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School Registration
This week Mrs O'Neill has been participating in School Registration at St Vincent’s Primary School in Aranda in the ACT. Every five years, all schools must go through a comprehensive Registration process to ensure they are compliant across all areas of the school and its governance. Alongside staff from Catholic Education, Mrs O’Neill has been reviewing the school’s documentation and interviewing students and staff.
In 2024, St Mary’s will be undergoing its own School Registration. More information will be sent home to parents at a later stage.
Whole school Assembly
Our next Whole School Assembly will be celebrated on Monday June 19 at 2pm in the PAC. Everyone is welcome to join us. Mrs Durnan and Mrs Devonald have been working hard with the Year 2 students to prepare them for sharing their learning.
Parents of the students receiving Awards and Invitations to a Special Lunch for being ‘I am Respectful’ will be contacted in advance. On Thursday June 22, Mrs O’Neill will take the students to lunch to celebrate.
Carroll College Musical
On Tuesday June 27, all students from Year 3-6 will travel to Carroll College to attend their School Musical ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Parents are urged to complete the permission note which will be available via Compass on Monday. If you have any difficulties with COMPASS, please contact the Front Office for support.
For legal reasons, students without permission will need to remain at school.
Student Reports - Semester One 2023
Recently your child/children’s teachers have been finalising students' assessments and Semester One reports. We frequently hear them talking and discussing work covered, results gained and effort applied to decide on a final grade. Reporting is not an easy process, and there is much time, thought, and deliberation put into the final result.
We thank all staff for their commitment to ensuring that students' reports are a true and accurate reflection of their progress. We congratulate students on their hard work and to all parents on the support of their child, as individuals.
The semester reports provide a grade for learning in each Key Curriculum Area and Engagement with Learning statements. Please note this is a ‘progress report’ of your child’s learning journey and reflects the effort and commitment they have to their school work. Parents are encouraged to discuss all aspects of the report with their child. It is very important to recognise your child’s success and progress in all areas of development.
Semester One reports will be available to you through Compass on Friday 16 June. If any parent requires a hard copy of the report, please email the front office.
Parent Teacher Meetings
Parent teacher meetings will be held in Week 9 on Monday 19 June and Tuesday 20 June for Kinder, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 5 and Year 6. Parent teacher meetings for Year 4 will be held in Week 10 on Monday 26 June and Tuesday 27 June. This is an official meeting time set aside for you to discuss your child’s progress with the class teacher. At this meeting the teacher will also explain your child's half yearly report and how the grades are determined based on work samples and assessments. The meetings will be 10-15 mins in duration.
Bookings for meeting times can be made through the online Compass portal. Parents have been notified via Compass that bookings are open. If you have difficulty making a booking, please email your child’s teacher or phone the front office.
Of course, parents are always welcome to make an appointment at any time throughout the year to meet with the class teacher/s, just as teachers can contact parents to organise meetings. If you are unable to attend a meeting during Week 9 and would like to discuss your child’s progress, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange another suitable time to meet.
The booking portal on Compass will close on Sunday night 18 June.
NAPLAN 2023
As Year 3 and Year 5 parents would be aware, this year's NAPLAN assessments were administered almost two months earlier than usual. NAPLAN assessments took place in Term 1 and this change was the first indicator of other changes that have occurred within the NAPLAN process of assessment – the changes are substantial, and we urge you to read the attached information below which will explain the changes to you. At present the NAPLAN assessment results are scheduled to become available to parents in Week 1 of Term 3. Hopefully the attached document will help you to understand the assessments.
The main changes in NAPLAN reporting to school and parents, will see the proficiency standards replace the previous numerical NAPLAN reporting bands and national minimum standards. Education ministers agreed 2023 was the right time to introduce this change alongside moving NAPLAN to March. The hope is that proficiency standards provide simple and clear information on student achievement. They are set at a challenging but reasonable level expected for the child at the time of NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught in previous years of schooling.
The proficiency scale has 4 levels:
- Exceeding: The student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
- Strong: The student’s result demonstrates proficiency by meeting challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing
- Developing: The student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing and are approaching proficiency.
- Needs additional support: The student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.
ACARA - Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority
NCCD Collection of Data Information for Parents
All schools across Australia are required to participate annually in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD).
Next week an important document will be sent via Compass about the process. Please take the time to read the document as it contains important information about data collection.
Below you will also find some infographics about the NCCD.
Facebook
A reminder to keep an eye on our Facebook Page. We use Facebook to share many of the fabulous things happening everyday at St Mary’s with our parents, friends, grandparents and community members. We have heard that it is especially great for grandparents who live at a distance.
Confirmation
We continue to pray for our Confirmation candidates and their families. The Year 6 teachers and Mrs Schofield have been working hard to prepare and plan the sacrament and make it very special.
All parents and friends are invited to attend the Confirmation Mass to be held in the Sacred Heart Church at 10am on Sunday June 25.
God’s blessings on you and your families
Dear Families,
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
The Year 6 students have been busy preparing to make, and learning about the Sacrament of Confirmation. Last Friday, they attended a sacramental retreat day at Carroll College. The retreat day was superbly run by the Year 10 Youth Ministry students. Yesterday, all students attended mass with Fr. Anthony and had the opportunity to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I thank our Year 6 teachers Mr Matthew Harpley and Mr James Campbell for all their effort in preparing the students.
This Sunday’s Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 9:36 – 10:8)
When Jesus saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:
‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’
Reflection (courtesy of Dianne Bergant CSA):
The major themes in this Sunday’s Gospel are call and discipleship. Most of us are rather insignificant in the eyes of the broader society. And even those who are well known or in some way famous are still just simple human beings with needs and fears and dreams like the rest of us. Yet we have been called by God. This is what makes us special. Paul picks up this theme in his development of justification. He argues that we are special because when we were still sinners we were justified. All this has come to us as a pure gift from God. It is God who calls; it is God who chooses; it is God who justifies. If we are to boast, we must boast in God.
Paul further teaches that good works do not gain faith. It is the other way around. It is faith that manifests itself in works. In the gospel we see that the disciples are sent out to give to others the gift of faith which had been given to them. They proclaim the gospel, the good news that the time of fulfilment has come, and then they perform mighty works that demonstrate what they preach. We too have been called to discipleship; we have been made God’s special people. To us has been entrusted the good news of salvation to proclaim to others. We must be the healing touch of Christ in our world. We must comfort those who mourn, bring back to life those who are in despair, embrace those who have been ostracised by society, drive out anger and fear and hatred.
Farewell Fr. Anthony Riosa
In just a few days, Fr. Anthony Riosa will be leaving our parish - he will be greatly missed by our community. You are warmly invited to attend Father’s farewell mass this Sunday 17 June, 10 am at Sacred Heart. There will be a morning tea immediately after the mass. We wish Fr. Anthony all the best!
A Prayer of Farewell for Fr. Anthony
We thank you Lord, for how you have used Fr. Anthony at
Sacred Heart and what he means to us. He will be greatly missed.
We ask that you fill Fr. Anthony’s heart and mind with good
memories from his ministry here.
We know you are guiding him and his ministry and you are
preparing us for a new person as well.
May we all, together, give you praise and thanks for the
many blessings you have given to Fr. Anthony, and us,
during his caring ministry here.
We pray these things in the loving name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Genevieve Schofield
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
Dear Parents and Carers,
Just a reminder that ICAS Assessments for 2023 are now open for registration.
ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.
How to participate in ICAS 2023
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:
- read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas)
- read the terms and conditions here: https://www.icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Finalised-Parents-Ts-and-Cs-2022v03-1.pdf
- go to Parent Portal here: (https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
- enter our school’s access code – LBU762
- enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
ICAS Assessments 2023
|
Subject |
Sitting Window |
Cost |
|
Digital Technologies (Yrs 3-6) |
7 Aug – 11 Aug 2023 |
$19.25 |
|
Writing (Yrs 3-6) |
7 Aug – 11 Aug 2023 |
$23.65 |
|
English (Yrs 2-6) |
14 Aug – 18 Aug 2023 |
$19.25 |
|
Science (Yrs 2-6) |
21 Aug – 25 Aug 2023 |
$19.25 |
|
Spelling Bee (Yrs 2-6) |
21 Aug – 25 Aug 2023 |
$19.25 |
|
Mathematics (Yrs 2-6) |
28 Aug – 1 Sept 2023 |
$19.25 |
Parent orders close Monday 31 July 2023
Justin Bateman
Coordinator
English
In English, students continue to engage in Daily Review each morning. This routine allows our students to practise, consolidate and build automaticity of knowledge, skills and strategies from their short term to their long term memory banks. We have been building our narrative writing skills, participating in purposeful writing opportunities. Students are also loving their Spelling Mastery lessons and it is wonderful to see them transferring this newfound knowledge into their written work.
Maths
Each day, students begin their mathematics lessons with a Daily Review where students use their own whiteboards to share their mathematical thinking around topics that have previously been taught. We have begun extending our learning in the area of Whole Number. Students are exploring how to vertically add and subtract a variety of two, three and four digit numbers with trading. We manipulated different MAB materials to visually see the connection between moving the blocks and carrying out operations on numbers. The bus stop division strategy has also been introduced, with students dividing two-digit numbers using written algorithms.
Religion
This term our inquiry unit is “What is Prayer?” We have reviewed both formal and informal prayers and students have had countless opportunities to be still with Jesus and participated in mindful prayer circles. Students enjoyed writing their own thanksgiving prayer and love sharing these each morning in our prayer circle. Our hearts are always filled with so much warmth when Father Anthony comes to visit us in our classroom and we get to exchange stories and ask questions. We were lucky enough to have a visit yesterday.
Geography
‘Places are similar and different,’ here we have investigated Australia’s major natural and human features, exploring the importance of “place.” We researched the uniqueness of the Australian continent and how the Australian continent is divided into states and territories. Students learnt about our neighbouring countries and discussed what they thought it would be like to live in another country and climate. We will finish our unit by exploring the interconnections between people and place through an inquiry of a local place.
Science
During our Chemistry unit students have learnt how to classify solids, liquids and gases and acquired the ability to identify the states of matter based on their properties. Students have thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on activities this unit has provided and now have a deeper understanding of what happens to states of matter when heated or cooled. Be sure to ask us about our amazing popping candy experiment!
Creative Arts
Drama:Creating Characters
This term we are taking on the roles of different characters. Students are developing skills and techniques of voice and movement to create character, mood and atmosphere. Over the past few lessons, students improvised to perform a short skit at different scenes; classroom, bakery, doctors surgery, hairdresser shop, lounge room, gym and post office. They had to think about why their character was in that setting, what they wanted and how they felt about it. We have taken our dramatic lessons to a whole new level this term.
Visual Arts: Landscapes
We have researched a variety of Australian Artists - Bronwyn Bancroft, Sidney Nolan and Albert Namatjira this term to complement our Geography unit. Students have created a variety of pieces and immersed themselves in the concepts and elements of art.
Alicia Hampson and Allison Lock
Year 3 Teachers
This award is an acknowledgment that students have been
outstanding and have gone above and beyond in the
classroom and on the playground!
|
Kinder B |
Her marvellous effort describing and continuing ABC patterns of shapes and drawings. |
|
1 Blue |
For outstanding work when adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers using base ten material. |
|
2 Blue |
For persistence and determination to solve tricky division problems, ensuring his working out makes sense. |
|
2 Maroon |
His fantastic research project on India, and being brave presenting it using a microphone for our Year 2 Assembly. |
|
3 Blue |
For your perseverance and engagement demonstrated during cooperative reading activities. |
|
4 Blue |
For your positive engagement in Science when sharing your understanding of elements. |
|
4 Blue |
For your always striving to improve your spelling knowledge during Spelling Mastery lessons. |
|
5 Blue |
His impressive efforts in Reading this semester, improving in fluency and comprehension when reading more difficult texts. Amazing work Roarke! |
|
5 Blue |
His efforts to maintain focus and concentration across all areas of learning AND taking on feedback to improve his work, in particular when writing a narrative. Well done Leo! |
|
5/6 Maroon |
For consistently acting as a positive role model and setting a wonderful example for her peers and younger students to follow. |
|
6 Blue |
His persistent effort to improve his reading comprehension skills. |
|
Kinder B |
His marvellous effort describing and continuing ABC patterns of shapes and drawings. |
|
1 Blue |
For outstanding participation during our drama unit about our text the day the crayons quit! |
|
2 Blue |
His fantastic research on his research project on Ethiopia, and being brave presenting it using a microphone at our Year 2 Assembly. |
|
2 Maroon |
Pushing through challenges to achieve his best in reading and spelling. You are a star, Ryan! |
|
3 Blue |
For demonstrating confidence when sharing his detailed and descriptive holiday highlights. |
|
4 Blue |
For an improved effort in your independent writing and spelling more challenging words. |
|
4 Blue |
For continuing to strive to improve your reading comprehension during whole class reading activities. |
|
5 Blue |
His engagement in all learning tasks and working hard to improve his learning.Great work Coop! |
|
5 Blue |
For her perseverance and focus during independent learning time and working the best she can on all tasks. Well done Sophie! |
|
5/6 Maroon |
For thoughtful and engaging questioning during class novel discussion, demonstrating higher order thinking and a genuine thirst for knowledge. |
|
6 Blue |
An improved effort to complete tasks in the allocated time. |
NSWCPS Cross Country
Congratulations to the 4 St Mary’s boys who competed at the NSWCPS Cross Country in Sydney on Tuesday. Declan T (Year 4) Xavier H, Jaxon E and Jake P (Year 6) all participated in the event alongside students from all other catholic schools across NSW. Unfortunately, due to injury, Darcy F was unable to attend but for selection at this level for all these 5 boys is outstanding.
Jaxon E: ‘On Tuesday 13 June, I competed at MacKillop Cross Country. It was a great experience. It was my second year competing at Sydney. I was happy because I got a PB and I came 21st out of 53 runners in my age group’.
Xavier H: ‘The track we ran on is very rough. It starts and finishes in an equestrian centre’.
Jake P: ‘It was a good challenge and I had a great day. It was a great course for cross country’.
Declan T: ‘Cross Country in Sydney was fun. I got to run against lots of other kids. I was really happy I got to go because last year I only got to Canberra so this was my first time in Sydney. I liked running up the hills, I go faster up hills while everyone else is running slower’.
Athletics Carnival
The weather was perfect for the Athletics Carnival today. It was lovely to have the K-2 students join us to take part in some novelty events and the 100m races. Lots of smiles on little faces and extreme determination as well. We were able to hold the track events (100m, 200m and 800m races) as well as shot put and discus field events. Long jump and high jump will be finalised at school over the next few weeks.
A special thanks to the staff of St Mary’s for coming together as always in preparation for days like this and of course the early morning set up. A very big thank you to our parent helpers for their help and assistance with various jobs throughout the day. Lastly, a huge thank you to Tim Weyman for giving up his time on the weekend to mark the lanes for the carnival. To all our helpers, we are truly appreciative of your time and commitment to our students and amazing little school community. Keep an eye on the next newsletter for results. Photos from the day will be posted on the St Mary’s Facebook site soon.
NSWCPS Rugby Union
We wish Asher B (Year 6) all the very best of luck as he travels to Forbes on Monday 26 June to compete at the NSWCPS Rugby Union. Asher is part of the Canberra Goulburn team and is very excited for the event. I look forward to sharing more about this event early next term.
Megan Grant
Sports Coordinator
