Learning & Teaching

Spelling Mastery

This term, we have implemented a new spelling program into our practice. The children in Years 3-6 have been taking part in Spelling Mastery lessons 3 times per week. 

Spelling Mastery is an effective, evidence-based spelling program that teaches children the strategies they need to become successful, life-long spellers. Spelling Mastery helps children to understand the relationship between sounds, word parts and spelling patterns and encourages them to become proficient writers. 

Through Spelling Mastery, children learn to spell in three ways: 

1. Children learn words using a phonemic approach. This sound-symbol method teaches children predictable spellings for different sounds.
2. Children learn using a whole-word approach. This whole-word method teaches children common, irregularly-spelled words. For example, words like friend, answer and people, whose spellings can’t be figured out. 
3. Children learn rules about how to put different word parts together. These word parts are all called morphographs. Once they have learned to spell a few morphographs, children can mix them up to spell many words. They also learn the rules of putting morphographs together. 

Zoe, Literacy Leader

PENTECOST SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024

This weekend, the Church celebrates Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the beginning of the Church. 

Pentecost always occurs 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus and 10 days after his ascension into heaven. 

What happened at Pentecost?

In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is the celebration of the person of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Jesus, who were gathered together in the Upper Room.

A “strong, driving” wind filled the room where they were gathered, and tongues of fire came to rest on their heads, allowing them to speak in different languages so that they could understand each other. 

The Holy Spirit also gave the apostles the other gifts and fruits necessary to fulfill the great commission — to go out and preach the Gospel to all nations. 

At Holy Cross, Pentecost will be acknowledged in classes through class prayer and symbolism (including a red cloth, a flame and a dove).

I have attached a family prayer that you may like to read with your family this weekend. 

Lisa, Faith Leader