Learning

Learning Conversations

We would like to thank the families who joined us for our Learning Conversations this week. We are incredibly proud to share and talk about the achievement and growth of our children, and to hear our Year Three to Six children talk about their own successes. 

The pieces of work and anecdotes shared are a testament to our children’s hardwork and the ongoing dedication they have to developing their skills as confident and capable learners. Our children are continuing to develop their skills as reflective learners who can articulate their thought processes and discuss their areas for future development. Our educators have supported our children with this process by engaging in ongoing conversations about their learning, providing templates or sentence starters and by practising to talk about their learning through role play. We would like to congratulate all of our learners on their hard work this Semester!

We look forward to sharing your child’s Semesterly report in the coming weeks.

Numeracy

Our Mathematicians in the One Hub have been working hard on developing strategies to solve subtraction problems. They have been using a variety of worded problems and number stories to investigate new ways of thinking. Educators and children are continuing to tune into their metacognitive processes by discussing how we can use ‘The Learning Pit’ when we are investigating new concepts or strategies. Educators are encouraging children to talk about what it feels like when they’re in ‘The Learning Pit’ and what the children can do to ‘get out of the pit’ or solve their problem. This helps to encourage persistence in the children when they are faced with new and challenging problems. 

Mitch Hayes

3-6 Numeracy

mitch.hayes@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing

Last week, I had the great privilege of accompanying the Grade 5/6 children on their camp to Anglesea. The leadership, collaboration, resilience and reflection demonstrated by all children ensured that the camp experience was positive and educational for everyone. Exploring the natural environment and challenging themselves beyond their comfort zone were the key highlights of the adventures we shared. 

Activities on camp included canoeing, mountain biking, vertical challenge, hut building, initiative games and camp search. The support and encouragement that the children provided one another was indicative of the capacity of all students to exhibit the St. John’s Ways of Working beyond the walls of the 5/6 Learning Hub. I would like to thank Jenna, Amanda, Mitch, Michele, Eileen, Patrick and Erynn for taking time out from their busy lives to support the St. John’s Camp Program. Congratulations to all children from the Grade 5/6 Hub on making this year’s 5/6 Camp an enjoyable and successful experience for all. 

Karen Dodemaide

Co-Deputy Principal and Wellbeing Leader 

kdodemaide@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Learning Diversity

At St. John’s we have several children who have Anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life threatening allergic reaction. Most cases are caused by a reaction to food (such as peanuts or tree nuts,) a bee sting or sometimes medications. Children at St. John’s who have Anaphylaxis have Medical Management Plans and St. John’s staff are trained in administering epinephrine. 

While we are not a ‘nut free’ school, we do encourage families to keep nut based food products as a ‘home food.’ This will support us in minimising the exposure for our Anaphylactic children.   

Ashlee Owen

Learning Diversity Leader

aowen@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Discovery

Discovery

Images: Discovery projects using the Design Process to create jewellery and embroidery.

The smoothie shop - a place to explore healthy eating options, to buy and sell and to create signage and menus.

This Term in Discovery, our children have continued to embed the processes of effective Discoverers. For our Prep and One Hub children, this involves developing the skills of collaboration, persistence, bravery, and self-directedness. Our children in our Two Hub have been practising using a simple process to build rigour to their Discovery, including 

(i) verbally explaining or sketching an idea; 

(ii) Making or doing;

(iii) Reflecting and asking for feedback; 

(iv) Making iterations and changes to their design.

Our children in the Three - Six Hubs have continued investigating the importance of stretching their learning and ensuring their projects serve a purpose. This includes articulating their ‘why’ and identifying a relevant audience. Our children in the Five Six Hub are able to explain how and why their projects “stretched” their thinking.

Community Projects

Documentation of our learning journey in progress

As we come to the end of our Project, Healthy Me, Healthy Us. We reflect on the knowledge that we have constructed together, our children in the Prep Hub are currently putting together a Baby Book, documenting how they have grown and changed over the course of their lives. They are working together to collate photos, anecdotes,and  quotes from the children about their hopes and dreams for the future. Our children in the One Hub are working together to make a short video about all the ways they can nourish their bodies and minds. They have been investigating the important role that vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and healthy fats play in keeping our bodies active and our minds productive. The children in the Two Hub are continuing their investigation into the relationship between the brain and the body, and how our brains regulate our bodies. They have been exploring the role that our bodies play in communicating how we feel and think during different situations.

Our children in the Three Four Hub have continued investigating how our bodies communicate information about how we are feeling through our behaviour. They have looked at the important connection between mental health and social health, and are working on creating a resource tool kit to help them navigate situations where they may feel dysregulated. Our children in the Five Six Hub were privilaged to hear one of our parents share their counselling expertise on the impact of stress on the brain and body, and how this stress can impact other facets of life. Together, the children in Five Six will create a resource bank of tools and strategies for reducing stress and managing its impact.

Image: our Five Six Hub children participating in a guided meditation by guest speaker Ceci Tankey

Faith

Sacrament of Confirmation: 

A big congratulations to our 2022 candidates for their successful, very reverent participation in their Sacrament of Confirmation. Pictured with Bishop Leslie Tomlinson and Fr Gerald, our candidates lead with such hope and optimism for how they intend to live out the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer and Liturgy

As we conclude our exploration of prayer and liturgy this term, we are finishing the term with a prayer gathering hosted by the One and Two hub. 

This will be at 2:30pm on Friday in the hall. 

Across the school, we have engaged in a variety of different forms of prayer, from meditation and song, to understanding more about how other religions engage in prayer. Here are some snapshots of prayer exploration within some of our hubs:

Our One Hub have been leading themselves with the Sign of the Cross: 

Our Two Hub have been leading a daily prayer they have created themselves.

Our next encounter with the Catholic faith will be through the lens of how we support those who need it most within our community, through the Catholic Social Teaching of ‘Preferential Option for the Poor’. 

Mitch Hayes

(Faith/REL Leader)

mitch.hayes@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Sport

Cross Country

Last week, Pearl S from the three/four hub competed for St John’s in the Maribyrnong Primary Cross Country competition. 

Pearl placed first!  This is an incredible achievement. 

Today, Pearl competed at the Regional Primary Cross Country competition. Competing in a field of approximately 100 other girls and battling the inclement weather, Pearl ended up finishing mid field. We are extremely proud of you Pearl and your achievements in these events. 

Winter Inter-School Sports finals 

The mixed netball team will be competing against Footscray West Primary School in the Grand Final this Friday! This is a great achievement, the St John’s community are so proud of you and wish you all the best in the final. 

All students from the 5/6 hub have participated in the Winter Inter-School sports during term 2. The students should be very proud of their commitment, teamwork and sportsmanship. It has been fantastic watching each student further develop their skill set and enjoy participating in team sport.

Kelly Edgar

Physical Education 

kedgar@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Community Leaders

Xin chào các gia đình (hello in Vietnamese) 

We hope you have had a wonderful long weekend.

Last Monday the 5/6s left for camp. They were all very excited but were very tired when they came back last Wednesday.  Some of the activities they participated in included a vertical challenge, canoeing, Mountain biking & more.

Our favourite highlights were: canoeing, Vertical Challenge & Mountain Biking.

Next week the 3/4s are heading to their first camp and they are all very excited.

Next week will also be the last week to donate books to Books’n’Boots but feel free to look through your cupboards over the school holidays and bring them back in the first week of next term. 

Friday 24th June is sports colour day make sure to wear your house colours and we will be finishing school at 1:00 pm. 

Have a wonderful week 

Isabella & Vivian on behalf of the community leaders