Primary News

Last week we gathered as a Primary community to commission our Primary Leaders for 2023. We celebrated this occasion with Fr Shammi Perera, families, staff and students from Prep to Year 6, and it provided us with the opportunity to publicly acknowledge those students who were elected into  positions as well as the Year 6 cohort.

The key message across the morning was that the Year 6 Leaders (Portfolio, House Captains and Restorative Practice ) leadership is yet unwritten and that over the course of the year we look forward to seeing what they put on ‘their pages’ and turn an unwritten story into a story full of love, kindness, creativity, courage, compassion and justice.  

Mrs Tewes added that strengths will underpin how they tell the story of the Sisters of Charity and their values of Courage, Compassion and Justice. Fr Shammi Perera reiterated the importance of servant leadership and that through selfless leadership they will follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, forever and ever.

“No one else, no one else

Can speak the words on your lips

Drench yourself in words unspoken

Live your life with arms wide open

Today is where your book begins.”

 Natasha Bedingfield 

Primary Prayer 

Today our Primary classes gathered to celebrate prayer.  Each month we gather as a community to take time to listen to scripture, use song to promote the story of Gospel values and celebrate our relationship with Jesus.  

This week we used the season of Lent as our focus for our Primary prayer and opened up a discussion when times are difficult what can we do and who can we turn to.  

Restorative Practice 

As a community we are passionate about a restorative approach to behaviour both in the classroom and out in the playground. This week our Restorative Practice Leaders attended a training session which saw them work on scenarios, explore the importance of restoring relationships and the art of being a good listener.  Now each lunchtime the Primary playground has our Restorative Practice Leaders out and about assisting students and staff and ensuring that it is a happy place.  

Moochie Smart Watches 

There are a number of students who are coming to school wearing Moochie Smart Watches.  Students are asked to take them to Student Services at the start of each day and collect at bell time.  

The College policy on mobile phones states:

“The College accepts that students will bring mobile phones to school on occasion. The College accepts no responsibility for mobile phones that are brought to school and undertakes no responsibility to investigate their misplacement, loss, damage or theft.

Should a mobile phone be required for use out of school hours, the phone must be left in a locker or at Student Services for the duration of the school day. If a student is found to be in possession of a mobile phone during the day, the phone will be held in Student Services for the remainder of the day. The parent(s) will be informed about the inappropriate use of the student’s phone at school and acknowledgement of this advice sought. If a second incident occurs the student will incur a detention or similar penalty."

As Moochie Smart Watches is a stand alone phone with a built-in SIM card they are treated the same as phones.  We appreciate your support with this and if you would like to discuss it further please feel free to contact me at the College. 

NAPLAN 

Next week our Year 3 and 5 students will participate in NAPLAN testing. In previous years these have been conducted in May but as of this year they have been moved to March. The early date on the calendar will allow us to use the data as a diagnostic tool, along with a number of other assessments and testing, to help inform our practice, support areas of challenge but also celebrate areas of strength. 

Below is the timetable for next week.  

Year 3 

Year 5

Learn to Swim 

Our Learn to Swim program will be in full swing starting next week with Kinder, Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6 heading to the Collegiate Pool from Tuesday 14 March to Friday 17 March.  Our Year 3 and Year 5 students will attend from Monday 27 March to Friday 31 March.  

Information about the first session that starts next week, has already been sent home and this is a gentle reminder to those who have not given permission to please check.  

For each day of the Program students must:

• wear their bathers under their College sports uniform
• bring a swimming cap (compulsory), a towel, a plastic bag (for wet gear), underwear and goggles (optional)
• carry all items in the College navy sports bag or the College school bag
• ensure all items are clearly named.

It is important to note that parents are unable to attend these sessions, as requested by the pool.