Term 3 Week 8 2024
Religious Life of the School
Dear families,
We are on the countdown to the end of term with classrooms looking busy, engaging with extra assessments and activities. Years 1 and 2 celebrated their Class Mass this week. Thank you to all of the family and friends who were able to join us. Thank you also to Fr Manoj for teaching us about forgiveness and God’s love.
Thank you to 1/2A who led our assembly on Monday where they told us about the great things they have been doing in class and performed their favourite song.
God as Potter and Master of Kintsugi
Today we began our Staff Professional Development Day with prayer. We focused on the Gospel readings of Isaiah and Jeremiah who spoke of God as potter. We also looked at Kintsugi which is the art of repairing broken pottery.
Kintsugi means “golden joinery” in Japanese. It is a centuries-old Japanese art. Practitioners put the broken pieces together with a special tree sap lacquer that is dusted with gold creating unique and beautiful new pieces out of what was once broken. In Kintsugi, the cracks still show. These cracks accentuate the brokenness, making it a feature of beauty rather than something to put out of sight. Kintsugi teaches us that in life we can turn adversity into something beautiful and resilient. Kintsugi shows us that, in time, we can heal from our wounds, embrace our imperfections, and become stronger. Kintsugi reminds us that no matter our difficulties, we can find a way to reframe and find meaning in life.
Together these images, God as potter and master of Kintsugi, offer a powerful reflection on how God not only creates and shapes but also redeems and glorifies. Our lives, marked by both God's careful crafting and restorative work, become testimonies of God’s love and grace, where even our imperfections contribute to the beauty of the whole.
SAVE THE DATE
Samaritan Day - Friday 13 September
Isaiah 64:8
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Embrace your imperfections, God Bless and have a wonderful week
Nicole
Learning Corner
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Learning is lifelong.
I caught up with a former student, and as he shared school memories, he said, ‘ I thought once I got my degree that it would be the end of studying. I have now realised that my studying and learning have only just begun.’
As teachers, we are always learning to ensure we are current with the variety of student needs and the best ways to meet those needs. The pace of change is escalating, and so is the range of resources that can assist students in their learning. We are faced with many appealing choices, but are we making the correct choice?
Our decisions on resources and classroom strategies are based on a thorough understanding of what the Australian Curriculum expects children to know, understand and do. We need to know how children learn best, based on proven long-term research, and identify what we are already doing well and the areas we can improve. This was our focus for the pupil free day on Friday.
We re-examined the TCE ( Townsville Catholic Education) Position Statements on Reading and Writing and how they are linked to the Australian Curriculum V9.0 English.
We looked at how we can best reflect this in our classrooms in a way appropriate to the age group we are working with. Using the AERO ( Australian Education Research Organisation) research titled ‘Teaching for how Students Learn’, each teaching group established a plan and set a goal related to Reading and Writing for their class.
Even for teachers, learning, understanding and doing never stops.
Enjoy your weekend!
Rita
P.A.T.H
Georgiana, Jack and Will
Guidance Counsellor
A SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating Father’s Day
For many years now, the role of fathers has changed and evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were often considered detached and distant due to working long hours in factories. However, today things have changed dramatically with many dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on.
Recent studies have shown that children benefit greatly from having fathers who are present and interacting in everyday activities. This has transformed the understanding of how fathers shape children’s lives from the start, challenging conventional ideas of parenthood and gender.
Research also suggests that fathers influence their sons and daughters in different ways, which is especially true during their transition to adolescence. Engaging in regular physical activities can play a key role in influencing children to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks.
In this Special Report, fathers will learn about the positive impact they can have on their child’s mental health and wellbeing, whilst also ensuring they indulge in a little self-care.
Here is the link to your special report:
https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/celebrating-fathers-day
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