Learning and Teaching
Reports
This semester you will once again be receiving your child’s semester report online via the nForma Parent Portal. Reports will be live later this afternoon. Instructions on how to access the nForma Parent Portal will be sent out to the email addresses that have been previously supplied to the school. It is very important that you have updated your email addresses with the school, as an automated email containing instructions and login details will come from noreply@nforma.com.au and not the school. For those parents who like to keep a hard copy, reports can be printed from the nForma Parent Portal. If you have any issues, please speak to Monica or contact her on......... moshannassy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
School Production News
We are very excited about the upcoming School Production next Term. Due to COVID and missing two full weeks of onsite preparation, we have made the decision to change the original date of our Circus production to the new date of Thursday 16 September, in the final week of Term 3. This will be a wonderful event to finish the term.
We ask that you do not plan to take any early holidays, as it is so important that all students get a chance to be involved.
Today the Year 5/6 students auditioned for the main roles within the production.
Ideally, they will know their parts by the end of this term and can go home and begin the fun task of learning their lines!
We will try to send home a basic costume list before the holidays begin so you can start collecting or purchasing what your child might need but rest assured it will be very simple.
If any parents would like to be involved in assisting with costumes, sets and props, or any special talents that we might be able to put to good use, please email me by Friday 25 June. The students are all very excited and we look forward to sharing their circus and performance skills with you.
Mrs Lou Devoy - Performing Arts Teacher
ldevoy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
Tournament of Minds
Tournament of Minds is coming to St John’s again this year as a part of our Extension Education opportunities. Tournament of Minds is a problem solving program for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. They are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines:
- Science Technology
- Engineering Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Language Literature
Tournament of Minds is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant and public way. Teams of 7 – 8 students (from Years 5 - 6) are required to work together on a Long Term Challenge for six weeks at school, without assistance from teachers, parents or peers. They are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution. They develop a creative and original way to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex challenge criteria and the deadline of Tournament Day.
Students present the product of their ideas - their challenge solution - to a panel of judges and an audience on Tournament Day. They have ten minutes in which to present and must do so within a 3 metre by 3 metre performance area.
The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on Tournament Day. This challenge requires rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think creatively and well developed group cooperation skills. Tournament Day this year is either 14th or 15th August, 2021 at Deakin University Burwood. If you would like your child to participate please email us. For further information please check out the Tournament of Minds website: tom.edu.au
Monica O'Shannassy and Tom Jackson
moshannassy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
tjackson@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
Australian Mathematics Competition 2021
The Australian Mathematics Competition is an optional activity available to students in middle (Yr 3/4) and upper primary (Yr 5/6). It is a one hour math test involving 25 multiple choice and 5 questions involving a number answer with an emphasis on problem solving strategies. Students wishing to enter the competition need to place $6.50 (competition entry fee) in an envelope with your name, and the title – Australian Math Competition on the front of the envelope and return it to the school office by Friday 25th June.
The competition will be held during school hours in mid August.
Further information can be found at Australian Math Trust or if you have any queries don’t hesitate to chat with me.
Kellie Cumming
Italian
Many students were busy during remote learning, making their Lego and Duplo creations. Thank you to the students who have taken time to produce fabulous models based on the legendary Mouth of Truth as well as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and presented them in Italian class recently. - Bravissimi!
