Dear Families,

I hope that all families enjoy the weekend ahead and the Melbourne Cup public holiday. A timely break for many as we prepare to launch into the ‘busyness’ of November and December.

Please note that Monday 6th November (Cup Eve) the school will be closed for all students. The office will not be open. Students will return to school after Cup Day on Wednesday 8th November.

School Holy Saviour Day Celebrations

On Friday 10th November, the staff and students will have a special “fun day” celebrating our Holy Saviour Day. The day will begin with mass and will be followed by some fun activities for all the children. Proactivity will be joining us and leading everyone through four tabloid rotations, and the day will conclude with our inaugural Holy Saviour’s Got Talent show. There will also be a special lunch organised by our SAC. Refer to the "Holy Saviour Day Celebrations" page further in the newsletter for more details.

Community Holy Saviour Day Celebrations

This is the big celebration! On Sunday 12th November, our entire Holy Saviour Community will be gathering to celebrate our Holy Saviour Day. The day will begin with mass at 10am and will be followed by some exciting activities. Further in this week's newsletter is a flyer with all the information you require to join us for this community celebration of Holy Saviour. Refer to the "Holy Saviour Day Celebrations" page further in the newsletter for more details.

Student Leadership Opportunities

Term 4 is an exciting time for our Grade 5 students as they begin to think about and prepare for the 2024 Grade 6 Leadership positions. The senior teachers have begun talking with their students about the many wonderful opportunities that await them. Students will be able to nominate for roles as School & House Captains, they will then prepare and deliver speeches in early December.

Holy Saviour Christmas Picnic

Save the date! On Thursday 7th December from 6:00pm-7:30pm, we will be celebrating the year with our Holy Saviour Family Christmas Picnic. Children will be performing Christmas songs, Footsteps Dance will showcase all they have been doing with the children this term, and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the end of the school year together. More details will follow, but we encourage all families to make an effort to attend.

Strike Sports Pitch Re-Design Competition

To go in the running to win 4 new aluminium soccer goals for our school, students can enter a competition being run by Strike Sports. Competition guidelines are:

Find a local soccer pitch near you to re-design
Re-design the soccer field however you like with illustrations and a written explanation of your design
Entries may include innovative and practical ideas for improvement
Entries can be a group or individual project
One submission per group or individual
Submissions close on the 15th of November and the winner announced on the 30th of November. Submit entries via team@strikesportsco.com.au

School Advisory Council Vacancies

The School Advisory Council (SAC) provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent/guardian voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and Parish Priest for the good of School and Parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount. The role is to give consideration to, and advice on, important School matters in order to support the Principal in the context of the MACS governance arrangements.

We are seeking new SAC Members for the 2024-2026 period, from a mixture of year levels and professional backgrounds. More information regarding the SAC can be found in its Terms of Reference. If you have an interest in being on the SAC, any of the existing members would be happy to be contacted and discuss the commitment involved. If you would like to be involved in the SAC, please complete your details in the attached form and we will be in touch shortly.

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 2024, 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!

Catholic Secondary School Enrolment Applications

Key Enrolment Dates for Year 5 Students in 2024 starting Year 7 in 2026

The key enrolment dates for students in Year 5 in 2024 who will be starting Year 7 in 2026 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:

29th January 2024 – Applications will open for Year 5 students commencing Year 7 in 2025.

16th August 2024 – Applications will close.

18th October 2024 – Offers will be posted to prospective Year 7 applicants.

8th November 2024 – Final date for parents/carers to accept an offer made by a school.

Parents of Year 5 students in 2024, please diarise these dates so you don’t miss out.

Final Thoughts... The Power of Laughter

An essential component of having fun is laughter because it releases wonderful feel-good endorphins and neurotransmitters instantly throughout your whole body. Laughter shared between two people brings those two people closer together in an incredibly joyful exchange of delight. It does more than that too.

Laughter:

transforms emotional states
stimulates endorphins and creates wellbeing
increases levels of serotonin
is a key coping skill, especially for boys
is an anti-bullying strategy
encourages lightening-up in serious moments
is a bonding experience when shared in groups
builds inclusivity and connectedness, and secures friendships
releases tension and stress
is a key element in effective communication, especially in close relationships
is an antidote to violence.

Laughter and lightness in homes and classrooms builds safety and connectedness. These are two of the most fundamental needs of every human, not just our children. Seriously, it’s time we all lightened up – even if it’s only for a few moments a day.

Kind regards,

Steve Evans

Principal

Community Notices

Vermont Sth Neighbourhood House Garage Sale

Siena College Open Morning

Highvale Preschool

Vermont South Barefoot Bowls

Swimworld

Birralee Preschool - 2024 Enrolments Open

School Crossing Supervisors Wanted