T3 W8 Newsletter 2023

From The Principal

A Family

A family is a place

to cry and laugh

and vent frustration,

to ask for help

and tease and yell,

to be touched and

hugged and smiled at.

A family is people

who care when you are sad,

who love you no matter what,

who share your triumphs,

who don’t expect you to be perfect,

just growing with honesty in your decisions.

A family is a circle

where we learn to make good decisions,

where we learn to think before we do,

where we learn integrity and table manners

and respect for other people;

where we are special,

where we listen and are listened to.

Where we learn the rules of life

To prepare ourselves for the world.

The world is a place where anything can happen;

if we grow up in a loving family we are ready for the world.

Please keep all those who need support in your prayers.

Principal's Messages

STUDENT FREE DAY  |  Please remember that it is a Student Free Day Friday 1 September.  Staff will be engaged in professional development sessions all day.  Please make other arrangements for your child for this day.

LEAVE  |  I will be on Sabbatical for the last two weeks of this term.  During my absence, Mrs Erika Milne will be Acting Principal.  She will of course, be supported by Mrs Shona Gibson.  Whilst on Sabbatical I will be connecting with other schools around how they are preserving their Catholic Identity and implementing trauma-responsive practices.  All in all, I will be visiting 8 schools with three other colleagues from this diocese. 

YEAR FIVE CAMP | Please keep our year five students and staff in your prayers as they embrace camp this week.  This camp will stretch them in many ways which is wonderful preparation for leadership roles next year.

Raffle has now been extended until Thursday 31/08/23. It will be drawn at the Father's Day Liturgy. 

Mackay Eisteddfod

Years 3-6 will be participating in this year's Eisteddfod.  Parents will need to organise transportation to and from the venue for their child.  Any child who is unable to attend will stay at school to complete work.  Parents, please remind your child to practice their Eisteddfod poems as part of their homework.

Eisteddfod Dates:

Sessions start at 8.30 sharp.  Anyone arriving late will be locked out.  Please get in early to purchase tickets as they've been known to sell out.

Tuesday 10 October - Year 5

Wednesday 11 October - Year 4

Thursday 12 October - Years 3 and 6

COVID Requirements

Student Protection News

Across The Curriculum

Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

Please make an appointment to discuss your child's progress with their classroom teacher. You can book your appointment via Parent Lounge. Interviews will take place in weeks 9 and 10. Bookings will close on Thursday 31st of August. 

Reading

One of the School Improvement Goals this year is to improve our reading data across all year levels. To achieve this, the teachers have been looking at data from different reading tests. This data helps inform teacher planning, measure progress, and identify any gaps in learning. Your child may have mentioned that they have completed their DRA... so what exactly is a DRA?

The Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) is a diagnostic tool used in schools across Catholic Education, Diocese of Rockhampton to identify the individual needs of learners and monitor reading development. The DRA provides a common language for describing levels of reading engagement, oral reading fluency and comprehension. Teachers are able to systematically observe, record, and diagnose a student’s independent reading level and identify next steps. Most importantly, the DRA establishes a consistent, evidence-informed approach to strategic reading instruction and associated comprehension for all learners from Prep to Year Six. The collective goal for reading instruction is for our learners to become proficient, critical, enthusiastic readers who can read for purpose and meaning.

These diagnostic assessments support teachers to identify students’ strengths and learning needs, to examine any area of difficulty in more detail, and to decide how to modify instruction to meet the needs of individuals. Using data from the DRA, teachers will plan for small group, guided reading instruction and targeted intervention.

Over the coming weeks, teachers will analyse the DRA data from their classroom and use this to inform Term 4 planning. Will also be using a consistent whole school language when it comes to active reading strategies (more information to follow in the next newsletter). Your child may have a whole class reading goal and an individual goal. Most importantly, we would love for your child to develop a love and enjoyment for reading.

Until next time,

Shona Gibson

The Good News

From the Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Erika Milne

Finance News

Concession Card Discounts  |  If you have an existing concession card discount,  please be aware that discounts are not automatically applied to new enrolments.  Discounts are applied to each student upon individual application and there is a form that is required to be completed each time.

If you have an existing concession card registered at St Anne’s and have more than one student, please contact Sandra Adams to confirm that discounts have been applied to each student. 

Term 3 Fees  |  Term 3 school fees are now overdue. If you have not been able to pay in full by the due date and do not already have a payment plan in place, please contact our Finance Officer to discuss options. 

Fun Run

Students Of The Week

Congratulations To Our Students Of The Week  |  Taytum C, Julianna D, Mackenzie F, Ryan K , Zoe D, Travis S, Deejay P, Charlotte L, Molly M, Hadlay W, Tyler F, Xander B, Lewis J, Katelyn B, Lizzy S, Lucy J, Allira H, Carter R, Eddie R, Georgia B, Ivy N, Ben T, Harry vB, Lucas B

Birds Of A Feather

Year 4 Recycling

Waste Free Wednesday

Tuckshop Volunteers

The St Anne's Tuckshop is closed until a new convenor is appointed. 

General Information

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