Strengthen Catholic Identity - provide faith formation opportunities for all

Implementation of research-based practises to increase student achievement - participate in the G2GSA program to improve teaching and learning

Develop mutually enriching partnerships - increase family and community engagement through 'The Resilience Project' and other initiatives 

SPELLING MASTERY

During Term 3 and Term 4 students in Year 3/4/5/6 have been participating in the Spelling Mastery program. Spelling Mastery provides structured lessons to effectively and efficiently teach the spelling skills students need to become proficient readers and writers.

Spelling Mastery builds dependable spelling skills for students through a highly structured method that blends the following approaches:

• Phonemic approach - helps beginning spellers learn the relationships between spoken sounds and written letters and then apply them to spelling
• Morphemic approach - exposes advanced spellers to prefixes, bases, and suffixes
• Whole-word approach - gives spellers at all levels the meaning and root of a word and shows how the word's spelling is influenced

Spelling Mastery interweaves these three approaches according to students' skill development and provides straightforward lessons to help efficiently and effectively teach the spelling skills students need to become proficient readers and writers. Explicit instruction, careful selection of spelling words, and repeated and cumulative practice help students master each concept and reinforce and retain key information.

Students have been grouped according to their ability levels and meet for 3 or 4, 30 minute lessons a week. Students are enjoying these Spelling Mastery lessons, as are the teachers, and we are seeing real student improvements in their spelling and understanding of words. 

WHITE RIBBON DAY

Term 4  

Friday 18th Nov.   - NO SCHOOL MASS - School Mass Year 5/6 Postponed - Mini Vinnies Leadership Day  - White Ribbon Day

Tuesday 22nd Nov. - Final Transition Day - 2023 Kinder Meeting @ 12pm 

Wednesday 30th Nov. - Swimming 10am (K/1/2) Swimming 11.30am (3/4/5/6)

Thursday 1st Dec. - Swimming 10am (K/1/2) Swimming 11.30am (3/4/5/6)

Friday 2nd Dec.   - School Mass Year 5/6  - Books in Home Assembly - Swimming 10am (k/1/2) Swimming 11.30am (3/4/5/6)

Saturday 3rd Dec. - St Francis Feast Day

Wednesday 7th Dec. - Swimming 9am (3/4/5/6) Swimming 10.00am (K/1/2)

Thursday 9th Dec. - Swimming 9am (3/4/5/6) Swimming 10.00am (K/1/2)

Friday 10th Dec. - Thanksgiving Mass - Join us for the final school mass -Swimming 9am (3/4/5/6) Swimming 10.00am (K/1/2)

Monday 12th Dec. - 6pm Presentation Evening ~ Awards and Musical

Wednesday 14th Dec. - Small School Carnival

Thursday 15th Dec.  - Last Day of Term 4

Kinder News

Our Kindies delivered a great reflection on the importance of Rememerance Day last Friday. So very special!

Year 3/4 News

Year 3/4 have been learning about systems in Religion lessons. As a class we have researched various systems and organisations that support the needs of others.

Today we went on an excursion to our local Vinnies shop. All the children prepared by thinking of one question to ask the volunteers that would help in developing their understanding of the support and functioning of St Vincent de Paul. We also asked how we, as a school system, could help Vinnies with their Christmas appeal. 

Years K-6 participated in the Primary Waste School Education Program which covered important waste topics such as recycling and the value of reusing materials, worm farming, composting, sustainable resource management, litter, biodiversity and reducing food waste. 

What did the students think? 'I liked how we got to put things into the water so now we have an idea about what are in the waterways', Leigha Brooks

The water was dirty because all of the chemicals mixed in the water', Sophie Phillips

Thank you to families that have helped us fill the below roster.

Canteen Roster Dates

Friday 4th Nov 22 Sharna and Rebecca (Thank You)

Friday 11th Nov 22 Amanda and Kate and Angie (Thank You)

Friday 18th Nov 22 Nikki and Ashley and Shelly (Thank You)

Friday 25th Nov 22 Kristy and Amanda and Erin (Thank You)

Friday 2nd Dec 22 Nikki and Therese and Shelly (Thank You)

Friday 9th Dec 22 Kirstin and Erin and Judy (Thank You)

Thank You!

Last week two staff members attended PACE Training and as part of this it showed easy ways to increase exercise in a school environment. If you see some energetic students in our playground it's most likely our way of increasing physical activity time for all students aiming to get heart rates up to increase health and movement. Our aim is to add in movement sessions in the morning, recess, lunch for all our students.

*improving fitness

*providing an opportunity to socialise

*increasing concentration

*improving academic scores

*building a stronger heart, bones and healthier muscles

*encouraging healthy growth and development

*improving self-esteem

*improving posture and balance

*lowering stress

*encouraging a better night's sleep

SLEEP

Why sleep is important for children aged 5-11 years. When your child sleeps well, your child will be more settled, happy and ready for school the next day. Good-quality sleep helps your child concentrate, remember things, regulate emotions and behave well. This all helps your child learn well.

Getting enough sleep also strengthens your child’s immune system and reduces the risk of infection and illness.

To find out more see link here Sleep for kids & pre-teens: 5-11 years | Raising Children Network

At 5-11 years, children need 9-11 hours sleep a night. For example, if your child wakes for school at 7 am and needs approximately 10 hours sleep per night, your child should be in bed before 9 pm.

Some children fall deeply asleep very quickly when they go to bed. Others sleep lightly, fidgeting and muttering for up to 20 minutes, before getting into deep sleep.

3/4 and 5/6 made these in cooking this week. We used wattleseeds because we have been planting our new bush tucker garden this term. The Wattleseeds are optional and can be left out.

Ingredients (Makes 3)

• 1 Tblsp Wattleseeds toasted (Optional)
• 1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tblsp cocoa
• 40g butter, softened
• 1 heaped tblsp caster sugar
• 1/2 egg beaten
• 1/2 cup SR flour
• 1/4 cup milk

Method

1. Soak wattleseeds in boiling water for 20 minutes, then drain (Optional)

2. Combine brown sugar and half the cocoa and preheat oven to 180 degrees

3. Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, add egg

4. Combine flour and rest of cocoa, and stir into butter mixture, add milk and (optional) add wattleseed.

5. Grease cups or ramekins, add mix to cups

6. Top each with brown sugar/cocoa mix then some boiling water on top

7. Place dishes in roasting pan with boiling water half way up sides of cups.

8. Cover whole pan with foil and bake 25 minutes or until puddings have risen and sauce thickened.

Welcome back to Term 4 and THE BEST OF THE BEST Book Club!

Book Club is now open and arriving at your school. We are super excited for our BUMPER Christmas edition with 40 pages of the:
• BEST Christmas gift ideas
• BEST summer holiday reading