Welcome to the fourth St Luke's Way Newsletter for Term 1. Following, you'll find newsletter articles from St Luke's Principal, Virginia Warner, as well as all main areas of the School, and learning and development. Please open your newsletter article of choice by clicking from the options below.
Moving towards Easter – He is Risen Indeed!
I would like to thank Year 11 Morris, Mr Cathcart and Mrs Griffin for leading our Worship services this week. The focus was on Palm Sunday and the ultimate example of humility, sacrifice and service we find in Jesus. The season of Lent calls us to count our blessings and encourages us to give to others. Our Lenten Pantry Appeal supports the work of the Anglican Church in our local Bundaberg community. I encourage families to consider donating non-perishable goods by the end of next week.
Joy and learning in abundance!
Last week I had the absolute pleasure of visiting our Year 7 – Year 10 camps at Noosa Northshore. While I didn’t get to see the Year 9 students who were all off base camp, it was a joy to see the growth in confidence, resilience and skill in our students as they were completing team-building challenges, mountain biking, outdoor survival skills, abseiling and archery. I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our staff and students for making the most of their outdoor education experiences.
I would like to congratulate students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 for their calm and confident approach to the annual NAPLAN tests this week. These national literacy and numeracy tests provide data for all Australian students and the opportunity to check how well each of our young people are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy against national standards over time. NAPLAN is but one data source our teachers use to support students and their learning and to assess the trends to inform our education programs in literacy and numeracy.
Yesterday, I had a special visit from the Prep B class who were full of the wisdom of youth when it comes to the rules we should have at St Luke’s. Amongst their advice was that we should be kind, share, and we should be allowed to bring our doggy to school. Just quietly, I agree with all three of those ideas.
Every minute counts.
As we head into the final two weeks of Term 1, I would like to remind families that we are all working right up to our last day, Friday 31 March. For Middle and Senior School students, Interim Reports will be available from Friday 31 March at 4.00pm and accessible via Parent Lounge. For our Primary students, Parent Teacher Interviews are being held in Week 10.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Mrs Virginia Warner
Principal
Eco-Friendly Learners
Pre-Preps are developing a better understanding of the environment through composting, engaging in sustainable practices, tending to our ELC garden and caring for our worm farm. They have created mini greenhouses using recycled materials and participated in building a Terrarium for their classroom. From these experiences, children had the opportunity to learn about ecosystems and how the water within the Terrarium sustains the plants by creating a miniature water cycle. The children were very keen and excited to show their ecosystem to parents and families.
Spontaneous Play
Kindy friends delighted in a spur of the moment face painting experience with their teachers that ended with hilarious results! Kindy friends decided to gather recycled cardboard boxes, crafted them into fishing boats and dropped a line or two in hopes of landing the biggest catch of the day. They even had a picnic and BBQ and shared activities in the ‘boat house’. Spontaneous and child-led free play promotes children’s sense of agency and to have a voice in the programs. Child-led experiences are supported by the teachers who provide additional resources to promote their choices to sustain play-based learning and collaboration.
Where it comes from…
As an extension of Junior’s exploration of sensory play, the Junior children visited the outdoor Kindy and Pre-Prep veggie and herb gardens. They viewed the variety of herbs and plants growing, and chatted with the teachers about how plants grow from seeds and water and that the sun is needed for plants to grow big. Children harvested a collection of vegetables and herbs to add to sensory, tasting and cooking experiences. Inside, in small groups, they had discussions about seeds, plant life cycles, where some of our foods come from and the importance of healthy eating.
Vacation Care
A friendly reminder to all ELC families, if you require your child to be booked into the Junior, Kindy or Pre-Prep Vacation Care during the upcoming school holidays, Monday 3 April - Friday 14 April, (please note ELC is closed Friday 7 and Monday 10 April for public holiday - Good Friday and Easter Monday) please ensure you have completed the Vacation Care online booking form as soon as possible, as places are limited.
Warmest regards,
Mrs Catherine Donaldson
Director of Early Learning Centre
Primary School Swimming Carnival
Just a friendly reminder that our Interhouse Swimming Carnival is being held next Thursday 23 March at the Bundaberg Swimming Academy. The carnival will start at 9.00am and conclude at approximately 2.30pm. We welcome Parents, relatives and friends to attend this carnival. Students are to wear their full house uniform with togs to be worn underneath.
Swim Program
Our swim program draws to a close this week. Thank you to our educators who go above and beyond to ensure this program runs so well. Our Preps to Year 2 thoroughly enjoyed their fun pyjama swim day as their last session today.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interview bookings are still open through our online Parent Portal until Friday 24 March at 6.00pm.
Cross Country
Our Primary Cross Country will be held on Friday 31 March starting at 8.40am. Students in Year 6 who are turning 12 this year, will be competing in Middle/High School Cross Country and that event will be held on Tuesday 18 April. Times will be advised closer to this event.
Slasleapers
This week saw the launch of our maiden skipping club, St Luke’s Leapers. Selected students started training on Wednesday afternoon, and our first session was a skipping success! The creation of this school-based club provides a pathway for St Luke’s athletes to begin to compete in skipping competitions not only at a local level, but at both a State, and National level.
ELC Opening and Closing Times
I would like to draw our families’ attention to the opening and closing hours of our ELC for Before and After School Care.
Before School Care: 7:30am opening
After School Care: 5:30pm
Kind regards,
Tonia Lassman
Head of Primary School
Dear Middle School Parents and Caregivers,
The St Luke's Middle School newsletter is recorded as a video by myself and Head of Senior School, Mrs Robyn Deer, and then uploaded to YouTube. For this fortnight's newsletter content please visit the following YouTube link.
Alternatively, you may wish to jump ahead to specific topics within the same video. If so, please go to the following category links.
Kind regards,
Matthew Hughes
Head of Middle School
Welcome to the Senior School newsletter for this fortnight. Head of Middle School, Mr Matthew Hughes and I have recorded a video update and uploaded it to YouTube for your convenience. To watch this fortnight's newsletter content for Middle and Senior School, please visit the following YouTube link.
Alternatively, you may wish to jump ahead to specific topics within the same video. If so, please go to the following category links.
Kind regards,
Robyn Deer
Head of Senior School
Lenten Pantry Appeal
Each year in the lead-up to Easter, St Luke's Middle and Senior Schools participate in the Lenten Pantry Appeal.
For this appeal, students are asked to bring in grocery items which will be donated to the Christ Church Anglican Parish Pantry and used to feed the homeless in our local community. With only one week to go, we are in need of non-perishable items such as pasta, long-life milk, Weet Bix, pasta sauce, baked beans, tinned spaghetti, and tinned fish/tuna.
We ask for any donations to please be sent to PC classrooms by March 23. Thank you for your support of this incredible cause.
Matthew Cathcart
Director of Community and Service
BDSSS Inter-School Swimming Carnival (Yr 7 to 12)
On March 14, the All Schools Swimming Carnival was held at Norville Park Swimming Pool. The St Luke’s Swim Team finished strong in second place, with all competitors modelling the St Luke’s Way with outstanding sportsmanship and 110% effort.
The following St Luke’s Competitors were awarded Age Champion placing:
Isabella Warmington - 1st Place Aged Champion - 13 Years Girls
Drew Woods - 3rd Place Aged Champion - 13 Years Boys
Cassidy Parsons - 3rd Place Aged Champion - 14 Years Girls
Indi Bland - 1st Place Aged Champion - 15 Years Girls
Min Sussens - 2nd Place Aged Champion - 15 Years Boys
Alexina Milbank - 3rd Place Aged Champion - 16 Years Girls
Isaac Barrett - 3rd Place Aged Champion - 16 Years Boys
Olivia Warmington - 1st Place Aged Champion - 17 Years Girls
Annie Harris - 3rd Place Aged Champion - 17 Years Girls
Joseph Vella - 2nd Place Aged Champion - 17 Years Boys
School Sports Australia National Triathlon Championships
Earlier this week, the School Sports Australia National Triathlon Championships were held in Devonport, Tasmania where St Luke's was proudly represented by Year 10 student, Chris Rudd, and Year 12 student, Ben Rudd. Congratulations to both boys for posting some impressive times and coming away with great results in both the individual and relay competitions.
Chris:
8th - Individual Intermediate Boys Triathlon
2nd - Silver Medal - Intermediate Relay
Ben:
12th - Individual Senior Boys Triathlon
5th - Senior Relay
Sporting Representatives
Congratulations to our 2023 Sports Representatives. Please click here for the full list.
Len Kirchner
Director of Co-curricular (Sport)
There is no update this fortnight from the Director of Co-Curricular (Culture).
Sarah Ferguson
Director of Co-curricular (Culture)
There is no update this fortnight from the Director of Academic Welfare and Careers.
Mr Kane Kersnovske
Director of Academic Welfare and Careers
Hello Parents, Caregivers and Students of St Luke's.
Visit our all new webpage where you can find everything you need to know about Turtle Café, including this term's downloadable Turtle Café and ELC menus, and our FlexiSchools ordering system. It's all located by clicking right here.
Yours in Nutrition,
Serena Curnock
Turtle Café Convenor
Shop Hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
7.45am to 11.00am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm
New Primary Uniforms
We are still waiting on the arrival of our Primary shirts and Primary Hats. We thank you for your patience in the unforeseen delay of these new Primary uniform items.
Sport Shorts
Our sport shorts have arrived and are now available in all sizes.
Middle School Girls Blouses
Our backorder of girls’ blouses has arrived. Sizes 8G, 10G and 12G are now available.
Online Ordering
Online ordering has recommenced for the new school year and can be done through Flexischools: http://www.flexischools.com.au.
Ms Karen Orreal
Shop Supervisor
There is no update this fortnight from the Learning Hub.
Ms Sarah Simpson
Learning Hub Manager
Notice of Enrolment Termination
The Notes to the Schedule of Fees lists the following requirements for withdrawal of enrolment:
If the student is to leave the School the parent agrees to give at least one term’s written notice to the School. This notice should be received:
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