3 July 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principals Address

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As mentioned in the last newsletter, our school underwent an External Review on the 17th /18th June. The COSI report was overwhelmingly positive and the panel were impressed with the school’s presentation and engagement in the process. It provided the following commendations and recommendations for the four chosen domains, three from the National School Improvement Tool (NSIT) and one from the Diocesan Catholic Identity Improvement Tool (CIIT).

Domain 2: Analysis and Discussion of Data

Commendations

Whole school data tracking – Excel spreadsheet
Professional Learning for staff eg NAPLAN Marking Guide
Use of a wide variety of assessments to collect data and to inform classroom practices
The tracking of behaviour data through Compass
Student-Led Conferences
Class Profiles identifying individual student needs and strategies for learning
Welfare meetings

Recommendations

Continue to develop practices for Professional Learning Teams (PLTs)
Refine Professional Learning Schedule with fewer priorities
More clearly defined role for Leading Teacher
Review School Wide Assessment Schedule
Provide parents with further information about what their children are learning

Domain 7: Differentiated Teaching and Learning

Commendations

School’s processes for catering for the learning needs of all students
Student Led conferences that discuss individual goals
Literacy and Numeracy blocks taught in a balanced format to allow for differentiation
Class profiles
Use of consistent teacher judgement through moderation of writing samples
Regular parent/carer contact with classroom teachers

Recommendations

Continue the school’s priority on differentiation
Focus on the growth of students in the middle bands for NAPLAN
Peer observations to model quality differentiation strategies
Consistent approach to feedback to students
Continued focus on writing for 2019 and Mathematics 2020

Domain 3: A Culture that Promotes Learning

Commendations

Whole school fortnightly focus on a Pillar of Learning
Tracking of attendance data through Compass
Use of Student-Led Conferences
Addressing behaviour management using Compass

Recommendations

Continue to develop the Induction process for staff, children and parents
Instructional walks by Leadership Team members
Continue you with PBL and fully implement policies and procedures for behaviour management
Fully implement the Early Learning Framework and focus on Gifted Education

CIIT: Spiritual Formation

Commendations

Introduction of student/parent prayer books
Use of Family Ministry Coordinator
The authentic relationship between school and clergy
The school’s acknowledgement of First Peoples
Development of a Catholic culture

Recommendations

The school adheres to a future focus on Spiritual Formation for staff, parents and students
Developing a sense of sacred and reimagining the chapel space
The development of a Social Justice Framework
Focus on ecological conversion (inclusion of Laudato Si) and faith in action

Some additional general commendations were:

A commitment to children’s learning and the active engagement of parents as partners in this process
The positive relationship with the parent community as evidenced by interviews with parents
Parents were positive about the direction of the school, communication between home and school, always feel welcomed and heard when speaking to executive and very positive about the Learning Support Team
Consistent compliance across three years of Curriculum Focus days

School’s introduction of PBL

The calm and settled culture of learning present in the school despite the constant growth each year

We should be, as staff, parents, students and parishioners, extremely proud of our great school.

In the next newsletter, I will outline four key themes identified by the panel that will form the focus of the development of future School Improvement Plans and a summary of survey results.

I hope you enjoy some quality time with your children over the school holidays.

With very best wishes,
Grant

Principal
Grant Diggins

Assistant Principals News

End of Semester One

We are now about to conclude our last week of Term 2, Semester 1; halfway through 2019.

How time flies when we are all so busy!

Holidays are fun, exciting and relaxing but remember learning can take place anywhere, anytime. Learning can be impromptu- on the go and spontaneous. Learning can be planned- a visit to the library, museum, park, city or country. The importance of having a school break from formal lessons is for families to be together, relax from routine and refresh to be ready to start again.

Until Term 3 begins, encourage your child to keep reading, work with mathematical concepts and investigate the world around them. This will help your child to continue their learning journey in Term 3; invigorated to set and meet new challenges and goals.

I wish a happy and safe holiday to all our families, and remember to keep looking after each other.

Assistant Principal
Anne Higgins

Religious Education Update

Sacraments of Initiation

Congratulations to all our children who have recently made their sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion and thank you to the parents who have sent in their beautiful photos.

We will be celebrating at school with a special Cake this Thursday.

New Playground Equipment

A huge thank you to the Maitland Men's Shed and our school P&F.

Our amazing P&F have been busy raising lots of money for our school. One project recently funded by them and built by the Maitland Men's Shed is the installation of a Mud Kitchen and Shop front for our playground and a "Little Library" that is located near the Aboriginal Totem poles at the back of the Learning Hub.

Our staff and children are very grateful for the wonderful support provided by the P&F and Men's Shed and feel blessed to be part of such a generous community.

Choir Ben Home Visit

Last Monday our school Choir visited Ben Home Nursing Home. They blew the residents away with a wonderful performance that included some exhilarating numbers from Queen.

Acting Religious Education Co-ordinator
Nicholas Hughes

Awards

Term 2 Week 9 and 10

Sport News

Positive Behaviours for Learning

Presenting our new PBL posters designed by Mrs Amanda Wood…

Rugby Trials

Congratulations to Ryder Weidemann and Linkin Yates who represented our school by playing in the Diocesan Rugby team which played in Forbes this week. Both boys played well but unfortunately neither one made it through to the next level.

Athletics

We wish our St Aloysius Athletics team all the best for the Cluster Athletics Carnival which is at Glendale Athletics Centre on Wednesday July 24 in week 1 next term.

Primary Coordinator (Acting)

STEM News

During Term 2 K-6 have been conducting investigations, producing design solutions and generally having a fantastic time being active and interested Scientists. Here a sample of what has been happening.

Grass heads – Year 2

Year 2 have been learning about the ‘Living World’ in particular how plants grow. Year 2 learnt about the essential items a plant needs to grow followed by planting and nurturing their very own grass plant. Once the grass plant were grown they were given a haircut and turned into very cool characters.

Toys – Year 4

Year 4 have been producing a design solution using the properties of different materials. Students needed to design and produce a toy for a Kinder to be able to play with. It was great to see Kindergartens coming to visit on Friday to test out our designs.

Solar Systems – Year 5

Year 5 have been investigating the movement of the planets and created some fantastic planet models. Students have been able to demonstrate a real depth of understanding about our solar system.

Jessica Moulder
Primary Coordinator
STEM Coordinator

Learning Hub News

Book Fair

It’s exciting times for the learning Hub in the first week back of Term 3. Our room will be converted into one big book shop. We will have both cash and EFTPOS facilities available for sales. We will be selling books before and after school with dates and times to be confirmed later this week.

PRC

Well done on the fantastic effort with the PRC. We are so close to having 100 students finished! The holidays are a perfect time for enjoying some reading and to log your books. If you have any problems during the break with your password, you can email Mrs Lilley for your details

carolyn.lilley@mn.catholic.edu.au

Book Returns

Can you please make sure all outstanding books are returned before the holidays. We will leave a blue tub outside the Learning Hub if you want to leave your books there before and after school. We will still be loaning books in Library sessions this week so the students can read over the holidays.

Community Library

If you are looking for a book to read we now have a free community library. It’s located at the back of the Learning Hub near the totem area and can be accessed from Tigerhawk Drive. People can simply reach in and take what book interests them and when they are done, they can return them to the library, or pass them on to friends. If anyone has a book or two that they think others within our community would enjoy, they can just pop it in if you happen to be walking past. Please take advantage of the seated area near the library to enjoy the books.

Maitland Library

As usual, Maitland Library has a huge array of fun activities on during the holidays. The theme for the July break is being artistic. Click here for more details.

Kind regards,
Catherine Creasey and Carolyn Lilley (St Aloysius library team)

Aboriginal Education News

Dear Families,

It is with great pleasure that I announce that I am expecting a baby in October.

I will finish up at the end of term 3 and will do a thorough handover with the new person taking over the role. At this stage I will be having 12 months off.

In the meantime we have work to do.

Our NAIDOC celebrations will be held on Wednesday 31st July. We have a special performance in the afternoon.

You are invited for afternoon tea from 1.30-2pm and are welcome to stay for our performance finishing at the end of the day.

All students are asked to wear red, black or yellow and bring a gold coin donation. Money raised will go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Classes will be involved in NAIDOC activities through the 2nd week back to school run by their class teachers.

I will be attending the ‘Voice, Treaty, Truth’ CSO mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral this coming Sunday the 7th July.

Clare Parker- Aboriginal Education Teacher

Student News

Defence Families Movie Night

The Defence Families Movie event was a great success and was enjoyed by all. It was lovely to have such a large attendance from our Defence families. We hope to see you all again at our family event next term.

Thank you to all the shops that provided door prizes for this special event.

Leesa Moore
DSTA.

Parent News

St Aloysius Feast Day

What a great day! Full of community spirit and a real sense of belonging.

We had a lovely Mass together in the morning followed by a beautiful morning tea, including a special cake to celebrate the Excellence in Community Emmaus Award. It was also shared with the recipients of the We Are Called awards and their families. Congratulation to the 22 children who received them.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and concert with Andrew Chinn. They had lots of fun!

A special thanks you to all the parents, family members and parishioners who joined us on this special occasion and to our wonderful staff for helping out on the day. It was great to have Father Paul celebrate our mass and one of our parents, Jacqueline Drewe for reading the gospel and giving a special blessing.

We are Called Awards 2019

Reports

Semester 1 reports will now go live on Compass, tomorrow Thursday 4th July, at which time they will be available to view, download and print. Please contact the school if you have any difficulties accessing them and your child’s teacher if you would like to arrange a follow-up appointment to discuss the report.

Please be reminded that a C grade is working at the expected level. A and B grades are above the expected level and D and E are below.

Pupil Free Day

Please be reminded that the first day of Term 3, Monday 22nd July, is a Pupil Free Day and the school will be closed. Our staff will be participating in a spiritual formation day on Ignatian Spirituality (based on the Jesuit order that St Aloysius belonged to). St Nicholas OOSH will be open and is currently taking bookings.

Offers for Kindergarten 2020

Parents who have applied for their children to commence Kindergarten at St. Aloysius in 2020 were notified by emailed today regarding placements and offers for next year.

Interrelate

Tuesday 10th September – St Aloysius School Hall

6-7pm Where did I come from? (years 3, 4, 5 & 6 and their parents/carers)

7:15-8:15pm Preparing for puberty (years 5 & 6 and their parents/carers, years 3 & 4 at parent's discretion, and their parents/carers)

Cost $32 per family to attend one session

Cost $37 per family to attend both sessions

Payments can be made using Qkr.

P&F News

Pie Drive

Collection is set for Friday the 5th of July from the rear entrance to the chapel (next to the OOSH door). Times will be broadcast on Compass soon.

We raised $1300, which has been donated back to the school for the Creative Arts Department.

2020 Markets

The committee to start the organisation of the 2020 twilight markets will hold its first meeting on Friday the 2nd of August 6:30-7 pm at the Commercial Hotel in Morpeth.

The success of the markets will depend on volunteers, and we aim to have a team of between 10-15 to help organise with 1-2 coordinators.

If you are unable to come but would like to be a part of the team please email the P&F. Otherwise, if you are able to come, please RSVP to help determine numbers.

Representative Sporting Uniforms

Civcon Water Services have generously donated money towards athletics singlets. Students representing the school will wear these during athletics and cross country carnival events.

Two families have purchased four sets of netball bibs for our teams participating in gala days. The P&F have also purchased an additional two sets of bibs using the money that was raised from the School Disco.

A big thank you these families and Civcon Waters Services for your donations.

The P&F will purchase two additional water coolers for the school. The coolers are used at sporting events, discos and the school colour run.

Have a great holiday and we hope to see you at the next meeting on Monday the 29th of July.

St Aloysius P&F
staloysiuspandf@outlook.com

Staff News

Fiona Martin (Year 6 teacher) will be on Parental Leave from Monday 26th August (Term 3 Week 6) until 17th July 2020. Peter O’Sullivan has been appointed until the end of this year as her replacement. Laura Honeyman will cover Peter’s 0.4 RFF allocation during this time.

Interviews for the REC position (from 2020 in a permanent capacity) were held yesterday. The successful applicant will be announced once an appointment has been made.

We also welcome back next term, Samantha Berry, our Teacher/Librarian, who will be returning from maternity leave. Sam will work in the Learning Hub Wednesday to Friday and Catherine Creasey will continue on Monday and Tuesday.

Canteen News

If you don't see your name on the roster and you can spare an hour or two and you have completed the schools necessary volunteer paperwork (induction and WWCC), then please give me a call or send an email and I will gladly add you.

Thank you to all volunteers. Hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday. See you in a couple of weeks.

OOSH News

Please see the attached Vacation Care Program for the upcoming July holidays

St Nicholas Before and After School Care

Before care: 6.30am- 8.50am
After care: 2.50pm- 6.00pm
Holiday Club: 7:00-6:00pm
Coordinator: Ashleigh
Service Ph: 0419 697 715

Dates to Remember

Wednesday 3rd July – Creative Arts Gala
Thursday 4th July – Student Reports go live on Compass
Friday 5th July – Last day Term 2
Friday 5th July – Pie Drive Collection Day
Monday 22nd July – PUPIL FREE DAY
Tuesday 23rd July – First day of Term 3 for students
Friday 26th July – Grandparents Day
Wednesday 31st July – NAIDOC Celebrations – Gold coin donations (Wear red/black or yellow)
Friday 2nd August – 2020 Market Meeting 6:30-7 pm at the Commercial Hotel in Morpeth
Tuesday 10th September – Interrelate
Thursday 12th – Friday 13th September - Year 4 Point Wolstencroft
Tuesday 17th December - Year 6 Graduation