Term 3 Week 6
Key Information
Term 3 Important Dates
Week 7
Monday 19th August – Fire Drill, 10:30am
- Tuesday 20th August - Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am-8:10am; Life Ed Visit
Wednesday 21st August – Life Ed Visit
Thursday 22nd August – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am-8:10am; Life Ed Visit
Friday 23rd August – Fete Free Dress (Donations of Baked Goods); Assembly, 8:30am; School Fete, 6:00pm
Week 8
Tuesday 27th August - Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am-8:10am; Catholic Identity Meeting, 3-4pm
Wednesday 28th August - SRC Meeting, first break
Thursday 29th August – Father’s Day Breakfast and Song
- Friday 30th August - Pupil Free Day
Week 9 – Child Safety Week
Wednesday 4th September – Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show (P-2), 1:30pm
Thursday 5th September – Sean Choolburra – First Nations Performance
Friday 6th September – Assembly, 8:30am
Week 10
- Tuesday 10th September – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am-8:10am; Board Meeting, 5:30pm
Wednesday 11th September – R U OK Day; SRC Meeting, First Break
- Thursday 12th September - Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am-8:10am; Year 7/8 Retreat (Be the Attitude of Our School)
Friday 13th September – Assembly, 2:30pm (Farewell from MMS); Last Day Term 3
Tuckshop News
Please have your orders in by WEDNESDAY 8:30 am.
To order: https://myschoolconnect.com.au/
Our special for Week 7 is: Loaded Mac & Cheese & Honey Oat Slice
Our special for Week 8 is: Chicken Burger & Cookies & Cream cheesecake
OUR TUCKSHOP CREW NEEDS YOU
Miss Jamie-Lea is looking for some wonderful volunteers to help her in Tuckshop on Thursdays. You do not have to be a parent to volunteer. We have had grandparents, aunties, uncles, friends and cousins, as well as mums and dads. If you are interested in volunteering, please join Miss Jamie-Lea's tuckshop volunteer group. 
https://m.facebook.com/groups/
Uniform Shop
Our Uniform Shop is open to orders being placed via the app, https://myschoolconnect.com.au/
Please give us 24 hours to organise collection for your order; we generally contact you when your order is ready to collect.
If you are needing students to try on sizes, we are available:
Monday from 2:30-3pm and Wednesday from 8:10-8:30am.
Miss Heather
General News
Volunteers Needed!
The Fete is only 1 week away! We are very excited about this year's event, however, we need your help to make it happen. We need volunteers! A link has been posted on Facebook asking families to volunteer for just one hour of their night (if you can do more, you are a champion!). If you missed this, use the QR code below to get on and register your availability at one of our school-run stalls.
Alternatively, use this link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/qah3x
If for any reason you have trouble, come into the office and we will book you in.
Keep reading for the Premier's Reading Challenge! The reading period is open until 23rd August
Principal's News
Dear Parents and Caregivers
I hope this message finds you well. As we move further into Term 3, I’m delighted to share some exciting news and important updates with our school community.
Hearing & Vision Screening Program
We are pleased to inform you that last week hearing and vision screening for students was conducted at our school. Early detection of hearing and sight issues is crucial for ensuring that every child has the best opportunity to learn and participate fully in class. The screening was conducted by qualified professionals and was non-invasive. If any concerns are identified, you will be promptly notified, and further steps will be recommended. Your child’s hearing and vision is vital to their educational journey, and we are committed to supporting their health and well-being.
Science Week Celebrations
This week marked the start of Science Week, a time when we celebrate curiosity, exploration, and the wonders of the scientific world. This year’s theme is "Species Survival - More than just sustainability" and Mr Rob Grehan had a range of exciting activities planned for our students across all year levels. With assistance from the Upper Middle Years students, students engaged in hands-on experiments to explore the wonders of science. All students were encouraged to get involved, ask questions, and discover the joy of scientific inquiry.
Book Week: "Reading is Magic"
As well as Science Week, we celebrated Book Week, a much-anticipated event on our school calendar. This year’s theme, "Reading Is Magic," highlights the transformative power of reading. Miss Jamie-Lea planned a variety of activities, including our annual book character parade, lunch time activities and a book fair. Reading not only enhances literacy skills but also fosters imagination and empathy. We encourage you to join us in celebrating the joy of reading by sharing your favourite books with your children.
School Fete
We’re excited to remind you that our annual school fete, Copper & Cattle, is only a week away. The fete is scheduled for Friday, 23 August, from 6pm - 9pm. This year’s fete promises to be a fun-filled day with stalls, games, food, and entertainment for the whole family. It’s a fantastic opportunity to come together, support our school, and enjoy the community spirit. We look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to another fantastic term filled with learning and growth.
God bless
Mrs Karen Good
Acting Principal
Deputy's News
Building Community Bonds with Curry Kids Early Learning Centre
Next week, we will have the pleasure of welcoming Justin and Maygan from Curry Kids Early Learning Centre to our school for a morning session. The visit is an important step in supporting a smooth transition for young children as they prepare to start primary school.
Justin and Maygan will meet with our staff to discuss future partnerships and share insights on how we can best support the transition from early learning to primary school. We are excited about the opportunities this will bring and look forward to future visits and collaboration.
Learning Breakfast
Today, we hosted our annual learning breakfast. My apologies if your bacon spent a little too long on the BBQ, I won’t quit my day job. We appreciate all the parents and caregivers who took the time to join us this morning. Your involvement in these events means the world to our students and staff alike.
A big thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and those who volunteered their time to make it a success. These moments remind me of just how incredible our school community truly is.
Mr Dean Kelley
Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning
APRE
This week on the, 15 August the Church celebrated the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.
Assumption of Mary
The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.
Learning Breakfast
Thank you to all the parents and carers who joined us for our annual Learning Breakfast today. The learning that takes place within our walls is very much a combination of wonderful teachers, school officers and the commitment and hard work from our students and their families. Their successes are certainly a cause for acknowledgement and celebration.
Prayer for our Learners
Dear God, Thank you for the gift of education in every form.
We are blessed with the ability to learn and grow.
May our students grace be their guide and,
May hope be their compass towards a bright future.
May they use their eyes to see the needs of those around them
and a heart to love fully.
May our students face each day with positivity,
knowing that no matter what comes their way,
they do not have to face it alone.
Amen.
Have a blessed week
Therese Curley
APRE
Pastoral Care
URSTRONG - 10 Reasons to NOT Call the Other Child’s Parents
Put down the phone. Trust us on this one… It won’t be worth it & here are 10 reasons why!
Let’s start with this: You love your child. That love you feel for your child is raw and visceral – that kick-in-the-stomach kind of love. And, because of that, nothing hurts more than to see your child in pain. With physical pain, you pull-out the first-aid kit, the homemade chicken noodle soup, or your favourite little boo-boo buddy! With emotional pain, you give your child a hug, you try to console them, and you wipe away their tears. But, the second you find out the pain came from another child, that sweet, warm mother hen morphs into Mama Bear! What once was warmth and compassion is now anger.
Wait…what? What did Riley do to you? Riley did WHAT? What did the teacher do? Riley didn’t get in trouble? Is Riley like this to all the kids in your class? What else has Riley been doing?
One of the most surprising omissions that we hear from moms (we have yet to hear this from a dad!) is that their response to this intense, protective, emotionally-charged feeling is to call the other child’s parent. While we get and understand why, here are the top 10 reasons this is a really terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea:
- Your child doesn’t want you to. This has emerged as the #1 reason why children do not open up to their parents about issues with friends – they’re worried you’re going to make it worse. Calling the other child’s parent is humiliating, embarrassing, and erodes trust. Believe me… this is the last thing they want you to do and risks your child shutting you out.
- You can’t view the situation or your child objectively. No matter how hard you try to see things from all perspectives, you will naturally have a bias towards your own child. You not only love your child, but you also have a very large sample size of their behaviour (i.e. their entire life) to draw conclusions. You know them inside-out and you are very familiar with who they are, albeit you see these things through rose-coloured glasses. You will naturally not see the other child in the same light. And, unless you are a teacher or you work with children their age, it is very hard to have an accurate, fair take on what’s ‘normal’ behaviour for children. If you do feel there is a situation that requires adult intervention, see if there is a teacher or Guidance Counsellor who can work with both parties as an objective mediator.
- Your Mama Bear instinct kicks in and, let’s face it, she tends to over-react. This is totally out of your control. When we picture anything negative happening to our child, we immediately experience an innate, sometimes even physical reaction. When we hear a tragic news story on TV and imagine it’s our child, tears or those gut-wrenching feelings are immanent. These powerful emotions are animal instincts designed to protect, not to have delicate conversations about our daughter or son’s Friendship Fires® at the local café.
- Get off the rollercoaster. We all have our own rollercoasters called, “My Life.” You should not ride anybody else’s rollercoaster, but your own. You can cheer your child on and offer support from the ground, but don’t ride the rollercoaster with them…and we all know you don’t have the ‘stomach for it’ like you used to!
- Your perspective is different than your child’s. What’s huge to you might be small for them or vice-versa. As an adult, you are lucky to have the Grand Scheme of Things and, because of that, you have one of life’s greatest gifts: Perspective. A child has not developed this yet and is finding their way through the weeds. They’ll get there, but don’t project your perspective onto them. They might have situations that are water off a duck’s back to them (while you’re still steaming!) and situations that seem bigger than they should be. It’s their reality, not yours.
- Rescuing them isn’t helping. Empower them to put out Fires on their own. Getting over-involved to swoop in and save the day is right in line with today’s “Helicopter Parenting” phenomenon. Solving our children’s problems for them does more damage than good and deprives them of the chance to learn these critical conflict-resolution skills. Use these opportunities as Teachable Moments to empower, equip, and train your children to stand up for themselves. These Teachable Moments are golden…take advantage of these real-life learning situations.
- It often makes the situation worse and rarely ends well. Not only will your children resent that you discussed their personal issues, it often makes matters worse for them at school. Telling your parents about a Friendship Fire is not considered a ‘cool thing to do’ (we’re doing our best to change that!) and word travels fast. Plus, 9 times out of 10, the conversation with the other parent will not go well…there are too many factors working against you to have a productive, harmonious conversation.
- It makes things unnecessarily awkward between you and that parent. In the 1/10 times where the conversation seems to go relatively well, even if both parents are well-meaning, it is often the beginning of the end. Your relationship with that parent will naturally feel awkward and one or both of you will come away feeling defensive (it’s instinctive). There will be a hypersensitivity that develops and the next time you see or hear of HER child doing something, it will bug you…even if it’s a little bit. It just will.
- Relax… Give it some time. The truth of the matter is, your child could be “Besties” with this other child tomorrow. Just relax. Your child will not grow up to be a push-over with no friends, as long as you’re coaching them along the way. Interpersonal skills develop over time and, like everything, they need to practice.
- Your child’s got this! Don’t deny your child this amazing opportunity to learn and grow. It’s in our struggles that we strengthen, so give them this chance to dig deep. Use this platform called friendship to allow your child to learn valuable life lessons. Conflict resolution, interpersonal skills, and resiliency don’t just happen…they are formed through experience. These qualities are critical in developing healthy relationships. Success in life, no matter how you define it, relies on the ability to form and maintain relationships.
Your child. has. got. this.
Written by Dana Kerford
Friendship Expert and Founder of URSTRONG
The Resilience Project
Some benefits of practising gratitude are:
- After 21 days, you start to scan the world for positives.
- After 42 days you become:
- More optimistic, energised & focused.
- Less likely to get sick.
- You will sleep better.
- Anxiety and depression decreases.
A few quick and simple ways to practise being grateful are:
- Journaling; each night write down 3 things that went well for you that day or purchase a gratitude journal with gratitude prompts.
- Write a gratitude letter to someone special, telling them why you are grateful they are in your life.
- Have a family discussion on the way home from school or around the dinner table about the things that went well that day or made you smile.
- You can purchase 21-day, 6-month, and family journals from The Resilience Project website if that is something you’re interested in.
https://theresilienceproject.com.au/shop/
What is bullying?
Bullying is a complex social issue. It resists simplistic ideas and solutions. Knowing exactly what bullying is and understanding why it happens are critical to finding positive and evidence-informed solutions for everyone involved. The national definition of bullying for Australian schools says:
Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening. Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records). Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.
Type of behaviour—verbal, physical and social
There are 3 types of bullying behaviour:
- Verbal bullying which includes name calling or insulting someone about their physical characteristics such as weight or height, or other attributes including race, sexuality, culture, or religion
- Physical bullying which includes hitting or otherwise hurting someone, shoving or intimidating another person, or damaging or stealing their belongings
- Social bullying which includes consistently excluding another person or sharing information, images or other digital content that will have a harmful effect on the other person.
The behaviours alone don't define bullying.
If any of these behaviours occur only once, or are part of a conflict between equals (no matter how inappropriate) they are not bullying. It is important to note that when a behaviour occurs online and is published, distributed or shared to a wider audience, this may be considered bullying.
Verbal, physical and social bullying can occur in person or online, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly.
Signs of bullying
Each student who has been impacted by, or involved in, bullying others will respond and act differently. A student's behaviours and moods can change for a variety of reasons. Teachers, parents and carers need to be alert to the possibility that a change in a child's behaviours and moods could be related to bullying. If you are concerned about your child’s behaviour or mood, talk with them about school and ask general questions about how things are going.
For parents and carers
Signs a parent or carer might notice include if their child:
- doesn't want to go to school or participate in school activities
- changes their method or route to school or is frightened of walking to school
- drops in academic performance
- experiences changes in sleep patterns
- experiences changes in eating patterns
- has frequent tears, anger, mood swings
- takes money from home
- has unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches
- loses or brings home damaged belongings or clothes
- arrives home hungry.
The signs of possible cyberbullying can be the same as signs of other bullying, but include other behaviours with phones, computers and other devices, for example:
- being hesitant about going online
- seeming nervous when a notification, message or phone call appears
- being visibly upset after using their phone or computer, or suddenly avoiding it
- closes the screen, or hides the mobile phone when others enter the room
- spending unusually long hours online
- receiving suspicious phone calls, emails or packages.
Information from https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
SchoolTV - Cyberbullying
With the advent of the internet, smartphones and tablets, there is now a whole new digital dimension added to traditional schoolyard bullying. There was once a time when bullying victims were given some respite outside of school hours, but sadly these days, online bullying can occur 24/7. In today’s world, teaching your child about online and cyber safety, is as important as learning to swim or cross the road!
Cyberbullying can be identified as being the repeated behaviour by an aggressor with the intent to harm or embarrass. Technology enables these aggressors to share information widely and quickly, making this form of bullying extremely dangerous and harmful. However, the answer is not to shun the internet nor social media. Instead, parents are encouraged to embrace it and instil a family internet policy to protect their children without limiting the freedom to learn, explore and communicate online.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents are provided with useful guidelines and advice on how to minimise the risks. Children have the right to feel safe, regardless of whether it is in the schoolyard or online.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact Toni Schneekloth, Pastoral Care Leader or Rebecca Greaves, Guidance Counsellor, for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Cyberbullying edition of SchoolTV
https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/cyber-bullying
Feed and Succeed
I encourage all senior students to attend weekly tutoring available on Thursdays from 3-4pm!
Best regards
Mrs Schneekloth
Pastoral Care Leader
Prep
Hello Everyone,
Literacy: During our literacy session, we will interact and participate in activities focussing on our learnt sounds and digraphs; zz, ch, v and x. We will also learn the Tricky Words put, as, do, like and very. Our Little Leaders will continue to use these new Tricky Words and digraphs/sounds to read and write Simple Sentences.
Numeracy: In weeks 6 and 7, our Little Leaders will describe the position and the location of themselves and objects in relation to other objects and people within a familiar space. We will also continue revising our numbers to 20, focusing specifically on our teen numbers.
Religion: In Week 5, we started to look at our new unit of Religion focusing on Choosing love, forgiveness and compassion. Over the coming weeks, we will learn that Christians believe God created people with the freedom to choose between good and bad, right and wrong. We will explore how Jesus taught key messages about love, compassion and forgiveness, including the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). Jesus taught that love of God and others is the greatest commandment. Christians are called to follow the teachings of Jesus.
Technology: Over the coming weeks, the Preps will work through the design process to create a water toy. Miss Pucciarmati is asking for students to bring in any resources that they would like to use to create their toys. For example; plastic of any kind, bottles, bottle caps, wine corks, foam.
Home Learning: Readers and a Home Reading Diary have been sent home with all students. Readers are to be returned on Wednesday mornings so they can be scanned in and changed. It would also be awesome if Library books were returned on Wednesday mornings to be scanned in Library books. Library books will then be handed out on Thursday afternoons.
Keep up to date with what is happening in Prep by checking out our Little Leaders Website.
Yours in fun and learning,
Miss Brock, Mrs McLauchlan, Miss Rachel, Miss Kylie and Miss Josie
Year 1
Hello Families,
Can’t believe we are more than halfway through the term!
In Maths, the last two weeks the students have been looking at different strategies including counting on using their fingers and number lines as well as pictures to help them do simple subtraction questions.
In English, we have continued looking at creating information reports. The students have constructed more reports on Kookaburras and crocodiles. The students will start to look at a specific animal chosen from a list that will be their assessment.
In HASS, we are looking at what features make a town. The students are very excited to turn our craft table into a mini Cloncurry.
Here are some photos of the students sitting outside doing some subtraction using manipulatives and visiting the UMY students for science:
Reminders:
Tuesday: Art
Thursday: Sports, Homework due and Library
Friday: Technology and Homework goes out
Have a wonderful week.
Miss Haley and the always fun Year 1s!
Year 2
Hi all,
Welcome back to Term 3. I’ve really enjoyed listening to all the students’ stories from the school holidays, it sounds like they had a blast!
We have hit the ground running with our learning areas as we have a jammed packed term ahead with events including our ever-popular fete. During Writing this term we will be looking at Informative Texts. During HASS the students will be researching significant people in our community and this research will be used to create an information report on a chosen person of significance for writing. Our maths topic for the next few weeks is multiplication and division. In Science, we are looking into Earth’s resources and how they are used in a variety of ways. We will also be examining messages and advertising during Health.
Reminders:
Homework - Homework day is due Monday
Library - Monday (Week B)
Have a fantastic weekend!
Miss Ansell
Year 3
Hi all!
Here’s an update from Week 5 & 6
In Week 5, we celebrated Mary MacKillop’s feast day. The Year 3s sung “Cross of Stars” during the liturgy. They should all be very proud of their reverent efforts!
The students also celebrated Mary MacKillop through various activities with the Year 7 students. Here’s a picture of them learning a script to perform about Mary!
The Year 3s were lucky enough to watch the Queensland Opera perform Hansel & Gretel.
They were also visited by the Red Cross to learn about Disaster Resilience. The Year 3s learnt about different needs and wants that would be useful to have quick access to in case of an emergency. The Year 3s even got to create their very own Emergency Pillowcase.
Mathematics
In Week 5, the students completed a math assessment to demonstrate their understanding of multiplication and division. They did so with admirable resilience and determination to try their best, even when the questions got challenging!
In Week 6, the students started exploring a new mathematical unit - measurement! So far, we’ve learnt to use rulers and tape measures to measure length in mm, cm, and m. The students are also becoming familiar with measurement benchmarks and how to make reasonable estimates about lengths. Likewise, they are practicing to compare and order measurements (even when a collection of measurements isn’t all in the same units!).
English
We finished reading our class book! The students were very excited to finish "The Broken Rainbow (Nerra: Deep Time Traveller)" By Tasma Walton. They were even more excited to learn that the author has released book 2!
We have still been busy with various activities for this book study, including general comprehension discussions, character maps, event analyses, and vocabulary studies.
As per routine, students have been working hard to:
- enhance their writing skills with Writer’s Toolbox
- learn to write using joined letters in handwriting
- learn new sounds each week to enhance their spelling skills
HASS
The students have become keen researchers exploring various human and natural characteristics of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The students worked in groups to research things like each country’s climate, schools, religions, cultures, languages, flora, and fauna (just to name a few). Then, the students regroup with other students in the room who researched different topics to them to learn from each other!
Reminders:
- Homework - Due Thursday
- PE uniform Tuesday
- Library every second Thursday (odd weeks - W1,3,5,7,9)
- Chaplain’s Breakfast - Tuesday & Thursday at 7:45am in MMS
Thank you
Laura Cook
Year 4
Hi all,
During Week 5 & 6, Year 4 has been busy learning!
For English, we have been focusing on reading and comprehending factual texts. The students have been reading news articles based on the Olympics and Olympic history. We read the same text all week and read this in a variety of ways including: listening to it aurally, shared buddy reading, and choral reading. Reading the same text means we can further develop our fluency and focus on understanding the fascinating information. Here are some photos of a few of us with our buddies:
In Maths, we have learnt SO MUCH! During Week 5, we practised converting improper fractions to mixed numerals. This is a really challenging concept that requires us to use a range of skills including: multiplication and division facts, understanding of factors, and understanding the concept of conversion. During Week 6 we have been calculating the area of shapes. This began with us using grid paper to help us count square units and developed to us using our multiplication facts to calculate Length X Width. We have also been using a new online program called IXL to support our fluency in maths.
Please don’t forget:
- The Fete is this coming Friday! (Week 7 - 23rd August)
- There will be a teacher-only-day on the following Friday (Week 8 - 30 August)
- Homework is due every Monday. This needs to be in on Monday to then be sent home the same day for the new week. If possible, I would love for this to be completed by Friday, however, I understand that with the variety of extracurriculars that the Year 4 children participate in, this can be difficult.
- We will be visiting the Library every Friday. Please make sure your child brings their homework bag and any outstanding books on Fridays.
- Children need to wear their Sports Uniforms every Thursday.
Thank you,
Mairin Borlase
Year 5
Hello to all our families. We have had a very busy few weeks at school with lots going on. We are also looking forward to Fete on 23rd August.
English
Over the last two weeks, we have worked on our information texts. We have continued working with Year 6 on our Olympics topic. The children have been writing a number of quick informative texts on Australian animals, favourite Olympians and spiders. This week the children have started a factfile on their favourite country which they will present to the class in week 8 as part of their assessment.
The children have also continued their weekly Soundwaves lessons. We worked on the sound ‘S’. We usually use ss after short vowel sounds at the end of single-syllable words (e.g. floss, dress). (Helpful Hint) We have also worked on the sound ‘ir’ The grapheme or for ‘ir’ is often used after ‘w’ (e.g. work, world).
The grapheme ere in the word were is an unusual way to represent ‘ir’ .
I have also introduced guided reading rotations in Year 5 with the help of Mrs McLauchlan. This allows the children to read aloud with a teacher to help build their reading confidence and independence.
Maths
Over the last two weeks, we have worked on our data representation and interpretation. The children carried out investigations such as favourite fruit in the class and favourite sport then drew bar charts from their findings. They have also interpreted bar charts, tally charts and line graphs. They have also started to investigate the mode, median and mean of data.
Religion
In Religion, we have just started our new unit keeping the faith through love. The children will be learning about Christian charity; its foundations in the Gospel and its implications for our everyday actions.
Technology with Ms Pucciarmati
In technology the children are making a sustainable town and each child will make a sustainable house. The children will follow the Design Process poster in order to create and test their ideas. Each house will need to feature at least one working electrical component, if they have anything at home for this they can definitely bring it in. Parents are being asked to provide the materials for students to build their sustainable homes. Materials might include: cardboard, corrugated card, foam, recycled plastics, wool, string, blue tack, etc.
Homework
Homework is due on the Friday each week to allow me time to go over the work in class with the children. Please make sure homework is returned on Friday so the new homework can be reissued on Monday for the following week.
Specialist Subjects:
Monday: Japanese and Science
Tuesday: Drama
Wednesday: Health and Technology, students may wear their House Shirts to school
Thursday: Science and HASS
Friday: Sport and HASS, Students may wear their Sports Uniform
Reminders:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: Chaplaincy breakfast begins at 7:45am.
- Wednesday: Tuck shop orders due by 8.30am
- Friday 23rd Fete Free Dress - baked goods
Hope you have a great weekend,
Nicola Cullen
Year 6
Dear Families,
During the last couple of weeks, Year 6 has had a visit from Cricket Australia, celebrated Mary MacKillop, while continuing to inquire into the Olympic Games. Working with our Y5 Buddies on Mary MacKillop's Feast Day, we performed a dramatic performance for our Y1/Prep friends, drew an image of Mary MacKillop and learnt some facts about her life. Having visits from Cricket Australia to Cloncurry continues to be a highlight for our active Y6 team and we are very appreciative of their time to travel to the Outback. We also celebrated Headspace Workshop about our impending transition to High School, Science Week, Book Week, had a Hansel and Gretel Performance while we also continued our Treasure Island preparation. Thank you for your support with the baking ingredients and costumes for Book Week on Friday.
In English, we have investigated informative texts about volcanoes and Australian neighbours - developed our understanding of the features like headings, photos, maps, videos, interactives, body of text, captions etc. During our discussions about factually accurate research, we continued to identify facts that we could use in our own writing. We have focussed on the Compare and Contrast Paragraph in the Writer's Toolbox.
In Science, we have inquired into volcanoes and how the Earth has changed over time. This work added to our reading and gave us a great wealth of knowledge about the topic - if you haven't had a conversation about volcanoes yet, I'm sure you will soon! The students have investigated salt and sugar solutions to see if they could make an egg float, made playdough for our Prep and Y1 Buddies, baked vegetable muffins and made meringues - all to develop our understanding of physical and chemical changes when substances are combined.
Kindest regards
Mike
UMY Subject Spotlight
HASS with Mr Timms and Miss McCall
Year 7 Geography
In Year 7 Geography this term, we've been exploring the theme of "Water in the World," focusing on how water connects places and people. Students are preparing to complete their assessments in the coming week.
Following this, we'll be transitioning to our next unit: "Place and Liveability." In this unit, students will delve into the concept of place by investigating what makes a location liveable. We'll examine the factors that influence liveability and how it is perceived, exploring how places provide the services and facilities necessary to support and enhance our lives. Additionally, students will learn how spaces are planned and managed by people. This unit will develop their ability to evaluate the liveability of their own surroundings and consider ways it might be improved through thoughtful planning.
Year 9 Geography
In Year 9 Geography, students are wrapping up their unit on "Biomes and Food Security," where they have explored the vital connections between ecosystems and our food sources. With assessments just around the corner, they are preparing to demonstrate their understanding of how biomes influence food production and security.
Next, we will be diving into our new unit: "Geographies of Interconnection." In this unit, students will investigate how people, places, and environments are interconnected on a global scale. We’ll explore the various ways these connections are made, whether through trade, technology, or culture and how they shape our world. This unit will encourage students to think critically about the impacts of these interconnections on both a local and global level.
Mr. Matthew Timms
Year 8 Geography
In year 8 Geography this term, we have been focussing on Changing Nations, a look into liveability, urbanisation, push and pull factors of places and migration. The students will be completing an in-class assessment based on our terms learning in Week 7.
We will then move into our next Geography topic about Landscapes and Landforms. Students will examine the process that shapes individual landforms, the values and meanings placed on landforms and landscapes by diverse cultures, hazards associated with landscapes, and the management of landscapes. We will also explore the significance of landscapes to people, including First Nations peoples. We will draw on landscapes and landforms from our local area, across Australia and throughout the world.
Miss Hannah McCall
Design Technologies with Miss Humes
In Technologies this term, all our Upper Middle Year students are exploring the processes of graphic design through a couple of differing approaches. Our 7/8 cohort has been asked to create a poster advertising an upcoming, hypothetical music festival coming to Cloncurry - a task that closely imitates the work of professionals within the industry. Meanwhile, the Year 9 students are instead approaching this through the lens of being hired to create a themed shoe design based on a TV show, movie, or band in collaboration with a well-known shoe company such as Converse. Each group has begun their design journey by exploring what already exists, as well as the needs of the client and other stakeholders. From this research, they have begun writing a brief to explain what they are doing to ensure everyone who would be involved is on the same page, and excitingly, are beginning to develop some mock-ups in preparation for creating their final prototype. As you can imagine, this is not a small undertaking, and as such, all students began this process back in the second week of this term with the knowledge that it will take us up until Week 10 to complete their respective tasks.
Miss Shara Humes
Youth Ministry & Chaplaincy
Important dates/reminders!
- Chaplaincy Breakfast: every Tuesday and Thursday before school @ 7:45. Due to morning prayer sessions and homeroom time for classes, we will begin to pack up from 8:10.
- Mini Vinnie’s: due to an unforeseen clash, and my being away until Thursday, we met during lunchtime this Thursday (15/08). See below for some pictures! We will be meeting again before the end of the term.
- Spirit in Action (SIA): Students in Years 6 to 9 are still encouraged to join our group! Our next session will be next Monday 19/08.
- Year 7 Aged Care visit: the Year 7 students will visit the Cloncurry Hospital to spend time with the residents on Friday 24/08. I will send permission information via Compass closer to the date.
- Year 7 & 8 Retreat Day: these students will be the first to experience a retreat day. These days aim to provide students a chance to explore, deepen, and ask questions about their faith. Hopefully, this will give them a special and unique chance to engage closely with each other, or at the very least, enjoy a day at the dam together… This day is booked in for Week 10 - more information in the coming weeks.
Pictures of our faith in action:
Year 8 Aged Care visit
Mini Vinnie’s
Yours in faith, hope & love
Mr Delaney
First Nations Education
Guidance Counsellor
A Special Report: Respectful Language
In today’s world, it is common to hear socially offensive language on the streets, on social media channels, streaming services and in some forms of modern music. While swearing is becoming more common and less taboo, the use of derogatory language or the act of swearing at someone, or about someone, is a form of verbal violence. It transgresses the usual rules of social interaction by impinging on an individual’s self-image and sense of dignity.
It is becoming apparent that some young people are being influenced by the language they hear. Proliferating the use of swear words can sometimes normalise, glamorise and desensitise their impact for kids who may misunderstand the true meaning of some derogatory terms. Whilst some students may use swearing or derogatory terms as a misguided attempt at belonging, others may use it simply because they are still learning how to moderate their language and are not accustomed to making adjustments to suit different situations.
Although many schools enforce a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to swearing and derogatory language, parents need to also play an important part in enforcing this approach. Parents and carers can be proactive in monitoring what their children are viewing or being exposed to. Discussing the use of words or the origin of some derogatory terms and gaining insight into the reason behind their child’s use of such language can help prevent inappropriate or disrespectful language filtering into the classroom or the school yard, which in turn helps to build more tolerant, safe and connected communities.
This Special Report offers a number of guidelines to help manage a suitable approach when discussing the importance of respectful language.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report:
https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-respectful-language
Mrs Bec Greaves
Guidance Counsellor
Community Information
