Primary Report 

From the Primary Office

As we reflect on another busy couple of weeks, we are excited to announce that we have employed Blythe Jennings who has started with us this week as the classroom teacher for 5A. We thank Nick for the contribution he has made to the school and wish him all the best as he focuses on being closer to his family. Blythe is an experienced teacher who has been teaching for 15 years in the local area both in Primary and Secondary Schools, and she has taken on various leadership roles during this time. Blythe lives in Moama with her husband and kids and we look forward to welcoming her to the Primary team. I would like to thank Mel Scott for teaching 5A in the interim period.

Further staff changes in the Primary School are in the Music Department. Ms Fionnuala O’Shaughnessy has accepted a new position in Wagga Wagga and is finishing up with Moama Anglican Grammar today. We sincerely thank Fionnuala for all the hard work and contributions she has made, not only to the music programs but to the School. She has been instrumental in growing the number of students involved in co-curricular music programs, particularly the Primary School Choir. Her dedication and commitment to the Extra Curricular Music programs is greatly appreciated both by students, families and music tutors involved. We wish Fionnuala all the best as she settles into her new role. We welcome back Fiona Gibbs and Keirra Patten who will take over Fionnuala’s music classes until the end of this year. Both Fiona and Keirra have been working at the school for many years in various capacities so we expect a smooth transition.

After an incident last week, the importance of students not accessing the playgrounds after school has been highlighted. We have made the decision to close all three playgrounds after school and ask for your support in enforcing this. All students have been reminded by their classroom teacher and at our Primary School Assembly last week. We will follow up with students who continue to play on the playgrounds moving forward. 

Whilst we wish for our parents to have opportunities to connect and meet after school, safety is paramount and therefore we encourage students to use the available sandpits, downball courts and grassed areas. For those parents running late, please contact the Primary School office so a message can be sent across to your child and their teacher. Students will remain with the classroom teacher until 3:10pm after which they will be asked to wait in the Primary office for collection. 

We continue to be involved in lots of activities and programs and for these programs to run smoothly, permission is required. We would like to remind parents to read and action any eForm permissions emailed to you in a timely manner. This allows us to plan ahead and be organised to ensure the students can experience these great initiatives and activities. We thank you for your support with this.

Core Value Awards

Core Value Award are awarded to students who consistently display one or more of the school’s core values and motto. Students receive Core Value Awards at our Primary School Assemblies. Congratulations to the students below. Keep up the great work!

Year 3/4 Swimming Program

Last week, Year 3 and Year 4 students went to the Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre for swimming lessons. It was so much fun! We learnt new skills and techniques. We learnt survival backstroke and ways to stay safe. We enjoyed swimming with our friends in the water. We also did fun activities such as the whirlpool to learn how to float safely, feet first in a current.

Laura Mitchell

"It was really fun because we hadn't been to swimming in 2 years because of COVID. The instructors made it so interesting by getting us to practise things like jumping in the pool and using equipment to help save someone. It was a challenge but super exciting."

Edward Melville

"There were lots of different kinds of strokes for us to practise each day. What the instructors taught us helped if we were drowning or if we have to help someone else."

Scarlette Roberts

"On the last day we got to create a whirl pool and learn how to float with the current."

Vivaan Shenai

"I really liked just having a go at something new. I learnt some new styles of swimming that I didn't already know."

Grace Spear

"I enjoyed learning about all the different life saving skills that you need when swimming. The whirl pool on the last day was my favourite thing."

DaVinci Decathlon State Finals

Last Thursday 26 May, 8 Year 5/6 students competed in the NSW State Final for the prestigious daVinci Decathlon run digitally through Knox Grammar School in Sydney. The daVinci Decathlon began in 2002 as an exciting offshoot of the very successful daVinci Program for gifted and talented students at Knox. The Decathlon is designed to celebrate the academic gifts of Australian youth by providing a stimulating and challenging competition run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon.

The students had great fun creating art, acting, demonstrating their scientific and mathematical skills, writing poetry and constructing bridges over Zoom. Congratulations to all students who took part and we look forward to find out how our students placed on Friday 3 June. Thank you to Miss Briggs, Mrs Rykers and Mr Davidson who volunteered their time to help the team train in the lead up to the finals. A big thank you to Miss Angove who also helped Miss Briggs with the technology aspect of the day. 

Year 5/6 Netball Tournament

On Friday 28 May, Year 5 and Year 6 students braved the fog to participate in the annual netball competition facilitated by EDNA. This event is a wonderful opportunity for all students to be part of a team, develop their netball skills and mix with other students. 

A special thank you to our Registered Parent Volunteers who each skillfully coached one of the teams; Georgina Kennedy, Lisa Leeds, Claire Gibson, Claire Bassett, Sharon Moon, Vikki McGillivray, Jane Millar and Rikke Wigernes for assisting in the canteen. Another special thanks to Mr Anthony McMahon for the behind the scenes organisation. A well enjoyed day by all.

Young Performers Concert

On Thursday evening, Primary School families came together to celebrate the magnificent musical talents from our Primary students in the Young Performers Concert, and what a wonderful concert it was! We enjoyed individual performances from students in Year 2 to Year 6 as well as performances by the Rock Bands, Primary Choir and String Ensemble. This was the first live performance for some of the Primary students and something that we have been looking forward to with much anticipation, after the need to cancel over the past couple of years.

It was wonderful to see evidence of the busy Extra Curricular Music Program at Moama Anglican Grammar. The students certainly did themselves and their dedicated tutors proud. Students pushed through any pre-performance nerves to appear confident and participate with great enthusiasm.

University of Melbourne (UOM) Psychology Clinic 

Our School has been fortunate for many years to utilise the professional services of the UOM Psychology Clinic. Dr Chelsea Hyde, the clinic manager and her team are scheduled to visit Moama Anglican Grammar next week from Monday 6 June to Wednesday 8 June to conduct educational psychology assessment services for confirmed students.  

The regional clinic provides educational assessment services to communities in regional Victoria. Psychological assessments are conducted by provisional psychologists who are currently undertaking advanced training in the Master of Educational Psychology program at the University of Melbourne. All services are closely supervised by a team of lecturers and highly-experienced registered psychologists, all of whom hold endorsement in educational and developmental psychology and registration as supervisors with the Psychology Board of Australia. The clinic offers psycho-educational assessments for children and adolescents that measure a profile of cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses. 

Assessments explore difficulties in intellectual functioning, learning, memory, academic ability, attention and concentration that can help identify specific learning disorders, intellectual disability or other developmental disorders. Assessments can also identify superior intellectual functioning (often referred to as giftedness) and inform recommendations to inform positive learning outcomes and social and emotional development. Children are generally referred for psychological assessments when they are having difficulties at school. The aim is to conduct an assessment that takes into account information from a number of sources (e.g. parents, teachers, child) and considers different possibilities for the difficulties. Recommendations are designed to assist children, their families and schools to achieve positive outcomes. If further referral is required, this will be indicated in the report.

Families are provided with a written report which lists the results and individualised recommended strategies which are instrumental in providing individualised support for students at school. If you have any questions about this service, please contact Mel Scott, our Head of Teaching and Learning Primary via mscott@moamagrammar.nsw.edu.au

Stage 3 - Deep Learning connection creating positive postcards for the Lismore community

Our Stage 3 students are grateful for the opportunity to connect with Goonellabah School community led by Principal Mr Warren Rhijaan who was a colleague of Mrs Scott at Moama Public School over 15 years ago. MAG Students were interested to engage with Goonellabah students who have been affected by floods recently. Through postcards, students were able to share compassion, empathy and care for the students and at the same time learn more about natural disasters, a unit studied at school. Most of our students have not experienced a significant flood, like the one the Lismore community has recently faced. 

It is difficult to comprehend that 34 local schools are currently sharing school sites and that 3800 people in this community are now homeless. We are so very fortunate to live in Echuca/Moama although our local community has also been impacted by floods in the past.

All students designed their own positive message postcard which links well to their Deep Learning Concept of Character. Our students are regularly reflecting about how we can feel empathy and show compassion for others. We encourage our students to have a proactive stance toward life and learning to deep learn. Our students are learning to have grit, tenacity, perseverance and resilience. 

All the traits that Goonellabah students have learnt to deal with at a very fast rate. Our sincere thoughts are with their students, staff, parents and community as they continue to rebuild their schools, homes and businesses.

Co-Curricular Update Tournament of Minds (TOM)

This week our 2 Primary Tournament of Minds (TOM) teams started their preparations for the TOM Regional Finals in Wagga Wagga, which takes place later in Term 3. Thank you to all students and parents who expressed an interest in this popular program this year. As usual, it was difficult to select the final teams; however, we are lucky to have a large reserve pool! 

Students involved will meet every Monday after school in preparation for the 6-week challenge period, which starts next term. Good luck to the teams and to their teachers Mrs Williams and Miss Briggs. We look forward to following your progress.

Lions Club Public Speaking Competition

Last week, students wowed the judges with their Public Speaking speeches at our school level competitions. The judges; Brook Barber, Jodie Sly and Nici Deller unanimously selected Emma Coffey in Year 4 and Keisha Hall in Year 5 who will represent the school on Sunday 19 June at Echuca College in the Lions Club Public Speaking competition.

Emma was asked to prepare a 3-minute speech about a place other than her home state, that she would like to visit. Emma chose China and she explained clearly why she would like to visit this place, how she would get there and what she would like to see and do when she got there. The judges were impressed with her level of research and her ability to deliver the speech in the timeframe. 

Keisha prepared a 4-minute speech about Florence Nightingale. Students in Year 5/6 were asked to introduce a famous person, who lived in the 19th century, at a special event. Keisha’s research into Florence Nightingale as a person, what she did and how she became famous was very in depth. The judges were impressed with Keisha’s ability to deliver her speech clearly and confidently. Good luck to both Emma and Keisha with their final preparations for the upcoming competition with Mrs Scott.

Important Dates

• Monday 6 June to Wednesday 8 June; onsite UOM Psychology Clinic
• Wednesday 8 June; CIS Primary and Secondary Cross Country in Sydney
• Friday 10 June; School Photo catch up day 
• Friday 10 June; Primary School Chapel
• Monday 13 June; Queens Birthday (School closed)
• Sunday 19 June; Lions Club Public Speaking competition

Kind regards,

Mrs Nici Deller                                                   Mrs Mel Scott

Head of Primary                                               Head of Teaching and Learning Primary