Term 4 Week 2 2024

From the Principal

Dear Families,

As we move towards the end of the year there is always a lot of speculation and talk about classes and teachers for the upcoming year. I ask that if you have questions, you either come and see me or send me an email rather than speculating, as more often than not these speculations are not only inaccurate but also lead to unrest in our community. As with previous years, we are working towards making the very best decisions we can for our entire school community and will make announcements around who is teaching which class once our staffing for 2025 is completed. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this process.

Compiling class lists each year is a complex and time consuming process.  A lot of thought is given to balancing abilities, needs, behaviours, personalities etc across the classes.  Requesting a teacher based on an older child’s experience or hearing certain feedback about a teacher is not grounds for a request nor is requesting your child not be in a multi-age classroom.  Consideration will only be given to a significant situation that the teachers are not aware of already. Teachers know their students very well and always strive to place them with other students and a teacher who will help them grow and develop as a learner.  Our teachers are very professional and always have the students’ best interests at heart. Should you have any educational reasons to be considered when allocated classes for your child, please email me directly (ajones16@sfatsv.catholic.edu.au) so that requests may be taken into account where possible. Emails must be received by Monday 21st of October for consideration.

As was communicated earlier this week our class structures for 2025 will look slightly different to previous years. These adjustments are necessary due to fluctuations in student enrolment numbers and our commitment to being not only financially responsible for the long term benefit of our school while continuing to provide a high quality education and ensuring that our students’ diverse learning needs are supported. 

Parent Code of Conduct

Parents are the most important role models for a child. As parents and carers, there is an expectation that you will work with the school, the staff and other parents to contribute to a positive and collaborative learning community. These expectations apply while on school grounds, attending school events, using social media which is related or could reasonably be connected to your role as a parent/carer at the school or communicating with staff, parents or other school community members. The expectations are clearly outlined in our Parent Code of Conduct which applies to all parents and carers of children who attend Townsville Catholic Education schools. The Parent Code of Conduct can be found on our school website and I am attaching it to the newsletter this week for your information. I would encourage all parents/carers to read this document carefully.

Car Park Reminder

Please remember that the Stop, Drop and Go area is purely that. The driver and passengers are to remain in the vehicle. If your child requires help with getting in the car, putting their bag in the car or putting their seatbelt on we ask that you park and help them. The Stop, Drop and Go gets very busy and it is vital that everyone plays their part in helping to keep the pick-up line moving. Please ensure that anyone who may pick up your child/ren is aware of this. Also if your child takes a long time to arrive at the pick up area of an afternoon please consider arriving a little later in order to avoid holding up the pick up line. You may be asked to park and wait for your child in order to keep the line moving. Thank you for being considerate of all who use this pick up area.

Student Leadership Process

Yesterday, our Year 5 students spent the day at Alva Beach to participate in their annual Leadership Day. This year we were very fortunate to have Sinead from Marist join us to facilitate the day. Students now have the opportunity to put their name forward for one of the leadership positions before delivering a speech to outline their strengths and what they would bring to the role of School Captain or House Colour Captain. 

Staff, Year 4 and Year 5 students will participate in the voting process. This will happen for both School Captain (Vice Captain) and House Captain roles. I look forward to sharing this news with you as we make our way through the process.  

I will be away at the Term 4 Principal Meeting Monday - Wednesday next week. If you have any concerns during this time, please contact Rita Cranitch.

Have a wonderful week.

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Have a wonderful week

Amanda

Religious Life of the School

Dear Families,

Welcome to Week 2. With October upon us, we’re excited to share the many ways our school community is coming together to learn, grow, and support one another.

CATHOLIC MISSIONS

This October, we are celebrating World Mission Month, a time to honour the inspiring work of missionaries around the globe. This year's focus is on the Church’s efforts in Mongolia, with the theme "Go and invite everyone to the Banquet."

Pope Francis emphasises the importance of inclusion, encouraging us to consider what unites us and fostering opportunities for growth and understanding. By following the Gospel, we can find ways to promote inclusion and open dialogue.

The Gospel is meant to bring people together, inviting everyone to participate in the celebration of life. Pope Francis reminds us of the significance of sharing the Gospel and reaching out to all, ensuring that everyone has a place at the table.

Throughout October, we will be praying for children in need and on Monday 5/6B will lead us in a Mission Liturgy at 2.15pm.  We would love you to join us. There will also be a Crazy Sock Day on Friday, October 18th. We invite students to bring a gold coin donation, which will support Catholic Missions. This is a wonderful way to embody the "Help your neighbour" value in our PATH behaviours and demonstrate our love of neighbour. We will also have a Guess the Lollies Competition, with all proceeds going to Catholic Missions.

LEADERSHIP DAY

Yesterday, our Year 5 students enjoyed a wonderful day at Alva Beach, participating in a leadership day. Sinead from Marist Youth Ministry came from Brisbane to teach the students about different types of leadership and the important qualities that make a great leader. The students took part in fun games that emphasised communication and teamwork. It was heartening to see them embrace the challenges, work together, and showcase their emerging leadership skills.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Marist Youth Ministry for fitting us into their busy schedule. Since the Marist Brothers have a history with our school, they play an important role in our school's values and form one of our charisms.  St. Marcelin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers, is also the namesake of our Champagnat sports house.

The students have received their nomination forms to self-nominate for leadership positions, which are due by Monday, October 21st. We will kick off speeches for school captain the following week on October 28th. I hope the students found the leadership day helpful as they prepare to take on leadership roles next year. It’s a great opportunity for them to reflect on their leadership qualities and consider how they can use them effectively.

MONTH OF THE ROSARY

October is the Month of the Rosary, a wonderful opportunity for our school community to appreciate the beauty and power of this beloved prayer. We encourage families to come together and pray the Rosary at home, strengthening our connection to this beautiful tradition.

Blessings,

Maria

Learning Corner

How well does your child read?

As late as last year, your child’s PM Benchmark level allowed you to compare your child with peers. This year, PM Benchmarking was phased out completely. The online benchmarking resource we used is no longer available for purchase. This change is responsive to the expectations of teaching reading in the  Australian Curriculum V 9.0 English. The reading standard expected at each year level is explicit and supported by the Literacy Progressions, which provide details of the skills students require to demonstrate the standard for their year level.

When we describe a student’s reading standard, we refer to how quickly and well they can decode words, how fluently they can read (expressively and attentive to punctuation) and how well they comprehend what they have read. We do not give them a level number but a description of the skills they have demonstrated and the skills that need to be developed to progress.

When skills in any subject are taught, a 3 tier approach, as illustrated below,  is used.

In any teaching, 80-90% will easily understand and apply what has been taught. Teachers differentiate how they teach to meet all student needs at this level. This teaching is presented to all students.

5-10% of the students will need focused reteaching to understand and apply the concepts and skills taught.

After implementing these two tiers, 1-5% of students will still require individualised and highly focussed intervention to enable them to understand and apply the skills and concepts.

All children start at Tier 1 and work through tiers 2 and 3 as needed.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I love answering questions and investigating further if I don’t have the answers.

Reporting Survey

TCE (Townsville Catholic Education) is reviewing the Reporting Guidelines followed by all Diocesan Schools.  This week, all parents and teachers were sent a survey about reporting by TCE. The responses provide essential feedback so that the reviewed reporting guidelines are relevant. Please complete the survey.

NAPLAN Student reports.

If your child participated in NAPLAN this year, their report can now be accessed via Compass like you access Semester Reports.

Have a great week!

Rita

Guidance Counsellor

In this edition of SchoolTV - UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence is the transitional stage of development that is usually associated with the teenage years. In 2018, the Australian Curriculum Assessment Authority, redefined adolescence as affecting young people aged between 10-24 years. During this time, they experience rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth which affects how teenagers feel, think, make decisions and interact with the world around them.

During adolescence, a child's brain can be considered as being “under-construction”. The rate at which this progresses will vary depending on the individual and also their gender. As a result, some parents may view adolescence as stressful or difficult. However, it does not need to be. Setting boundaries, implementing consistent monitoring and maintaining a strong and loving connection will help families adjust during this time.

It is also an important time to keep the communication lines open through clear and age appropriate conversations. Speak openly about changes that they are experiencing and be conscious of their mental health as many of the conditions people confront in adulthood, can begin to manifest in adolescence.

In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers can learn how to guide and best support their young person as they transition through adolescence.

Here is the link to the Understanding Adolescence edition of SchoolTV
https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/understanding-adolescence

Class in the Spotlight - 4A

The following items are included:

*  Learning Breakfast

*  Book Day

*  Making the safety gear for the Science experiment

* Writing up the Science experiment and other activities during rotations.

4A

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Tuckshop

Tuckshop 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This letter is to invite parents &/or grandparents to become part of the Tuckshop team in 2025.

The Tuckshop requires volunteers on Mondays to Fridays from 8:30am - 11:30am for First Break.

Working in the Tuckshop is a great opportunity to meet new parents in a friendly & relaxed atmosphere.  Please note: you will need to have completed your Volunteer Induction Online Training prior to assistance.

 Volunteer Induction Online Training can be accessed via our website: https://www.sfatsv.catholic.edu.au/about/volunteer-induction-for-parents-and-carers/

Once all modules and documents have been completed please email your certificate, paperwork to ayr@tsv.catholic.edu.au

Please return the from below to the school office at your earliest convenience. Any amount of time that you can assist will be greatly appreciated. If you have any further enquiries please feel free to contact the school office on 4783 2877.

I am looking forward to another exciting year in the tuckshop.

Thanks,

Kylie Farrell

Tuckshop Convenor

Long sleeved shirts available

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