Week 9, Term 2
- From the Principal
- Religious Life of the School
- 2022 Annual School Improvement Plan
- Learning and Teaching
- 2022 Athletics Carnival
- SCCC Yr 6 to 7 Transition day
- Pre-Prep Transition Program
- Reminder: It's a public holiday next Tuesday - 21/06/22
- Mary's Marvellous Big Day Out.
- School Jumpers
- Show Respect
- From the Guidance Counsellor
- This Week's Award Winners
- Birthdays
- Tuckshop and Lunchboxes
- Mary Mackillop OSHC
- Community
From the Principal
SPORTS AND REPORTS
I would like to offer a huge congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped ensure that our 2022 Athletics Carnival was such an incredible success. From the training, preparation, and commitment of our PE teacher Mrs. Karen Jones, the support and expertise of Mrs. Julie Muir, and the dedication of Mr. Sylvester who marked out and maintained our training grounds to all the supporters who cheered our young athletes on from the sidelines, thank you. Thank you also to Bowen Athletics Club for the generous use of their grounds and equipment. The weather was perfect and the ovals were filled with colour, laughter, and enthusiasm. The students demonstrated a wonderful level of participation, encouragement, and sportsmanship, with MacKillop winning the overall trophy for the day!
Next week, Semester 1 report cards will be made available on the COMPASS portal. This school report is a summary statement to communicate your child's achievements and progress at this mid-point of the year. Reports help you to understand how well your children are performing in relation to the learning expectations of their year level. Reports also help the students themselves to understand their achievements and progress, and to identify areas in which they need to improve. Below is some information regarding the St Mary's reports.
Learning areas – each child’s report contains achievement information about each learning area studied. Some learning areas may not have been taught or fully assessed this semester. If this is the case, it will have an N next to it for Not Assessed. If your child has only been at St Mary's for a short time or for just this term they may not have been present for all of the learning and assessment in some learning areas and once again will receive N in some learning areas for this reason.
Achievement codes – these codes describe your child’s overall achievement for each learning area studied against what is expected at the time of reporting using the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards for each learning area. For the purposes of reporting, students are graded using a 5-point scale. From Yr 2, students will receive an A, B, C, D, or E. In Prep to Year 1, students are awarded Applying (AP), Making Connections (MC), Working With (WW) Exploring (EX), and Becoming Aware (BA).
Please be assured that achieving a ‘C’ on the report card is considered a sound level of achievement. In other words, ‘C’ should be acknowledged as achieving at the level expected of an average child at this stage of schooling. Where there is concern about a child’s progress, parents are urged to make an appointment to see the class teacher. Opportunities for parent-teacher interviews will also be available again toward the end of term 3.
See you next week,
Sharyn Bell
Religious Life of the School
On Friday last week, the Mini Vinnies students from Years 5 and 6 attended our annual Immersion night (previously known as the Sleep Out). The students were engaged in activities that helped build their understanding of what it means to experience homelessness. Thank you to Miss Anna Bennett and Mrs. Kristy Sylvester for helping to lead the activities, including the huge pot of pumpkin soup using the recipe Kristy used to use when she volunteered in soup kitchens as a teenager. Thank you also to Mr. Laurie Cowan, President of the Bowen Congregation of St Vincent de Paul, for visiting to tell the students about the work of Vinnies in the community. The students had some great ideas for how they can give a hand up in the community, including running the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. If you would like to support the Winter Appeal, please place your items (non-perishable food and winter blankets, etc) in the box in the office.
Alicia Ninnes (Assistant Principal / Religious Education)
2022 Annual School Improvement Plan
The Disability Standards - Prioritise responsibilities under the Disability Standards and understand how to implement them.
As part of our responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Standards for Education St Mary's participates each year in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information about the support provided to students with disability. Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes their year of schooling, the category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory, or social/emotional and the level of adjustment provided.
This information assists schools to formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools; consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools; develop shared practices to review their learning programs to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.
The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability. Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).
Learning and Teaching
Where does Honey come from ?
In technology, this term Year 1 has been studying a unit called 'Paddock to Plate'. In this unit, they have been exploring the processing steps from a food source to a food product. Last Friday, the students welcomed Mark Inmon who demonstrated to students how honey is produced. The students learned about beekeeping and how to extract honey safely before all being given a small jar of honey to take home. On Wednesday, students heard from Melita Jurgens about fruit growing and how the fruit then moves to the shelves in the stores to be sold. Students were then given the opportunity to sample some produce! Students will be assessed on their understanding by independently creating a visual representation (road map) to plot the steps from food source to food product. Thanks to Miss. Bennett for developing such an engaging unit for our young learners and to our guest speakers for sharing their expertise.
Krystal Land (Learning and Teaching Adviser)
Do shops grow the fruit they sell?
2022 Athletics Carnival
From Tuesday to Thursday this week, students participated in their high jump and discus events at school before heading to the carnival for all other events on Friday. Participation and sportsmanship on the day of our carnival were fantastic and we thank all of the family members who came along to cheer our students on. As mentioned above, the weather was perfect and the ovals were filled with laughter and enthusiasm. Thank you to all our staff who set up for the events, supported and encouraged the students, and ensured the day ran smoothly. Congratulations to all students for their dedication to the Mary's Way to "Be your Best". Due to the timing of this newsletter, we will include photos and age champions from today in next week's newsletter Below are some photos from the events during the week.
High Jump and Discus Gallery
SCCC Yr 6 to 7 Transition day
On the 23rd of June, next Thursday, the St Mary’s Yr 6 students will travel by bus to St Catherine’s College so they can participate in their first transition day. There will be a bus back to St Mary’s leaving at 1:20 pm for students to return to St Mary’s by the end of the school day. Students will need to wear their formal school uniform and they will require their hat, lunch, and water bottle for the day.
For those students wishing to stay, the college is offering a “Discovery Night” which will have a fun, social focus for the Year 6 students and be led by the College Leaders. From 5 pm a parent session will also be held incorporating a college tour, BBQ, and concluding with an information session from 6 pm. Any student remaining for these events will need to be collected from the College by a parent or guardian.
Parents are asked to return the medical forms required for this trip to the school as soon as possible, please.
Pre-Prep Transition Program
The St Mary's Pre-Prep Program is designed to support children's transition from Kindergarten to Prep. Our Pre-Prep Transition Program offers a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop relationships with the classroom teacher, support staff, and their peers. Throughout the program, the children will become familiar with the routines of their school day and engage in a variety of hands-on learning experiences to prepare them to successfully enter Prep in 2023.
The Pre-Prep Program this year will be coordinated by Mrs. Alana Browning, Ms. Lindy Anderson, and Mrs. Tanya Dederer who all have extensive experience working in the Early Years. The program will operate each Friday, (8:45 am - 2:45 pm) for the duration of Terms 3 and 4, commencing on Friday 14 July and concluding on Friday 25 November 2022 (Week 8 Term 4). There will be a small fee of $10 per week to cover the cost of resources and consumables.
Reminder: It's a public holiday next Tuesday - 21/06/22
Mary's Marvellous Big Day Out.
On the last day of each term, we celebrate the time we have spent learning and growing together as a community. On Friday the 24th of June, we will celebrate Mass together as a whole school before heading off to the Summergarden Theatre to enjoy "Lightyear" the new Disney animated movie.
9:00 am Whole School Mass
10:30 am Bus to the Summergarden
12:45 am Bus back to school
School Jumpers
We are happy to announce School Jumpers have arrived.
Sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 are still available.
$40 Each
Embroidered school logo, pockets, zip front.
Limited stock available from the office.
Show Respect
Please enjoy our Year 6 leaders' latest video on how to follow the Mary's Way by showing respect. Showing respect includes the little things like using people's names when you speak to them and using your manners - "please, thank you, and excuse me".
From the Guidance Counsellor
A SPECIAL REPORT: Respectful Language
In today’s world, it is common to hear socially offensive language on the streets, on social media channels, streaming services and in some forms of modern music. While swearing is becoming more common and less taboo, the use of derogatory language or the act of swearing at someone, or about someone, is a form of verbal violence. It transgresses the usual rules of social interaction by impinging on an individual’s self-image and sense of dignity.
It is becoming apparent that some young people are being influenced by the language they hear. Proliferating the use of swear words can sometimes normalise, glamorise and desensitise their impact for kids who may misunderstand the true meaning of some derogatory terms. Whilst some students may use swearing or derogatory terms as a misguided attempt at belonging, others may use it simply because they are still learning how to moderate their language and are not accustomed to making adjustments to suit different situations.
Although many schools enforce a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to swearing and derogatory language, parents need to also play an important part in enforcing this approach. Parents and carers can be proactive in monitoring what their children are viewing or being exposed to. Discussing the use of words or the origin of some derogatory terms and gaining insight into the reason behind their child’s use of such language can help prevent inappropriate or disrespectful language filtering into the classroom or the school yard, which is turn helps to build more tolerant, safe and connected communities.
This Special Report offers a number of guidelines to help manage a suitable approach when discussing the importance of respectful language.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report:
https://smbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-respectful-language
This Week's Award Winners
On Monday, our weekly awards were presented to students following Mary's Way by showing "B" Be My Best. Please join us in congratulating our award winners from this week.
Mary's Way Award Winners: Elishia Peterson, Kobi Backley, Douglas Moxham, Quade Cristaudo, Koha Haare, Oscar Watson, Jaxon Louis-Kircher, Jett Saffell, Archie Yabseley.
Praise Note Winner of the Week: Sam Murray
Star Reader: Ben Pugh
Birthdays
Upcoming Birthdays
Andrea Firth - 21 June
Jayden Kirk - 23 June
Nataya Byers - 25 June
Lilla Angel - 26 June
Leland Acton - 28 June
Aaliyah Klaus - 30 June
Click the below link for a special Happy Birthday Song.
Tuckshop and Lunchboxes
Nude Food Day Every Friday!
A reminder that Nude Food Fridays continue this term. We are encouraging students to minimize single-use plastic on Fridays to protect our oceans. Use those reusable containers as much as you can! Our Containers 4 Change program is still going so please remember to put your poppers, plastic bottles, and other suitable containers in the blue bins. All money raised through the Pilchers Containers program will be donated to the EcoBarge Volunteer and Turtle Rehabilitation program in the Whitsundays
Mary Mackillop OSHC
OSHC at St Mary’s Catholic School is now operating Monday to Friday from 6.30 am to 8.30 am and 2.45 pm to 6.00 pm.
If you would like more information or to register, please contact Miss Rob on 0428 216 062 OR at bowenoshc@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au
Community
