Around The Primary

Dear Parents,

This week we celebrated our opening College Mass and Ash Wednesday. The liturgy marked the beginning of the season of Lent, a time for repentance, fasting, prayer and generosity in preparation for the feast of Easter.

 The significant words, 'Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel’ were shared as students and staff came forward to receive a sprinkling of ashes on their heads.

The younger students participated in Lenten reflections within their classrooms and were reminded that during the Lenten season we should try to make an effort to become more like Jesus. The students were intrigued to learn that the ashes they received on their foreheads were made from the burning of palm leaves which were saved from last year's Palm Sunday.

Special thanks to all those that left busy and hectic homes and workplaces to come along to the Parent Information sessions this week.  Please continue to support the teachers as it gives your child/ren a greater sense of security knowing we are all working as a team. Year 1 – 6 Parent Information Evening Presentations are available to view on SEQTA Engage under each respective Year Group TAB. 

Attendance at school is a critical factor in any child's academic success. Children should attend school every day, except in cases of illness or emergency. It is impossible to replace the learning that happens on any school day with ‘make-up’ work. Our teachers put a lot of time into the preparation of each lesson and children should be at school for the entire day. We do understand that children may need to attend medical appointments, speech therapy or occupational therapy sessions throughout the day. However, we are concerned that some children are attending extra tutoring during school time. Extra tutoring sessions need to occur out of school hours so that children do not miss valuable lessons on a regular basis. 

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary

Dates to Remember

Please check the College Website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar. http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-parents/calendars

Important Notices

Our Grandparents’ Picnic Lunch has been rescheduled to Thursday 14 October (Term 4, Week 1)

Watches

Some students are wearing Garmin and Fitbits to school and it has come to our attention that they are accessing games, messages … It would be best if students only wore a simple watch to school each day so that they can maintain focus on their learning.

Early Years Car Park Update

As previously advised, the Early Years Car Park is only to be used by Pre-Kindy and Kindy families.

From Monday 22 February, only families displaying the College ‘drive thru surname card’ issued specifically for Pre-Kindy and Kindy will be permitted to park in this car park.

Pre-Kindy and Kindy families have been issued with their ‘drive thru surname cards’ this week.

Thank you for your cooperation.

SEQTA Kiosk

Late Arrivals, Early Departures, Appointments & Recurring Appointments

As part of our ongoing commitment regarding the safety and duty of care of our students, the College uses ‘SEQTA Kiosk’, an electronic ‘Sign In and Sign Out’ program for all Primary students arriving late, leaving early or attending appointments during the day (including recurring appointments).

SEQTA Kiosk is available to use on an iPad, which is located in Main Administration.  When a student is signed out, a printed ticket with the student’s photo is produced and this is to be given to the classroom teacher.  If the student is returning to class, they will need to be signed back in on SEQTA Kiosk in Main Administration. 

Students are not permitted to ‘sign themselves’ in or out.  It is essential for Parents or Guardians to complete this process on each occasion their child/ren need to leave the College grounds.

Mrs Petsos in Primary Administration will be happy to assist if you have any queries. 

Sports Update

Swimming

Our Year 4 students had their swimming time trials on Wednesday afternoon at Claremont Pool.  Well done to everyone for giving their personal bests on the day. The excitement for our upcoming Year 4 - 6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival is building!

We have had a good turnout for swimming training this week.  Sam and Lachie (WAIS water polo athletes) are helping to coach swimmers this year and will be focusing on technique, speed and stamina.  It is open to all Year 3 - 6 students and the final session is Tuesday 2 March before the Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Thursday 4 March.

Futsal Trials

On Tuesday 23 February we will be holding the trials for upcoming Futsal tournament at 7:30am in the gym and are open to Year 5 & 6 students.  Those attending the trials are asked to wear their PE uniform and change into their school uniform after the session.  Two teams will be selected to take part in the Futsal tournament on Tuesday 9 March at Lords Recreational Centre .

Mr Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Primary Music

The first rehearsals for Wanju Voices (Year 4 - 6) and Primary Singers (Year 2 - 3) were a great success this week with an increase in participation for both choirs. The students enjoyed learning warm-ups and commencing repertoire for upcoming performances this term. The first performance for Primary choir students is at the Assembly in Week 6. 

Students who are interested but were not able to attend rehearsals this week are still able to join. Wanju Voices rehearses at 7:30am on Mondays, and Primary Singers rehearses on Thursdays at 8am. Both rehearsals take place in the Primary Music Room.

If you have any queries regarding the choirs, please contact Mrs Haydon catherine.haydon@cewa.edu.au

Mrs Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Counsellor's Corner

This term across the Primary School we are exploring the first Focus Area of the Keeping Safe Program: 

The Right to be Safe

Topics covered are: Feelings; Being safe; Warning signs; Risk-taking and emergencies

• Children develop skills to identify their own feelings and the feelings of others and develop awareness of body language.
• Children explore the concept of safe and unsafe and the characteristics of safe places and unsafe places, including online safety. In upper primary students explore their own safety and situations that might be scary, fun, unsafe or a combination of these. Students consider strategies to identify and assess risks and what to do to minimise risk.
• Students learn the concept of early warning signs and the three components: physical indicators (body messages); emotional indicators (feelings); and external signs (clues). Warning signs are discussed in familiar and safe environments to help children recognise a situation where there may be a risk of harm.
• Children develop understandings about emergencies and risk-taking by exploring and examining consequences and making decisions. The concept of personal emergencies is introduced, whereby children may need to break the normal rules in order to remain safe.

Attached are some suggestions from CEWA on how parents can support this learning. If you have any concerns or queries please don’t hesitate to contact me on 9383 0469 or by email: anne.murphy@cewa.edu.au

Mrs Anne Murphy

Primary Counsellor