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WELCOME BACK TO ALL OUR FAMILIES
Our staff welcome all families back to the beginning of Term 3. We hope our limited travelling families really enjoyed some novel adventure and special family time. Our ‘staycation’ families had cool wet and isolated conditions, which made for lots of indoor choices and challenged our creative and innovative measures to make something of our holidays.
Please keep in your thoughts and prayers families, who have been confronted with sadness, challenge or COVID-19 concerns through this period and we pray that a good outcome will prevail over the coming weeks.
A special welcome to Mrs Turner, who joins our relief from face-to-face teaching team. Angela returns after sharing special time with the littlest Turner, Hudson and her family.
The following students join us this term and we warmly welcome them and their families to our community:
Parker Smith – K Green | Lucas Anderson – K Red |
Lilly Anderson – 2 Red | Charlotte Miles – 4 Red |
NAIDOC WEEK - FEELING PRIVILEGED
Our NAIDOC Assembly on Tuesday morning was a very special way to begin our week. Aunty Rhonda began our Assembly with a ‘Welcome to Country.’
Our presenters followed with a prayer and reflections which were highlighted through engaging video productions of young indigenous people expressing their culture.
Mr Leary concluded the ceremony by pointing out how privileged our school is to have such a proud indigenous presence, highlighted through our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and supported through Aliya Morris-Boyd, our Indigenous Education Worker.
He also thanked Mrs Cameron for her wonderful support of the ceremony and Mrs Robb and Ms Nardella, who are great mentors for Aliya. See article under MISSION.
HEADLINES AND ANTHEMS - ??????
Dance kicks off and you can name the second half of the title - 3 word maximum. Entries must be in by Thursday 22nd July and the children will vote soon after to confirm the final title.
So good to see our little people engaging in their first dance classes for Term 3.
Miss Julie-Anne already has the children embracing their new routines and expending loads of enthusiasm and support for each other, as they begin mastering their moves.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE OUR FAMILIES
With changing communications and the need to incorporate a revised drop off and pick up routine with short notice, you could understand people‘s patience being tested.
Many staff commented on the wonderful way families adapted to the new organisation and how nice it was to see parents and carers with smiling eyes and a welcoming wave at Drop Off and Pick Up time this week.
Thank you for the way you have managed change, and more particularly, for your ongoing warmth and generous spirit.
Morning Drop Off
Afternoon Pick Up
STAFF LEARNING ABOUT DECONSTRUCTING LEARNING
Thank you for your support of our Staff Professional Learning Day last Monday.
Our staff spent the majority of the day looking at ways we can improve children’s capacity to learn.
We delved deeper into the following terms and connected teaching implications in deconstructing learning. Terms that are now very much in our schools’ ‘learnscape.’
Learning Intention - Teachers are now very explicit about what it is that children are learning and why they are learning it, and this is shared with the children at the beginning of the learning.
Success criteria - These are the structured measures that allow children to know where they are along the Learning Intention.
A probable difference - When our staff learnt, the teacher probably had these in mind or maybe even in some of their planning, the difference was… we probably never knew.
Descriptive feedback - This is the constant and consistent specific feedback in ‘short sharp doses’ that we provide our learners - it confirms what children are achieving and then prompts their learning to meet the next success criteria.
A probable difference - When our staff learnt, we could complete significant amounts of work prior to receiving any feedback. The difference….teachers are now providing constant and specific feedback to learners to confirm when they are on the right path and to help lead them to engage with the next success criteria (eventually supporting achievement in the learning intention).
MISSION
NAIDOC Week Prayer Service
We were fortunate enough to start our term with a beautiful NAIDOC Week prayer service on Tuesday morning, facilitated by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and Indigenous Education Worker, Miss Aliya Morris-Boyd. Many thanks to Aunty Rhonda for coming in to Welcome Country and to share with us some language from the local area. We all learnt how to say we are feeling awesome! Aunty Rhonda spoke beautifully of her special connection to land.
Aliya worked with the students across the school this week, celebrating and honoring our rich Indigenous heritage through art and craft. We were treated to a cultural dance performance by Audrina and Havarna Stone to close our NAIDOC Week celebrations, and learnt about some important signs and symbols from Aliya explaining the Aboriginal Spirituality Kit. You may like to view the special songs we used to celebrate NAIDOC Week together:
Feel the Fire - Josh Arnold Small Town Culture
Our Connection to Land - Josh Arnold Small Town Culture
Prayer For Naidoc Week
God of love and compassion,
you are the creator of this land and of all its people.
We pray for your strength and grace to understand and respect the culture, spirituality, traditions and customs of our First Nations people.
Open our eyes, expand our thinking and teach us to respect the gift and life of Country.
Amen
LEARNING
Learning How to Learn
Change is occurring much more quickly than in previous generations, which means that the future our students are facing is rapidly evolving. As the future for today’s students unfolds, it will appear very different from what we are experiencing today. As educators of these young people, we are preparing them for a future that lacks the clarity of past generations. What is clear though is that learning how to learn will be vitally important, more so than ever before.
In the 90’s the trend in education was of Learning Styles – Visual, Audio and Kinaesthetic. The idea was that we all had a particular learning style and, taken further, that teachers were supposed to teach every lesson to every different learning style in the classroom. What the theory behind this concept actually said was, we all have a preferred learning style, be aware of it; it is a strength, but make sure that you practice other ways of learning so you have the ability to learn in a variety of ways. Then, when presented with a problem or concept, students have a number of different strategies to tackle it in order to find a solution.
Regardless of whether we agree with the concept of learning styles or not, what I hope we all agree on is that we want our young people to have a range of ways and strategies to help them with their learning. In educating our students for their future we must all be nurturing their ability in ‘Learning How to Learn’. If a student struggles to spell a word, solve a problem or understand a concept, they need to be able to employ other ways to do so. Finding information has never been easier, but the ability of a person to move their learning forward, to be a valuable team member and contribute in various situations helps to build confidence, courage, tenacity, sense of responsibility and self-awareness.
If we think about people of past generations who were visionary, creative and definitely before their time, like Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, we can see people who were able to adapt to anything required by the circumstances at the time. We must make sure that our students don’t put themselves, or allow themselves to be put in a box and categorised by the notion of a predisposed, inflexible thinking style.
COVID-19 Restrictions
In line with the Premier’s announcement regarding the extension of COVID-19 restrictions for Greater Sydney, CSNSWSport advises that the following sporting events have been postponed:
- NSWPSSA & All Schools Cross Country Championship
Other sports that are currently postponed:
- Hastings Zone Athletics Carnival which was scheduled for Monday July 19
- The Independent and Catholic Primary Schools Primary Rugby League Gala Day which was scheduled for Thursday July 22.
Please see link: https://csnsw.sport/.../term-3-additional-postponed-events for further information.
Hastings Zone Athletics- Postponed
The Hastings Zone Athletics Carnival (July 19) has been postponed due to Covid Restrictions. We are still able to participate in sport, just in our local LGA (council borders). Unfortunately Macksville, Bowraville and Kempsey are unable to attend due to this restriction and thus we have postponed the event. Although this is postponed, we will continue training and commence in Week 2. I ask the specific students to the below events to wear their sports uniform for training. If you have been selected for the following:
100M- training will occur Monday and Thursday at first lunch playtime. Please meet Mr Arkinstall at the oval gate at 11am. We will focus on starts and using blocks (10 Years and older).
Relay Team- training will occur Tuesday and Friday at first lunch playtime. Please meet Mr Arkinstall at the oval gate at 11am. Our major focus will be on batten changing. Over the period of training, I hope to walk students over to MacKillop College (Senior Campus) and use their running track.
Long Jump- training will occur on Friday at first lunch playtime. Please meet Mr Arkinstall at the oval gate at 11am.
Discus and Shot Put- if you require any items for home training, please let me know and your child can borrow items from the school.
Independent and Catholic Primary Rugby League Gala Day - Postponed
The Independent and Catholic Primary Schools (July 22) have been postponed due to Covid Restrictions. We are still able to participate in sport, just in our local LGA (council borders). Unfortunately, all other schools are unable to attend due to this restriction and thus we have postponed the event. Again, training will continue with Mr Leary.
Elective Sports- ready to go!
Elective Sports will commence in Week 4 and run for 5 weeks. At this stage, we are able to attend all venues, as they reside in our LGA (Council borders). Also at this stage, students 12 years or under are exempt from wearing a mask at the venues. If anything changes, I will notify families through Postman Pete and our St Peter’s Sports Facebook page.
Elective Sports Payments and Permissions
All Elective Sports invoices and permissions for Years 1- 6 have been sent home with your child. Permission and full payment are due by Wednesday 21st July 2021 for your child to attend.
Around The Grounds
Under 11’s State Hockey Carnival
Under 13's State Hockey Carnival
Jeff Arkinstall - Leader of Sport
Monday 19th July |
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Tuesday 20th June |
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Wednesday 21st July |
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Thursday 22nd July |
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Friday 23rd July |
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Term 3 Dates
NB : Assemblies will be held every second Friday (odd Weeks - 1,3,5,7,9) @ 2.30pm -
Due to current COVID restrictions parents are unfortunately unable to attend
Wednesday 28th July |
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Thursday 29th July |
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Friday 30th July |
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Saturday 31st July & Sunday 1st August |
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Monday 2nd August |
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Tuesday 3rd August |
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Wednesday 4th August |
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Friday 6th August |
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Monday 13th September and Tuesday 14th September |
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Thursday 16th September |
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Term 4 CAMP DATES
Year 6 Camp Monday 22nd November to Friday 26th November 2021 |
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Year 5 Camp
Wednesday 24th November to
Friday 26th November 2021
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Tuesday 5th October (Term 4) | Staff Development Day |
International Competitions and Assessments for Schools - Years 2 - 6
ICAS is an online testing forum designed to recognise and reward academic excellence.
These competitions are purely optional !
however we believe that the experience these competitions provide is invaluable.
ICAS is the largest independent assessment program for schools available in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific region.
The competition dates and costs are as follows:
SUBJECTS | DATES | COST (incl. GST) | |
Digital Technologies Writing |
Monday 9th August |
$21.45 $17.05 |
Years 3-6 |
English |
Monday 16th August |
$17.05 |
Years 2-6 |
Science & Spelling Bee |
Monday 23rd August |
$17.05 |
Years 2-6 |
Maths |
Monday 30th August |
$17.05 |
Years 2-6 |
ALL ENTRIES CLOSE: Wednesday 28th July 2021
If your child/ren are interested, please follow the instructions below:
ICAS ONLINE TESTING/PAYMENT - INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARENTS
Visit: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
Enter our school’s Unique Access Code
Unique Access Code – YXK397 – Then click on - GO TO SCHOOL PAGE
Parents will receive a confirmation email of your order and a copy of your receipt of payment
Canteen RosterThank you to all the parents and Grandparents that have volunteered for the canteen.
Please see Week 2 Term 3 Roster below
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Pete's Eats Open for Lunch 1 and Lunch 2
Warm Milos
50 cents
LUNCH 1 ONLY
Thank you to Breeanna Stone for filling in for Mrs Robins this week.....
Kinder Red | Kinder Blue | Kinder Green |
Lilli Fowler Brax Clarke Evelyn Worthington |
Madylin Hofman Bella Elwood-Franchimont Billy Bright |
Cleo Campbell Edison Martin Parker Smith |
Year 1 Blue | Year 1 Green | |
Mabel Smith Willow Morris-Boyd Clara Murphy |
Alfred Norman Cade Edwards Matilda Mason |
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Year 2 Red | Year 2 Green | |
Ahliyah Bennett Rocky Zumbo Christopher Bucci |
Riley Hofman Camila Jones Owen Mitchell |
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Year 3 Red | Year 3 Blue | Year 3 Green |
Sienna Anderson |
Havarna Stone Aiden Walsh Evie Pattinson |
Brody Galvin Ella Wheatley John Ebbs |
Year 4 Red | Year 4 Blue | Year 4 Green |
Charlotte Miles Zy Hogan Geordie Baird |
Judd Charet Jacob Pope Summer Macey Lincoln Wells |
Felix Plowright Cody Winter Paige Heery |
Year 5 Red | Year 5 Blue | Year 5 Green |
Tianah Wehlow Sophia Sivell Eli Tink |
Ryder Colthorpe Chloe Shields Mackenzie Trimmer |
Madison Sivell Harrison Ebbs Chelsea Brown |
Year 6 Red | Year 6 Blue | Year 6 Green |
Sophie Kirkpatrick Tait Beddoe William Whicker Imogen Thompson |
Charley McGuigan Jesse Taylor Lucas Morris |
Elijah Geddes Ella Oliver Sierra Westbrook |
Eisteddfod Dance and Elective Sport - Term 3
3 Eisteddfod Dance groups rehearsal times will be a combination of Lunch 1 and their Elective Sport. For the following groups, this year their elective sport will be their Eisteddfod Dance group.
Stage 1 Eisteddfod Dance Group | (Years 1 & 2) |
Stage 2 Girls Eisteddfod Dance Group | (Year 3 & 4) |
Stage 3a Eisteddfod Dance Group | (Year 5 & 6) |
All other groups will continue to rehearse at lunch 1 during Term 3.
Eisteddfod Dance Rehearsal Days Term 3
Monday |
Stage 1 - Can’t Stop the Feeling - Eisteddfod Group |
Tuesday |
Stage 2 Girls - Nutbush - Eisteddfod Group |
Wednesday |
Stage 3 - Bongo Jazz - Eisteddfod Group |
Thursday |
Stage 3 - Home Hip Hop - Eisteddfod Group |
Friday |
Stage 2 Boys - Better than Never - Eisteddfod Group |
Dance Concert @ The Glasshouse
Two Night Performances!
Monday 13th September and Tuesday 14th September
6 pm @ The Glasshouse
Watch this space for the ticket release date!
Families are invited to put their 'creative thinking caps' on and come up with a second line to add to the theme eg. Headlines and Anthems - Dance Extravaganza!
Send your entry into the office ladies by Thursday 22nd July!
Please see the following note that was sent home last Term for more information!