Walk Safely To School

On Friday 19 May we celebrate Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD).  This annual event is in its 24rd year.  The campaign encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers to walk safely and regularly to school.  The event seeks to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment.

The objectives of WSTSD are:

• To encourage parents and carers to walk to school with primary school age children and reinforce safe pedestrian behaviour.
• To promote the health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age.
• To ensure that children up to 10 years old hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.
• To help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.
• To reduce the car dependency habits that are being created at an early age and which will be difficult to change as children become adults.
• To promote the use of Public Transport.
• To reduce the level of air pollution created by motor vehicles.
• To reduce the level of traffic congestion.

We look forward to seeing our students and families ride, walk and catch public transport to school.  These students will receive a Walk Safely to School Tattoo to wear.  

Dimitra Vezinias- Assistant Principal

Getting the most out of gaming – Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT

This 45-minute free webinar provides families with strategies for supporting children and young people to have safe, positive experiences when playing games online. It is designed for parents and carers of children aged 7 to 14.

It will cover:

• when gaming can be beneficial and strategies to promote better in-game experiences
• how to keep children safe online – using safety and privacy settings in games and platforms
• strategies to promote more balanced gaming and how to create smoother transitions from game-play to other activities
• the key online risks and where to find help for things like bullying and harassment in games
• Getting the most out of gaming 

Tuesday 23 May 7.30 pm - 8.15 pm 

Register here.

Changes to English and Mathematics K-2 Curriculum

Curriculum is at the core of quality teaching and learning. It is important to communicate with parents, carers and the community about the teaching and learning that is happening in your school. This engagement will assist schools in identifying strategic directions, decide on improvement measures and assess their progress which can lead to improved learning outcomes for students.

What is curriculum?

The curriculum is a plan for learning based on mandated and approved syllabus documents and current departmental policies and procedures.

The NSW curriculum refers to the suite of resources that are the syllabuses and the support resources to support teachers to implement the syllabuses. This includes, but is not limited to, resources including teaching and learning advice, assessment resources, and syllabus-specific materials including scope and sequences, units of work, standards materials and work samples.

What is curriculum reform?

The NSW Curriculum Reform aims to strengthen and streamline what is taught in schools. The curriculum reform is an opportunity to engage and re energise what we teach and how we teach it. It focuses on making clear what is essential in the curriculum to give more time for deep learning, establish stronger foundations in English and mathematics, and provide stronger links between HSC subjects and career pathways.

English and Mathematics 

In 2023 new Syllabus documents in English and Mathematics are being implemented in schools in Kindergarten through to Year 2. 

The new syllabuses emphasise key concepts, identify essential knowledge and skills, and include new outcomes to clearly show what is essential. They remove ambiguity for all users. Clear and concise language in the outcomes and content help you to understand the learning expectations for building foundational skills in English and Mathematics. The new Digital Curriculum means the syllabuses will be easier to access and navigate, so users can find information more efficiently. Access content points are provided to indicate content that students with significant intellectual disability may access. Teaching samples and examples are easy to find and use. Teaching advice is a supporting guide that was refined through engagement and consultation activities with teachers.

Staff Planning Days

Our K-2 staff have been involved in professional development based on the revised English and Mathematics Syllabus through planning days and our staff K-6 have also been engaged into this learning during Staff Meetings.  

Mrs Dimitra Vezinias 

Assistant Principal

For extended leave for holidays, parents are asked to complete an ‘Application for Exemption from Attendance at School’ form. This is available from the office. 

HOW TO LODGE AN ABSENCE USING THE COMPASS APP

WHO DO WE CONTACT? 

To assist with the leading of initiatives and the general running of school activities each stage is allocated a leader.  For 2023 the following staff have been allocated to the four stages:

Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) Mrs Trish Staff

Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) Mrs Trish Staff

Stage 2 (Year 3 and Year 4) Mrs Bethany Tirchett

Stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6) Mrs Dimitra Vezinias

Should you have any questions or concerns, your first port of call should always be your child's teacher.  Should you require further clarification you can make contact with the Stage Leader.