Keeping Children Focused In Term 4

As this term progresses the children will become excited about the approaching Advent and Christmas seasons. It is very important that the children remain focused and settled throughout Term 4. When the children begin to bring Christmas cards, candy canes and the like to school too early they tend to tune out.

It is for this reason and the fact that waiting is a part of our Catholic tradition within the season of Advent, that the children may only begin to bring Christmas cards, candy canes etc. for their classmates from the beginning of Week 10 – Monday 6 December.

Student Messaging

A gentle reminder that no student should be messaging their parents during the school day. If your child should send you a message please remind them and ensure they understand that they need to speak with their teacher.

At school, staff need to be the first port of call for students to ensure their needs are attended to and their safety. This is particularly true with regard to home arrangements.

Please contact the school office should you need to get a message to your child.

Thank you so much for your support for this request, it is very much appreciated and will encourage your child to do the right thing with technology and build independence.

Uniforms

Thank you for continuing to maintain a high standard for your child/ren's uniform even during these unusual times. The uniform speaks outwardly of your child's respect for the school and other students in the school. The uniform includes the tidiness of hair. Some students’ haircuts are attracting comments - this is due to undercuts, ‘mullet’ style haircuts and colouring or bleaching of hair. 

Use of Toilets at School:

Unfortunately, last week we had to speak to the primary boys about the  correct use of the toilets. The boys toilets have had some  damage to  them over the last couple  of weeks  due to  standing on toilet seats, slamming toilet doors and urinating on the cistern. This behaviour has led to some of the boys not using the toilets at all throughout the school day which is very concerning

I urge all parents to speak to their children about the correct behaviour when using the school toilets.

Due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, adjustments to curriculum have been made throughout Terms 3 and 4. Focus for Semester 2 has been on student wellbeing and learning, and priority has been given to Religious Education, English and Mathematics. As a result of this extended period of Remote Learning and the lack of opportunities for teachers to provide quality assessment tasks to determine student learning attainment and/or growth, student reporting in Semester 2, 2021 will look a little different to the one you received earlier this year. 

Reports will be distributed via Compass on Wednesday 8 December.

Year 6 Parents are reminded to print the school report when they are distributed on Wednesday 8  December. This is particularly important if your child is not attending a Wollongong Diocesan systemic high school, such as Holy Spirit College, as your access to your child’s Compass profile will cease upon completion of primary school.

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As we follow the road map together to a full recovery, the consistent attendance of students at school is crucial to the ongoing academic and social success of our students.

From an early age, if children are taught that they need to 'show up' for school and make a commitment, this positive mentality aids academic and career success and brings benefits in adulthood.

This week our average attendance trends are:

The Good Samaritan Annual Parent Survey is now available for completion. This survey is designed to capture a range of experiences and attitudes of the school community towards practices and procedures.

The surveys aims to capture opinions about the culture of a school, including

how welcoming and supportive the school is. It will also provide data on the practices that parents and teachers are employing to support students at home and in the classroom. 

The data captured in the survey will be used to plan for continuous school improvement and to measure and monitor the effective practices and procedures of the school over a period of time.

The annual parent survey will be triangulated with the data from the student and staff surveys that will also be completed over the coming week. 

Please take a few minutes to complete this year’s survey. Click here to access the survey. 

The survey will close at 4pm on Friday 26 November 2021.

 This week the stars of Year 3  are  examining  ‘ar’ words and identifying  the graphemes that makes the ‘ar’ sound.

Over the past few weeks we have been enjoying the book “ Bella and The Wandering House” and writing some great diary entries from different  characters’ points of view.

In Maths we have been exploring the patterns when we double numbers. We have even been doubling doubles to help us work out multiplication algorithms.

  

  

 The Eucharist has been the focus of our Religion Lessons, especially the four main parts of the Mass and how Jesus is with us when we gather to celebrate Mass.

This week we will be beginning the Year 3 Advent Unit - A Time for Responding in Love,  in preparation for  Christmas.

This term Year 4 has gone on a learning “QUEST”. We have just finished reading the book “All thirteen”. It is the story of the Thai soccer team and how they survived being trapped in a cave for 17 days. It was a book about mindset, strength and courage. We loved it and did lots of writing and responding to the text.

Another highlight for this term has been working towards achieving our “Pen” license. We have all worked really hard at improving our handwriting and setting out. It is very exciting.

On the 11 November we celebrated Remembrance day by designing Our own Remembrance day artworks. We learnt about the significance of the red poppy. In Australia and other countries of the Commonwealth, we recognise the red poppy as the commemorative flower of remembrance. The flower reminds us of those who lost their lives or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Here are some of our artwork designs:

Who says the art of letter writing is no longer? Not Year 4! During Covid lock down and remote learning we wrote to the elderly and yesterday we received their replies. The excitement for the children was priceless. There were certainly plenty of happy tears from the adults as we watched the children open their treasured letters. Some children were even treated with poetry and drawings .. such a special moment and a clear appreciation for community spirit.

The Canteen will now be open Thurdays & Fridays for the rest of the term.  

School Attendance and Absences

It is most important that students attend school unless there exists a genuine reason for absence. It is also most important that students attend school for the full school day. Whilst the first 10 minutes of school or the last 20 minutes of the school day may seem unimportant to parents, it is during these times that students are instructed of the essential routines and guides of the school day that help to create productive learning environments. As parents, you are urged to ensure your child/ren arrive at school on time and stay for the complete school day every day of the week. 

CEDoW ATTENDANCE POLICY AND GOOD SAMARITAN PROCEDURES

Good Samaritan aligns Attendance Policy and Procedures with the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Attendance Policy.

Under this policy it states that it is the parents' responsibility for regular attendance and that they are legally obligated under the Education Act 1990.

Unsatisfactory school attendance is when:

• Regular absences without explanation occurs, this includes partial absences
• Explanations not accepted by the Principal
• Extended periods of absence without an explanation

Lateness is a partial absence which must be explained. All absences must be explained to the school within 7 days of the absence.

Permission to leave the school early must have been authorised in advance by the Principal or Assistant Principal in the Principal's absence.

Parents/carers must provide an explanation by phone, email, SMS or in person to the school:

• if your child is late for school, explaining this partial absence;
• if your child is absent for a full day from school, explaining this full absence; or
• if you are planning for your child to be absent from school, explaining this partial or full absence.

Medical certificates are required for extended absences due to medical reasons. Respiratory symptoms reporting must be followed in accordance with COVID-19 procedures.

Acceptable reasons for a partial or full absence include:

• Medical illness
• Medical appointment
• Pre-approved travel. It is encouraged that travel is undertaken during school holiday periods
• Other explained absence i.e funeral, special event, religious ceremony or critical incident
• Domestic necessity i.e misadventure, unforeseen event, serious illness of an immediate family member
• Natural disaster
• Other school activity
• Elite Arts/Sport

If absent for 10 consecutive days parents/carers must request and complete the school Application for Extended Leave form.

In accordance with CEDoW guidelines, attendance letters will be sent out twice per term in Weeks 5 and 10 to parents/carer via COMPASS, in regards to unexplained absences. Strategies will be adopted in accordance with the CEDoW Attendance Policy where attendance is unsatisfactory.

TERM 4 DATES:

December:

• Wednesday 1 December - Red and Yellow Day-Surf Lifesaving MUFTI DAY

• Friday 3 December -  Good Samaritan Fun Day
• Friday 3 December - St Vincent De Paul Christmas -MUFTI DAY

• Monday 13 December - Year 6 Farewell 

• Wednesday 15 December - Last Day of Term 4 2021

TERM 1 2022 DATES:

• Friday 28 January - PUPIL FREE DAY/ Staff Return 

• Monday 31 January -  PUPIL FREE DAY /Staff Developement Day 

• Tuesday 1 February - Students Return