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21 October | School Disco |
25 October | Socktober |
2 November | All Saints All Souls Day |
3 November | Kinder Transition Day 2 |
4 November | Pupil Free Day |
10-11 November | Year 6 Retreat |
17 November | Kinder Transition Day 3 |
18 November | Pupil Free Day |
13 December | Swimming Carnival |
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to our final school term for 2022. The start to our term has been fantastic. It was fantastic to see and hear the children’s reactions as they entered their classrooms on Day One. Over the course of the holidays, a great deal of work took place in revitalising all rooms from Years 1-5. We now have new furniture and other resources in these spaces, and they look wonderful. Comments we have heard from the children include: “it feels as soft as a cloud”, “it’s so clean and fresh”, “it makes me feel calmer” and “it’s good that it’s on wheels because we can move it all around the classroom to work in different ways”, “it’s beautiful”, “it’s really good for working in big and small groups” and “I love it!”
Before we could place all the new items in our rooms we needed to move all the old equipment out. A huge thanks go to Finn in Year 1 and his little sister and their mother, Sarah, for spending the whole of the first day assisting with relocating the furniture. Sarah put us in touch with Sione, who started up Sione’s Foundation to offer support and assistance to people living in Tonga. Most of our student desks, tables and chairs are going to Tonga to furnish a couple of schools over there. We are thrilled that not only were we able to recycle our furniture but we were also able to assist those less privileged than us. Another big thank you goes to our terrific staff members who gave a great deal of their holidays to getting the classrooms ready - Mrs Leanne Skinner, Mrs Donna McMillan, Mrs Nicole Charnock and Mrs Angela Samuels.
We will open the classrooms shortly for parents to come along and see our great learning environments.
Before
After
Kinder Transition Day
On Thursday we were so excited to welcome our 2023 Kinder students and their parents to the first orientation morning. Our Year 5 students were so proud to step up and assist with this program. They are going to make fabulous buddies. We are also so proud of the new parents who calmly handed over their children to the staff and Year 5 buddies and joined us in the hall to hear about life at ‘big school’ and started that journey of trust with us. The Kinder learning spaces are so inviting and are filled with incredible experiences for the children. I look at these learning spaces and admire them every time I enter them. We are so lucky to have such an incredible amount of space and resources. In two weeks’ time our Kinders will come for their second session which will be lots of fun as they engage in a treasure hunt all around the school to become familiar with the different locations and what takes place in these locations.
Interrelate
On Thursday evening there were two workshops provided by Interrelate for both children and parents about. The first session was about, “Where Did I Come From?” and the educating of the children around the reproductive systems and the birth process was brilliantly done, with lots of straightforward explanations and some humour thrown in. Especially when it was four boys who volunteered to be the mother, father, doctor and nurse to role play the roles of the different people involved in the birth of a baby.
The second workshop was titled, “Preparing for Puberty” and dealt with the changes associated with puberty for both girls and boys. About this session, Cooper in Year 6 wrote the following: ”The instructor was very knowledgeable and humorous with information to help all of us with what will happen in puberty, like you will grow bigger and your voice will grow deeper. The way that the instructor delivered the session so calmly was amazing. She also reminded us that if there is a problem, your parents are there to help. A couple of pieces of advice that she gave us for when we are feeling a little frazzled or emotional was the ‘3x3x3’ which is 3 things that last for 3 minutes for 3 times a day that you can use to calm down. Another one she gave us was if you have growing pains and wake up in the middle of the night NEVER USE DEVICES because they found that people had not slept well and when they went to school the next morning, they felt tired and that had an impact on their school work.”
The feedback from parents on the night was that they found these sessions very beneficial, particularly in person rather than online, they were engaging, and they encouraged us to continue with them. Thank you to all the families who came out in the rain for this event. We hope you found it worthwhile.
Professional Development – PUPIL FREE DAYS
On Thursday evening, 3rd November, our staff will engage with Dr Ange Rogers, a Maths specialist, in a Place Value workshop. The following day, Friday 4th, we will spend the day learning about effectives practices for the teaching of problem solving. Both the students and staff have worked incredibly hard this year to become more engaged, positive thinkers towards Maths and to extend our students’ learning not just in the area of Maths facts but in the application of Maths to real life situations. We are looking forward to these workshops and applying what we learn into our planning and teaching of Maths in the future. For this reason, Friday November 4th is a pupil free day. OOSH will be open if you require care for your child on this day.
We will also be having a staff spirituality/faith in action day on Friday 18th November. This too will be a pupil free day and OOSH will be available if you require care. We will share more about this day and what the staff are doing, a little closer to the date.
Lost Property
Our blitz on lost property paid off last term and by the end of the term there was a significant reduction in lost or misplaces items. Please encourage your children to look after their belongings, to place jackets in their bags if they are not wearing them and to return all their items back into the lunchboxes and their lunchboxes into their bags. Often there are little containers, lids, forks and spoons that don’t seem to make it back in the lunch boxes. Please check that your children’s hats have their names very clearly marked on the brim of their hats and that lunchboxes and drink bottle are labelled. Especially if you have just purchased new ones. Congratulations go to all the children for making such a terrific effort with this.
Class Parents
We would like our class parent network to be up and running as soon as we get back to school next year. So, we wish to recruit now for our 2023 class parents! Please take a look at the types of things a class parent could do on the Class Parent Expression of Interest Form and if you would like to try your hand at this role please complete the form and we will be in touch. You will be supported in the role, you will work with a team and it is not an overly time consuming role (unless you want it to be). It's a great way to connect with people but to also make a difference in our community.
Best wishes for a terrific Term 4 for everyone,
Karen
World of Math Incursion
On Monday and Tuesday of this week, students from K-6 participated in the World of Math Incursion. Students enjoyed interactive problem-solving sessions and had the opportunity to learn and express a variety of different skills and strategies needed for problem solving in real life situations. They worked together in small teams to discuss and record possible answers using investigation, comparison and reflection. Everyone had a lot of fun!
Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT)
PAT testing will be completed by all students in Years 2-6 over the next few weeks, in Mathematics, Spelling, Vocabulary and Reading. PAT is completed each year and looks at student growth across the year. The results from these tests assist us to organise flexible groups for 2023 and ensure that teaching and learning programs are targeted to the needs of all students. There is no need for students to “study” for PAT.
Tell Them From Me Survey
Thank you to the students, parents and staff who completed the Tell Them From Me survey. This community consultation survey will provide insight into how our school can make practical improvements in the future. Now that the survey process is complete, this data will be analysed and used for proposed actions. Thank you again for your continued support!
Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL)
During Term 4, we will continue focusing on our four PBL expectations:
- Act Safely
- Be Respectful
- Care for All
- Do Your Best
Our PBL focus this fortnight is Act Safely – Be Sun Safe, which we are linking to our continued focus of Caring for Our Belongings. Students are expected to wear their hat to school each day. It should be clearly labelled on the brim with their full name, to ensure if it does end up in lost property, it can be easily returned.
During PBL lessons, students are identifying:
- What is meant by “Sun Safe”?
- Why is being Sun Safe important?
- How can we be Sun Safe at school?
Below you will find a couple of links to videos which reinforce these concepts. Hopefully they are useful and may be a conversation starter for you and your child/ren.
Whole School
Safeguarding
October is National Mental Health Month, an initiative of the Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) to advocate for and raise awareness of Australian mental health. It is an important time where the Australian community comes together to raise awareness and promote better mental health for all.
The Australian Government has launched a free phone application with information, ideas and guidance for parents to help them provide additional support their child’s mental health and wellbeing. The Raising Healthy Minds App was developed by the Raising Children Network as part of its program to support parents’ mental health literacy by building knowledge and confidence concerning the social and emotional wellbeing of children.
Each year, more than 300,000 Australian children experience a mental health disorder, and diagnosis and treatment at an early stage is important because it can reduce the length and severity of the problem. Parents can play a crucial role in early diagnosis and this new app will give parents and carers the confidence to recognise early signs of social or emotional problems and help them to seek support if it’s needed.
The app is targeted towards parents with children aged 12 years and under and includes information on health, development and wellbeing based on the child’s age. The app also includes information and support for parents and carers to ensure they are looking after their own mental health and wellbeing.
Download the app here
Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What is Socktober?
Socktober cultivates the passion of students to rise up, engage their local community and take action against poverty through the world game of soccer.
It provides young people in Australia with the opportunity to lead in mission, encouraging them to think not only of what they will do to help, but why they will do it.
Our resources, including the popular Mission Packs, have been designed by an expert team of educators with the aim of engaging students and their families with the mission components of the curriculum in a fun and interactive way.
We will celebrate Socktober on Tuesday 25 October with a liturgy at 11.40 am and class activities.
The liturgy will be in the hall and families are welcome to join us. Students are asked to wear fun decorative socks and contribute a gold coin donation. Donations can also be made via Qkr on the Socktober link during the month of October. Please help us to raise funds for this very worthwhile cause.
OUR MISSION
To empower school communities by celebrating and engaging with mission through a Head, Heart and Hands model.
Our focus this year: Ethiopia
Throughout World Mission Month in 2022, we're highlighting stories of mission from our partner country, Ethiopia. Across Australia, students will learn about a different reality to their own, and support the nutrition, health and education needs of children in remote communities.
Why soccer?
The world game of soccer has the rare power to unify people of all ages and backgrounds, while clearly representing the concept of the "haves and have nots". Nowhere is this clearer than in the balls used to play.
Socktober weaves these concepts together, celebrating the values inherent in sport, but reminding students that we have the power to change injustice and imbalance in the world.
Pope Francis' Message for World Mission Sunday 2022
“You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8)
Dear brothers and sisters!
These words were spoken by the Risen Jesus to his disciples just before his Ascension into heaven, as we learn from the Acts of the Apostles: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (1:8).
They are also the theme of the 2022 World Mission Day which, as always, reminds us that the Church is missionary by nature. This year World Mission Day offers us the opportunity to commemorate several important events in the Church’s life and mission: the fourth centenary of the founding of the Congregation de Propaganda Fide, now the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and the second centenary of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith.
Polding Athletics
Earlier this week, Evan B, Oliver S and Archie D all attended the NSWPSSA State Athletics Championships, representing our school and Polding. They competed at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre which gave them such a buzz, performing on the very same track that many of our Australian Olympians have in the past. What an experience for them all! To have made it this far is such an achievement and they should all be congratulated on their efforts so far.
Summer Trials
Summer trials for basketball, cricket and tennis will be convened on Thursday 3 November. Please see important information below:
- Trials are only for students in Year 4 and Year 5 (meaning they will be in Year 5 or Year 6 for 2023).
- Nomination forms have been sent out via compass and are due to Emma Cook by Friday 28 November.
- Please ensure you send back all forms, including code of conduct, PSSA Nomination form and payment information.
- If a student has been selected for trials, they will be notified.
Basketball
REGIONAL TRIAL CONVEYNER: Emma Cook
VENUE: Newcastle Basketball Stadium, Broadmeadow
DATE: Thursday 3 November 2022
TIME: 9:00 am to 10:30 am
Arrive at Newcastle Basketball Stadium, Broadmeadow at 9:00 am for roll call followed by a skills session.
Cricket
REGIONAL TRIAL CONVEYNER: Tim Stibbard
TIME/DATE: 9:30 am - 12:00 noon, Friday 4 November
VENUE: Ford Oval, Lambton
WET WEATHER ALTERNATIVE: Newcastle Indoor Sports, 314 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay
Tennis
REGIONAL TRIAL CONVEYNER: Damian Hartigan
VENUE: Newcastle Community Tennis Centre/District Park, Broadmeadow
DATE: Thursday 3 November 2022 (alternative date is 10 November)
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Arrive at District Park, Broadmeadow at 8.45am for roll call.
The trial will begin promptly after roll.
Upcoming Events:
Swimming Carnival
Please note the change to the swimming carnival venue and date. Due to construction work at Lambton pool, we have had to relocate to The Forum and therefore change the date. Please take note of the new date and venue for St. Joseph’s Swimming Carnival. Entries close November 11. Details regarding how to enter are on Compass.
Venue: The Forum, Newcastle
Date: Tuesday 13 December (Week 10)
Emma Cook
Sport Coordinator