SPOTLIGHT

ARMIDALE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS STAGE 3 DEBATING COMPETITION

Last term the Armidale Catholic Schools Debating Competition kicked off. We had 2 teams enter this year. Due to the high numbers of students who showed an interest in debating, each team will consist of 6 students. Since only 4 students debate at one time, the other 2 will fill in the roles of Chairperson and Timekeeper as needed. The students will rotate through different positions so that they get to experience the variety of speaking and non-speaking roles. The Year 6 students who participated in the Tamworth Eisteddfod Debating Competition earlier this year, help to support the new debaters. 

Round 1

In week 10, they had to debate the topic "That we must ban all zoos now". 

Team A consisted of Annie Davidson, Charlie Dunst, Will Gardiner and Xander Kidd and they were the Negative Team against St Joseph's Wee Waa. 

Team B consisted of Harper Henry, Cleo Cook, Roy Bates and Emmett Buckman. They were the Affirmative Team against St Xavier's Gunnedah. Both debates were held over Zoom. 

Both teams debated very well, particularly considering that this was their first debate. They were both awarded a win! Congratulations to both teams! 

Round 2

Over the past 2 weeks, we have participated in Round 2 of the debating competition, debating the topic "That the future of the world is online." 

Team A, the Affirmative team, consisted of Lara Ebzery, Emilia Bunnemeyer, Xander Kidd and Charlie Dunst (Charlie filled in as 4th speaker for Will Gardiner who was unfortunately away). They debated against St Xavier's Gunndedah.

Team B were the Negative Team and their team consisted of Rex Sedon, Emmett Buckman, Louellen Duncan and Cleo Cook. They debated against Holy Trinity Inverell. 

Again, both teams were lucky enough to be awarded a win, meaning that they are both undefeated going into the last round. 

YEAR 3 SUPERSTARS

We’re already four weeks into Term 3, and it’s been a busy and exciting start!

Our students had a great time at the AFL clinic, learning new skills and working together as a team. We were very proud of their effort and enthusiasm. Well done to all our Year 3s on their recent NAPLAN results. We’re proud of the effort you put in and encourage you to keep trying your best.

This Friday is a Holy Day of Obligation, and Year 3 has been chosen to attend Mass at the Church. We’re looking forward to this special opportunity to come together as a grade. 

Our new superhero theme got off to a flying start! Students have already begun writing their own superhero stories and exploring Matilda for inspiration. Each story focuses on how their superpower helps them succeed, and we can’t wait to read them. 

In Science, we’ve been learning about different types of rocks, how mountains form, and what weathering does to them. If you have any special rocks or crystals at home, students are welcome to bring them in to share. 

In History, we’re exploring Australia’s capital cities, states, and territories, and finding out more about the places that make up our great country. 

We appreciate your support as we continue our learning journey this term.

The Year 3 Team

YEAR 1

Looking Forward to Term 3 in Year 1!

Term 3 is shaping up to be an exciting one in Year 1! We’re diving into literary narratives in English, exploring imaginative stories and characters. In Maths, we’ll be building on our multiplication skills and learning all about division through hands-on activities. Our Health lessons will focus on making safe and respectful choices, while in Science we’ll be discovering the wonders of forces—pushing, pulling and everything in between! With so much engaging learning ahead, we can’t wait to see what this term brings. 

Year 1 AFL Clinic Fun!

Last week, Year 1 had a fantastic time taking part in an AFL clinic during sport. The students learned new skills like handballing, kicking, and marking—all while having loads of fun! There were big smiles, great teamwork, and lots of energy. It was a great way to stay active and try something new. Well done, Year 1!

Marvellous Multiplication in Year 1!

Year 1 has been diving into multiplication and we’ve been blown away by their thinking! We’ve explored skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s, and focused on making equal groups. Students impressed us with their ability to form groups and explain different ways to show the same total. With lots of hands-on activities, counting collections and group challenges, our classroom has been buzzing with mathematical thinking. Fantastic work, Year 1!