Around The Primary

Dear Parents,

We are now moving into the third week of Lent and we continue to focus on growing our relationship with God through acts of repentance, prayer and almsgiving.  The students often talk about ‘giving up’ something during Lent.  We are encouraging them to think about ‘taking something on' or ‘doing something extra’ during Lent.  For example, they could be encouraged to be kinder to others or to be forgiving when others upset them.  Next week the focus virtue across all Primary classes will be ‘compassion’. There will be also be the opportunity for almsgiving as students collect coins to raise money for Project Compassion.

The Year 6 students participated in a Leadership Day last Friday. This was a great opportunity for students to explore what leadership means and identify ways they can develop their skills as leaders. 

Congratulations to our sixty Year 6 leaders who were commissioned at today’s Assembly. They will now work alongside staff members and other students to provide leadership in the Primary school. We look forward to seeing them displaying their leadership skills in action.

Reading is an essential part of learning and a skill that translates to every area of our lives. Reading at home can include reading for pleasure, reading fiction and non-fiction, reading newspapers and magazines, as well as, assigned reading of texts set by teachers. 

Research strongly indicates that ​reading improves reading​! When students read fiction, it increases their empathy and helps them to learn to deal with failure and disappointment. Children can also retreat into fantasy, which is a wonderful way of igniting the imagination and escaping from ‘real life’ for a little while! Reading to your children is one of the biggest gifts you can give your children, also please make the time to visit the school or local library to choose books together.  

A parent’s attitude to reading is absolutely key. If we set reading up as something that ‘has to be done’ every night rather than something special and wonderful to enjoy, we fail to pave the way for a lifelong love of reading. Help your child seek out interesting books and articles, talk about them, help them make connections with their real life, find out more about the authors and so on.

Being read to is an essential part of developing the desire to read and bonding with parents. It enables children to imagine and form thoughts in their heads. 

When you use intonation and expression when you read, children develop a real love of books and stories. Older siblings and other family members should also get involved in reading to children, as this is bonding and a very memorable time in childhood. Please remember, children are never too old to be read to! Taking turns reading a chapter (or page) of a book is another fun activity to do as a family.

Enjoy the long weekend and be sure to set aside time to read together.

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

'Be More' - Courage

The Project Compassion theme for 2021 is ‘BE MORE.’ This is inspired by Oscar Romero’s quote ‘Aspire not to have more, but to be more’. 

Each week during Lent, the students will learn about a different virtue and be encouraged to demonstrate this virtue in action. This week we have concentrated on the virtue of ‘courage’.

Courage gives us the power to stand up against the unjust.  In our lives many situations arise in which it becomes difficult to do the right thing, even when we know what it is. In order to stay strong, to do what is good, we need courage. This is the virtue by which we do the right thing, even in the midst of hardship. 

After watching a video in Religious Education about the courage Bethany Hamilton showed after losing her arm in a shark attack, our Year 4 students then wrote plans to show courage in their own lives. They learnt that through prayer, God’s guidance and a plan, the virtue of courage can help them to grow and become stronger.

My courage plan is to be Belly Bee in the musical. I can practise in my room, listen to the songs in my headphones and finally audition for the part to overcome my embarrassment.  My second courage plan is to write a letter to Chris Hadfield or Jim Lovell at NASA by finding out more information about them, practise writing a draft copy and being patient and calm in the process. (Olive Reside – Year 4B)

Having courage means to be brave when things get scary or tough or to do something you’re afraid of. I can show courage by auditioning for the main part of the musical by practising the songs at home and not forgetting my lines. (Niamh Jennings – Year 4G)

Year 6 Leadership Retreat

On Friday of Week 3, the Year 6 leaders were put to the test with an ultimate leadership experience. As a cohort, we took part in some activities and events to develop our leadership skills. 

Firstly, we participated in a class liturgy to commemorate God and Jesus. Many of our fellow students took part, with some presenting gifts, and we all prayed peacefully. We then sat down in our respective House groups and discussed, brainstormed and wrote our own Year 6 Student Code of Conduct. 

After recess, we had my personal favourite event – Billy Cart making and racing! We were put into groups, in which we assembled, raced and dissembled the carts. Our group, the Billy Goats, came equal second as we problem solved and worked well as a team. 

In the afternoon, we met with our Year 1 buddies under the trees and read them picture books. We then played some very fun leadership activities where we worked in mixed-class groups to help build on our leadership and teamwork skills. 

Overall, the Year 6 cohort had a fun and informative day that helped us discover and improve our leadership skills going forward this year. 

Maximus Tonich 6B

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

We are looking forward to the Year 4-6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Thursday 4 March at Bold Park Aquatic Centre.  The training sessions in the school pool have been well attended and it will be exciting to see the races this year.  Please remember your house swimming caps, bathers and of course a loud voice and your House spirit!  Races start at 12:05, a schedule of events will be included with the eform for consent which will be issued soon.   

If you have any queries, please contact me via email at steve.williams@cewa.edu.au

Mr Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Primary Music

Rehearsals for Wanju Voices (Years 4-6) and Primary Singers (Years 2-3) are in full swing. The students are busily preparing for their first performance at the assembly in Week 6.  Due to the public holiday, there is no rehearsal for Wanju Voices on Monday 1 March. Primary Singers have their normal rehearsal on Thursday 4 March at 8am in the Primary Music Room. 

The Primary Ukulele Ensemble meets on Tuesdays at 1:00pm in the Primary Music Room. Year 6 students are welcome to join the club, and Year 5 students will be invited to join after commencing their ukulele unit in Music class.

If you have any queries, please contact me via email at catherine.haydon@cewa.edu.au

Mrs Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher