Dear Parents, Guardian and Carers,

The Premier of Victoria, The Hon. Dan Andrews, announced yesterday several changes to the Victorian Roadmap. Because of Victoria meeting vaccination targets, students in regional Victoria will now return to on-site, full-time learning on Friday 22 October 2021. 

It will be lovely to have everyone back together by the end of this week. 

We continue to ask that you wear masks when dropping off and picking up your children (unless you have a medical exemption), maintain social distancing requirements and exit the school grounds as soon as possible.

Again, we thank you all for your support in assisting us to deliver a remote learning program. We know how challenging it has been juggling your own commitments with supervising your children. 

Kind regards

Jodie

The proven benefits of reading with your child

Taking the time to read with your child has enormous benefits in improving them as learners and we know that the children who read regularly at home make significantly more progress academically. The following article is from PETAA (Primary Education Teachers Association Australia) website and explains other benefits to this practice. 

Parents and carers who read aloud with children in a secure, safe and comfortable context motivate their children to read.

Parents’ perceptions, values, attitudes, and expectations play an important role in influencing their children’s attitudes toward reading, and subsequent literacy development. When children share a book with someone who makes them feel special, the attitude that reading is pleasurable is transferred to other reading encounters.

Relationship building

At the core of reading is a relationship and it is the bond between children and parents that is enhanced through reading together. It only takes ten minutes a day to build this relationship.

Children’s reading improves

The research is conclusive: When parents successfully support their children’s literacy learning from an early age, everyone benefits. When teachers and parents work together to support children’s reading and academic success, learning outcomes for all children improve.

Children read more

Students who read with their parents are better prepared for school. They begin school with knowledge of book language and familiarity with concepts of print. They understand how books work and have many more exposures to text types and vocabulary.

Children’s self-esteem improves

Knowing someone cares enough to take time out of a busy schedule to give you undivided attention around a book makes a significant difference to how students perceive themselves as learners and readers. When parents show an interest in their children’s learning, children respond positively.

Reading unites families through shared stories

When a family reads together, stories form a common ground for communicating. Stories bind families and help students makes sense of where they fit in the world.

Not only does parent involvement have a specific and profound impact on children’s reading, but also on children’s language and literacy learning in general. It is through interactions with parents and carers that children learn new vocabulary, seek clarification of new understandings, and learn to comprehend their expanding worlds. Talk is the key to reading and writing success. Talking with children (walking to school, at the table, in the car, bedtime) has a significant effect on literacy learning in general.

As another school year draws to a close, so have our Parents and Friends activities due to current Covid restrictions. We acknowledge that whilst this year has been extremely challenging it is a great opportunity to reflect on our efforts and achievements for the 2021 school committee.

Although we have had another up and down year of fundraising, we thank everyone for their efforts. The money which we raised this year will be put towards an extension of the Grade 3/4 playground equipment. 

None of this could have happened without the ongoing support of my fellow committee members and all of the teachers and staff at the school.  To all of you, I say a very big thank you.  And to the wider parents and family community at St Michael’s, I look forward to seeing you next year at some of our events. 

President

Deb Rowley

Many in our school community continue to face financial impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting families experiencing financial challenges through our School Fee Concession programs, and encourage any parent/carer/guardian experiencing difficulties to contact us regarding fee assistance.

Fee payers who have recently qualified for a Centrelink Concession Card should communicate with the school at their earliest convenience to determine eligibility for a Category One Centrelink Concession Card Concession. 

Please contact Maria Churton, School Finance Administration Officer via email, office@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au,  to explore confidential financial support arrangements or to obtain further information.

Each week students from each class are awarded Student of the Week certificates. These children are nominated for the example they have been within the school based on the School Wide Expectation focus for that week. The weekly focus will be from Wednesday until Tuesday the following week. Awards will be presented to students on Friday in their classrooms.

In Week 2 the School Wide Expectation focus was Respect: 

Appointments are still available at Traralgon Donor Centre

for the coming public holiday.

As we cheer on our favourite in the race that stops the nation don’t forget that the need for blood and plasma never stops. Book an appointment to donate over the public holiday to cheer on those who need your life-giving blood and plasma. Visit lifeblood.com.au or download the donate blood app.