From the Principal
MULTIPLICATION is the Name of the GAME!!
This week both our junior and senior staff team worked with Jan and Jo from the MACS Southern Area Office Mathematics Team. Over a two hour session we unpacked the key ideas and learning progression of the mathematics curriculum related to multiplication. In the process we were immersed in some great strategies that we can use across the school with our children.
The key to the message was the need to learn mathematics with UNDERSTANDING!! Not by rote and party tricks. It is better to go slowly but deeply to ensure understanding than racing through and leaving children with mis-conceptions and gaps. Children without a solid understanding are often those that find mathematics in secondary school becomes increasingly difficult and sometimes impossible.
Maths is FUN!! So as parents and staff we need to support our children with making connections and developing understanding to apply mathematics with increasing confidence and fluency, to be able to apply this knowledge to solve problems and to be able to engage in dialogue with others about their thinking and reasoning. This may not be the way you learnt mathematics. So we will plan ways to provide our parents with insights of the language and strategies that support students develop and progress in mathematics.
Tip 1 - Let's start by talking about ROWS, lots of, bags of, groups of....
......(Not times... times is for clocks)
XXXX I have 2 rows of 4 which is the same as 8
XXXX 2 X 4 = 8
XX
XX
XX I have 4 rows of 2 which is the same as 8.
XX 4 X 2 = 8
Challenge if I had 30. How many different arrays can you make?
Can you work out what multiplication challenge the teachers were solving in the photo?
CONGRATULATIONS
On Thursday 25 March 73 students from Year 3 and Year 4 at St Francis de Sales made their First Reconciliation at St Kevin's Church. We are immensely proud of each student and their families in the way they reverently participated in this Sacrament. The children were well prepared by their parents and teachers, read beautifully and confidently participated in this special sacrament. Each child had an especially decorated candle to light after their First Reconciliation.
The large number of students meant that there needed to be some restrictions so that we could comply with COVID safety requirements. I am very grateful to the parents that did follow the guidelines for the safety of all. Special thanks to Rozeta for her coordination of this sacrament and to our senior staff for their work with the children. Thanks to Fr Desmond, Fr Anil and the other priests who ensured our children's First Reconciliation was special.
BUILDING plans
The plans and proposal for our multipurpose hall has passed another step in the journey. The PLANNING, BUILDING AND FINANCE COMMITTEE (PBFC) has approved the first step in a two step process. Applications are first referred to the PBFC meeting as “Project for Feasibility Appraisal”. Subject to favourable outcomes, the project is then considered as “Project for Approval” at the appropriate future PBFC meeting. This meeting should occur on the first Wednesday in April. We should hear back from this committee shortly. The approval of the Archbishop's PBFC on costings and design will give us the green light to proceed to the next stage.
Long Service Leave
I will be taking a week's long service leave in the last week of Term 1. In my absence Angela will be in charge. It will be an exciting week with Parent/Teacher Interviews, Easter prayer services, a COLOUR explosion cross country fun run and the drawing of the Easter raffle. What an amazing end to a great term. I wish all our staff, children and families a very Happy Easter and a safe and restful holiday. Term 2 looks promising as COVID restrictions ease. With our first community event to end Term 1, we look forward to many more community events in Term 2. We hope to be able to announce a way parents can start to join us once again for Morning Gathering once again. Happy Holidays.
SIBLING Enrolments for 2022 are due by the
End of Term 1.
If you do, you may be eligible for $125 for each of your children from the government to go towards your camp fees, swimming fees or excursion fees.
It’s easy—just fill out the CSEF form available from the school office and present your current Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and we will do the rest for you.
Applications should be completed and lodged with us as soon as possible in term 1.
This allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
A successful application equals a fee reduction.