Learning

Literacy

During Reconciliation Week, children have engaged in various learning experiences, dialogue and  reflection. We viewed the story ‘Sorry Day’, by Coral Vass and Dub Leffler, which explores the Stolen Generations. 

You are invited to view the story as a family and use the following prompts for discussion:

• What are you wondering?
• How does this story make you feel, why?
• What connections can you make to this story?
• What else do you know about the stolen generations? What do you want to find out?
• Whose perspective is being told? How? 
• And, in line with the theme for Reconciliation this week, ‘Be brave. Make change’:
• What is our responsibility in this?

There was a terrific article published in ‘Frankie’ about deliberate and achievable changes that we (including our children) can make towards Reconciliation.

We also have access to a range of free stories through Story Box. 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 is a beautifully written story by Ezekiel Kwaymullina, that celebrates the wonderful joys of imagination, play, creativity and dreams every child should experience. Lyrically read by actor and writer Kylie Bracknell, Illustrated by Sally Morgan, published by Fremantle Press.

Username: stjohnsfootscray

Password: sjf3011

If you have any further questions about how you can support your child’s reading, speaking and listening or writing at home, or any other Literacy-related questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Daniela De Luca

Literacy Coach

ddeluca@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Numeracy

Prep-2s:

Our children in the Prep Hub have been developing their understanding of Number through exploring addition. They are learning a number of strategies to assist them with solving addition problems, such as counting two collections of objects to find a total and counting on from the larger number in the number sentence to solve the problem. Children have also been exploring number stories and the educators noticed that the children transferred their knowledge of number stories into Discovery, demonstrating great cross-curricular thinking.

Our One Hub has been working hard to develop their understanding of Length. They have been carrying out practical investigations with length using uniform informal units. Children have almost completed this cycle and will soon be moving on to exploring a range of strategies to solve subtraction problems.

Our children in the Two Hub are coming to the end of their cycle of learning about efficient addition strategies. They have been exploring the strategies of counting on, partitioning and adding to the nearest ten. Children will soon begin learning about measurement through investigating the features of 2D shapes and 3D objects.

3-6s:

Our children in the Three-Four Hub have been investigating units of measurement for length. The children have been building autonomy  through the use of learning progressions, and completing investigations independently. The learning progressions are displayed on the wall to provide examples of learning from targeted teaching, as well as evidence of investigations/ success from other students. 

Our Five-Six Hub have almost completed their chance/probability cycle, and will next move into an exploration of place value through addition and subtraction. Through place value, our children will be entering into a problem solving process, targeting the way we decode and unpack worded problems

. 

“A need to solve a problem can motivate students to acquire new ways of thinking as well as to come to terms with understandings that are still to be consolidated. Students need more than efficient and accurate computation to cope effectively in a world where new and adaptable ways of thinking are essential in everyday work and life situations” (Booker, Bond, Sparrow & Swan 2014).

Mitch Hayes

3-6 Numeracy

mitch.hayes@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing

In July 2021, the Victorian Government announced new Child Safe Standards (CSS) to further strengthen child safe environments and protect children from abuse. 

The new CSS come into effect on Friday 1st July 2022.

From 1st July 2022, 11 new Victorian Child Safe Standards will replace Victoria’s seven current Child Safe Standards and principles in place since 2016.

The New 11 Child Safe Standards are: 

1. ​​Culturally safe environments – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
2. Leadership, governance and culture – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
3. Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
4. Family engagement – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
5. Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice. 
6. Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice. 
7. Complaints processes – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
8. Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
9. Child safety in physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
10. Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
11. Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

In keeping with our Catholic school vision in Horizons of Hope, we all play a vital role in enabling a respectful school community and a strong child safety culture, marked by openness, awareness and transparency.

Students’ voices, their feelings of safety, and the freedom to express themselves and their concerns are central to the success of child safe initiatives in Catholic schools.

We recognise that a child safe culture must be evident and easily recognisable to people within the school community – but, just as importantly, it must be understood and identifiable by those in the broader community through publicly available policies and meaningful action.

In the coming weeks we will be sharing updates on the review of our Child Safe Policies at St. John’s School. Once all related policies are updated, they will be uploaded to the school website. 

Karen Dodemaide

Co-Deputy Principal and Wellbeing Leader 

kdodemaide@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Learning Diversity

In the week beginning 13th of June, our Term 2 Program Support Group (PSG) meetings will begin. Families have been emailed if their child will have a PSG. PSGs are a great opportunity for families to consult and collaborate with educators on their child’s personal goals.

Children in Grades 3-6 will join us at the beginning of the PSG to lead a short conversation on their learning and growth. 

We look forward to celebrating our children with you! 

Ashlee Owen

Learning Diversity Leader

aowen@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Discovery

Over the past few weeks, we have been privileged to share our knowledge and experiences with other educators from different schools. Educators from Sacred Heart School in Newport and Christ the Priest School in Caroline Springs have visited our Prep to Two Hubs to gain insight into how our children learn through Discovery. Our visitors had an opportunity to observe the reflective conversations that our children and educators engage in, and were inspired by how our children spoke about the processes that they have applied to their learning. Some of the reflections that were shared by our children include:

• Using feedback to iterate on their learning
• Applying ‘processes’ to engage in projects over extended periods of time
• Articulating the dispositions that they used or that their peers use to achieve a goal e.g. collaboration

Community Projects

Our Hubs have been busy investigating different pathways of interest connected to our Community project, ‘Healthy Me, Heathy Us’. 

Our Prep children have been investigating the wonder and capabilities of their bodies, and how their bodies have changed and grown since they were babies. 

The One Hub children have continued their exploration into how they can help their bodies and minds grow through nourishment, they have explored the role that vitamins, minerals and healthy fats play in creating and strengthening their bodies. 

Our children in the Two Hub have been exploring the connections between the body, brain and emotions and the role that emotions play in building and sustaining positive social relationships. They have explored the children’s theories on how our emotions are impacted by the physical experiences we have in our bodies, and have begun exploring the important role that the brain plays. For example, investigating why our hearts beat faster when we’re nervous?

Our children in Three-Four Hub have continued to investigate the importance of developing socially healthy habits and the important role that regulating emotions play in this process. They have been exploring how our bodies are connected to the emotions that we feel, and how these emotions impact the way that we respond to different situations, especially situations that impact others. The children have been investigating different strategies that they can implement to help regulate their emotions and promote positive connections with their peers, such as taking a mindful break before attempting to resolve a conflict. 

Our children in the Five Six Hub have been exploring how our emotions change as we enter puberty, and the different factors that impact the way we regulate our emotions. The children have been investigating the impact of stress and pressure on the brain, and have been discussing different ways they can manage and overcome the effects of these

Faith

This Sunday, June 5th marks the 2022 Pentecost. We are called to remember this day as the ‘Dawn of the Church’, where the Holy Spirit descended onto the apostles. 

On Monday, our Confirmation candidates were taken through a Pentecostal meditation, diving deeper into what it must have felt like to be present within that moment.

For the prayer gathering this Friday, our candidates will be leading the school through a special adaptation of the meditation experience, in the hall. All of this, leading up to their very special sacramental date of June 9th. 

Bishop meeting for Confirmation Candidates:

We are excited to share that Bishop Martin Ashe will be joining our Confirmation candidates an hour early on June 9th at 5:00pm, for a special pre-sacrament gathering. For our families attending, please have our candidates at the Church by 5:00pm. 

Prayer gatherings for term 2:

Here are the dates for this term’s remaining prayer gatherings. All families are welcome to come along and participate: 

• Friday 3rd of June: Five/Six Hub on the theme of the Holy Trinity.
• Friday 17th of June: One/Two Hubs on the theme of preferential options for the poor. 

Father Gerald has invited our candidates to be part of this Sunday's Mass. This is an opportunity for the children to receive their confirmation pendants and allow the Parish, as a community, to pray and welcome you as you receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit that will stay with you for the rest of your life. 

Sunday 5th of June, 2022

10.00 AM

Our Lady’s Church 

46 Ballarat Road, Maidstone VIC 3012

Mitch Hayes

(Faith/REL Leader)

mitch.hayes@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Community Leaders (5-6)

Konichiwa (Hello in Japanese) Families,

This week our St. John's students have been learning about national sorry day/reconciliation week. We acknowledged what happened to the stolen generation & the trauma they went through and continue to experience. 

Next week our candidates are receiving their confirmation,

We ask that you please keep them in your prayers. 

On Monday the grade 5/6 students are leaving for camp at Anglesea. They are all super excited to go camping and have some fun!

The past few weeks the Grade 5/6s have been participating in inter-school sports. In the next couple of weeks finals are coming up, let’s hope we make it! 

Hope you stay warm this weekend!  🥶 ❄

The year 6 Community Leaders

Sport

Sporting schools - Athletics Australia 

For the remainder of Term 2 our senior students (Hubs 3/4 and 5/6) will be working with Coach Sam from Athletics Australia. Sam will be running the “Kid’s Athletics program”, which is a highly engaging participation-based program. The students will further develop their knowledge and skill set in the sport of Athletics. The students had their first session on Wednesday and it was great to see how engaged and excited they were to be working with a professional Athletics coach. 

This program is in partnership with Sporting Schools.  Sporting Schools is a $400 million Australian Government initiative designed to help schools increase children's participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities. 

Winter Inter-School Sports 

During Term 2 our Grade 5 and 6 students have been participating in the winter Inter-School sports program. We have four teams: Soccer, Tee-Ball, Netball (girls) and Netball (mixed). This has been a fantastic opportunity for students to compete in friendly matches between local schools in our district. The students have worked hard each week, building their skill set and showcasing their teamwork and positive qualities of sportsmanship. I am extremely proud of the 5/6 students. I wish them all the best for round 6 this Friday! 

Kelly

Physical Education 

kedgar@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au