Dear Families,

This week is National Reconciliation Week, at the heart of reconciliation is the relationship between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To foster positive race relations, our relationship must be grounded in a foundation of truth.

Why this week?

27th May - Is the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the start of National Reconciliation Week.

3rd June: Mabo Day, when the High Court of Australia recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a special relationship to the land.

This week is significant for all Australians. This week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. It is an opportunity to remember, reflect, acknowledge, accept, celebrate stories and journeys. It is a time for all of us to join the national reconciliation effort.

First Eucharist

This Sunday we will celebrate the Sacrament of First Eucharist at 2pm at Holy Saviour Church. We wish to congratulate the following Holy Saviour students who will be receiving the Eucharist for the very first time: Elsie Adames, Tyson Diamandis, Kataleya D’Lima, Lucas Fitzgerald, Katie Hooi, Liam Kandamudali, Monica Martin, Julia Rogers, Zoe Saville, and Alyssa Theodoratos.

Semester One Reports & Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

On Tuesday 20th June from 2pm to 6pm and Wednesday 21st June from 2pm to 8pm our Semester One Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences will take place for all students. Semester One school reports will be distributed to all families on Friday 16th June. This will give families five days to dissect, interpret and absorb their child’s report, and bring discussion points to the Parent Teacher interview. Interviews are strictly for 15 minutes so please be on time as this will keep things flowing on the evening. All interviews will be conducted from the classrooms off the Shared Area with JLC and MLC in their usual classrooms, SLC will be in the STEAM Room.

The portal to book your interview will be open this afternoon, parents will need to go to https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au and use the code phh9g to book a time or CLICK HERE to make a time.

Term 2 Principal Cuppa & Chat

This term’s Principal Cuppa & Chat will take place next Thursday 8th June at 2.30pm. This is an informal gathering when parents can come in and catchup with each other as well as have an opportunity to discuss various school issues with me over a cuppa. There are no agendas or minutes, and (almost!) any topic is open for discussion. Lots of good feedback and discussion is generated and its a wonderful opportunity to catch up with other parents at the school. We hope to see you there. Please indicate via the form in Audiri (formerly Skoolbag) your intention to attend so that we can make sure we have enough cookies available!

Save the Date (Friday 23rd June)

Everyone is invited to join our school and Parish communities for Mass at 9:15am on the last day of term (Friday 23rd June) to celebrate an amazing term of learning and reconnecting with each other. After Mass the classrooms will be open for everyone to engage with our staff and students to share in the students’ Celebration of Learning (10-11am).

Holy Saviour Trivia Night

At our School Advisory Council meeting this week, a decision was made to postpone the upcoming Trivia Night scheduled for 15th June until term 3. This event will be our major fundraiser for the year and we want to make sure adequate preparations are made.

With this being said, we are calling for any volunteers to join our Trivia Night Committee. If you are interested in helping out with the coordination of the Trivia Night, please contact School Advisory Council Chairperson, Belinda Saville, to register your interest (binndy20@gmail.com). The first meeting for the committee will be following our next SAC meeting on Tuesday 20th June.

Trivia Night Donations

Do you run or manage a business? Is your business in a position to donate goods or a gift voucher? We are seeking donations for our Trivia Night that can be used for raffle prizes, silent & live auctions, or even spot prizes throughout the night. We are grateful for any and all donations and your business will be promoted on the night and in our newsletter. Please contact Belinda Saville (binndy20@gmail.com) or bring your donations directly to the school office.

Google & Facebook Reviews

As we all know, word of mouth is the most important tool for sharing the successes of our school in our local community. We invite our community to leave a review of Holy Saviour on our Facebook page and on Google. Thank you to the generous families who have already left a review in this space.🙏

Google Review: https://g.page/r/Ceo4uN0EZbnuEAg/review

Facebook Review: https://www.facebook.com/HolySaviourPS/reviews

Enrolments open for 2024

Enrolments for 2024 are currently open! If you have a younger child who turns 5 before 30 April 2023, please come and see Sherridan or Kerry in the office for an enrolment form. Also, if you know of anyone else in the community with a child the same age, pass on our contact details– we would love to give them a tour of our fabulous school! At Holy Saviour, every other day is Open Day!

Vinnies CEO Sleepout

There’s only 20 days left until the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Right now, there are over 122,000 people experiencing homelessness in Australia. And every day, the cost-of-living crisis is pushing more Australians to the brink. The long-range forecast for 22nd June is a low of 6 degrees overnight, luckily I’ll have warm clothes, a sleeping bag and a hot meal – which is sadly more than many people can rely on. Please help me raise money to keep our fellow Australians safe and sound: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/steve-evans/victoria and contribute what you can to this invaluable cause.

Catholic Secondary School Enrolment Applications

Key Enrolment Dates for Year 5 Students in 2023 starting Year 7 in 2025

The key enrolment dates for students in Year 5 in 2023 who will be starting Year 7 in 2025 have been agreed after consultation with the Executive of the Principals Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS).

The timeline of events and dates are as follows:

27th January 2023 – Applications opened for Year 5 students commencing Year 7 in 2025.

18th August 2023 – Applications will close.

20th October 2023 – Offers will be posted to prospective Year 7 applicants.

10th November 2023 – Final date for parents/carers to accept an offer made by a school.

Parents of Year 5 students in 2023, please diarise these dates so you don’t miss out.

Final Thoughts ~ Five Things Your Tween Wants You to Know

The following comes from an article shared in my son's school newsletter a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve only had the chance to read it properly myself this week. It is written by Michelle Mitchell, an award-winning speaker and bestselling parenting author, who surveyed 567 “Tweens” in 2020, with one question being; “What is one thing you wished all adults knew about life as a tween?”

Below are five of the top survey responses that may give you insights into your tween’s inner world. The full article can be found here.

Message 1: Life is Harder than You Realise - Tweens believed life was harder for them than their parents acknowledged, and they felt their challenges were minimised. Lock in some regular one-on-one time with your child.
Message 2: I am No Longer a Kid - Tweens voiced a strong desire to be taken more seriously by the world around them, and not to be overlooked or dismissed because of their age. Teach your child practical skills, and give them more meaningful responsibility at home.
Message 3: You are Missing Stuff - Tweens emphasised that their parents were missing stuff. When your tween comes home with questions that are difficult to answer, be prepared to give them a thoughtful and comprehensive response.
Message 4: We Might Always Disagree about Screens - Technology was a central theme of tweens’ frustration. Emphasis was placed on parents’ alleged lack of understanding of how central technology was to tweens’ social status and life. When it comes to technology crystal clear agreements are absolutely essential.
Message 5: It’s Time to Start Knocking - When tweens begin to need more privacy, most parents respect and welcome it as a sign of growing up. Tweens are usually looking to be given more grown-up privileges and responsibilities as an acknowledgement that they are no longer children.

Kind regards,

Steve Evans

Principal

Digital Technologies

Cyber-bullying