PLANNING FOR 2025

Last week, there was a message around planning for 2025. Parents are invited to share any valid important information that may be considered in planning for classes and areas of need, as outlined in the message. Please read last week’s message in detail before responding to the school, but an abridged version is below.

• To be submitted in writing to the school email address - pmacp@lism.catholic.edu.au.
• To be labelled “Class consideration: attention to The Principal”, so it is easily located in the email list. 
• To be submitted by Monday 4th November - after this date will not be considered. 

• We will not accept disrespectful language regarding teachers or children.

• We will not accept requests for particular teachers based on personal preference. 

• We will not accept a list of children you would like your child to be with or not be with - with the exception of significant valid concerns based on concrete evidence.

• Decisions are made by teachers and leaders with consideration to important information shared and this will be the final decision.

Exuro

Today, all Year 5 students participated in the Exuro Retreat. This in-school event, facilitated by Mrs Natalie Jennings, is an important aspect of our learning about Catholic Faith and Identity. The students experienced prayer and games, allowing them to develop a closer relationship with Jesus and be inspired to share the Gospel Values of love, compassion, and service. Thank you, Mrs Jennings, Jacob and Jaz and the Youth Ministry class from MacKillop College, for providing Year 5 with such a fun and valuable day!

St Peter’s Children Attend Mass at St Francis of Assisi Chapel

Across the year, every student at St Peter’s has the opportunity to attend Mass at St Francis of Assisi Chapel. This is a very special activity for us, as we spend time with our elderly neighbours living in St Agnes’ care facilities. On Wednesday, Kinder Green attended, with Father Paul spending some extra time with us explaining the different garments priests wear to preside mass and showing us the Tabernacle. Fr Paul explained that Tabernacle means ‘little house’ and is where Jesus, in the form of the blessed bread, lives. He also showed us the Sanctuary Lamp, which means Jesus is here, and explained that it’s like the lights are on when people are home. Kinder Green loved visiting the chapel today! Kinder Blue will attend next Wednesday. Parents and friends are welcome to join us.

St Francis of Assisi Mass - Wednesdays 9.30

Lochinvar Place Port Macquarie

Save the Date

Our Stage 1 end-of-the-year Celebration of the Word will be held on Friday, 15th November, in the shared St Peter’s and MacKillop Chapel at 10am. Parents and friends are most welcome!

Encounter Youth – What’s Love Got To Do With It? 

Open to students from Year 6 up.

Friday the 8th  November

5:30-7:30 @ the Youth Hub

$5 for Dinner

Parent Cuppa & Chat + Let’s talk about….

The second parent chat topic is about Emotional Coaching, and will be facilitated by our Family Connect Worker, Anabelle Johnson.

RSVP to amanda.thomas@lism.catholic.edu.au

LEARNING 

DIBELS Assessment K - 6

In the next few weeks, all St Peter’s students from Kindergarten to Year 6, will participate in a DIBELS assessment. This assessment tests students’ reading ability.

More details about the DIBELS assessment can be found HERE.

If you should have any further questions regarding the DIBELS assessments, please contact your child’s teacher. 

WELCOME ANDREA, POLLY AND KEIRA 

New Students in Year 5

This Term, Year 5 have welcomed 3 new students, Keira who moved from St Joseph’s Wauchope, Andrea who has moved all the way from Kenya and Polly who has moved from St Joseph’s Laurieton. Mr Gallery sat down with our 3 new students to ask them about their initial impressions about learning at St Peter’s. Here is some of what they said.

What do you think about the way you learn at St. Peter’s?

Polly - “I have done a lot of assessments so far and St Peter’s has the same sort of learning as my old school. Our learning is age appropriate and not too easy or hard but the teachers say things differently to what I am used to - like morphology. I know what a morphograph is so it improves my vocabulary. There’s a lot of technical words.

Andrea - “I did British Curriculum at my old school. I’m not saying it's easy, but I finished Year 5 in September and had to go into Year 5 here. I have learnt about lots of strategies in Maths and not just the algorithms. I am used to writing much more and getting finger cramps from copying and writing in my own words also. Here we use much more technology and not text books. At my old school we had text books for Maths, English, Science and Geography as well as workbooks. We still have to write in books but more on our computers.

Keira - It’s good. I definitely love the learning at St Peter’s and the different techniques we use for learning. The spelling is good and I use more computers here and I like the writing lessons. 

What is your favourite thing so far about your new school?

Polly - “I like everything about my new school. It’s very big and has a lot of room. There are alot of sport options and the library is amazing! There are so many books and stories to choose.

Andrea - “100% the food. At my old school you have 1 option so you eat it or basically starve! So basically, I like how you can bring your own food, go to canteen or order on Flexischools. I couldn’t believe they have milkshakes and the tropical pops are only 50 cents.

Keira - “I don’t know where to start. I love the playground, I love the library, I love how the classroom is set up. OMG the food options are incredible. There is a really big menu. I also love the social activities like raising money for camp by selling things which is good for more social skills.

We hope that you will all feel at home quickly and well done for how well you have handled this big change.

Welcome to St Peter’s!!