2020 Prep Enrolments Family Passover/Thanksgiving Meal ...
Transcript of 2020 Prep Enrolments Family Passover/Thanksgiving Meal ...
NEWSLETTER NO .14
FRIDAY , 17 T H MAY 2019
Centred By Faith
In Partnership with Community
We Provide Excellence in Learning
Dear Parents, Students and Friends,
Family Passover/Thanksgiving Meal Last night, families preparing their children for
the Sacrament of the Eucharist gathered to
share a Seder Meal. The purpose of this meal
was to deepen the knowledge of both parent
and child as to the links between the Passover
Meal that Jesus celebrated with his disciples
and that of the Eucharist we celebrate today.
We hope that through this experience, our
families, in partnership with parish and school,
can provide our children with a greater
understanding of the meaning of the rituals that
they participate in and experience the richness
that our faith offers in our daily living.
Thank you to all the families that came out in
the cold last night and a special thanks to Kate
Warne for preparing a very delicious soup. We
knew that the food offered as part of the Seder
meal just wouldn’t go far enough.
Next week (Wednesday 22nd May @ 7.00pm) we
have the wonderful opportunity to work with
Paul Spense. Paul has a wealth of experience
and knowledge so I encourage you to think
about any questions you would like to explore
further.
2020 Prep Enrolments If you are a current parent who is seeking
enrolment for your child for the 2020 school year
and have as yet not picked up an application
form, could you please contact Justine in the
office as we are currently sorting out enrolment
numbers for next year.
Absentee Explanatory Notes If your child is away from school for any reason,
please contact the school office to inform the
school of your child’s absence. When your child
returns to school, please ensure that a written
note of explanation is provided to your child's
teacher. Schools are required by law to ensure
that a written explanation of a child’s absence
has been provided.
Notes are also required for part absences, i.e., if
they are absent for part of the day. All notes
regarding absenteeism are kept as official
records.
NAPLAN This week I received a great email from one of
our parents seeking clarification about the lack
of formal communication around NAPLAN
testing this week. It gives me the opportunity to
explain why we don’t add to the hype that
already surrounds this test, it’s purpose and how
we at St Ambrose see testing as another facet
in the process of learning. The following is my
response.
I must agree with your email and sincerely apologise that the minimal information has caused you concern.
We try to play down all the hype that is generated through the media regarding this test, given that it is one of many tests that our students undertake throughout the year.
In particular, our students undertake ARCOTS and PAT testing twice a year to inform our learning and teaching programs.
The format and staging of such tests are very similar to that of NAPLAN.
The timing of these tests is generally not published as we want students to understand and experience testing as a general practice of engaging in learning and a source of feedback that informs us of progress and areas for improvement.
We did, however, publish the days and focus of the testing for this week's NAPLAN testing in last week’s newsletter so that parents are aware that it is taking place. We are not permitted to release or publish the contents of the tests. There are very strict guidelines to this due to some schools in the past taking the opportunity to "teach to the test".
At St Ambrose, we teach the child. The test only verifies and informs us of the learning that has been achieved so far.
We definitely do not want our students nor staff to see NAPLAN or any test as the aim of their learning and teaching program.
The data collected by NAPLAN is mostly used by governments and education systems to monitor longitudinal progress, whereas ARCOTS and PAT data provide us with immediate information that informs our learning and teaching program.
Personally, I can appreciate NAPLAN and the need for such a test to occur so that school achievement and focus, in regard to student learning, can be monitored to ensure improvement.
When we receive NAPLAN data, which is usually months after the testing has occured, we triangulate it with our own data so as to validate or challenge teaching initiatives and pedagogy.
On a different note, you may have seen reports in the news of schools having difficulty with doing the NAPLAN via computers.
As a school, we decided not to go down this path following trials we undertook in partnership with the government last year that informed us of problems that could occur.
It was a good decision in light of what has been published this week and that the hype surrounding this one test along with computer issues would have not been conducive to students doing their best .
I will endeavour to provide an overview of your email in this week's newsletter as your concerns may also reflect the concerns of others. With kindest regards and appreciation for bringing this matter to my attention.
PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION As a school, we strongly encourage parent
engagement in your child’s learning and the
development of positive parent / teacher
relationships that enhance the learning and
development of your child. If at any time you
need to speak to your child’s teacher, it is
important that you contact the school and let
your child’s teacher know what’s on your
mind. In turn, we continually promote to the
staff the need to communicate with parents
regarding the growth and challenges of their
students to their parents so the learning, social
development and personal growth is done in a
collaborative way that promotes our vision of
working in partnership with the community.
Other Important Information for Teachers The class teacher must be informed if a child:
Has a medical appointment during
school hours
Has had a change in medication or
dosage. (Communicate in writing)
Is attending any medical specialists, eg.
Speech or occupational therapy
Has to wear glasses
Has a hearing aid
Is under medical treatment or has a
health problem that may affect their
learning
Has any food allergies
Is to be absent for an extended period
of time
Needs to leave school early
Has recently experienced a major upset
(eg. Family break-up, death in the
family, moving house, etc.)
Is being collected by a parent or
authorised friend from within the school
grounds
DONATIONS NEEDED!
As part of our Inquiry unit for Term 2, the
Grade 3/4s will be designing and
constructing scarecrows for our School’s
edible garden.
In order to achieve this, we are seeking
donations of any of the following items;
● old clothes
● accessories - hats, beanies, scarves,
glasses, belts
● burlap sacks
● pillow cases
● old stockings
● straw, newspapers, plastic bags (for
stuffing)
● twine, string, wool
● rope
● garden stakes,sticks/wood, brooms or
mops (for poles and arms)
Donations can be dropped off to the 3/4PB
or 3/4M classrooms ready for the start of
Week 7 (Monday 3rd June).
Thanking you,
Grade 3/4 Students
Dates for the Diary
Week 5 Monday: 20.05
o Staff Prayer & Briefing: 8.15am
Tuesday: 21.05
o Staff Meeting – 3.45pm: SIF
Wednesday: 22.05
o Class Mass – 9.30am: Grade 5/6M
o ESO Meeting 2.30pm (Learning Intervention
Focus)
o Eucharist Family Conversations – Paul
Spense
o Canteen Day
Thursday: 23.05
o Staff Professional Learning – 3.45pm:
Intervention Framework 4.
o PLT Focus: (Snr) SIF
Friday: 24.05
o Canteen Day
o PLT Focus: (Jnr) SIF
o Religious Education Network
Saturday: 25.05
o Class Family Mass Gr 1/2T & 1/2R
Sunday: 26.05
o 6th Sunday of Easter
o National Sorry Day
Week 6 Monday: 27.05
o Staff Prayer & Briefing: 8.15am
o School Assembly: 2.55pm
Tuesday: 28.05
o VRQA School Compliance Review
o Staff Meeting – 3.45pm: SIF
Wednesday: 29.05
o Class Mass – 9.30am: Grade 5/6P
o ESO Meeting 2.30pm (Learning Intervention
Focus)
o Parent & Friends Committee Meeting 7.00pm
o Canteen Day
Thursday: 30.05
o Staff Professional Learning – 3.45pm:
Intervention Framework 5.
o PLT Focus: (Snr) SIF
o Staff Meeting – 3.45pm to 5.00pm
Friday: 31.05
o PLT Focus: (Jnr) SIF
o Canteen Day
Saturday: 01.06
o First Communion Mass 6.00pm
Sunday: 02.06
o Solemnity Of The Lord
Week 7 Monday: 03.06
o Staff Prayer & Briefing: 8.15am
Tuesday: 04.06
o Regional Cross Country – St Arnauds
Wednesday: 05.06
o Canteen Day
o Class Mass – 9.30am: Grade 3/4M
o ESO Meeting 2.30pm (Learning Intervention
Focus)
o Class Mass – 9.30am Grade Prep M
o Division Soccer
Thursday: 06.06
o Staff Meeting – 3.45pm
o Division Volleyball
o PLT Focus: Maths Moderation-Jane Hubbard
(Snr)
Friday: 07.06
o PLT Focus: Maths Moderation-Jane Hubbard
(Jnr)
o Deputy Principals Network Meeting
o Canteen Day
Saturday: 08.06
o Woodend Winter Arts Festival
Sunday: 09.06
o Pentecost Sunday
o Woodend Winter Arts Festival
Week 8 Monday: 10.06
o Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday: 11.06
o Staff Prayer & Briefing: 8.15am
o School Assembly
Wednesday: 12.06
o Northern Zone Principals Briefing Meeting
12.30pm to 5.30pm
o ESO Meeting 2.30pm (Learning Intervention
Focus)
o Canteen Day
Thursday: 13.06
o Staff Meeting – 3.45pm (Normal)
Friday: 14.06
o ONWZ Principals Network Meeting
o CDSSA Winter Sports
o Canteen Day
Saturday: 15.06
o First Communion Mass 6.00pm
Sunday: 16.06
o Trinity Sunday
Week 9 Monday: 17.06
o Staff Prayer & Briefing: 8.15am
o Art Expo Week
Tuesday: 18.06
o School Review Visitation Day 1:
Wednesday: 19.06
o Canteen Day
o School Review Visitation Day 2:
Thursday: 20.06
o Staff Meeting 3.45pm:
o Learning Diversity Network
o PLT Focus: Forward Planning Term 3
Friday: 21.06
o PLT Focus: Forward Planning Term 3
o Canteen Day
Saturday: 22.06
o First Communion Mass 6.00pm
Sunday: 23.06
o Corpus Christi
Week 10 Monday: 24.06
o Staff Prayer & Briefing: 8.15am
o School Assembly 2.55pm
Tuesday: 25.06
o Parent Teacher Interviews 3.45 – 7.45pm
Wednesday: 26.06
o ESO Meeting 2.30pm
o Canteen Day
Thursday: 27.06
o End of Term Mass of Thanksgiving: 9.30am
o Parent Teacher Interviews 3.45 – 7.45pm
o End of Term Dismissal Time: 3.30pm
Friday: 28.06
o School Closure – Staff planning
Innovation Arcade
In the past two weeks Grade 5/6M and 5/6P participated in two excellent immersion activities; Lily's Chair and Bridges. I was unfortunately absent for Lily’s chair and only did half the Bridge activity, so this explanation will be short. For the bit of the bridge activity I was here for, I will explain. Firstly we were given 3 materials, (1) 12 pieces of paper (2) 40 cm of tape (3) two bibles.
My team decided to build a Beam Bridge, which is one of 4 type of bridges. The names of the other bridges are Suspension Bridge, Cantilever bridge and lucky last an Arch Bridge. We had 30 intense minutes of extreme concentration to build and make sure our bridge didn’t topple over. When the timer finished, everyone was exhausted but we completed the construction in the nick of time. Our hearts were racing like a formula one car. We walked into 5/6M class and waited for one of the teachers to put weights onto our bridge to test its stability. Our hearts were racing, the teacher walked over to our bridge and we were nerves and excited
Mr Portelli put weights on our bridge, little by little it started sliding off the Bibles. Our palms were sweaty, then our hard work, blood sweat and tears, our pride and joy collapsed! We crumbled, it was so sad that our construction had just fallen right in front of our eyes.
I started thinking what could of possibly gone wrong, what could we of done better, but suddenly I started hearing cheering. I saw our classmates and my friends were all there cheering us on. A big smile hit my face and I felt a feeling of proudness in my self. I thought, we tried our best and everyone could see this. It’s all I could ask for, we didn't need to win, all we needed was the satisfaction of giving it our best. My group looked at our construction and they grabbed it and gave it to me. I looked at it and just scrunched it, not in anger, but in hope that one day we will do something like this again, but do it with a different and better design.
The world needs new things, not the old! So I put the bridge in the bin and just went back to my group and smiled. We were so happy for that whole day so the moral of this story is not to give up and be a grump, but to try again and appreciate the things we have in life. So that is the story of my immersion activity.
Prep E Joel W For amazing descriptive writing about your Mum! Prep E Ethan C For using his Writing Checklist to produce a great piece of writing! Prep M Sascha H For independently recording the sounds that she hears when writing. Prep M Jack B For independently writing his name! Well don Jack! 1/2R Gus H For a fantastic effort with the content and presentation of his Anzac Day report. 1/2R Lachlan M For his informative and beautifully presented report about Anzac Day. 1/2TW Zara C For being a positive support to a classmate. 1/2TW Paddy L For demonstrating determination when reading and achieving great results! 2T Nicholas M For his determination to improve his reading! Well done! 2T India-Belle C For her wonderful answers in her comprehension activity book! 3/4M Archer C For his outstanding use of figurative language in his Mother’s Day reflection. 3/4M Hayden J For his persistence and determination in Literacy. Keep it up! 3/4PB Safara K For her inspiring growth mindset in Math. Persistence and maturity beyond her years. 3/4PB Riley J For creating an impressive roller coaster model using his knowledge of angles. 3/4PB Miranda B For writing a well thought out persuasive txt about our edible garden. 4/5F Rex H For showing a willingness to engage himself further in his learning! 4/5F Hattie B For always giving 100% to all areas of her learning! 5/6M Aaron J For his information review of the immersion activity – Bridges.
5/6M Alex G For digital technology skills to create a review about Ascot Holiday Park. 5/6P Laura G For her excellent Mother’s Day poem. 5/6P Xavier M For his beautiful message to Mum for Mother’s Day.
ART AWARDS Alessio L (2T) For helping out during Art without being asked to. Scarlet M (5/6M) For being very helpful during clean-up time in Art.
SPORT AWARDS Lucy K (4/5F) For 100% effort and determination in Physical Education activities! Cosette D (Prep M) For two super soccer goals!
6 May Madeline D (Prep E) 7 May Will F (4/5F) Liam M (5/6M) 9 May Sarah F (5/6M) 11 May Will B (2T) 14 May Samuel C (5/6P) 18 May Evie M (Prep M) 18 May Jack M (5/6M)
Lacrosse Program Thanks to the government’s Sporting Schools program we were able to book a two week Lacrosse program to run during Grade 3-6 PE lessons and buy a Lacrosse kit. Jayden coached the children on scooping, catching and throwing with a Lacrosse stick and ball and they will be learning the rules and playing a Lacrosse game. The children showed great enthusiasm & enjoyment of these lessons. Kristy Cavric - PE Specialist
Student Attendance Teachers will be on playground duty in
the school from 8:30am. Please make
sure your child gets to school before the
school bell at 8:50am as students are
required to be present in the classroom
at 8.55am with formal tuition beginning
at 9.00am.
Please do not drop your child off prior
to 8.15am in the morning. There is no
supervision at this time.
It is important that you work your child's
schedule to fit in with the school hours.
Children need plenty of time to eat
breakfast and prepare for school.
Children arriving at school after 9.00am
must be accompanied by the parent to
be signed in. A late pass will be provided
which must be presented to the
classroom teacher before commencing
lessons.
MINI VINNIES WINTER APPEAL
Dear St Ambrose Families,
This year, as the cold weather creeps in,
our thoughts go towards those in our
community that are in need. More than
40% of those experiencing homelessness in
Australia are under 25 years of age! This is
an alarming number and the St Ambrose
Social Justice Team / Mini Vinnies need
your help to ‘make a difference’ and
inspire change.
From now until the end of Term 2 the Mini
Vinnies (Social Justice Team) will be
partnering with the St Vincent de Paul
Society to run a ‘Winter Appeal’.
This year the St Vincent de Paul Society are
in desperate need of warm, life-saving
clothing and blankets for our ‘homeless’.
This term we are asking our families to
donate warm, winter blankets, sleeping
bags or clothing in new or in very good
condition in both adult and children sizes.
The donations need to be washed and not
stained!
Items could include:
Gloves, beanies, scarves, coats,
earmuffs, socks (new) or
blankets/sleeping bags.
Layers of Love!!!
We have also on display a ‘No-Sew
Blanket’ that Mrs. Geisler made over the
holidays! Under the blanket is a plastic
pocket with the instructions of how to
make a ‘No-Sew Blanket’. For all those
clever, creative families in our school
community, you can also make a new
‘No-Sew Blanket’ in either a small or larger
size which will be given by the St Vincent
de Paul Society to new mums and their
babies who cannot afford such lovely
things!!! The Mini Vinnies are going to
make one too!
Donations can be placed in the basket
provided (near the staffroom) or given to
your classroom teachers.
Just one donation per family can make a
big difference to families in our community
who are doing it hard this winter!
Thank you in anticipation of your generous
and thoughtful donations
Every day ask yourself, ‘What can I do to make
the world a better place?’
Mini Vinnies/Social Justice Team
(Heidi, Isabelle, Nash, Zac, Archie, Mia, Lucy
and Georgia)
This week, students are learning to say Akai maru (Red circle), Midori no maru (Green circle) and Midori no Hitsuji (Green sheep) in Japanese. We will also learn how to say 'Where is the green sheep?' in Japanese in coming weeks!!
Akai maru
あかい まる
Red circle
Midori no maru
みどりのまる
Green circle
Midori no hitsuji
みどりのひつじ
Green sheep