Around The Primary

Dear Parents,

The Sacramental program at all Catholic schools is ‘family focused, parish based, school supported'. The family is the foundation of the faith life for children as they will watch and learn from your commitment to your faith and parish. 

Today our Year 4 students participated in a Eucharist Retreat run by 24.7 School Ministry. This was a lovely opportunity for the students and their teachers to spend time together on various reflective activities as they come to the end of their preparation for their First Communion. Please keep all of these First Communicants and their families in your prayers. 

Significant lessons can be learnt from the misfortune of other states and cities in avoiding COVID-19 outbreaks.  The College will continue to be vigilant in our management of our environment and processes. Please support us in keeping your children and the staff well and safe by:

• Keeping children at home if they are unwell or show any symptoms of sore throat, headache, runny nose etc.
• Remembering to social distance when on the school grounds
• Leaving the school grounds promptly once you have dropped off/picked up your children
• Waiting outside classrooms unless you have a pre-arranged meeting with your child’s teacher

Thank you for working with us to keep our community as healthy as possible. 

Enjoy the long week-end!

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Dates to Remember

Fathers' Day Mass

Friday 4 September, 7:30am 

Details to follow

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

Homework Grid Update

What is happening with Homework?

Reading remains our number one priority for Homework. As you are aware, this term we are also trialling using a ‘Homework Grid’ with the Year 1 to Year 6 students.

Each Homework Grid runs for a two-week period. The grids allow for flexibility in households as some families may opt to complete homework each week night, while for others a different arrangement may be more suitable.  It is important for children to practise time management and organisation and not leave everything for the last minute.

Why are we using a Homework Grid?

The two main purposes are:

1. To provide students with an opportunity to practise and reinforce at home what has been learned in class.
2. To value the time spent engaging with family in positive, helpful and meaningful ways as ‘home work’.

What is expected?

• Reading is important and students are required to read each day to foster their literacy skills.
• To complete tasks on the grid over the fortnightly cycle.

How much time should be spent on activities in the grid?

The amount of time to be spent on homework will typically increase as children progress from Year 1 to Year 6.  A variety of activities will be provided on the grids each fortnight for students to choose to complete.  This is important as it enables children (and families) plenty of time to relax, explore, create, imagine, cook, read, exercise, have fun and pursue their own interests and hobbies after school and on weekends.

As a general guide, students in the Early Years should spend up to 15 minutes per day on grid activities.  As the students move through to the Upper Primary Years this time allocation would build up to 30 minutes.

Parents are welcome to contact class teachers if you have any further queries. 

Nearer to Nature

On Wednesday the Year Four students took part in a ‘Nearer to Nature’ excursion at the Canning River Eco Education Centre. The students had a wonderful time investigating the diverse river ecosystem and the role of the Kent Street Weir.

Student Reflections 

I enjoyed the excursion because we learnt about the weir and how it divides the freshwater and the salt water. It was interesting using the nets to discover the macroinvertebrates. We found a diving beetle which was swimming around in the water. 

Zoe Hipolito 4G

At Canning River I learnt how the animals live in the wetland. I loved learning about the copepod, a macroinvertebrate that can be found in the freshwater ecosystem.

Gianmarco Bergomi 4B

On our excursion I learnt how scientists take water samples each week to test the salinity of the water to check that the ecosystem is healthy. 

Hudson Grabham (4G)

At Canning River we went on a bush walk and recorded the plants and animals that we found in the ecosystem. We spotted sea rush, centella, spoonbills and ducks. I found this activity enjoyable because we could explore new plants that I did not know about.

Scarlett Melbin (4G)

Our excursion to Canning River was fascinating. Whilst I was there I learnt that there are two different types of ecosystems on either side of the weir, a salt water and a freshwater ecosystem. I also learnt that there are small insect larvae in the freshwater. I really enjoyed finding the macroinvertebrates and exploring them further under the microscope.

Layla Travis (4B)

Miss Claire Dernie & Mrs Teresa Fontaine

Year 4 Teachers

Supercool Science

Last Friday the Year 6 students went on an excursion to Scitech and then 10 pin bowling at Rosemount Bowl. At Scitech, we participated in a Wind Turbine challenge (requiring the use of STEM) where we had to design, create and test our own prototype wind turbines. Following this, we witnessed the ‘Supercool Science Show’, where we viewed chemical reactions between solids, liquids and gases. Afterwards, we had lunch and free time to explore the different scientific stations.  We then headed off to Rosemount Bowl and spent the rest of the afternoon striving for a strike, or at least a spare! Overall, the day was action packed and filled with fun. 

Matthew Mignacca (6B)

Making Onigiri!

Our Pre-Primary students have been learning about foods. Onigiri is a very popular food in Japan and a great option for picnics and obento. 

This week, the students enjoyed making their own onigiri (rice balls) in class. They used moulds for the rice and craft punches to cut out shapes out of nori (seaweed sheets). 

Rowson Sensei

Sports Update

Athletics

The Year 3 – 6 students have been working hard and practicing the different athletics events in preparation for the Interhouse Athletics Carnival on Friday 11 September (Week 8).  

High Jump practice has certainly been a highlight and I have been particularly impressed with the Year 3 students learning triple jump and long jump too!  Athletics training continues at 3:30pm on the Secondary oval every Tuesday and Thursday.  No sign up required.  

Mr Steve Williams

Primary Sports Coordinator