Week 2 Term 2 2021

Principal's Message

Welcome back to the new Term. What a great start we have had! Beginning with a glorious day for our School Cross Country Carnival last week and this week engaging in lots of activities to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education for Catholc School Week.

Cross Country                                                                                                                                                                                I wish to thank Mr Flint and Miss McEvoy for organising a great Cross Country Carnival. Congratulations go to the students for all their efforts and for the many parents and grandparents who could join us on the day. The running events were followed up by some sand sclpting activities which as your eyes spanned across the beach all heads were down and children were busy sculpting. It was certainly very tempting to take a dip in the crystal clear water but unfortunately it was not on the agenda for the day.

Catholic Schools Week                                                                                                                                                            This week began with a show from Brainstorm called The Magic Words. The children have given some good feedback and were highly engaged in the show. We weren't able to have this show last year due to covid and the performers being unable to come across the borders. So it was great to finally be able to have an incursion.

On Tuesday, many parents came into school to join us for Maths actvities. The children were so excited to have visitors in their classroom and I think there was some healthy competition happening between parent and child. Again it was so nice to have visitors in the school and we look forward to having more opportunities throughout the year.

On Wednesday, Fr Michael led a lovely Mass for Catholic Schools Week. Miss McEvoy and Stage 1 did a great job preparing the mass and doing some beautiful readings. Another lifted covid restriction allowed us to sing again which was a delightful change.

Today the students will be writing 200 letters for 200 years of Catholic education. These letters will be written to the residents of Coolamon Village hoping to spark some joy and warm their hearts.

On Friday, we are asking the students to come dressed in Australian Colonial Dress Up. The students can order a special meal from the canteen and we will cut a cake to celebrate as well.

Pupil Free Day -Wednesday 5th May                                                                                                                                Please note that next Wednesday is a pupil free day as all staff across the Diocese will be participating in Proclaim Lismore Staff.  We appreciate this will create inconvenience for some families but are sincerely appreciate of this support.

Statement of Intent                                                                                                                                                                    Please find attached a letter outlining the Statement of Intent agreed to by NSW Catholic School, Association of Indepent Schools NSW and NSW Dept of Education. Read through and fine the survey link in which parents are encouraged to complete.

National Conistency of Data Collection                                                                                                                            Please see the attached information regarding the upcoming data collection in August to ensure access to equal eduaction for all students in all schools. Please note that all data collected is deidentified.

Principal Awards Week 1

Assistant Principal's Message

Anzac Day

A BIG thank you to all those children and families who came along to the ANZAC Day commemorations and march last Sunday. Once again we had a really strong contingent of St John’s students representing our community. Special thanks to Tanesa and Omar who laid a wreath at the Mullumbimby War Memorial on behalf of the school.

In sports news we have a strong team of runners heading up to Murwillumbah this Friday to represent the school at the Tweed Zone Cross Country Carnival. It is a great opportunity for our students to challenge themselves amongst stronger competitors, win, lose or draw. It doesn't matter as long as they do their best.

St John’s NAPLAN dates 2021

The NAPLAN assessment window for 2021 is between 11th and 21st of May. We will be conducting our assessments on the following dates:

Tuesday 11th of May writing

Wednesday 12th of May reading and language conventions(spelling & punctuation). 

Thursday 13th of May numeracy.

Friday 14th NAPLAN catch-up assessments.

Best regards Greg

ANZAC PARADE

Teaching & Learning

ICAS Assessments 

ICAS assessments are an annual competition designed for recognising academic excellence in high potential students. Participation in the assessments is optional. All students receive a general overview of their performance and awards which can be used to build their academic portfolios. ICAS Assessments provide students with additional challenge and extension within a competitive environment. All  participants gain a printed certificate of achievement and the highest achievers have an opportunity to win medals and attend medal ceremonies held annually. Parents pay for their child to participate. The assessments, dates and costs are listed below. If you would like your child to enter, please email me by 30th May and  I will provide you with further  information.

Naomi O’Dwyer (naomi.odwyer@lism.catholic.edu.au)

Overviews

Stage 3, Term 2 Overview 2021

English                                                                                                                                                                                   

This term during the English block we will be focusing on persuasive and entertaining texts which will include reading and writing. We will continue using the Sound Waves approach to spelling.  Students will be using a variety of persuasive and entertaining techniques so they can gain an understanding of the devices authors use to engage the reader. The unit has a writing focus but includes speaking and listening.  Students will interpret and compose other forms of persuasive and entertaining texts. The purpose of these units is to explicitly teach students how to write engaging and persuasive texts with a clear purpose and audience in mind. Students will be exposed to a number of texts by authors, they will read, comprehend, deconstruct and reconstruct to assist them in developing the skills to write independently. 

Mathematics                                                                                                                                                                                This term's program consists of ten one-week learning cycles. Each learning cycle addresses a sub-strand of the Mathematics syllabus. Conceptual links are made every two weeks between a number sub-strand and the following measurement, geometry or statistics and probability sub-strands.

The Maths block will in general largely follow the format below- however it will vary depending on the content being delivered;

1. Warm up- fundamental maths skills - using current MAI data to inform
2. Rich Task- getting down into the pit- problem for children to solve using existing strategies and discoveries they make.
3. Reflection- on learning - explicit teaching of content connected through the reflection process.

Topics: Wk 1 Multiplication/Division; Wk 2 Area; Wk 3 - Fraction/Decimal; Wk 4 Data; Wk 5-Multiplication/ Division ; Wk6 3D; Wk 7-Fraction/Decimal; Wk 8 Mass; Wk 9 ; Multiplication/Division; Wk 10 Volume / Capacity 

Religion                                                                                                                                                                                            5.3 Easter                                                                                                                                                                                      In this unit the students reflect on the hope and new life that Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection brings to his disciples and followers. The unit examines the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Jesus and the Church’s belief in everlasting life. Students will explore how belief in the Resurrection influences the way we live. The unit concludes by focusing on the Easter Vigil.

5.4 Pentecost                                                                                                                                                                                This unit explores the presence of the Spirit of God in all creation, in the early Christian community, in individuals and the community today. The students will examine how the fruit of the Spirit are visible signs of the presence of the Spirit.

History                                                                                                                                                                                      The Stage 3 curriculum moves from colonial Australia to the development of Australia as a nation, particularly after 1900. Students explore democracy and citizenship over time. Students understand the significance of Australia's system of government. Students learn about the way of life for people who migrated to Australia and their contributions to Australia's economic and social development. 

Science                                                                                                                                                                                              This term in Stage 3 we are focusing on the difference between contact and non-contact forces and how energy is transformed from one form to another. Students are provided with an opportunity to investigate how electrical energy can control movement in products and systems

Creative and Performing Arts                                                                                                                                          Students make artworks for a variety of audiences using different forms and techniques to convey meaning. Students will discuss artworks in terms of how subject matter is used, the artists intention and audience interpretation. The students have had previous experience of line drawing and adding colour using a variety of mediums

Personal Development and Health (PDH)                                                                                                                       This PDH unit ‘You, Me and Us’ will assist students to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to empower them to make healthy and safe choices and take action to promote the health and wellbeing of their communities.

Physical Education (PE)                                                                                                                                                    The strand Movement Skill and Performance focuses on active participation in a broad range of movement contexts to develop movement skill and enhance performance. Students develop confidence and competence to engage in physical activity. They develop an understanding of movement concepts and the features of movement composition as they engage in a variety of planned and improvised movement experiences. Students create and compose movement to achieve specific purposes and performance goals. Sports day is on Thursday.

Stage 2 Term 1 Overview 2021 

English                                                                                                                                                                                      This unit will have a speaking and listening focus. The children will at first be immersed in a number of persuasive speeches and advertisements. We will review the language devices and structures used in a persuasive speech. The children will be required to participate in a number of short persuasive speaking tasks and games at various points during the learning cycle. This unit will also include modelled, shared, guided and independent reading and writing which will link to the other KLA focus where appropriate so the children are reading and writing for a real purpose. We will also be using the  Soundwaves Spelling program this year which is taught every day.

WK 1-3 PDH: Healthy Communities                                                                                                                                    During this unit Students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to empower them to make healthy and safe choices and take action to promote the health and wellbeing of their communities. Students engage with a range of health issues and identify strategies to keep them healthy, safe and active.

WK 4-10 Science: Earth’s Changes                                                                                                                                        In this unit students will investigate changes to the earth's surface so that they can make informed decisions about our impact on the environment. 

History:                                                                                                                                                                                     This unit provides opportunities for students to explore issues related to Australia's original inhabitants, the British arrival and occupation of Australia, and how they have formed the basis of the culture we know today.

Mathematics                                                                                                                                                                                              This Term the Mathematics block will be completed in 5 x 2 week learning cycles, with a rotation between varying mathematical sub-strands. Mathematics lessons begin with warm-ups, followed by a rich problem solving task and periodically throughout lessons students reflect on their learning and share their thinking or strategies. Explicit teaching occurs throughout the lesson at the point of need for the students. The topics for this term are:

WK 1-2 Patterns and Algebra & Chance               

WK 3-4 Fractions and Decimals  & Angles

WK 5-6 Addition/Subtraction & Position        

WK 7-8 Addition/Subtraction & 2D Space

WK 9-10 Whole Number & Time

Religion                                                                                                                                                                                            This term in religion, stage 2 will cover two units -                                                                                              Easter: A time to live the good news                                                                                                                                  This unit begins with the experience of the disciples at the first Easter. It explores the presence of the risen Jesus in the parish community and in the Word of God. The unit focuses on the celebration of Easter and on the Liturgy of the Word. It locates Easter within the mission of the parish as it celebrates and responds to God’s Word.                                                                                               Pentecost: The Holy Spirit gives us Courage                                                                                                                  This unit explores the courage needed to bear witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit, alive and active in our lives, who gives us the courage to follow Jesus.  The unit focuses on exploring examples of people (apostles, saints and heroes) who demonstrate courage in their lives.  They model for us the courage to live as witnesses who speak the truth. 

Visual Arts                                                                                                                                                                                    In the unit students will:                                                                                                                                                    *Explore their own identity through developing a range of self portraits.                                                  *Develop their knowledge and understanding of the art elements (form, line, shape, space, value, texture and colour).                                                                                                                                                  *Analyse the compositional devices and techniques used by artists to communicate to audiences, which students will then apply to their own artworks.                                                                                    *Reflect on their own artwork and explain their intentions in regard to line, shape and colour to their peers.                                                                                                                                                                       *Create images of movable objects from memory and direct observation. The unit will culminate in an Art showcase for parents and the local community.

Physical Education: Athletics                                                                                                                                        Students develop confidence and competence to engage in physical activity. They develop an understanding of movement concepts and the features of movement composition as they engage in a variety of planned and improvised movement experiences. Students create and compose movement to achieve specific purposes and performance goals. Through movement experiences students also develop self-management and interpersonal skills to support them to strive for enhanced performance and participation in a lifetime of physical activity

Stage 1 Term 1 Overview 2021 

English:                                                                                                                                                                                    This term will consist of 2 x 5 week cycles of English with the first unit having an Integrated History focus.. These units will include modelled, shared, guided and independent reading and writing which will link to the other KLA focus where appropriate so the children are reading and writing for a real purpose.  Soundwaves Spelling program will also be part of our literacy block. Reading  and Viewing are part of our daily routine and there is a strong focus on this during investigations. 

WK 1-5 History: ‘The Past In The Present’ - During this combined English and History unit, students will explore what life was like in the past, and how the past has influenced the way we live today. Through quality literature, multimedia texts, photographs and newspapers, students will discover that authors create texts for different purposes and audiences. Students will learn to identify author intent while making connections between the texts to their life experiences. Students will identify and describe significant landmarks, people and events in the local community, while also investigating artifacts from the past and how technology has changed, and continues to evolve, over time. 

WK 6-10: ‘Surround Sound’ - Through this unit, students will engage in multimodal texts to develop an understanding, and skills of persuasion. Students will create a digital persuasive presentation on their chosen topic. Students will incorporate persuasive techniques and use voiceover, music and other sound effects to enhance persuasion. 

Maths:                                                                                                                                                                                      This term the mathematics block will be completed in 5 x 2 week learning cycles, with a rotation between varying mathematical  sub-strands. Maths lessons begin with warm-ups, followed by a rich problem solving task and periodically throughout lessons students reflect on their learning and share their thinking or strategies. Explicit teaching occurs throughout the lesson at the point of need for the students.THe topics for this term are:

WK 1-2 Whole Number & 3D Space                  WK 3-4 Addition and Subtraction & Chance/Data              WK 5-6 Fractions and Decimals & Time        WK 7-8 Multiplication and Division & Area                          WK 9-10 Whole Number & Mass

Religion:                                                                                                                                                                                        WK 1-5 - ‘The Easter Season’ - After recalling the Resurrection story, this unit explores light as a symbol in the Easter Vigil. The unit also highlights the place of Baptism in the Easter Vigil. In recalling Pentecost, the unit explores the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

WK 6-10 - ‘Signs of God’s Love’ - This unit introduces the Church’s liturgical year, relating the key seasons and symbols to the events of Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection. The unit also presents the story of the Exodus, a foundational story in which the People of God pass from slavery to freedom through the waters of the Red Sea. The significance of water and other key liturgical symbols is explored. 

Science:                                                                                                                                                                                            ‘Energy Around Us’ - This unit  focuses on the identification of light, sound and heat energy, and how they are sensed and produced. This strand allows students to further develop their understanding of forces and energy and how these can be used for specific purposes in products. Their design task uses students' detailed knowledge of sound and forces to create a musical instrument.

Creative and Performing Arts: Visual Arts                                                                                                                    The unit provides students with guiding questions that they can explore in either a home or school environment. Students will explore line drawing, portraits and shape development. They will receive feedback from their teacher and submit a final product. Visual literacy tasks will be built into the unit with the students explaining their thoughts and planning in regard to visual arts tasks.

Physical Education:

Students are provided with opportunities to learn through movement. They broaden the range and complexity of movement skills they are able to perform and learn how to apply simple movement skills and sequences individually, in groups and in teams.

Health:

Throughout this unit students will develop the skills and knowledge to allow them to make safe and healthy decisions about their lifestyles. Students will engage with a range of health issues and develop strategies that will keep themselves and others safe. 

Investigations:

Investigations will take place 4 mornings per week. During investigations, children develop skills for the curriculum and skills for life. They are involved in investigative learning which links to our current curriculum focus and areas of student interest. Activities are planned to develop the students cognitive, language, physical, social and emotional learning domains. Students will be on a rotating focus child roster that has been sent home.

Kindergarten Unit Overviews Term 2 2021

English - Let’s Read                                                                                                                                                                  In this unit, students develop their knowledge of concepts about print as they engage in a range of modelled and shared reading experiences. Students are taught specific skills and strategies for reading and comprehension. They learn to express themselves and respond to a variety of texts.

This unit provides a general framework for teaching shared and guided reading. Students will use marine animals as a theme throughout the unit drawing on informative texts to gain information about how the animal moves, what it looks like and where it lives. This unit will be partially taught through investigations which tap into student interests and link to curriculum skills and concepts.

Maths Topics:                                                                                                                                                                              Week 1 - Whole Number; Week 2 - Data; Week 3 - Addition and Subtraction; Week 4 - Area; Week 5 - Fractions and Decimals; Week 6 - Volume and Capacity; Week 7 - Multiplication and Division; Week 8 - 3D Space; Week 9 - Whole Number; Week 10 - Mass 

The Maths block will consist of:                                                                                                                                           Warm up - this is an opportunity for students to explore and describe quantities in a variety of ways to deepen their understanding of the number strand.

Rich Task - students engage in rich tasks that provide opportunities for them to experience a ‘productive struggle’ with ideas and to develop and use an increasingly sophisticated range of mathematical processes.

Reflection -  an opportunity for students to make connections between prior knowledge and new learning and for explicit teaching of mathematical  concepts.

Science Playworlds Monash University Inquiry Unit “The Snail and the Whale”                                      Through this learning, students will explore the physical characteristics of objects and how this affects their movement. Students will use the text “The Snail and the Whale” by Julia Donaldson as a springboard to enter the Playworld. Students will be guided to use STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) skills through imaginary play to solve problems. In the Investigations students will develop knowledge of forces and movement through exploration, and then use this learning to design a machine that can lift a heavy injured marine animal e.g whale.

Religion The Easter Season week 1-5                                                                                                                        This unit focuses on two Easter stories. The first tells of the women at the tomb (Luke 24:1-6) and the second of Jesus’ appearance to his disciples on the shore of Lake Tiberias (John 21:1-14). Students will hear about and respond to the Easter message of the Resurrection: Jesus is alive.

Belonging to God’s People week 6 - 10                                                                                                                    This unit introduces the students to religious imagery, to the church building and its furnishings and to gestures used. The unit then introduces the celebration of Eucharist through a focus on key liturgical actions and objects used.

PDHPE Positive safe Choices  & Movement, Skill and Performance                                                                    The strand Movement Skill and Performance focuses on active participation in a broad range of movement contexts to develop movement skill and enhance performance. 

Healthy, Safe and Active Lifestyles                                                                                                                                     The strand Healthy, Safe and Active Lifestyles focuses on the interrelationship between health and physical activity concepts. Students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to empower them to make healthy and safe choices and take action to promote the health and wellbeing of their communities.

Creative Arts Performing Arts                                                                                                                                               The unit provides students with guiding questions that they can explore in either a home or school environment. Students will explore line drawing, portraits and shape development. They will receive feedback from their teacher and submit a final product. Visual literacy tasks will be built into the unit with the students explaining their thoughts and planning in regard to visual arts tasks

RE NEWS

Catholic Schools Week 

Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.

First Catholic school                                                                                                        The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1833, there were 10 Catholic schools in the colony. 

 Celebrating the legacy                                                                                                                                                              Over 200 years, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest provider of schooling in Australia (outside government) with one in five school age students attending a Catholic school.

This represents 777,000 students in 1,755 schools across the country and employing over 100,000 teachers and staff.

Nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.

National theme                                                                                                                                                                            A national theme, “Faith in the future” has been developed for the 200 years celebrations. The theme reflects the core purpose of Catholic education to form students in their faith, and to provide an education that enables our graduates to make a meaningful contribution to the world. The theme reflects our commitment to build on the great work of those who have come before us, and to provide a Catholic education for future generations of students in a world that is rapidly changing and poses new challenges for Catholic school communities. Yet, we have faith that we can face these challenges and continue to build on, and strengthen our mission of Catholic education.

SPORT NEWS - Cross Country

Cross Country Highlights

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 20

Next

REMINDERS

Wednesday  5 May  Pupil Free Day                            Monday 10 May Mother's Day Liturgy                    Tuesday 11 May  NAPLAN for Year 3 & 5 Begins Monday 17 May School PHOTO Day Wednesday 2 June Stage 2 Camp                       Wednesday 9 June Stage 3 Camp

NEWS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY   

Our birthday people

Ari, Alexander, Ali, Ivy, Marlo, Isla M,                    Banjo, Malakai & Bernie 

Congratulations

Shanti-Rose Smyth and family welcomed a new baby sister on Sunday the 18th April.  Sita Alana Vella Smyth. 

BOOKCLUB

All bookclub orders for issue 3  to be returned to school on Friday 30 April.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Scouts in Mullumbimby

Mullumbimby Scout Group is looking at reenergising Scouts in Mullumbimby. Would you like to help the Mullumbimby Youth get outdoors and into the community while helping them learn valuable skills for their future?

The Mullumbimby Scout Group will be holding an information evening for all interested parents and community members on Friday evening the 7^th of May at 7pm in the Mullumbimby Scout Hall.

For more information contact the Group Leader on 66801237 or mullumscouts @ gmail.com