Welcome to the Week 7 Newsletter. We are at a tipping point for the term as we have a number of things emerging on our calendars and to-do lists that we want to address this week. Not without first acknowledging the continuous learning and improvement we are sharing with the students in the classrooms. When things start to get busy and we have the next thing to do catching our focus, it is easy to forget the learning that is happening, the goals that have been set and, in some cases, already achieved and the milestones that have already been noted in such a relatively short time. Well done to all the children, A great start to 2024. Now, for the things to note between now and the end of the Term 1 .

Enrolments are now Open and Online.

Partners in Learning Conferences 

As mentioned last week, the Partners in Learning Conferences will be available to be booked from Monday 18th March though to Friday 5th April (Weeks 8, 9 and 10). Bookings are made via Compass. If you can't find the link on your home page, use the "more" button on the bottom right and you will find a conference button. The teachers have made themselves available at different times across the three weeks and parents will be able to book slots according to your availability. A reminder that if your child is in a class with a job share, you will meet with the teacher that teaches the class on the day you booked. The conference bookings are live now.
The best news is that children are invited to join these conferences so they can share in the goal setting conversations and join the partnership to support their learning. We look forward to having the children share the goals they have set themselves alongside the ones that have been identified by their teacher.

Students in Years 3 and 5 will sit their NAPLAN Assessments (the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy) over the next two weeks.

While Naplan is an important part of our understanding of student learning, it is not the only part. And while we wish our students all the best as they navigate the different tests, we challenge them to remember 3 key facts over the coming days.

1. Excellence in learning is about being YOUR best, not the best. 
2. This test does not measure all that you are or can be. It is only a snapshot in time.  
3. We use data from Naplan and other assessments to find ways to best support your next steps in learning. 

Remaining Dates for your Calendars

I have mapped out some key remaining dates for the term. As always details will follow via COMPASS and in the newsletter but post them here for your planning reference. 

Feast of St. Joseph

Next Tuesday,  the 19^th March, we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph, honouring the namesake of the Sisters of St Joseph who founded our school. Since the 10th century, this date has been observed as the principal feast day of St. Joseph in Western Christianity and commemorates the life of Joseph. The husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus.

In honour of the Feast of St. Joseph, I’d like to share 10 facts you may not know about St Joseph.

1. In 1955, an additional feast day was declared by Pope Pius XII and is celebrated on May 1 as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
2. Symbols associated with Joseph include the carpenter's square and lily. The carpenter’s square not only symbolizes Joseph’s trade but also the concept of truth. The lily, represents purity and Joseph’s marriage to the Virgin Mary.
3. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, families, fathers, expectant mothers, travelers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, craftsmen, engineers and working people, among others.
4. Joseph is also considered to be the patron saint of the New World, China, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Peru, Vietnam and several cities and dioceses.
5. On the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of St. Joseph beginning Dec. 8, 2020 through Dec. 8, 2021.
6. Although we know Joseph as a working carpenter, he is descended from royal lineage, the line of David.
7. Joseph is portrayed in works of art with grey hair and a beard, an older figure next to Mary and Jesus, and often in the background.
8. The scriptures mention nothing of Joseph’s age and previous life.
9. The first apostolic mission entrusted by the Pope to the Society of Jesus was given on the Feast of St. Joseph, Mar. 19, 1539. On this day, the mission of the Jesuits began – and continues to this day around the world.
10. The Sisters of St Joseph have him as their patron saint for many reasons but one of the most profound is this statement...He is an ordinary man whose meaningful life without fanfare is wordlessly faithful.

Our wonderful Kindergarten class have well and truly settled into learning routines within the classrooms. As we have officially reached the half-way point in the term, we would like to give you a quick update on how the children are settling in. 

They have thoroughly enjoyed our Successful Foundations play of a morning, where they are able to engage in a variety of activities, stations and play-based provocations. So far, we have completed a variety of literacy and numeracy assessments, which has helped establish our curriculum differentiation. This is allowing us to target specific activities towards the children's learning needs and learning dispositions. Our assessments will continue throughout the remainder of the term, allowing the groups to be reflected upon and changed if needed. We simultaneously collect and gather data, which we then analyse and evaluate to continue improving our teaching practises.  

We are so excited by the way the students are responding in the Kindergarten Classroom and most important are already seeing great benefits in ensuring differentiated instruction for every child. We understand some things may seem different, so we want to share our commitment, our vision and our declarations for Early Learning at SBE.

Principles_and_Commitment_to_Co_Teaching_at_SBE.pdf

Principles_and_Commitment_to_Co_Teaching_at_SBE _pdf 1,013.90 KB

It is important to note that co- teaching has many different models, each one with a deliberate purpose and the selection of each is driven by the understanding of student data and their learning needs. In fact, it is the adaptability of the model that is it's contributor of ongoing success. Below are some examples of the different teaching pedagogies that can evolve as part of the co-teaching model. 

NAPLAN

In 2024, NAPLAN will be held from Wednesday 13 March to Monday 25 March.

Students in Years 3 and 5 are expected to participate in four NAPLAN tests:

• writing
• reading
• conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
• numeracy.

All schools in NSW undertake NAPLAN online. However, Year 3 students do the writing test on paper. Teachers have ensured students are familiar with the format of the tests before the NAPLAN test window.

All students will complete the Writing assessment on Wednesday 13th March. Reading will be completed on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th. 

Conventions of langauge will take place on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th with the Mathematics assessment to be done on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st. 

We have scheduled a number of sessions the following week to complete any catchup assessements for students who miss their planned assessment due to illness. 

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school. It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing, but about assessing learning progress.

The best approach for preparing your child for NAPLAN is to encourage your child to do the best they can on the day. 

Learners Becoming Teachers 

This week, Year 2 were invited to make the switch from student to teacher and teach a science lesson to Kindergarten. Both classes have been learning about how objects move and investigating the different environmental impacts that influence an object in motion. Kinder had a lot of fun testing Year 2's car launchers that they made in class during science lessons. Thanks Year 2!

Diocesan Summer Trials

Congratulations to Archer Guihot (Boys Soccer) and Billy Johnson (Rugby League) who have been chosen to represent the Lakes Region at the Diocesan Trials later this term. Well done and good luck!

‘Thank you’ for your support of our school through your purchases from Book Club.

All students have now received the March issue of Book Club.

Orders for Issue 2 should be completed by Monday, 25 March, 2024. If you have an enquiry you can email me at pam.nicolaidis@mn.catholic.edu.au. 

Please remember to use Scholastic’s excellent on-line ordering platform (go to scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app) to place your child’s order, then pay by credit card.

For more information about Scholastic and Book Club, visit www.scholastic.com.au

Mrs Pam Nicolaidis

Book Club Co-Ordinator and Library Assistant

Mrs Nicolaidis (PRC Co-Ordinator)

2024 Easter Raffle

 Orders Now Open - Close Thursday 21st March 

Easter Special 

Orders Now Open - Close Thursday 21st March 

Canteen update 

 

Canteen Sushi Day

Congratulations to the following students who were recognised for their efforts in Learning, Improvement and Kindness to others in Week 6. 

The school assists local organsiation to promtote their child related services, events and activities. The school is not directly linked to these events but we are happy to support the greater edgeworth and Cameron Park community.