appreciation of your time taken to complete this survey, once you have completed your survey please take a screen shot of the final page to say that it has been submitted and email it to principal@asportland.catholic.edu.au to go into the draw for 1 of 3 $50 vouchers on offer.

School Information

Assembly Timetable

Assemblies commence at 2:30pm every second Friday afternoon.

Assemblies for Term 1

Week 6: School Leaders

Week 8: 3/4DL

Working With Children Checks

It is a legal requirement that any person wishing to volunteer in our school must have a valid WWCC. This includes volunteering in the canteen, helping in classrooms, assisting with garden club and going on school camps or excursions. You can obtain a WWCC by visiting the following website:

https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check

All you require is a 'volunteer' WWCC which is free.

Once you have received your confirmation and your WWCC card please bring it to the office so that we can take a copy and add it to our records.

We would love to see you involved in our school community.

The Wellbeing Barometer Survey- 2025

A Special Report: The Wellbeing Barometer - 2025

The Wellbeing Barometer survey is an invaluable tool for schools, providing critical insights into the mental health and wellbeing of young people. This annual survey identifies areas of concern, highlights resilience and adaptability in students, and emphasises the importance of preventative strategies to promote positive outcomes.

Participation in this survey is strongly encouraged, as it offers a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements. By capturing a detailed understanding of young people's experiences, the survey supports a tailored approach to enhancing their mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. It helps to identify strengths and areas for improvement, as well as pinpoint opportunities for early intervention.

The survey is part of an ongoing longitudinal study, and we encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey for each of your children. Responses remain anonymous and should be based on your observations over the last 12 months. By working together, we can reduce the long-term impact of mental illness and make a meaningful difference to the lives of our young people for a brighter future.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-2025-au

School Closure Days

Please add the following dates to your calendars. There will be no school for students on these days.

Term 1

Wednesday January 29 - SWPBS (completed)

Tuesday March 11 - Structured Literacy

Term 2

Thursday April 24 - Southern Zone Collaboration Day (DOBCEL determined date)

TBC- Curriculum Day- Maths

Term 3

TBC- Faith Formation & Religious Education

Term 4

Monday October 6 - Structured Literacy

Monday November 3 - Report Writing & Assessments

Please note: We will notify families of the TBC dates as early as possible so that any arrangements for supervision of your children can be arranged.

Important Dates

Term 1

Week 5

Monday February 24 - All Saints Athletics Carnival @ Nelson Park

Thursday February 27 - Foundation Speech Screening

Friday February 28 - Casual Clothes Day- Country & Western theme (Gold coin donation for Relay for Life)

Saturday March 1 - Relay for Life

Week 6

Tuesday March 4 - Portland Secondary College Transition Day for all Yr 7s in 2026

Wednesday March 5 - ASH WEDNESDAY: the beginning of Lent

Friday March 7 - World Day of Prayer

Week 7

Monday March 10 - Labour Day Public Holiday- No school for anyone

Tuesday March 11 - Student Free Day: Staff Professional Learning- Structured Literacy- No school for students

Tuesday March 11 - Bayview eDay for all Yr 7s in 2026

Wednesday March 12 - NAPLAN Testing Window opens

Wednesday March 12- Friday March 14 - Year 4 camp to Dunkeld

Week 8

Monday March 17 - Wednesday March 19 - Year 5/6 camp to Ballarat

Friday March 21 - Harmony Day

Week 9

Thursday March 27 - PHDSSA Interschool Athletics Carnival (for selected students)

Week 10

Friday April 4 - Last day of term 1

Learning & Teaching

From the 1/2 POD:

Students of the Week

Term 1 Week 4 Assembly

FCL: Archie Jennings

FYW: Ryder Anderson

1/2DW: Isla Reid

1/2ID: Zade Edwards

1/2MS: Zander Vaughan

3/4DL: Ally Carlyon

3/4JS: Zane Oliver

3/4KD: Izobel Oliver

3/4MN: Noah Bourke

5/6AJ: Noah Hill

5/6BS: Erin Hollis-Compton

5/6DC: Ruby Patrono

5/6RV: Ollie Rethus

Digi Tech: Ava Tobolov

Phys Ed: Ayden Marra

The ARTS (Music): Nadia Beckman

Principal’s Award: ‘Never see a need without doing something about it!’: Lewis Polkinghorne

SWPBS Award: Amelia Tate

Congratulations Bonnie

Over the weekend Bonnie competed in and won the Regional Little Athletics 400m, she also came 2nd in 800m, 1500m & 200m She now holds the Warrnambool little athletics record for 400m. Bonnie and is off to State Championships in Melbourne now.

What a fantastic effort Bonnie! Congratulations and all the best at State champs. We are very proud of you.

Ballarat Diocese FLARE Primary Literacy Strategy - Letter to parents/carers

SWPBS- School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports

School Wide Expectations

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support is: A multi-tiered framework for establishing the social culture and behaviour supports needed for a school to achieve behavioural and academic outcomes for all students.

Each newsletter we will share one aspect for each of our school wide expectations. We will focus on these at school and they may present an opportunity for some discussion with your children at home. You may ask them when they demonstrated one of the expectations or a time when someone displayed the expectation towards them.

We are RESPECTFUL!- Be respectful to all.

We are RESPONSIBLE!- Ask for help when you need it.

We are SAFE!- Report unsafe behaviour to an adult.

We are NURTURING!- Speak positively to others and use kind words.

Leadership & Stewardship

2025 Annual Action Plan

As part of our 5 year review and validation cycle, which took place in 2022, and taking in input from staff, students and families, our school came up with 3 main priorities for school improvement to focus on over the next 5 years. As part of this process each year we prepare an Annual Action Plan which drives the focus of our work in our school. These documents are attached for you to look over.

Community Engagement

All Saints Parish School has a team in Relay for Life.

This year we are delighted to again be participating in the upcoming Relay for Life event on Saturday March 1st.

Our theme this year will be a Country & Western theme.

At All Saints Parish School, we firmly believe in instilling values of compassion, empathy, and social responsibility in our students. Participating in events like Relay for Life not only aligns with our educational ethos but also provides an invaluable opportunity for our students to actively engage with the community and make a positive impact beyond the classroom walls.

Leading up to the event we will be providing opportunities for our school community to take part in fundraising activities to support the cause of the of Cancer Council.

Friday 28^th February – Country & Western Casual Clothes Day

Students are invited to come dressed in casual clothes with a Country & Western. For those who do, we ask for a gold coin donation.

Wednesday & Friday – Icy poles

Icy poles will be for sale every Wednesday & Friday lunchtime during this term for $1. All money raised for this term will go towards Relay for Life.

Families are also invited to walk with us throughout the relay on Saturday 1^st March. If you would like to join our team or make a donation please use the following link:

https://www.relayforlife.org.au/fundraisers/AllSaintsParishSchool6008

Child Safety & Wellbeing

At All Saints Parish School we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school.

Webinars for parents and carers

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

Join one of our free webinars for parents and carers.

These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.

On this page:

ownloadExternal linkDownload

Download

eSafety Term 1 2025 Parent carer webinar flyer

Student Attendance

It is a legal requirement for schools to contact families if students are absent from school without an explanation. As a result, our office staff are required to contact you from 10:00am if your child is absent from school and you have not let us know. Please phone, email or add Parent Notified absences through PAM. Thanks!

SchoolTV - Wellbeing Platform

Because parenting doesn’t come with a set of instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting.

This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.

Below is a URL link to the All Saints SchoolTV platform.

All Saints Parish School’s ‘School TV’ can be accessed using the following link: https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me

In this edition of SchoolTV - Friendship & Belonging

It's not always easy for children and teenagers to always know how to manage friendships. Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a young person’s wellbeing. It gives them a sense of security helping them feel valued which in turn builds their confidence. Friendships are full of ups and downs and it is better for kids to learn how to manage and build their own friendships, even though as an adult carer you may be tempted to interfere.

Positive friendships are an important part of the journey to adulthood. Adult carers can support their child or teenager by providing guidance in the many social and emotional skills required for a healthy relationship. This will help them to obtain, retain and maintain friendships. However, not all friendship are regarded as positive. Sometimes young people develop negative or toxic friendships. Therefore it is also important for them to learn how to identify, avoid or deal with such a friendship.

In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers can learn how to support their young person’s friendship so that they experience a sense of belonging.

Here is the link to the Friendship & Belonging edition of SchoolTV
https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/friendship-belonging

Happy Birthday

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

STUDENTS: Indianna M, Emmy B, Kaylee J, Kaziah M, Bonnie S, Kaidyn K, Ilaria T, Zoe T, Ari D, Charlie M, Addison B, Pippa B, Ezra N, Gabby D, Willow B, Jake R, Nate L, Harriet H, Ryan C.

STAFF: Miss Wood, Miss Simpson

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

STUDENTS: Aubree Johnstone, Alice Vassiliou, Ezra Chase, Samantha Lyszczarz, Caleb Mayer, Van Mayer, Logie Tomkins, Isla Reid, Jarvis Toohey, Victor Vassiliou, Edward Blood, Isabella Camilleri, Lola Ford, Tayah Jackson, Lucas Kerr, David Staples, Indiah Gray-Brewster, Mia Tobolov, Trinidy Brewer, Charlotte Hawker, Billie-Lee Johnson, Amelia Tait, Noah Hill, Jayden Jackson, Banjo Mewburn

STAFF: Boo Roberts, Jess R, Miss Mall, Mrs Anderson

Praying With Children

Praying with Children resources offer an insight into the scripture readings from mass on the weekend. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to discuss the Gospel stories and complete some related activities if they wish.

Please click on each of the flyers below to access the activities.

Children's Liturgy of the Word- March 2

Children's Liturgy of the Word- March 5 Ash Wednesday

Children's Liturgy of the Word- March 9 1st Sunday of Lent