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TRANSCRIPT
Our Spirit
20 July 2017 WEEK 1 TERM 3
Dear Parents and Carers As you may be aware, I have written snippets about homework in the newsletter over the last 6 months and posted interesting articles on our Facebook page. The staff have also been reading, learning and looking at some new options. We have decided to accept what Alfie Kohn says, ‘be willing to grapple, swallow hard and challenge traditional aspects of schooling’. We know what research is telling us, we experience that traditional homework is not working, weekly spelling tests are quickly forgotten and that homework creates unnecessary pressure on students and families. We understand that homework can cause physical and emotional fatigue, fuels negative attitudes about learning and robs children of time to develop other life skills. We know that many parents are both working an that family time is becoming more and more precious. However, we also acknowledge the need to students to develop some time management skills and to build independence. Sooo…...we are not getting rid of homework, but…….are trialling something new in some year levels. K-2 READING, SIGHT WORDS AND MORE READING! Nothing overly new here, but homework will only focus on reading skills, as reading is the gateway to all learning. (Year 2 may have the occasional project too!) 3-6 PASSION PROJECTS (and reading of course) - for the next 2 terms Years 3-6 will trial a Passion Project as homework. The purpose of this task is for students to learn something new; something that they have always wanted to know about or be able to do. Maybe they have always wanted to learn how to play a new instrument or build a model of something. Perhaps they want to create a family cookbook, complete a family tree or even conduct a science investigation. There is absolutely no limit to what a student can learn as long as they are passionate about the subject area. Through the completion of a Passion Project students will gain new skills, knowledge and understanding about something that is important to them. They will still have to read, research, draft, edit, plan their time, work with parents, etc—all important life skills. The catch is students will have to learn this information or skill well enough to share this knowledge with their peers and teachers at the end of the term. How they present it will be entirely up to them. The possibilities are endless depending on their interests—iMovie, Keynote, PowerPoint, poster, brochure, Slide Show, speech, advertisement, album cover, biography, blog, board game, comic strip, mural, questionnaire, website……… only limited by their imagination! We hope this new approach will motivate and engage students in their learning. It is also flexible enough to be completed over the term and be family friendly. We also hope it gives students the time to be a kid! Kick a ball, play outside, walk the dog, help with dinner, get off the device and have fun. Teachers will be sending information home about homework this week or next. The School Board and the P&F will evaluate the program later in the year.
ALIVE WITH THE
SPIRIT, WE
CELEBRATE FAITH,
LEARNING AND
LIFE.
School Address
Kelleway Avenue
Nicholls ACT 2913
School website
www.holyspirit.act.
edu.au
office.holyspirit@
cg.catholic.edu.au
Phone
6241 8640
H o l y S p i r i t P r i m a r y S c h o o l
Dates to
Remember In
February
3 Way Learning
Conversations
NEXT WEEK
Some Term 3 reminders…..
School starting time is 8.55am sharp. Students arriving late will need to be signed in at the Front Office.
Supervision commences at 8.30am and NO STUDENT should be at school before 8.30am. Students arriving
before 8.30am are unsupervised. Please use before school care if necessary.
A student’s hair should be cut off their face and, if longer than shoulder length, it must be tied back in an
appropriate school coloured band. Hair should also be of natural colour and extreme haircuts are not
permitted.
No jewellery should be worn to school and only plain studs and watches are acceptable. No bracelets,
bangles, sparkly ear rings, nail polish, make up, etc are allowed. Small sleepers are only permitted with
written recommendation from a medical practitioner.
Correct School Uniform must be worn at all times. Students who continually wear incorrect uniform will
receive a reminder note to be sent home to their parents.
Black canvas type school shoes are not part of the school uniform. The only school shoes allowed at Holy
Spirit Primary School are the traditional or formal black leather school shoes.
On sport days, sports shoes are to be predominantly white.
Students with Mobile Phones are asked to switch the phone off and leave it in their bags. If mobile phones
are heard or sighted during school time they will be confiscated. The School takes no responsibility for lost
or broken mobile phones.
Students who are collected by their parents during the day for appointments must be signed out/in at the
Front Office before and after the appointment.
Parents visiting the school to assist must have a Working with Vulnerable People Card and are also asked to
sign in at Front Office and receive a Visitor’s Badge.
Please ensure that the School always has up to date contact and emergency details for your children.
Holy Spirit Primary School is a NUT FREE School. Please remember this when preparing recess and lunch,
including peanut butter, Nutella, cakes with nuts, etc.
Dogs are not allowed on school premises.
Afternoon messages regarding changes to the afternoon routine must be received by the Front Office by
2.30pm or we cannot guarantee your child/ren will receive the message.
Medical details must be updated and sent to the Front Office.
Students must wear a bike helmet if they are riding or scootering to and from school. Parents will be asked
to collect their child from school if they are not wearing a helmet.
Carpark - Please remember to be patient and considerate of others when driving in the car parks. School carparks are notoriously dangerous and ALL PARENTS are asked to be patient and alert. If you are in a
hurry, collect your children early or wait until after 3.30pm when the carpark is less congested. Absences from school – it is a legal requirement that all absences are explained. Please notify the school
of your child’s absence by either : Using the App; Calling the Front Office followed by a note to the classroom teacher indicating date and reason for
absence; Emailing the Front Office at [email protected] indicating your child’s name, class,
reason for absence and date; Sending a note to the classroom teacher indicating date and
reason for absence.
Our Spirit
STAFF NEWS This term we welcome:
Shannon Pennay who is taking Year 4 while Ryan Spencer is on long service leave. Leigh Barwell who is replacing Tina Santamouris as our Classroom Support Assistant while she is also in
long service leave for the rest of the year. In a few weeks we will welcome Darren Roberts, replacing Melissa Heffernan when she commences
maternity leave. Darren has already started doing relief at the school. Cheers Brad Gaynor Principal [email protected]
Our Spirit
First Reconciliation and Eucharist Thank you to all the parents and carers who have enrolled their children in the
preparation program for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and Eucharist.
A few reminders as we begin the program this week:
Please make sure that you have provided the written enrolment form, and
a copy of your child’s baptism certificate, to the Parish Office. These can
be put in the red box in the church foyer at any of the Masses this week-
end.
Please ensure payment has been made to the school
Children should be completing Week 1 of the Home Program this week (see below)
All children must attend Mass this weekend to collect their first puzzle piece and their Mass booklets. Mass
times are: Saturday 6pm, Sunday 9:30 am and Sunday 5:30pm.
Children should then bring the Mass Book each weekend so they can follow along and learn the responses of
the Mass.
If you have any questions about the Home Program, enrolment, or any other aspect of the Sacramental program
please contact me.
Working with you in faith
Catherine Doig
REC
The Home Program for this week
Week One: 17-23 July
Our focus this week is on gathering and belonging. The parish community gathers each weekend at Mass. Like
any family, we grow in our relationships with one another and with God when we spend time together.
This week talk to your child about what it means to belong to a group.
What groups do they belong to now?
How can they help others to feel welcome when they join a new group?
What does it mean to make a commitment to a sporting team, music
group etc?
What about your school class, your family or your parish?
At your family meal pray together ……
We light this candle of belonging. May our actions this
week show others that they are welcome the way
Jesus welcomes everyone. Amen.
When you come to Mass this
week your child will be given a
Mass Book. Please help them as
they follow the Mass each week
from their book. It is good for
them to learn the responses.
Our Spirit
YEAR 5 PARISH MASS Sunday 6 August 2017
Throughout the year the Holy Spirit Parish has been celebrating grade masses. On Sunday 13 August we will celebrate the Year 5 grade parish mass.
We warmly welcome Holy Spirit’s Year 5 students and their families, along with Good Shepherd and Mother Teresa Year 5 students and families to come along to the 9.30am mass.
The Year 5 students will be learning a song to sing during this mass. We also invite families to stay for morning tea afterwards.
We look forward to seeing you there.
WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS NEWS
Celebrating our learning
This term we will explore the theme ‘Celebrating our Learning’. We will align our Whole School Focus with the goals students will set during their Three Way Learning Conversations (with their teachers and parents), the Passion Projects students will be working on all term as well Growth Mindset. This term we will explore the fact that we are all connected. Each one of us, as children of God, has been created in God’s image, in love and called to love. The learning we refer to this term in our theme ‘Celebrating our learning’ is the learning about self; coming to understand who we truly are and what this means for others, the world and ourselves. It moves beyond academic learning or acquiring a new skill (which we commonly think of when we see the word learning written anywhere). It’s coming to understand that as humans we all are loved and accepted – just as we are, imperfections and all. We have value and add value to our world through our actions. It’s learning that we can set goals to improve ourselves - and that these goals, when connected to our sense of service create the growth which allow us to have a positive impact on everyone around us. Our learning this term revolves around the notion that the world is bigger than me. It’s changing our mindset from ‘I’ where phrases like ‘I need’ and ‘I want’ dominate to a we mentality. As our understanding of the interconnectedness of our lives with one another and the world develops, our actions begin to change. We begin thinking of the implications of our actions on others, we naturally look for ways to reach out and serve and we start to make sacrifices for something or somebody else. Our Whole School Focus this term is about finding our truth and living our truth – no easy feat as this can involve suffering and sacrifice. However, the freedom we find when we live this way surpasses all things.
T h e g r e a t e s t l e s s o n w e c a n l e a r n – i s t o l o v e ! L o v e h a s a l l t h e a n s w e r s .
Library News
Scholastic Book Club: This is a marvellous fundraiser for our library and are so grateful for your continued support. With every purchase you make the Library receives points. As these points accumulate we are able to purchase new books for your children’s enjoyment in the library. The next issue will be sent home in the coming weeks.
There are 4 ways in which you can pay for your orders: 1. Credit Card: Online or Phone
Return Order form with receipt number to the Library, in a sealed and clearly labelled envelope with your child’s name and class.
2. Cash Place cash and order form in a sealed and labelled envelope and return it to the Library.
3. Cheque or Credit Voucher Make cheques payable to Scholastic Australia. Attach cheque or voucher to a completed order form and return to the Library in a sealed and
labelled envelope.
4. LOOP! The easiest and the best First create a profile for your child
Select “GOLD CREEK & HOLY SPIRIT” then follow the prompts. Place order
NOTE: there is also an App for your chosen device.
Book Week: We are very excited about Book Week, as always, in the Library. We will be celebrating books and reading again this year, during book week as well as Literacy & Numeracy Week. Throughout the term students will be look-ing at the shortlisted book and will participate in some activities during Library lessons.
Book Week Parade will be Wednesday Week 7, during Focus Assembly time. The theme this year is Escape to Everywhere. For students wishing to dress up on this day we are strongly encourage you to keep it simple and based on a book character where possible. After all, we are celebrating books.
Returns: Thank you parents and friends for assisting in reminding your children to return their books on time. There are still quite a few that have yet to be returned.
Library Bags If anyone has an excess of shopping bags, of any sort, we will gladly accept them here for emergency library bag use. Alternatively, here is a link if you would like to make you own from an old t-shirt. https://www.mommypotamus.com/no-sew-t-shirt-tote-bag-tutorial/ it’s super easy and can be made in 10 minutes.
Thank you, Kathy Talbot and Atina Hrstic
ACTING BOOT CAMP
NIDA is running an acting boot camp for students in Years 3-6 in
Canberra! It’s a fast paced intensive course for acting recruits:
building skills in improvisation, character and scene work.
Dates: 7/8 October Cost: $325 or $295 early bird
For more details see Julie Jenkins
Holy Spirit THINK-A-THON
Term 3 2017
This term, Holy Spirit will be holding a Think-a-thon to raise funds for use in projects to benefit the students of our school. One of our focus areas this year has been on developing a Growth Mindset, therefore the Think-a-thon supports our work in teaching and learning as well. This is the school’s major fundraiser for the year.
In a Think-a-thon, students ask family members and family friends to sponsor them an amount for each thinking challenge they participate in, or donate/sponsor a total amount of money. Students in Pre-school to Year 6 will participate in 10 thinking challenges. A note was sent home this week with information about our Think-a-thon. Sponsorship cards will be sent home on Monday.
Please support this Pre-school to Year 6 fundraiser.
Don’t forget to book a time to meet with the teacher to discuss your child/children’s progress and goals for Semester 2. Learning Conversations are for teachers, parents and the student and will be held NEXT WEEK.
Bookings can be made by accessing the following online booking system:
www.schoolinterviews.com.au
Use the code: dqm9y and press GO
Select the teacher, the time and then click finish. You will receive an email as confirmation.
Bookings close on FRIDAY 21 JULY at 4pm.
Don’t miss this valuable opportunity work in partnership with your child’s teacher to celebrate their learning.
Teachers will not be chasing up parents who have not made appointments.
3 Way Learning Conversations
Keep your brain fit!
OSHCLUB Program Update Welcome back to term 3, we are certainly excited to be back for another fun filled term!
At OSHclub this term we have introduced a new menu to reflect the colder weather. We are providing a hot
veggie option for the kids in the afternoon (such as peas, corn, brocolli & steamed carrots) and in the morning
we are providing a hot 'special' option (such as ham, cheese & tomato toasties, boiled eggs and of course
Shona's famous pancakes)
This term we are focussing a lot on different cultures from around the world. This week our focus has been on
Indigenous Australia. We have learnt a lot and made lots of different craft activities for our Indigenous Australia
display. If you have any ideas for activities please let any of our Coordinators know!
Just a reminder that if your child attends OSHclub and you have noted on their enrollment that they have any
medical conditions we need the correct paper work filled out ASAP. Please speak to one of our friendly
coordinators if you are unsure of what you need to provide.
Stacey has had her baby, a beautiful little boy named Sam, so for the rest of the year Emma will be taking over
in the Magicians (year 3) room. We have also welcomed a new program manager, Lee Pederick. If you have any
questions please feel free to come and see us at any point!
Here is an overview of some of the fun activities we have been up to this week:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Before School
Care
Assorted bird origami Dodgeball
Make your own puzzle Golden child
Aboriginal rain sticks Koolchee
Animal fin-ger painting Balloon soc-cer
Paper plate lorax Musical statues
After School
Care
Aboriginal sand paintings Kai Wed
Australian Damper Bread Soccer
Chocolate game Oval Fun
Knitting Club Obstacle course
Aboriginal rock painting Rope Swings
Parent Information
OSHClub Nicholls Phone: 0402 611 484
Program Manager: Lee Pederick Coordinators: Emma, Luke, Jacqui & Reannon
OSHClub Head Office: 03 8564 9000
All families must be enrolled to attend the program, remember enrolment is Free!! Please create an account online at www.oshclub.com.au. All bookings and cancellations can be managed via your online account. For on the day bookings please contact the Coordinators directly on the above number.
STUDENT WELFARE NEWS KIDSMATTER PRIMARY Mental Health Difficulties This year in Kidsmatter Primary we are investigating Component 4: Helping Students Experiencing Mental Health Difficulties. The Kidsmatter Primary website has some excellent resources and information. Today I have included a link to some information about the benefits of teaching children mindfulness. Mindfulness training has been to shown to reduce the severity of depression, anxiety and ADHD in children. Mindfulness builds resilience by giving children skills to help them to cope better with stress, as well as engage more fully with themselves and the world. Mindfulness for children MINI VINNIES NEWS On the last day of last term, Mini Vinnies organised a fabulous fund raiser in the form of a Pyjama Day! Everyone got on board, teachers included, and wore their PJs, Onsies and dressing gowns etc! The gold coin donations will be used to fund more good works by our Mini Vinnies group. These will include making sandwiches for the Night Patrol to give to the homeless, putting together personal care packs for the homeless and Christmas gifts for the elderly and lonely, in hospital at Christmas time. The Vinnies Winter Appeal continues and we thank you all for your kind donations of clean, warm items of clothing, blankets etc. These items may be dropped off at the front office until Monday next week (25th July). SEASONS FOR GROWTH We will be running the Seasons for Growth program at Holy Spirit Primary this term. I have added some information about it below. I will also send home some general information to the eldest child in each family. If you would like more information concerning the program and how we will run it, please email me and I will happily provide what you need. What is Seasons for Growth®? Seasons for Growth® is based on the belief that change and loss are part of life and grief is a normal response to these losses. Children, young people and adults need the opportunity to learn about how death, separation, divorce or other significant loss events may impact on their lives. The Seasons for Growth® programs provide an opportunity for participants to learn the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to understand and respond well to such experiences. The Seasons for Growth® Children and Young People’s Program: supports children and young people to understand and respond well to the issues they experience as a result
of death, separation, divorce or other significant change and loss in their lives assists children and young people to understand that their feelings and other reactions are normal develops skills for coping, problem solving and decision making builds a peer support network helps restore self-confidence and self-esteem educates children and young people about the grief process.
The program is based on small group like-to-like peer learning processes (4–7 participants with 1 adult ‘Companion’), creating a safe space for children and young people aged 6–18 years to practise new ways of thinking and responding to change and loss in their lives. The emphasis is on understanding the effects of change, loss and grief, whilst developing skills in communication, decision making and problem solving. The program is underpinned throughout by an emphasis on the development of children and young people’s identity (‘I am’), relationships (‘I have’) and competence (‘I can’), helping to build self-confidence, self-esteem and a felt sense of belonging and connection. The Seasons for Growth® program is evidence based and relies on research, strategies and techniques consistent with high quality, psychosocial education. The program has a sound curriculum structure and incorporates a wide range of age-appropriate activities including writing, drawing, discussion, stories, role play, music, guided meditation and journaling. Children’s learning is largely generated through these activities and the conversations that emerge from stories shared, questions asked, skills learnt and friendships developed. This child-centred approach to learning encourages participants to not only value who they are and the particular ‘story’ they have, but also to modify where necessary their thinking, attitudes, beliefs and constructs about life and to ‘take charge’ of their behaviours. As de Winter and colleagues (1999) point out:
‘Learning by doing, learning by participation instead of exclusion is to be considered as a powerful tool to promote self-confidence, self-respect and a sense of control over one's own life.’
SAFE SCHOOLS HUB The Safe Schools Hub for Parents provides you with information and resources that you may find useful in helping to make your child's school experience a positive and happy one. Get ideas on how to stay cyber safe, and how to deal positively with bullying and harassment. You'll also find out about encouraging self-respect and protective behaviours in your child. The following is a link to the Safe Schools Hub website which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education. http://safeschoolshub.edu.au/for-parents PLAY GROUPS Holy Spirit Play Group We are pleased to be able to continue our play group this year and we invite parents and carers to join us in our new Play Group Room (which is the classroom closest to the sandpit and covered playground) from 9.00am – 11.00am on Thursday mornings, please feel free to come along during term time. Cheeky Cherubs Playgroup is held in the same room on Wednesday mornings from 9.00-11.00; it is run through ACT Playgroups. There are limited places and a small fee does apply to this group so if you would like further information please contact the front office. Always feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance, at [email protected] Sharon Harrison School Welfare Officer