Learning & Teaching
Learning & Teaching/Wellbeing/Faith & Farm
Literacy
Building a community of writers
Last term the St John's educators engaged in Professional Learning with Lisa Burman, a Consultant in Pedagogical Change, to explore how we can continue to build a community of writers with our learners. This is enabled through creating the conditions that enable children to thrive as writers; acknowledging that they are ALL competent and capable of being Authors, exposing children to rich texts they can use as models, unpacking what good writers ‘do’ to engage their audience, and we explored the idea of 'Writer's Workshop' through Bookmaking (in Prep-2) and Writer's Notebook (in 3-6). We witnessed joy, passion and love for writing, as children found their voice and identity as Authors. Children have used the 'Author's Chair' and ‘Author Walls’ as a means of sharing their writing with an authentic audience and seeking feedback from their peers:
Genre study
In order to be effective writers, children need access to a range of ‘tools’ in their backpack. One of these is access to the language features we use to convey a message for a particular purpose; whether through that message we are trying to instruct, explain, describe, recount, narrate or persuade an audience. In order to do this successfully we unpack mentor texts (good examples) and use these as a guide in our writing. Children engage in dialogue with their peers as they unpack these mentors, and refer back to them when writing independently. Here are some examples of this on our learning walls:
If you have any further questions about how you can support your child’s reading, speaking and listening or writing at home, or any other Literacy-related questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Daniela De Luca
Literacy Leader
ddeluca@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au
Wellbeing
In the coming weeks, our Educators will be working with the children to support them with information and strategies to help keep themselves safe. The Educators will be facilitating Ready to Learn sessions that will engage children in discussion about what feeling safe and unsafe means to them in a variety of contexts. The safety and wellbeing of all children is a priority at St. John’s Catholic Primary School. We invite you to talk to your children about what they can do including identifying with them, the five trusted adults who they can turn to when they need support or have concerns, worries or if they need to talk about an experience that has made them feel uncomfortable.
Last week, Ashlee and I had the opportunity to attend the Positive School Wellbeing Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. We were privileged to hear keynote presentations from pre-eminent leaders in the field of Wellbeing and Psychology and we attended insightful workshops. We will be sharing insights from the Conference in the coming weeks.
Karen Dodemaide
Co-Deputy Principal and Wellbeing Leader
kdodemaide@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au
Ashlee Owen
Learning Diversity Leader
aowen@sjfootscray.catholic.educ.au
Faith
Remembrance Day:
On behalf of the St John’s community, we would like to put forward this prayer in solidarity for those who have been affected by war.
Loving Creator,
You always hold and protect us in your love.
Grant eternal rest to those who have died
protecting our nation from the horror of war.
May we who stand shielded by their sacrifice
always remember and thank you for their gift.
May war never again threaten us,
and where war rages in our world,
We pray that your peace will reign.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
We acknowledge Remembrance Day as a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served to protect our country throughout Australia’s history.
We would like to also acknowledge those who have suffered displacement and sought refuge as a consequence of war. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to those who are still being directly affected by conflict around the world.
Advent:
Our school is about to enter into a time of preparation for Advent. Each hub’s explorations for these units are as follows:
Prep hub will be exploring Advent as a time of waiting in jor for Jesus. The preps will also investigate the nativity story as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Our One Hub will explain how the story of the birth of Jesus is a symbol of peace, and how Advent has then become a time of waiting in peace.
Our Two Hub will describe how Advent is a time of waiting, hopping and preparing for the coming of Jesus, and how we live out our faith through actions of love during this time.
Our Three/Four Hub will explore the Christmas story, Jesus’ impact on the world, and the traditions and customs embedded during Advent.
Our Five/Six Hub children will be taking on a comparative investigation on the religious and commercial preparations for Christmas, focussing on the significance of Advent to Catholicism around the world.
Friday, Week 6 (11.11.2022) Remembrance and Solidarity: Term 4 Village Leaders
Friday, Week 8 (25.11.2022) Advent Week 1: HOPE: Five/Six Hub
Friday, Week 9 (02.12.2022) Advent Week 2: LOVE: Two Hub
Friday, Week 10 (09.12.2022) Advent Week 3: JOY: Prep Hub
Friday, Week 11 (16.12.2022) Advent Week 4: PEACE: One Hub
Mitch Hayes
(Faith/REL Leader)
mitch.hayes@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au
Sport
Positive Start Program - Football Victoria
Last week our grade 3 and 4 children welcomed coaches from Football Victoria who ran a fun and engaging soccer session. The coaches taught children the fundamental skills of soccer through small sided skill games and modified social matches. The children had a great time and enjoyed learning from the coaches.
This program is part of the Victorian Government Positive Start Program. An initiative aimed to boost physical and emotional health and wellbeing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sporting schools - Cricket Australia
Last week our grade 1 and 2 children started a four week cricket program with coach Micheal from Cricket Australia. These cricket sessions are part of an inclusive program made up of practical cricket activities that focus on fun and fitness with the aim of increasing the participant’s confidence and competence.
This program is in partnership with Sporting Schools. Sporting Schools is a $400 million Australian Government initiative designed to help schools increase children's participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities.
Kind regards,
Kelly
Physical Education