3 June 2021

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

Our school community and the wider Chisholm region are processing the deep and heartfelt loss this week of Fr Paul O’Neill. When reflecting on his legacy and very special gift, I was reminded of the lyrics of a beautiful hymn titled, How Shall I Call You, particularly the lines:

How shall I call you?... Lover of children, shepherd and teacher and brother and friend; How shall I call you?... Faithful and constant in loving and mercy, giver of laughter and taker of tears.

He will be sorely missed. Eternal rest grant to him O Lord. May he rest in peace.

CALENDAR EVENTS

NO ASSEMBLY MONDAY 7TH JUNE
DUE TO THE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

• Monday 7th June – School Athletics Carnival – Maitland Regional Athletics Centre – Years 2-6 attend.
• Tuesday 8th June – Polding Cross Country – Selected students to attend.
• Friday 11th June 2021 – Pupil Free Day – Staff only to attend. Staff Retreat.
• Monday 14th June 2021 – Queen’s Birthday – Public Holiday
• Thursday 17th June 2021 – School Photos – Winter Uniform – Please note that this is a change of date for school photos.
• Friday 18th June 2021 – Year 4 Excursion – Cockatoo Island.
• Friday 18th June 2021 – K -1 Athletics Carnival – School Grounds.
• Wednesday 23rd June 2021 – Pie Drive Collection – School Library.
• Monday 9th August 2021 – Pupil Free Day – Staff only to attend. School Improvement Plan – Improving Students Outcomes in Writing.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

FACT SHEET FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS - EXPLANATION OF ABSENCE

St Patrick’s promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child's education. If your child is sick or absent you are required to notify their school on the first day of absence if at all possible. All explanations to the school must be provided within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence. Absences can be explained using one of the following methods:

1. Online: log the absence directly using COMPASS (PREFERRED METHOD)
2. Email: the school at admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au
3. Telephone: the school office 49307270
4. Note sent with your child

Where an explanation has not been received within the 7-day timeframe or the explanation has not been accepted, the school will record the absence as unexplained or unjustified on the student's record. The school will not be able to accept explanations which are not received within the 7-day timeframe.

Justified reasons for student absences may include:

• being sick or having an infectious disease
• having an unavoidable medical appointment
• being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
• exceptional or urgent family circumstances e.g. attending a funeral

If your child is absent due to illness for a period of 5 days or more, it is recommended that a medical certificate is provided.

NOTES FROM THE E-SAFETY COMMISSIONER

Model good habits around device use

As you pick up your phone and focus on the screen, your child is watching and learning from you. Even very young babies are aware of the presence of screens and the attention and amount of time their parents devote to them. By demonstrating that you can put your phone down and concentrate on your child, you provide a really important model for them, no matter how old they are.

UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS

The arrival of the cold weather coincided with our move to compulsory full Winter uniform. I thank all parents who make the effort to send their child/ren off to school dressed neatly in the correct uniform each day. I appreciate that it is at times difficult to have all the uniforms washed and ironed but as a community we benefit from these collective actions and can be rightly proud of our school. Thanks to the students and parents who adhere to this. I thank parents too for their continued support in ensuring that our uniforms are worn with pride and respect, both in our school and throughout the community.

CURRICULUM NEWS

CANBERRA EXCURSION

There was an excited cheer as our Year 6 students set off on their long-awaited excursion to Canberra early on Wednesday morning. It certainly lifted the spirits of the children after the disappointment of last year’s cancelled overnight excursion as we headed for the colder weather in the ACT. This three-day excursion provides wonderful educational highlights including a Parliament House tour, and visits to the Australian War Memorial, Telstra Tower and the Dinosaur Museum to name a few. It is also a special opportunity for the students to spend time with one another away from school, creating lifelong memories with their classmates in their final year of primary school. From a personal point of view, this is something I strongly value as a principal and I felt very privileged to travel with our Year 6 students and their teachers to our nation’s capital. The excursion was highly successful mainly due to the wonderful efforts of the children. On behalf of parents, I add my thanks to the staff who generously dedicated their time away from their families to attend the excursion. Special thanks to Mrs Deegan, Mrs Manthey, Ms Mitchell, Mrs Waters, Mr Henman, Mrs O’Heir & Mrs Collins who helped to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of every student.

STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AT ST PATRICK’S

Professional Learning is essential to the daily pursuit of our school improvement objectives. It is planned, deliberate and purposeful.

Teachers are often released in small teams to participate in targeted Professional Development that aligns with whole school strategic goals and their own personal professional goals. An example of this is the work being undertaken across grades to improve skills in catering for and differentiating the curriculum for Gifted Learners, or the collaborative planning in Year 5 to embed technology skills.

Our staff are also allocated Professional Learning time, supported by Mrs Waters (our Pedagogical Mentor) during Professional Learning Team Meetings (PLTMs) to continue professional discussions about student learning, and work together to build and enhance the learning experiences in the classroom for all students.

Additionally, teachers complete at least an hour of PD a week as part of their scheduled meeting time (Professional Learning Community Meetings- PLCM).

Staff Professional Development Days (Pupil Free) are also scheduled each year. To date, we have had one that provided all staff with explicit writing instruction linked to our School Improvement Plan. A further two PD days are scheduled this year. On Friday 11th June, all staff will participate in Faith Formation experiences that are core to being a Catholic School educator. On Monday 9th August, the staff will focus on the work of Sheena Cameron, who will present practical information that will support our teachers to plan and deliver an effective writing program.

I want to thank the staff for their commitment to ongoing professional development that is critical to their role as educator, the students for their flexibility in welcoming the regular casuals into their classrooms and to the families for adapting to the demands of a pupil free day in the working week. Together, we are building better educational experiences and opportunities in the classroom.

LIBRARY NEWS

CLASSROOM NEWS

SEMESTER 1 REPORTING

In Week 9, you will receive a Report outlining your child’s achievements in Semester 1. Students in Kindergarten receive a Report on progress: Working Towards / Achieving / Working Beyond. Students in Years 1-6 are graded according to an A-E scale.

Some points to consider.

1. A grade of C or Sound Achievement is understood to be a “sound and adequate level of competence” in the content covered in the current grade. A grade of C is awarded to any child achieving where they should be.
2. A grade of a B or High Achievement uses the terms “thorough and high level of competence” to describe a child’s achievement. However, the most important part of the descriptors for a B is the child ability to apply this to most situations and not just those provided for in the mainstream content delivery.
3. Similarly, with an A, the descriptor used is “extensive or outstanding” and the clarification is that a child needs to be able to readily apply this to “new situations”. The assumption is that a child performing at an A level is able to make new and undirected connections between their learning in the classroom and the real world without assistance.

Further Consideration

Knowing this, there are considerations that we need to be aware of when we look at each child’s report. Firstly, let’s celebrate any achievement that a child has demonstrated whether it be Limited/ Basic (D or E), Sound (C), High (B) or Outstanding (A). These reports are meant to focus on what the child has achieved and what they can work on to continue to achieve.

Secondly, please do not apply a counting system of As, Bs and Cs achieved and compare with the idea of a “Straight A” student. As you can see from the clarifications above, allocation of an A relates to achievement, not effort, and while it is great to celebrate that, please do not fall into the trap of being disappointed in not having ALL the subjects being given an A. It is possible that a teacher has not seen demonstration of knowledge and skills at an A level for the whole KLA. It may be more likely that they award an A in a particular strand within a KLA.

Finally, this is a semester report and reports on the achievements that your child has demonstrated in the content covered this semester, as measured against the syllabus outcomes covered. Often parents compare reports from the previous year, but in doing so they must be mindful of the fact that the outcomes and content covered are different and obviously more complex. Perhaps the type of content covered this semester tapped into your child’s particular strength and it is a great report, or perhaps it was the reverse, and the content was particularly new and challenging for your child. The point is that while it is likely to be similar to previous reports, it will not necessarily, be identical.

Please take the time to read the comments as well as the grades as therein lies the greatest information on how we can best help your child to progress in the following terms. Remember too, that the Semester Report will never truly capture your child’s imagination, creativity, zest for learning, interests in alternate subjects and topics, wonder about the world around them or whether they are ‘into’ dinosaurs, asteroids, historical fiction, musical theatre or space exploration.

We look forward to a successful reporting period for Semester 1 and I thank the teachers for their efforts.

SPORT NEWS

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL- Years 2-6

WHEN: Monday 7th June, please ensure that you arrive at school by 8:45 am, for rolls to be marked and carnival buses to leave by 9:00 am. If you are taking your child straight to the carnival please ensure that you arrive by 9:15 am.

WHERE: Maitland Regional Athletics Centre (NEW)
WHO: All students in Years 2-6 to attend

DETAILS:

• Parents welcome/ separate spectator area
• Permission via Compass Event, including each sport nomination
• Bus/ car option for students
• Competitive events programme will be managed/ judged by professionals
• Kinder and Year 1 to schedule their own event on site on a different day

Parents and friends are encouraged to attend as enthusiastic supporters, (modelling appropriate behaviour) and are reminded that this is a compulsory school day for students.

As a means for promoting and encouraging team spirit, children are encouraged to wear socks in the colour of their sporting team. This will enable spectators and supporters to recognise team colours and give an extra cheer for competitors in their colour house.

Paterson- Red, Lawson- Blue, Gordon- Green, Kendall- Yellow

INFANT ATHLETICS CARNIVAL- FRIDAY 18TH JUNE – 11:30 AM

Later this term, the teachers of Kinder and Year 1 will schedule their mini on-site athletics carnival. This is an enjoyable day for the children, where they will experience teamwork, good sportsmanship and physical activities. All of the students from Years K-1 will participate in carnival activities. Parents are welcome to attend and share a picnic lunch with your child.

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE MASKED DJ

ASPIRE’s original production for 2021 is “The Masked DJ”. ASPIRE is an initiative of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle aimed at promoting and fostering the creative and performing arts in our schools. The ASPIRE program offers talented students the opportunity to develop and enhance their skills in seven ensembles: drama, dance, instrumental, strings, vocal, design and production. These seven ensembles have worked both discretely with their ensemble directors and have come together through the rehearsal process to create this year’s production.

“The Masked DJ”, is the result of over six months of hard work by over one hundred and seventy students from Years 5–12 from twenty-eight schools across our diocese. We are proud to offer you the opportunity to witness our tenth ASPIRE production in the magnificent Civic Theatre. Performances are Friday 23 July 2021 at 7.00 pm and Saturday 24 July 2021 at 7.00 pm. Purchase tickets NOW!

Civic Ticket Office

civicticketoffice@ncc.nsw.gov.au

4929 1977

Dates

• Wednesday 21 July 2021 11:00 AM
• Thursday 22 July 2021 11:00 AM
• Friday 23 July 2021 11:00 AM 7:00 PM
• Saturday 24 July 2021 7:00 PM

PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE OF INDIA AND SRI LANKA

Dear Loving Father,

You are the loving God of all the nations and peoples on this earth. Please look with mercy and compassion on all you have created. This day we ask for your help. Please deliver us from the coronavirus and limit its impact on India, Australia and the world. In your mercy bring a swift end to this crisis. Please protect with your loving care those we love- our families, friends and neighbours; those who are near and those who are far away. Let your fatherly hand guide, shelter and strengthen them. Cast out all anxious fears and doubts. Give us an increasing trust in you and fill our hearts and minds with your peace. We pray for those around the world now struggling with COVID-19 and especially, at this time, for the nation of India. Heal and comfort those who are sick and suffering. Protect and guide the health professionals who are at the frontline. Please give wisdom and courage to those who bear responsibility for confronting this challenge. We ask these things through the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

PARENTING PAGE

P & F MEETING

The next P and F meeting will be held on Friday 23rd July in the school hall at 9.30am. We welcome new faces and new ideas and encourage more families to take an active role in helping to support the school. This is a wonderful way to connect with others.