T3 W3 Newsletter 2023

From The Principal

FAREWELL | This week we farewell Mrs Linda Holmes.  

It has been an honour to have Linda at St Anne's Catholic Primary School as colleague and friend and teacher.  Linda's dedication to her students and her passion for teaching have been an inspiration to us all.  Linda has made a lasting impact on the lives of so many young people, and her contributions to our school community will be greatly missed.

Linda, as I sit down to pen this, emotions of gratitude and sadness intertwine, making it both a heartfelt thank you and a bittersweet farewell.  This week, as you embark on a new chapter in your life, we want to express our sincerest appreciation for your unwavering dedication, remarkable contributions, and the cherished friendship shared over the years.  From the moment you joined St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in 2013, it was evident that you possessed a passion for education and an innate ability to connect with students, staff and parents.  Your infectious enthusiasm and creativity have left a profound impact on the hearts and minds of our young learners.  The countless hours you invested in crafting engaging lesson plans and fostering a nurturing environment for your students have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on their educational journey.  Beyond your role as a teacher, from 2017 we have valued your contributions as Assistant Principal - Curriculum. Your role as a member of our leadership team has been equally invaluable.  

Your optimism, warmth, and wisdom have been a source of inspiration not just to me, but to everyone fortunate enough to know you.

Your willingness to listen, offer guidance, and share your insights has been instrumental in shaping my decisions as principal.

As you move on to new opportunities, I have no doubt that your passion and dedication will continue to enrich the lives of others and create a positive impact wherever you go.

As you embrace this new chapter, please remember that you carry with you the love and appreciation of every student, colleague, and friend whose life you have touched.

We will miss you Mrs H, thank you for everything that you have done for us.

Principal's Messages

THE NATIONAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TOOL  |  The ultimate goal of school improvement is to improve outcomes for students, including levels of achievement and wellbeing.  As part of our quest for improvement a team consisting of Mr Michael McCusker (Assistant Director Schools - Northern Region), Mr Tervor Gordon (Lead ACER Reviewer) and Mr John Campbell (Consultant - Catholic Education Office) are visiting our school 8 to 10 August 2023 to review and reflect on our efforts to improve the quality of classroom teaching and learning.

In preparation for this we have reflected on each of the following areas which the team will explore whilst they are here:

1. An explicit improvement agenda
   
2. Analysis and discussion of data 
   
3. A culture that promotes learning 
   
4. Targeted use of school resources 
   
5. An expert teaching team 
6. Systematic curriculum delivery 

7. Differentiated teaching and learning

8. Effective pedagogical practices

9. School/community partnerships

Following the three day visit St Anne's will be left with feedback that will impact our School Improvement Plan.

PREP ENROLMENTS  |  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 July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, please complete an online enrolment form, available on our school website -
https://www.sasrok.catholic.edu.au/

It is important that this is done promptly so that the number of available positions for new families can be determined.

If you know of anybody seeking enrolment in Prep for 2024, please encourage them to head to our website for further information.  If you have any queries or concerns regarding this process, please contact the office.

ALL ENROLMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED ONLINE:  Once enrolment applications have been received and processed by our Administration staff, you will be notified of an interview time during Term 3. 

A SPECIAL REPORT: Dealing with Disappointment  |  As young people learn to navigate through various aspects of their life, they may face disappointment due to unfulfilled expectations, shattered dreams, or unexpected setbacks. Yet, with the appropriate tools, strategies, and a positive mindset, young people can learn to cope with disappointment and use it as an opportunity for personal growth and success.

Disappointment can be a tricky emotion to deal with at any age. It is a normal part of growing up. However, children sometimes need reminding that they have a choice in how they respond to disappointment and their response will determine the impact it has on their future happiness. Overall, disappointment is a healthy and positive emotion and plays an integral part in a child’s emotional, intellectual and social development.

Helping young people manage their disappointment is important in order to avoid stronger emotions such as anxiety and depression. Although a parent’s first reaction may be to fix the problem, it is better to encourage your child to find the words to express how they feel.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers are provided with strategies on how to help their child process disappointment and look at the problem objectively.

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://sasrok.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-dealing-disappointment

COVID Requirements

Student Protection News

Across The Curriculum

ICAS

ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) is being offered at St Anne’s in 2023.

What is ICAS?

ICAS is an independent, online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. ICAS is not compulsory and is run by the University of NSW.

To find out more about ICAS and to complete practice tests online please use this link and scroll down to the bottom of the page to locate the ‘How to Prepare’ section: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas/

How to participate in ICAS

This year we will be conducting each of the ICAS tests around the dates listed below (further details to follow). ICAS tests are available to students in Year 3 to 6 only. Please check the table below as to which subjects are open to which grades. Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments parent payment system (PPS) for all subjects. Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the following details to register your child no later than Wednesday the 26^th of July.

Access details for parents - Our school access code is: MKK918

Your parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

Below is a list of the competitions, cost and estimated sitting dates that we will be holding this year. Exact times and dates will be communicated at a later date.

The Good News

From the Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Erika Milne

NAIDOC PRAYER CELEBRATION

Last Friday we came together to celebrate NAIDOC Week. The theme this year was: For our Elders. Across every generation, in all our families and our communities our Aboriginal Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place. Aboriginal communities draw strength from their knowledge and experience, from land management, cultural knowledge to justice and human rights. Across multiple sectors like health, education, the arts, politics and everything in between, they have set the many courses we follow. Thank you to 5W Mrs Walsh and Mrs Fitzgerald for preparing and leading us in this prayer celebration.

NAIDOC WEEK MASS

Indigenous students and our school captains travelled to St. Joseph's Church in Mackay with Mr Oches, Mrs Milne and Mrs Zaro to celebrate the annual NAIDOC School Mass. 

Tahlia and Tia represented our school very well in their parts in the Mass and our student representatives were very reverent and respectful. We ended the celebration with a delicious morning tea. 

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 going out today. Please check your email to ensure you have received them. If you are unable 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. 

From The Counsellor

Library News

Book Fair 17th - 25th August & Book Week Dress up 23rd August

100 Days of Learning - By Prep D

Last Monday the Prep classes celebrated their 100th day of learning with a dress-up celebration day.  The students came dressed as one of the 101 dalmatians and participated in many fun activities. Here’s what they had to say about their special day: 

Taytum: I loved making a pink 100 days of learning crown. 

Evie: We made a tower with 100 paddle pop sticks and blue tac.  

Cullan: I built a tower with 100 plastic cups. 

Amelia: The 100 fruit loop necklace was my favourite. 

Sonny: I did the 100 exercise challenge. 

Summer: I threaded a necklace with 100 fruit loops on it.  

Jack: I made a puppy mask to go with my costume. 

Gracie: I made a pink crown with 100 days of learning on it. 

Lui: I played a race car game and rolled a dice and counted to 100. 

Lachlan: I liked cutting my own dog mask. 

Julianna: We got a 100 days of learning smartie reward. 

Bentley: I threaded 100 fruit loops and ate them at home. 

Jaxson: I made a 100 days crown. 

Hunter: I made a train of 100 dominoes and pushed it over. 

Aaliyah: I helped to make a paper chain 100 links long. 

Olivia: My favourite activity was making a 100 days of learning crown. 

Taj: I made a cup tower that was 100 cups high. 

Xavier: My grandma helped me to draw spots on my shirt for a dalmatian costume.  

Brayden: I made a Gum ball machine with 100 gum balls in it. 

Isla: We did an exercise circuit with 100 exercises. My favourite exercise was the 100 star jumps.  

100 Days of Learning

Possum Magic

On Tuesday the 18^th of July, students from Prep and Year 1 excitedly boarded the bus to travel from St Anne’s to Mackay to watch Possum Magic. The bus was a sea of excited, happy children, quietly chattering to Mackay. For some students, the bus was the highlight, because it was their first trip!

When we arrived at the Children’s Theatre a quick snack was in order, so out came the Possum Packs. This snack contained of some of the foods that Hush ate when she was on her Australian adventure: vegemite sandwich, lamington, ANZAC biscuit, and a popper.

After our snack, students found their chairs and patiently waited as the theatre filled. WOW! The Possum Magic Performance was amazing!! Students were captivated as they followed Grandma Poss and Hush on their whimsical journey to cities around Australia to find the food that made Hush visible again. They laughed and cheered as Hush transformed from invisible to visible again! The special effects and magic tricks fascinated the students, and adults! It was a fabulous excursion enjoyed by all.

Possum Magic

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Students Of The Week

Congratulations To Our Students Of The Week | Taj K, Brayden G, Jasper H, Henry C, Piper W, Nazarene B, Lucas N, Za'Layah M, Zahliah C, Emily-Jo B, Lillie P, Chad M, Brooklyn K, Zan'eisha M, Mackintyre W, Dustan G, Samson M, Lahni K, Archie K, Sonny T

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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