HEADLINES AND ANTHEMS - DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!

Our dance program through Term 3 focused on classes learning a routine to present and share with our families.

Over the coming weeks of Term 4, we would like to share with you those dances.

During lockdown, students were invited to incorporate an individual routine or personal act to add some variety to the presentation.

The 3 presentations shared today from the Year 6 teams have stuck to the original script and amazingly, with only a couple of hours rehearsing in the first half of Term 3 have put together (on memory) these wonderful routines.

Please keep in mind, routines were restricted to outside performances, our staff did the videoing in the last week of term after the children had just returned from four weeks of lockdown.

A huge thank you to Joel Walker and the Walker family for putting together all the videos which will feature over the coming term.

We hope you enjoy.

DANCE EISTEDDFOD - TO 2022

Please see Natalie Jennings’ article further on.

COVID-19 UPDATE

LEVEL 3 RESTRICTIONS - CORRESPONDENCE FROM CSO LISMORE

The current NSW Government Roadmap for easing COVID-19 Restrictions indicated that schools will remain under Level 3 restrictions until at least Wednesday, 1 December. 

This is dependent upon vaccination rates and the review by the new State Leadership.

STUDENT VACCINATION - NSW Health strongly urges all students aged 12 - 15 years to receive two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.

STUDENT REVIEW

At the start of this week, senior leadership went around to visit all classrooms and talk to the children about what makes an outstanding school community.

Perhaps an odd thing to do three parts of the way through the year. However, for many children this is only the second week in eight weeks where most children have attended school.

We asked the children what they felt were the most important characteristics to build success in learning and life within our community.

Through all classes, many of the responses from the children were directed to our PBS – Positive Behaviour Support.

• BEING SAFE

• BEING A LEARNER

• BEING RESPECTFUL

• BEING LIKE JESUS

It was very reassuring to hear students prioritise these wonderful values and the associated behaviours for our community to continue to highlight and embrace.

UNIFORMS FOR THIS TERM

Being Respectful and presenting ourselves in a respectful way, is a very important part of who we are.

Wearing our school uniform with pride and consistency is an important part of our presentation.

We do understand however, that with the predicted uniform change in 2022, it would be unrealistic to expect families to purchase new summer uniforms during Term 4 of this year.

If children have outgrown their summer uniform or it is no longer suitable, children will be allowed to wear their sports uniform till the end of this year.

Please keep in mind that we have many preowned uniforms in our uniform pool, which are available at no cost.

If you would like use of this pool, please contact the office on 6584 1962.

NEW FAMILIES TO ST PETER’S

We warmly welcome the following 2 students and their families to St Peter’s.

                             Grazia Mikhail Holt (3 Blue) & Family      Ashton Slater (3 Red) & Family  

If you see these new families at drop off or pick up time, could you please give them a smile and introduce yourselves.

It is always a little daunting coming into a new community and a smile and warm welcome can make such a difference.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY - Wednesday, November 10

Our final Staff Development Day (student free day) for this year, will be held on Wednesday, November 10. This will be directed toward continuing to develop research and best practice in the learning and teaching of student writing.

The day is being held mid week, to include maximum staff attendance (as this professional development is particularly important for all staff).

There will be provision for childminding to support families where necessary.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKI

You may have noticed the streamers and balloons decorating our fence yesterday morning.

These of course, were to mark a very happy birthday for our esteemed ‘lollipop lady’ – Vicki.

Vicki does an outstanding job keeping our children and families safe and traffic moving in a cohesive manner.

She does this with such consideration and good spirit every day.

We hope Vicki had a wonderful birthday and a great celebration with Wayne and family.

200 Years of Catholic Education - Faith in the Future Diocesan Art Display

Some of our very talented young artists have been featured in a special art collection commissioned by the Diocese of Lismore to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. Follow this link to check out their awesome work, as well as a short video of each contributor explaining the meaning and inspiration behind their artwork.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day – 10 October – is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. The theme for this year's campaign is to encourage people to “Look up, look out, and look forward!” by noticing their surroundings, taking care of others, and having activities on the horizon to feel enthusiastic about.

Parents Guide to Popular Apps

Register for this eSafety webinar via the link  eSafety webinar

This webinar will provide information for parents on how you can help your children use the apps Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube safely. It will include case studies, research, and targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.

For mindfulness exercises to share with your little people, check out this Mindfulness Calendar filled with short daily activities designed to promote mental wellbeing!

Socktober !

WHAT is Socktober?

Socktober invites our school to engage with mission in a holistic way within the head, heart, hands  model: encouraging a learning mind, an open heart and hands for action. With the world game of soccer as a basis of connection, our students can learn about life in mission countries and be moved to act in solidarity. Socktober provides children with the opportunity to lead in mission by sharing their story of support with their family and friends.

It is fitting that the iconic symbol of Socktober is a tattered, misshapen ball made of recycled material like socks, t‑shirts and plastic bags, tied together with string. It’s not a conventional icon, but one that represents what Socktober is all about. It’s this kind of ball that a young boy named Jorge Mario Bergoglio kicked around with his friends in the streets of Buenos Aires some 75 years ago.

As he eventually rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church, becoming a priest, an archbishop and then a cardinal, Jorge never forgot where he came from, and his love of soccer remained a constant. Today, he is known as Pope Francis, the first pontiff from a majority world country, and his special connection with children from the world’s poorest communities is symbolised by the iconic sockball they all once played with.

As one of the main activities of Socktober, the students will be making their own sockball to form a connection with the children we are supporting through the program. It is a reflection of the Head, Heart, Hands framework; when we can empathise with people in need, we feel even more compelled to offer what we can to support them. The sockball helps students to understand the reality for children who cannot afford to play with the balls to which we are accustomed in Australia.