Upwelling Festival Street Parade
The first weekend in November Portland holds its annual Upwelling Festival. With the support of an Artist in Residence program All Saints Parish School participates each year in the street parade. The sight of the puppets and 3D creatures coming down the street followed by our students dressed in costumes is always a fantastic sight. It was wonderful to see so many students, teachers and parents representing our school in this exciting community event.
Primary School Racquetball State Finals
On Friday 18th
November, two teams of children from All Saints went to compete at the 2013 Primary School Racquetball Competition State
Finals. In the girls teams there was Heidi Jones, Tahlia Mottram and Ashtyn
Mottram. Our boys team was made up of Liam Cocks, Charlie Lang and Aiden
Rogers. We travelled to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre to compete
against teams from other schools across Victoria.
After playing two teams in the pool matches, both the boys and girls
teams finished second in their pools. This put our teams into a playoff for
fourth, fifth and sixth position.
Throughout the position playoffs all of the team members played great racquetball and competed very hard. Both our teams were undefeated in the playoffs, resulting in both teams finishing fourth in their respective competitions. A great result for our students.
After travelling all that way, our teams made use of the MSAC facilities and enjoyed a relaxing swimming in the wave pool and fun on the water slide to celebrate their achievements.
A very big thank you to all the parents who took our competitors to Melbourne and supported us during the day. .
Throughout the position playoffs all of the team members played great racquetball and competed very hard. Both our teams were undefeated in the playoffs, resulting in both teams finishing fourth in their respective competitions. A great result for our students.
After travelling all that way, our teams made use of the MSAC facilities and enjoyed a relaxing swimming in the wave pool and fun on the water slide to celebrate their achievements.
A very big thank you to all the parents who took our competitors to Melbourne and supported us during the day. .
Opening of Beat's Shed.
On Wednesday 16th November we held a ride to school day to celebrate the opening of our brand new bike shed. The shed was named “Beat's Shed” after Paul Beattie, a former Chairman of the School Advisory Council and a good friend of All Saints who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Paul loved cycling and so to remember his contribution to the school naming the bike shed after him seemed to be a fitting tribute.
Many children took the opportunity to ride their bikes to school, filling the shed right up. Students, staff and some parents gathered in the morning to officially open and name the shed. Fr. Peter took part in the opening, blessing and the shed and all those who would use the shed in the future.
After many years of fundraising and organisation, it is fantastic to finally have the shed constructed, opened and ready for use. Many thanks to the School Advisory Council, the P&F and all those involved in the making our desire of a proper, lockable bike shed a reality.
Many children took the opportunity to ride their bikes to school, filling the shed right up. Students, staff and some parents gathered in the morning to officially open and name the shed. Fr. Peter took part in the opening, blessing and the shed and all those who would use the shed in the future.
After many years of fundraising and organisation, it is fantastic to finally have the shed constructed, opened and ready for use. Many thanks to the School Advisory Council, the P&F and all those involved in the making our desire of a proper, lockable bike shed a reality.
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Music Festival
On Wednesday the 21st of August, 38 Grade 5/6 students represented the school at the Portland and District Schools Performing Arts Festival. With a mixture of percussion, dance and song, this year our students put on a performance celebrating the beauty and larrikinism of the Australian culture.
We started with the beautiful ‘Gadigi Nyian’, a sweet lullaby traditionally sung by some Torres Strait Islanders followed by a strong performance by the choir of ‘Sun-a-rise’. Our second song described the beauty of the Australian outback and countryside. To finish our performance, we all let our hair down with some animated hand clapping and actions as we added a little bit of fun with ‘Old Man Emu’.
Congratulations to the choir who sounded great in all three songs and well done to those students who took on solo roles. Thanks to Miss Kerrie for her ideas and hard work. Another great display of the talent at All Saints and the enjoyment we having in sharing it with others.
We started with the beautiful ‘Gadigi Nyian’, a sweet lullaby traditionally sung by some Torres Strait Islanders followed by a strong performance by the choir of ‘Sun-a-rise’. Our second song described the beauty of the Australian outback and countryside. To finish our performance, we all let our hair down with some animated hand clapping and actions as we added a little bit of fun with ‘Old Man Emu’.
Congratulations to the choir who sounded great in all three songs and well done to those students who took on solo roles. Thanks to Miss Kerrie for her ideas and hard work. Another great display of the talent at All Saints and the enjoyment we having in sharing it with others.
Book Fair
Ashley, Ciara, Taya & Cruz,
Competition Winners
Our Annual Book Fair has again been a great success with many children visiting the fair throughout the two weeks. This year's book fair theme was 'Science Laboratory' and Super Shaz organised a competition to celebrate the fair's theme. Our lucky winners correctly guessed how many sour worms were in the jar. Their prize was to keep the jar of lollies and also to select a book from the book fair. We thank everyone for their purchases as this helps raise money for our school and in purchasing book for the library.
Grandparents Day
On Friday 2nd August we had a Grandparents day at school. It was the first one we had had in many years, and a great day was had by all. Our Grandparents and special friends arrived at 9:30 and were welcomed by our Gr 6 leaders who showed the visitors to the classrooms of their grandchildren.
In each classroom there were lots of fun activities to complete with our special visitors, such as puzzles, word games and questionnaires. We shared some picture stories with our Grandparents and also got to hear lots of stories from them about things they have done in their lives or about how things have changed so much since they went to school.
After our classroom visits, we all came together to celebrate a special liturgy where we honoured, thanked and had the chance to tell our Grandparents how much they mean to us.
Our Grandparents finished their visit to All Saints with a cuppa tea and some scones with the teachers at Morning tea time.
Everyone at All Saints really enjoyed having so many Grandparents and special friends come to share our learning time. We appreciate their participation and hope they all had a Happy Grandparents Day!
In each classroom there were lots of fun activities to complete with our special visitors, such as puzzles, word games and questionnaires. We shared some picture stories with our Grandparents and also got to hear lots of stories from them about things they have done in their lives or about how things have changed so much since they went to school.
After our classroom visits, we all came together to celebrate a special liturgy where we honoured, thanked and had the chance to tell our Grandparents how much they mean to us.
Our Grandparents finished their visit to All Saints with a cuppa tea and some scones with the teachers at Morning tea time.
Everyone at All Saints really enjoyed having so many Grandparents and special friends come to share our learning time. We appreciate their participation and hope they all had a Happy Grandparents Day!
Winter Series
On Thursday 20th June we had our Winter Series Sports day where teams from All Saints competed against teams from other Portland and District schools playing Netball, Football, Soccer and T-Ball. All teams showed wonderful sportsmanship and effort on the day. We were lucky enough to win one of the trophies, Congratulations to the girls netball team, what a great effort!
Click here to see some photos and a recap of all the action.
Click here to see some photos and a recap of all the action.
THe Biggest Morning Tea.
On Friday the 14th June we held our Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for The Australian Cancer Council and help in the fight against cancer. In our classes each student made a 'cup of tea biscuit' out of a marshmallow, a freckle, a ticktock biscuit and half a lifesaver lolly, all held together with icing. They donated money for these biscuits and enjoyed them with a fruitbox together at a whole school morning tea. This was followed by a morning tea for the parents and staff who enjoyed delicious treats and a few raffles at their morning tea. All together we raised just over $400 towards the fight against cancer. Well done to everyone on a wonderful effort!
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Catholic Education Week.
Fr Peter leading the liturgy in the school hall
for Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week 2013 ran from 26th April to May 3rd. The theme for this year was “Living Year of Grace: Grateful Heart.” This week provided us with the chance to reflect on all the things we are grateful for in our lives. Catholic Education Week is a good opportunity for us to celebrate with other Catholic schools in our Diocese of Ballarat too. Our Grades 5 & 6 students travelled to Hamilton to celebrate the Eucharist with the schools in our network.
As a whole school we celebrated together with a mass in the school hall. It was a lovely liturgy where Fr. Peter asked us to think about our school vision ‘He teaches, We Nurture, Together we Inspire.” We thought about all the things Jesus taught us and how we work together to continue learning and looking after each other.
After mass some members of the Parish had morning tea with the staff and then visited the classrooms to share some stories with us. Here are some photos of Jan sharing stories about wildlife with a Grade 3/4 class and Peter who spoke to the Grade 5/6 students about healthy eating and living.
As a whole school we celebrated together with a mass in the school hall. It was a lovely liturgy where Fr. Peter asked us to think about our school vision ‘He teaches, We Nurture, Together we Inspire.” We thought about all the things Jesus taught us and how we work together to continue learning and looking after each other.
After mass some members of the Parish had morning tea with the staff and then visited the classrooms to share some stories with us. Here are some photos of Jan sharing stories about wildlife with a Grade 3/4 class and Peter who spoke to the Grade 5/6 students about healthy eating and living.
Grade 3/4 CM listening to Jan speak about wildlife and her work saving injuired animals.
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Peter talking to the Grade 5/6 students in the hall.
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