Classroom News
Prep
Welcome to Week 6.
We certainly have had a lot of fun over the last two weeks with Book Week and our Fairy Tale Banquet. Please enjoy perusing the photos of our days.
This week finds our classrooms starting to look a lot like Christmas… We haven’t started playing Michael Buble tunes just yet, but we have started preparation for our Christmas Liturgy to be held on Monday 30th November in the hall.
It may look like we are starting to wind down for the year, however our classroom routines, learnings and expectations are still at the forefront of everyday. Please ensure your child is at school on time ready to commence by the 8:30am bell. It is imperative that we continue with our routines to optimise learning and behaviour. Please also remind your children about school rules and this includes walking in and around the school both before and after school.
Today is the last day of library borrowing for the year. All books are due back next week. Children should be reading nightly, both home readers and picture books for enjoyment. Continue to revise sight words and practise writing at home. Make it fun and begin to write out Christmas cards, shopping lists, wish lists or letters to Santa.
We are currently accepting Gift Card Donations for the St Vincent de Paul Appeal. Please hand them to the class teacher and they will be forwarded to the office.
As the weather warms up (and cools down again), it is vital all children have a water bottle, jumper and hat daily.
Prep W are leading the school on Thursday with their Prayer Assembly.
Dates to Remember
Step up to Grade 1 – November 24th
Prep Liturgy – November 30th
Newtown Park - December 2nd
Gymnastics – December 3rd
Have a great week,
Liz and Melita
Year 1
Welcome to week 6!
Students have been enjoying learning and researching about Penguins using non-fiction texts. This week, we have been busy working through the writing process: first draft, editing on their own, conferencing with their teacher and then a good copy, to compose an information report on these fascinating creatures.
In Maths, we are trying to consolidate counting strategies: double facts, rainbow facts count on 1,2,3, count backs 1,2,3. It is so important that students are confident with these, so playing a quick maths game on the way to school would help consolidate their learning.
Students have enjoyed recalling memories from the past. These significant events have been sequenced together and put on their timeline. Students have worked together to find significant events in Mary’s life in the bible and have also sequenced these on her timeline.
Our end of year liturgy is still being finalised. A date will be emailed to families this week.
Jen and Ange
Year 2
This week we are starting our assessment for each of the learning areas. We are fast becoming experts at persuasive writing using our OREO paragraphs and including high modality words. We have discovered that we can be very opinionated about topics such as eating vegetables, homework and bedtime.
In Science we have observed many of our mealworms transform into firstly a pupa and then a beetle. The children have been fascinated by them and have eagerly recorded their observations.
In Maths over the coming weeks we are brushing up on our money skills. Counting money can be tricky so if you would like to reinforce this at home. Maybe you have a jar of coins that the children can sort and count. We will be doing some shopping in class so our budgeting skills will be put to use.
Our excursion to the cinema is on Monday the 30th of November. Please return permission notes for this if you haven’t already done so.
By next week we will be well and truly into the Christmas spirit. We will be getting ready for our Christmas Liturgy which will be held on the 27th November at 12 noon. It will be held in the hall and all parents are invited. Students can come to school dressed in either a Christmas shirt or any brightly coloured shirt. They can wear their joggers and a pair of shorts or jeans.
We will be celebrating Christmas in our classes with Secret Santa. We ask that every family bring in a gift valued at around $5.00 for a secret friend. They will be notified of who their secret friend is by this Friday.
Library books are due in by the end of week 7. Last week of borrowing is this week.
Let us know if you have any queries or concerns.
Dennielle, Allyson, Sarah, Aleisha and Megan
Year 3
It’s Week Six, and we have been working fast and furiously on our English PowerPoint presentations. Everyone is trying to “Bump Up” their work – aiming to improve their writing and speaking levels. All classes have worked on their science boxes – testing suitable conduction and insulation materials.
Our Year 3 End of Year prayer celebration is on Wednesday 25th November in the school hall, starting with prayer at 2:15 pm, followed by sharing of our Maths games– invitation notes have been sent out, so please keep an eye out for these and let us know if you didn’t receive one.
Towards the end of the year, we see a lot more restlessness with the children both in the classroom and on the playground. Please remind your children to be a little more patient with their friends (and their teachers!). Water bottles and hats are absolute necessities as the weather heats up and children need to stay hydrated.
Remember to send in gift cards for our St Vincent De Paul Appeal. All library books need to be returned by the end of this week (Week 6). Please also send in your permission forms for our trip to the cinema on Monday 30th November.
Remember to “Be positive, patient and persistent! – Just like the Lourdes Way!” Have a great week!
Angela, Annie, Damian and Janice
Year 4
Hello from Year 4!
Hard to believe that we are already past halfway in the term. Being fourth term too, each class is busily finishing the greater part of assessment. Your child’s attendance during the next few weeks is important. All classes completed their two days at Bike Safety and from all reports many children have fared very well both in a written and practical test. Within the next week, we will be visited by the Bike Safety teacher who will present children with their certificates. A reminder to be aware of the school expectations on uniform; this applies until the end of the term. Details about the upcoming Gala Sports Day will be sent home soon. Children are learning the skills of T-ball in sports lessons. Library borrowing finishes at the end of this week so all overdues should be returned ASAP.
Suzanne, Toni and Garry
Year 5
What a crazy couple of weeks! Last week we had our Year 5 camp; it was a fantastic experience. I’m sure there were some very tired students and definitely five very tired teachers as well. The students had a wonderful time participating in a variety of challenging activities including stand up paddle boarding, body boarding, archery, evasion games, beach and pool activities. We even got to celebrate a birthday and watch the Origin. For some students facing fears like these and overcoming it is a great accomplishment. It is times like this, when students achieve a milestone that makes teaching a rewarding profession. The behaviour and maturity shown at the camp was exceptional and is a great indication of the type of leaders these students will be next year. Thank you to Mrs Salisbury and Ms Murray for attending the camp and assisting the teachers and students.
The final Assembly for the year will be in Week 7 with the presentation of end of year awards.
Swimming Carnival nominations will be sent home soon – please check that they are accurate and return the note to Mrs Salisbury.
Don't forget our St Vincent De Paul hampers. Our hampers will look different this year due to COVID. We are asking families to donate gift cards of any denomination rather than non-perishable items. Please ask students to hand these to class teachers.
We have a few big weeks of school left and although we’re all tired from camp, we need to remember to stay positive and keep putting in one hundred percent effort until the very end.
Tim, Steve and Emily
Year 6
State of Origin
Due to the mighty Queenslanders storming home in the second half to win the match, there will be a reduced amount of set homework for this week.
Book Week
A huge thank you to Mrs Leathart and Mrs Monte for making Book Week so special. Great to see Y6 join in with the swing of things; there were some fantastic costumes.
NAIDOC Week (8-15 November 2020)
Theme: Always Was, Always Will Be.
‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists.
NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact whether in 1770 with Captain James Cook, or in 1606 with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula. The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations people.
NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history that dates back thousands of generations. It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000-plus year history of this country - which is Australian history.
STEM Showcase and Sports Rotation
Year 6 has been invited to St Saviour’s to participate in a STEM Showcase and sport rotation this Thursday 12 November 2020. Students need to be at school by 8:25 am, wear their sports uniform and bring Morning Tea, Lunch, a water bottle, and a hat.
Graduation Ceremony
Tuesday 1 December 2020, commencing at 6.30pm (Formal School uniform worn). Due to COVID restrictions, our graduation ceremony, presided over by Fr Quinlan, will be held in the school hall this year. Unfortunately, we have had to restrict numbers, so each student will only be allowed 2 adults in attendance.
School Cross Country
A huge thank you to Mrs Salisbury for a very successful carnival. Well done to Year 6 for their overall effort during the Cross-Country. Congratulations to the place getters and thank you to everyone who helped with the setting-up.
Final Assembly
A reminder that the Year 6 final Assembly will be held on Thursday 19 November 2020 commencing at 2:00 pm.
St Vinnies School Appeal
A reminder that donated items for this appeal needed to be delivered to the office.
Larry and Kylie
German
In week 6 we are learning about Formen – Shapes, and in week 7 we are learning about senses and actions.
Christine Fisher