St Anne's Catholic Primary School Sarina eNewsletter

From The Principal

“I know just how you feel.”

I’ve often heard that and far too often from people who haven’t stopped to find out just how I did feel and who have gone on to tell me what I should be doing with my life. Yes, I have felt angry and hurt about their so-called ‘care’. And I’m sure many reading this can recall similar experiences. The ‘care’ we have been offered either doesn’t suit our need or is given insensitively. But then maybe I haven’t expressed my need properly. It seems we all have a lot to learn about caring – both in expressing our needs and in giving and receiving care.

In Lent one of the traditional practices is ‘almsgiving’, that is the showing of practical compassion to those in need. The word ‘compassion’ comes from the Latin meaning ‘feeling with’. With this practice we try to feel with people and offer a care that is appropriate to them – not to how we feel about their situation. It is good to send money to help those in need who are remote from us but the challenge of ‘almsgiving’ in Lent is primarily directed at us learning better ways of being compassionate to those around us who are in need….and that is pretty well everyone. We are challenged to love like God. Over these weeks, take time to really listen to those around you, and even ask questions about how they really feel, what their deepest desires are, how they feel needy.

Ask yourself these questions, and if needs be, ask for care for yourself.

Loving God, you know all our needs. Send us your Spirit of compassion to care for each other with the tenderness and wisdom that Jesus shows in his care. We ask this in his name confident that you will hear us. Sr Kym Harris osb

Principal's Messages

TERM ONE THREE WAY INTERVIEWS | We will be holding our Term 1 Three Way Interviews which include teacher, parent and child before and after school in weeks 9 and 10. Bookings are now open through Parent Lounge. The booking window closes Friday 17 March 2023 at 12.00pm.

VAPING - THE DANGERS | Catholic School Parents Queensland warmly invite all Catholic School parents and carers to join a Zoom Webinar with Tony Parsons from National Drug Awareness. Tony will explain the dangers of children vaping.

This is a FREE WEBINAR hosted by CSPQ to support our families in Catholic Schools.

Click here for more info and to register >

https://www.eventcreate.com/e/vapingwebinar

Enrolments For 2024 Now Being Taken

ENROLMENTS FOR 2024 | Enrolments for Prep are currently being taken for the 2024 school year. If you have a child due to commence Prep next year born between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019, please complete an online enrolment form available from the school website: https://www.sasrok.catholic.edu.au/

Interviews will commence in Term Two.

Student Protection News

Across The Curriculum

Naplan Practice Tests

The official NAPLAN testing period begins next week. Above is a link that will take you to a range of sample tests that parents can try with their students at home. These tests help to practice the keyboarding skills that our students need to complete the official testing. Below is the timetable of the official NAPLAN test window for our school.

Changes to NAPLAN Reporting: an excerpt from a recent memo from the QCAA:

As part of the National School Reform Agreement, education ministers agreed that a proficiency standard be introduced for literacy and numeracy assessed by NAPLAN. On 10 February 2023, education ministers also agreed to change the reporting of NAPLAN results in response to the online testing transition and the move to earlier NAPLAN testing in March.
The new proficiency standard has four levels of achievement for each year level and replaces the previous 10-band structure and the national minimum standard used across the four domains. The four levels of achievement are:
• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support.
From 2023, the individual student report (ISR) will change. The ISR will be based on the four levels of achievement. It will also continue to show the national average, the range of achievement for the middle 60% of students in each year level, and a dot placement for the student comparing their achievement against these measures.
This new standard and its benchmarks will provide information to parents/carers and teachers about what a student can do against a challenging but reasonable standard of literacy and numeracy expected for students at the time of the tests.
This change to reporting means that a new time series and a resetting of the measurement scale will commence in 2023, allowing the full benefit of the new online adaptive testing to be reflected in student results. Results from 2008–2022 cannot be directly compared with the 2023 results.

If you have any questions once you have received your child's NAPLAN report, please do not hesitate to come and see us. It will be a very different reporting style that what we are used to, however we are hoping it will give us clearer information on the academic development of our students.

Below is a link if you would like to read any further information regarding NAPLAN and your Year 3 or 5 student.

NAPLAN for parents and carers

Homework At St Anne's

At St Anne’s Sarina, we believe that homework is an important part of the educational process. It's often wondered, though, why do we give homework?
• Reinforcement of concepts taught in class
• A responsibility for children
• Give feedback to parents on what has been taught
• It promotes good study habits for children
What can homework include?
• Reading
• Spelling/phonics/word building/sight words
• Sentences/grammar/punctuation
• Number facts, Mathematics activities and problem solving
• ‘Catch-up’ work children may have missed
• Handwriting
• Assessment research
• Activities that link with particular units of work (e.g. Science, HASS etc)

A guide to how much time to spend on homework each day (including reading and compulsory activities):

Prep 5-10 minutes
Year 1/2 10-15 minutes
Year 3 15-20 minutes
Year 4/5 20-25 minutes
Year 6 25-30 minutes in Sem 1

If you have any questions about your child's homework, please do not hesitate to see your child's classroom teacher, or for broader school policy questions, email me at linda_holmes@rok.catholic.edu.au

Reading Volunteers Needed! From 8.20am-9.00am

One of our major curriculum goals in our School Improvement Plan for 2023 is to enhance the learning growth of our students in reading. One of the ways we can improve student progress in this space is to increase reading volume, and this is where we need your help!

We would like to set up a morning reading routine, where, on a rotational basis, students would come down to the library to listen to a story read by a grown up, and to read their home reading book, and then go back to class. Ideally, every morning would be wonderful, but I can work out the days once I know how many people are available to help.

To assist in this initiative, you would need to have completed the short online Volunteers Induction form, through the link Mr Oches sent out earlier in the year.

If you are available during this time, please let me know what days you are able to assist us. Grandparents are more than welcome, too!

A Really Beautiful Moment- Can You Help With A New Breakfast Club Idea?

Today, Mr Oches and I had a meeting with Matilda Walsh, who recently presented us with the most thoughtful idea, an idea that truly reflects the works of our Catholic Social Teachings.

Matilda has noticed that many students in the morning are either eating something from their lunchbox before school, or commenting that they haven't had time to have breakfast because the mornings are a rush. Matilda has come up with a plan, and recently presented this plan to Mr Oches in a well written, and extremely persuasive letter!

We would like to support Matilda in getting a free breakfast club up and running. Initially, we are seeking donations of cereal, UHT milk, paper cups and spoons. Our thinking at this stage, is that we will run Breakfast Club each Monday, beginning in Term 2, from 8am-8.20am, on the grid where I am on morning duty.

Any donations of the above items will be greatly appreciated. These can be given to the front office ladies at any time.

We will keep an eye on of our Breakfast Club as Term 2 progresses, and have in mind that we can extend the number of days if needed. It truly warms our hearts when students are making connections to what they are learning at home and in our classrooms to how they can help in their broader community.

Thank you, Keira!

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting a Mercy College student, Keira Higgs, whilst she completed her Year 10 work experience block with us. Keira immersed herself fully into the Prep G classroom, supporting the students in their learning and with forming positive relationships. Keira's assistance with our Cross Country and PE lessons was also appreciated. Thank you, Keira! It was an absolute pleasure to have you return to our site in a professional manner.

The Good News

From the Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Mrs Erika Milne

2023LM_ThirdSundayOfLent.pdf

Student Engagement and Wellbeing for Learning

Newsletter_Article_Week_8_Term_1_2023_Bianca_Morris.pdf

Finance News

Term 1 Fees | Payment of School fees for Term one are now overdue. If you have not paid in full, and do not have a payment plan in place, please contact our Finance Officer to discuss.

Sports News

Cross Country

Last Wednesday our Years 1 and 2 classes kicked of Cross Country with 1 and 2 laps respective, around our school oval. Congratulations and well done on giving it your best! The smiles were spectacular!

Then our 8 years children ran 1 lap of the 1km course throughout the school, oval and mill grounds. It was a tough course over different terrain. Well done 8-year-olds for persisting throughout the course. You are our rising stars!

Next was the 9 year and 10-year-olds who ran 2 laps of the course. A lot of perseverance and strength was shown to complete the race. Well done on earning house points! The 9-year age division does not qualify for Sarina District trials but allows students to show their running endurance and gives a goal for next year. We have some very impressive runners coming through.

Finally, as light rain began to fall in an attempt tp cool us down, our 11- and 12-year-olds started their 3km race. Personally, I was impressed with how many students put their fears aside and gave the course a go. Our spectating parents and teachers all commented on how committed the runners were. Congratulations to our top 4 placing students who have been invited to attend Sarina & District Cross Country next Wednesday 22^nd March at Sarina Golf Course.

Traditionally, ribbons have not been awarded for Cross Country at St Anne's. This year though, I wanted to recognise the students who have trained, turned up and ran their hearts out as encouragement for their effort!s Cross Country is a school sporting event, just as important as Track and Field and Swimming Carnivals. Please consider volunteering in these events as it brings great joy to your child and lifts a huge burden off the shoulders of the sole person organising.

A huge thank you to Pieter from Wilmar Sarina for allowing us access to the mill grounds. He ensured the grounds were in beautiful condition for this event.

This event could not happen without parent and staff help. Thank you to the many Teacher Assistants for standing in the sun along the track. Very special thanks to parent, Mrs Sarich for assisting in marking the course out to ensure the best accuracy and for time keeping. Also, Mrs Renehan and Mr Borg for their time keeping and Mrs Willes for your assistance marking laps.

Congratulations to the following students for their excellent results.

2km

9 Years - Rylan, Mackintyre, Ben, Khloe, Brooklyn, Addison, Za'Layah (next year is your year for districts)

10 Years - Jed, Brendan, Chad, Axl, Thomas, Bella, Kaly, Lizzy, Indee

3km

11 Years - Hudson, Corey, Mason, Lucas, Lucy, Lahni, Tahlia, Montana

12 Years - Carter, Riley, Noah, Eddie, Lily N, Ahlara, Tatum, Ayla

P&F News

Blue_Gold_Modern_Happy_New_Year_Poster_Landscape_Facebook_Post_Landscape_Instagram_Post_Square_.pdf

Tuckshop Volunteers

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

Students Of The Week

Congratulations To Our Students Of The Week | Bentley H, Lachlan M, Julianna D, James M, Phoebe W, Jordan L, Patrick Z, Lincoln F, Hannah C, Xander B, Emily-Jo B, Harrison B, Nait B, Jed P, Brooklyn K, Khloe S, Savannah B, Zane L, James F, Archie K, 4G, Alhara K, Lahni K, Noah G, Cohen D, Max M, Mackintyre W

Birds Of A Feather

General Information

Birthdays
17/03	Ayla G	17/03	Noah G
18/03	Bryce G

Notes Home to Parents Since Last Newsletter
Date	To	Topic	Author
07/03	All Parents	T1 W7 Newsletter	Admin
09/03	Year 2 Parents	Headlice	Admin
09/03	Yrs 4-6 Cross Country Place Getters	Sarina & District Cross Country Nominations	Mrs Ford
14/03	Interested Students	Soccer Ball Competition	Mrs Ford