Term 3 Week 7 Newsletter- Monday September 1

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

Principal's Message

The excitement and anticipation is building!

Our school concert is just around the corner- Thursday September 11. Reminder that we have our matinee at 12:00pm. This is a great show for grandparents or young children to come and watch as it is not as busy as our night time show at 6:00pm. Entry for each show is $5 per person, pre school aged children are free. Tickets are purchased at the door- no pre-sale of tickets available. Concert practice appears to have been going well at school and there are some very cool dance moves on display. We cannot wait to put on a 'Colour Fest' for you!

Our Music Festival band and choir put on a fantastic performance last week and should be congratulated for the extra time and effort that they put into preparing and performing. Well done everyone.

Last week I attended the Australian Catholic Education Conference in Cairns, where over 1400 Catholic delegates and educators gathered under the theme “hope, anchored in faith.” Keynotes and workshops focused on the importance of family engagement, meaningful assessment, and building strong school communities – all areas that connect closely with the work we are doing here at All Saints. I look forward to sharing these ideas with our community in the weeks ahead. 

We look forward to welcoming our dads, or special people who play the role of father in the lives of our students, for breakfast on Friday morning. Don't forget to wear your footy colours!

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

Regards

Jamie  

Anxiety around concert time!

Anxiety is a natural and expected part of growing up. In fact, it plays an important role in helping young people prepare for challenges, stay alert to potential dangers and adapt to new situations. It can motivate them to study for a test, practise before a performance, or tread carefully in unfamiliar settings.

We are aware that at this time of the year anxiety and worry rises for some children. The concert and performing are not everyone’s favourite thing to do- they certainly were not mine when I was at school. For some people this anxiety rises at maths time or during PE or art classes. Every student has something at school that causes them to worry a little more than usual. This is a normal part of life.

Our teachers (and LSOs) are very conscious of this at all times and have a number of different strategies to help students manage any anxiety. Children are continually being encouraged to step outside of their comfort zone and try new things. This is especially so at concert time. Some children find it easy; some have to work a little harder and some have to try really hard to participate. If it becomes too overwhelming our teachers can plan other ways for children to be involved in the concert with their class. It is an expectation that all students will participate in the concert in some way. Just the same as students who are anxious about Maths still attend Maths classes. Children who do not like PE still join in with PE lessons.

While we understand that it may be hard for some students to participate in the concert, every year there are children who do not want to ‘do the concert’. Our experience shows us that with encouragement and support for the children to participate, the sense of pride and accomplishment far outweighs any anxiety that students have when they are on stage on concert night. The satisfaction, elation and sense of self-esteem that the children gain from this experience is invaluable and teaches them that they can do hard things, which is part of learning for life. There is also a great sense of joy and gratification that you will gain as parents too!

If your child is expressing some worry or anxiety about the concert, please have a conversation with them about how they can do it and they will be OK, they might just have to work a little bit harder than normal. The practices at school will make sure that they know the moves, even if they don’t know them at the moment, they certainly will by concert time. If you are still concerned about this, I ask you to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher and have a discussion.

I encourage you to check out the SchoolTV section of this newsletter, ‘Anxiety & Young People’, which raises awareness and provides families with practical strategies to help young people manage anxiety in healthy, constructive ways.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Elena and Banjo who have received scholarships for Portland Secondary College for 2026.

Congratulations also to Austin Annett and Maya Dodson who were chosen as Rebel Rookies in a half time kicking competition on the MCG when the Cats beat the Tigers a couple of weeks ago. 

Catholic School Culture

Sacrament of Confirmation

Our thoughts and prayers are with Rose M, David S, Theo D, Elodie T and Harriet H as they continue their preparations for the Sacrament of Confirmation this weekend.

Over the following weeks these students and their families will participate in mass with members of the parish and work with staff to prepare for the sacrament on September 13.

Assembly Timetable

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

Assemblies for Term 3

Week 8: Science & Phys Ed (September 12)

School Closure Days

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

Term 4

Monday October 6 - Structured Literacy

Monday November 3 - Report Writing & Assessments

Important Dates

Term 3 

Week 7

Friday September 5 - Father's Day Breakfast 8am-8.50am

Saturday September 6 - Confirmation Dismissal @ 6:00pm mass

Sunday September 7 - Father's Day

Week 8

Wednesday September 10 - PHDSSA Basketball Tournament- Girls

Wednesday September 10 - School Concert Dress Rehearsal Day

Thursday September 11 -  CONCERT DAY - All Saints Colour Fest

                                                  - Matinee @ 12:00pm

                                                  - Evening Show @ 6:00pm

Saturday September 13 - Sacrament of Confirmation @ 6:00pm mass

Week 9

Monday September 15 - VRQA Compliance Audit

Tuesday September 16 - Foundation Excursion to PAC: 'The Librarian- A Bookish Circus Adventure!'

Tuesday September 16 - 5/6 Specialist Day due to Foundation excursion

Wednesday September 17 - PHDSSA Basketball Tournament- Boys

Thursday September 18 - Foundation & 1/2 Specialist Day due to excursion on Tuesday

Friday September 19 - Last Day of Term 3- 2:15pm finish.

Term 4 

Week 1

Monday October 5 - Student Free Day: Staff Professional Learning- Structured Literacy

Friday October 10 - Greater Western Region Athletics Final in Ballarat (for selected students)

Friday October 10 - 'The Listies' excursion to PAC 10:30am - Foundation & Year 5/6

Friday October 10 - 'The Listies' excursion to PAC 1:00pm - Year 1/2 & Year 3/4

Learning & Teaching

From the 1/2 POD

Portland in the Past Excursion

This term the 1/2 POD have been learning about the history of Portland in Inquiry. 

To connect more with the learned content, the students then went on an excursion around Portland to see some of the buildings and landmarks that are important to our history. 

The Port of Portland provided a free bus tour of the port to explain what happens there, which the students were really fascinated about - especially the big trucks going up the ramp to unload woodchips! Many thanks to Shannon Curran and Leigh Wiseman who ran the tours.

We also had a tour of the Maritime Centre and learned a lot about whaling, lifesaving, the baths and boating in Portland in the past. 

History House had some fantastic historical artefacts that we had been learning about like Edward Henty’s plough, so it was great for the students to see them in person. We also had a look at the rocket house, the cannon, the war memorial and various historical buildings like Clock by the Bay, All Saints Church and Bayview College where Mary MacKillop once taught.

A highlight of the excursion was finishing with a tram ride. It was a fantastic excursion and the students should be very proud of how well they represented our school, with many members of the community commenting on their beautiful manners and the way they engaged in the content.

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Students of the Week

Book Week 2025

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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! - Care for the natural environment

We are RESPONSIBLE! - Do your best, have a positive mindset

We are SAFE! - Report unsafe behaviour to an adult

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

SWPBS Rewards: Congratulations to the 3/4 students

The 3/4 POD have earned 25 awards in both Responsible and Nurturing.
For "We are Responsible" the reward this time is Free Chromebook use.
For "We are Nurturing" the reward this time is a colourful clothes day.
We have allocated Tuesday 2nd September for both.  Students can wear colourful clothes and the afternoon session (after silent reading) will be free Chromebook use (school appropriate use).

Well done everyone.

Leadership & Stewardship

Last day of Term 3

Term 3 finishes on Friday September 19 at 2:15pm.

Buses will run at 2:30pm on this day.

Term 4 Begins

Term for begins for staff on Monday October 6. This day is a Student Free Day as staff will be participating in professional learning on Structured Literacy.

Term 4 begins for students on Tuesday October 7.

2025 SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Our 2025 SAC members are: Bonita Silva, Cam McCallum, Tam Jennings, Shannon Thomas, Stacey Tait, Chris Watson and Alyssa Bicknell.

If you have anything you would like raised at a SAC meeting please contact one of the SAC members or the school office.

Community Engagement

WHAT A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE!🤩 MUSIC FESTIVAL 2025

Congratulations to all of our Year 5/6 students who performed at last night's Portland & District Schools Music Festival.

Our choir and band deliver 3 fantastic numbers. 🎶
Everyone sung together 'One Short Day' from Wicked. Then our band joined the choir to perform a medley of 'Peace like a River' and "This Little Light of Mine". Before we finished our set with an instrumental percussion piece of the song "Wipeout".

Your dedication, enthusiasm and musical talents were certainly on show. Everyone was amazing and the All Saints Community are very proud of you. Thank you all for giving up so much time and putting in so much effort to represent us so well.

Special thanks to Rosie and Ms. Silva who worked just as hard as our performers. 💜🤍💚

2025 School Concert: All Saints Colour Fest

Thursday September 11 is our school concert at the Civic Hall. The 'All Saints Colour Fest' matinee will be at 12:00pm and the evening show will begin at 6:00pm.  Tickets available at the door.

More information will be shared closer to the date.

Child Safety & Wellbeing

Child Safety - Digital Media Literacy & Safety Webinar with Michael Carr-Gregg and Susan McLean

On Wednesday 3rd September, thanks to SchoolTV, our families have the opportunity to attend a free webinar with two of Australia's leading experts in the area of online safety, Michael Carr-Gregg and Susan McLean. This session will provide invaluable insights into the new social media regulations, digital footprint and reputation, screen time and brain development and parental controls.  Please scan the QR code on the flyer below.

The Australian Childhood Foundation

The Australian Childhood Foundation provides vital services to support children and young people who have
experienced abuse, neglect, or family violence. Their programs include therapeutic foster and kinship care,
trauma counselling, family support, and outreach initiatives to help children feel safe, connected, and able to
heal.
Actor Chris Hemsworth, a Patron of the Foundation, has played an important role in raising awareness and funds.
He led the #NotAnotherChild campaign, supported fundraising events (including one that raised over $275,000
for a Trauma Recovery Centre), and even voiced a character in the Foundation’s Big Tree App, which helps young
children learn calming and coping strategies.
https://www.childhood.org.au/our-services/ 

From the eSafety Commissioner

The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) is the Australian Government’s independent online safety regulator. 

Our purpose is to help safeguard Australians at risk of online harms and to promote safer, more positive online experiences. 

As the first agency of its kind in the world, eSafety is at the forefront of preventing online risks, reducing the impacts of harms and building safer digital spaces.

Please find some links below from the eSafety website that you may find helpful or just keep them for future reference.

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

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

https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids 

https://www.esafety.gov.au/first-nations 

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 - Anxiety & Young People

Anxiety is a natural and expected part of growing up. In fact, it plays an important role in helping young people prepare for challenges, stay alert to potential dangers and adapt to new situations. It can motivate them to study for a test, practise before a performance, or tread carefully in unfamiliar settings. However, for many children and adolescents today, anxiety can shift from being a helpful response to becoming intense, persistent and disruptive.

The world young people are growing up in is fast-paced and often demanding. Academic pressures, social expectations, family changes and the constant presence of digital media, can all contribute to heightened stress and worry.

When anxiety is left unrecognised or unsupported, it can begin to affect a young person's wellbeing, learning, friendships and self-confidence. That's why it's so important for adult carers to understand how anxiety may present in children. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

This edition of SchoolTV raises awareness and provides families with practical strategies to help young people manage anxiety in healthy, constructive ways.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Anxiety & Young People edition of SchoolTV
https://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/anxiety-young-people-au

A Special Report: Celebrating Father’s Day

For many years now, the role of fathers has changed and evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were often considered detached and distant due to working long hours in factories. However, today things have changed dramatically with many dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on.

Recent studies have shown that children benefit greatly from having fathers who are present and interacting in everyday activities. This has transformed the understanding of how fathers shape children’s lives from the start, challenging conventional ideas of parenthood and gender.

Research also suggests that fathers influence their sons and daughters in different ways, which is especially true during their transition to adolescence. Engaging in regular physical activities can play a key role in influencing children to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks.

In this Special Report, fathers will learn about the positive impact they can have on their child’s mental health and wellbeing, whilst also ensuring they indulge in a little self-care.

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/celebrating-fathers-day

Multilingual videos now available on SchoolTV!

Because wellbeing shouldn’t get lost in translation, SchoolTV has introduced a powerful new feature — multilingual videos.

Until now, families could access written content in more than 60 languages. Now, expert-led videos are also available in Chinese, Hindi and Arabic, with more languages to be added next year.

This new feature ensures every family can access trusted, practical guidance in a way that feels familiar, inclusive, and easy to understand.

Explore this feature for yourself by clicking the link below to view SchoolTV content in your preferred language.

http://asportland.catholic.schooltv.me/stv-multilingual-feature

Happy Birthday

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

STUDENTS:  Henry G, Kacy C, Jensen I, Thomas J, Savannah S, Ezra T, Chloe H, Ayden M, Nash S, Layla R, Austin S, Peyton M, Sanna J, Tully P Willow C, Violet S, Noah B, Judd L, Idrissa C

STAFF:  Hayley, Nicola, Cherie, Toyah, Deb, Danielle L, Rita

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 links below to access the activities.

Our Diocesan Community Magazine

COMMUNITY NEWS