News from Around the School
Refugee Week: 20 - 26 June
Did you know that Refugee Week runs from Sunday 20 June to Saturday 26 June this year?
During Refugee Week, Hobsons Bay City Council joins the Refugee Council of Australia and many other Local Governments and organisations around Australia, to celebrate the contributions people of Refugee and Asylum Seeker background make to this strong, resilient and thriving community.
In 2021 the Refugee Week theme is UNITY
The volatility of life in recent times has shown us unequivocally that we need to work together often merely to survive, let alone to thrive and progress. Let’s take the opportunity to start afresh and rebuild our lives together. To count our blessings and to put them to work. Existing and emerging communities. Working together.
Stronger. Safer. Healthier. Happier. Together
Join us by getting involved in activities during Refugee Week. Refugee Council of Australia has collated a large range of classroom resources for teachers and students. For local activities visit Council’s website.
National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week is from May 27 to June. The theme for this year’s National Reconciliation Week Is ‘More than a Word.. Reconciliation Takes Action’.
Each year National Reconciliation Week celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians. It is such an important time for our nation as we remember the past, acknowledge the present and look with hope to the future.
Reconciliation Week is built around the anniversary of three key dates: National Sorry Day which was first held in 1998; the referendum of 1967; and the Mabo Decision of 1992. The first Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998; exactly one year after the landmark Bringing Them Home Report was presented to the Federal Parliament. The first National Sorry Day was held to commemorate the anniversary of the report and remember the grief, suffering and injustice experienced by the stolen generations. This finally led to the apology on 13 February 2008 when then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
May 27 marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum in 1967. Over 90 per cent of Australians voted to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census.
This was a turning point in Australian history.
June 3 is the anniversary of one of Australia’s most important legal rulings. In 1992 the High Court of Australia delivered its landmark Mabo decision which overturned the Terra Nullius and recognised native title and land rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This recognition paved the way for land rights called Native Title.
The word, “reconciliation” means to make things right and to repair relationships. National Reconciliation Week is the ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Next week as part of our Identity and Belonging unit the children will acknowledge this significant event and continue to build their knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their histories and cultures. On Wednesday 2 June children in all levels will engage with stories on reconciliation and discuss how each of us can contribute to reconciliation. Please continue the discussion with your children at home.
-Joanne Pearce
Director of Learning and Teaching
Year 1 visit Altona Homestead
On Wednesday 19 May the Year 1 children visited the Altona Homestead. We were amazed with all of the olden day objects there and had fun guessing what items were used for and how they have changed today. We also went for a walk around Pier St and learnt about how Altona has changed from the past to the present. We had the best day!
Premiers' Reading Challenge
Once again we are participating in the Reading Challenge. All the details including how to log in together with lists will be sent out to the students/families in the next few weeks.
Benefits of the challenge include:
- Raises the profile of reading and literacy in schools
- Gives students a focus for their reading
- Encourages students to enjoy reading and read more books
- Encourages students to participate by being challenged
- Offers incentives for reluctant readers
- Builds self-esteem, pride, school unity, and a sense of achievement among students
- Increases the involvement of parents in their child’s reading
-Peter Carlise, Teacher & PRC Coordinator
Roller Skating Lessons
Are you or your children wanting to try Roller Skating. There are Adult and Children's lessons available. Flyer is below
Private Music Lessons
The school offers private music lessons in keyboard/piano, guitar and singing. These lessons are taken during school hours. These are private lessons and are charged by the individual teachers separately to school fees, tutors will make arrangements directly with parents. Information and tutor contact details can be found on the school website under:
Project Compassion
Kindergarten Registrations Now Open for 2022
Have you registered your child for funded 3 or 4-year-old sessional kindergarten for 2022?
A minimum of 5 hours of funded 3-year-old kindergarten will be available for Hobsons Bay families in 2022 and up to 15 hours of funded 4-year-old kindergarten.
You can register your child from the age of 1 for 3-year-old kindergarten and from the age of 2 for 4-year-old kindergarten. Free to low cost for Health Care Card holders.
Online registration available at https://kinders.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au. First round offers to commence start of June 2021 for 3-year-old kindergarten and early August for 4-year-old kindergarten.
Further information available from the Kindergarten Central Registration team at 1300 179 944.
Prep Enrolment 2022
Playing our Part to Build a National Picture of Child Health
In early 2021, our school, along with thousands of others across the country will begin preparations for the fifth Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). The AEDC gives us a national picture of the development, health and wellbeing of children in their first year of full-time school. Since 2009, the census results have helped communities, schools and governments plan services and develop better policies to target support for children and families.
Children don’t miss any class time, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information for the census. The AEDC gives us data at a school and community level - it isn’t an assessment of individual children.
Some teachers have also noticed that completing the assessments made them more aware of the needs of individual children and the class as a whole and that the census results are useful in planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing class programs. Participation in the AEDC is voluntary. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census.
To find out more about the census and how communities are using the data to help children and families visit the AEDC website: www.aedc.gov.au.
Please also read the attached letter from Darren Gibbons, Principal.
If you have any questions, you can contact Rose Gusman, Director of Students, rgusman@qopaltonameadows.catholic.edu.au
Volunteers please!
Our Canteen Manager, Antoinette is looking for helpers in the canteen. Please email: akelly@qopaltonameadows.catholic.edu.au
Volunteers assist the Canteen Manager to prepare lunches, from 10am to 2pm. If you are unable to commit to four hours, please consider helping for a couple of hours as any assistance is greatly appreciated Please note, all volunteers must have a Working With Children Check registered with the school office and have signed the school's Child Safety Code of Conduct.
Don't forget!
Parents, you are able to view the school's google calendar of events. Please ensure you check in regularly to keep up to date with school happenings. Refer to the final section of this newsletter 'Calendar & Events' for further information and the link.