DAILY ABSENTEEISM

Phone 9510 7420 or email absent@smstkildaeast.catholic.edu.au

(Please notify the school by 9:30am)

ENROLMENTS FOR 2022

We are currently taking enrolments for next year. If you have a family member who is scheduled to start next year please come to the office and obtain an Enrolment Form or download it from our website.

STUDENT & FAMILY INFORMATION UPDATE

If any of your personal details change (address, mobile number etc.), please let the school office know as soon as possible by email to admin@smstkildaeast.catholic.edu.au.

WINTER UNIFORMS AT THE START OF TERM 2

All children are to be wearing Winter Uniform by Monday 26th April. Hats do not have to be worn then. The Winter Tunic (T005) and long grey pants are available from Primary School Wear at 1/159 North Road, Ormond 9768 0387. School Jumpers are purchased at the school on Friday between 8:40am – 9:00am and 3:15pm to 3:30pm.

Girls:

Navy Tunic, Skivvy (Sky), School Jumper, Navy tights/Navy knee-hi socks, Black Shoes

Boys:

Grey Trousers, Skivvy (Sky), School Jumper, Grey socks, Black Shoes

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS (Maureen McDonald - RE Leader)

St Patrick's Day - Wednesday, 17 March

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. St. Patrick’s Day falls during the Christian season of Lent.

St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain in the year 387. When he was fourteen, he was captured by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God. Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped and was reunited with his family.

After returning home, Patrick studied for the priesthood, was ordained a priest and later a bishop. Patrick was able to preach the Gospel throughout Ireland and converted many people and he began building churches across the country.

He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity and entire kingdoms were eventually converted to Christianity after hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick preached and converted all over Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God. After years of living in poverty, travelling and enduring much suffering he died on March 17, 461.

Patrick was a humble, pious, gentleman, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us.

Year of Saint Joseph

Pope Francis has named 2021 as a year honouring St Joseph as the earthly father of Jesus and husband of Mary.

The feast of St. Joseph is March 19, 2021

In a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.

The Letter marks the 150th Anniversary of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.

A daily prayer to St Joseph

Saint Joseph,

You were a faithful husband to Mary

and you watched over Jesus

when he was a boy.

We ask you to watch over us too.

Pray for us that we will trust God in all things

As you did.

Amen

Project Compassion - Casual Clothes Day

Gold Coin Donation

LITERACY NEWS (Paula Incretolli - Literacy Leader)

Home Reading Tips and Information

Should the books be easy or difficult?

The books that children bring home to read should be at a slightly lower level than what they are reading in the classroom. In the classroom, the teacher is guiding the children’s reading and therefore books being read can be quite challenging and at higher levels of difficulty. Books for home reading, however, should be easy and enjoyable to make the children feel like successful readers. Home Reading is meant to be a happy and bonding experience for both parents and their children. Not stressful!

The children are generally encouraged to choose, “just right books” for themselves which they can easily read so that they can practise developing fluency, correct phrasing and expression independently. If the book is too difficult they will be concentrating on problem solving the words and will have difficulty with comprehending what they have read.

Do not be too concerned about the level of a book - a book is a book and can be enjoyed for what it brings to the reader. All books provide children with a learning experience - whether it is a narrative, an information text or a poem. Try to be positive about all the books your children bring home to read - they have chosen the book - and even though it may not be your choice, encourage them and praise them for their choice.

If your child is getting stuck on every second word, then the book is too hard for them. This can get frustrating for both you and your child which is not setting them up for a positive experience. I would suggest having a chat to their teacher if this is happening. It is more of a concern if the home reading book is too hard rather than too easy.

Reading to children is also very important and something that can be encouraged right through to their secondary school years. This is a great way to introduce more difficult books to your children without the stress of them having to struggle with the words. Research shows that reading to children has a positive effect on their ability to write, knowledge of vocabulary and the development of higher levels of comprehension.

Make it Routine

Find a quiet, comfortable spot that is the go-to reading spot with your child. If you have other children, this can be tricky. It’s about finding the right time for you and your child. Whether it be just before they go to bed, or first thing in the morning. Do what works for you!

Ease Into The Book

Get your child thinking about what the book might be about by asking some questions before you start reading. Here are some examples of what you could ask:

What do you think this book is about? Why?

Do you think this is a story or a fact book? Why?

Can you read the title? Does this give you some more clues?

What can you notice about the picture on the front of the book?

Don’t Tell Them, Guide Them

Here are some basic reading strategies your child may have been taught in the classroom:

Can they use the picture to help?

Stretch out the word – so for the word shouted – ‘sh-ou-ted’.

Can they see for chunks in the word, or smaller words in a larger word – so for shouted – they could see ‘shout’, or ‘out’.

Can they sound out the word?

Get them to read to the end of the sentence for further clues. What would make sense? Get them to work out the first sound of the word and get their mouth ready for the word.

Make it Enjoyable!

Reading is meant to be a fun enjoyable time with your child. If your child brings home a book that may be too hard for them, or they are too tired to read accurately, help them along by reading parts of the book together.

Comprehension is Important

When they have finished reading the book ask a few questions to check for comprehension. Your child’s comprehension is a vital component of them learning to read. Getting into the habit of asking some questions at the end will help your child with their comprehension skills.

They don’t have to be difficult questions, here are a few that you may like to ask:

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

How did you feel when you read that story?

What did you learn from this story?

What was the problem in the story?

Which character did you like and why?

I hope you are all enjoying your “Reading Time” with your children at home.

VISUAL ART NEWS (Caroline Egan - Teacher)

During the last two weeks in Visual Arts junior students created a project called "Home Sweet Home". Firstly we imagined and took photos in our heads to draw a street scene of our own homes, mainly concentrating on the shapes and styles of the different homes we all live in. We discussed the shapes of the rooflines, doors and windows of our homes. Then we created mixed media art using various patterned papers, recycled material scraps, stickers and foils to create our own houses. Welcome to our wonderful neighbourhoods.

SPORTS NEWS (Tania Thompson)

House Sports Wrap!

In what was such a fun-filled, energetic afternoon, it was so wonderful to see all our students all together enjoying a sports carnival once again! Thank you goes to the SEDA Cricket crew who came along to assist our events on the day, as well as our wonderful staff for their fine efforts also.

Congratulations goes to Red House for being outright winning House on the day, along with Green House who won the House Spirit Award for their wonderful team spirit and colour on the day. To finish the event our Year 6 students all took part in a 400m distance race. Well done to all who took part and braved this tough event. A special congratulations goes to these students for coming top for in their event, who all received a medal.

Boys: 1st: Myron H 2nd: Marlo B, 3rd: Matthew B.

Girls: 1st: Matilda M 2nd: Audrey M 3rd: Gina T

Congratulations - Division Swimmers!

On Friday 5th March we had 10 of our students represent our Holt District at the Beachside Division Swimming Carnival at Oakleigh Rec Pool. At what is such a tough standard of competition, our swimmers gave it their all and did St. Mary’s and themselves proud. Congratulations to Isobel L (6R) who will now swim at the Southern Metropolitan Regionals in Freestyle, Breaststroke and Backstroke! We wish her all the very best for this!

Our Division swimmers were:

Wilson M, Alec G, Luca M, Spencer G: 9/10B 4x50m Freestyle relay

Wilson M: 9/10B Backstroke

Matilda M: 11G: Breaststroke

Walter M: 11B Breaststroke

Caleb H, Walter M, Dexler H, Leo G: 12/13B 4x50m Freestyle relay

Isabel L: 9-13G AWD Freestyle: 1st, Breaststroke: 1st, Backstroke

Dexler H: 12/13B Backstroke

Term 2 - Upcoming Sporting events

Lightning Premiership Soccer - Friday 23rd April (relevant Year 5&6 students): today Soccer trials were held at lunchtime to help select a boys and girls representative team for this upcoming tournament. Students selected will soon receive further details about this early Term 2 event.

Winter Inter-School Sport - begins Friday 30th April (Year 5&6 relevant students):

many of our Year 5 & 6 students will be involved in five rounds of Inter-school netball or AFL football during Term 2. We will have 1 team of 22 Football players and 2 teams of Netball players for this Inter-school competition against other Holt District Schools. All other Year 5&6 students will remain at school and participate in other organised activities.

Holt District Cross Country: Friday 14th May

Our Year 4-6 students will take part in a 2km (9/10yo) or 3km (11y or 12/13y) Cross

Country run at Bald Hill Park. Students will be offered a number of before-school training sessions around Alma Park. Details to be communicated very soon with relevant student’s families.

YEAR 5 & 6 CAMP

Are we there yet? The walk to Squeaky beach was long but worth it.

Leo, 5W

Teamwork makes the Dreamwork! Raft building was challenging but once we learnt how to make a figure eight knot, bunny ears and a D knot we were ready to roll the poles in and launch our rafts. We were surprised how well they floated on the lake, they didn’t even fall apart! Communication was key to constructing and paddling our raft. Milica, Ivy, Molly & solomon (Year 5)

It was a the last day of camp, the sun was shining as we flew through the air on the flying fox! The view was amazing, but being so high was a little bit frightening!

Molly & Amelia (Year 5)

We were team building and we had to get across a rapid river to escape the island! It was so much fun working with my wonderful teacher and group mates!

Harriet (Year 5)

It is the last night of camp and we were about to go to bed. We’d love to stay and enjoy the rest of the camp but we have done everything that we can do. Now we have to pack and get ready for home. We will prepare for our last activities, we will have so much fun but after that we have to go. Kaylen and Jake (Year 5)

Community