Filter Content
Newsletter Week 7
Prayer for Confirmation Candidates
God of all ages,
You send out your Spirit to touch the hearts of all people,
Look kindly on our candidates for Confirmation as they seek to hear your voice.
As they embark on this faith journey, we pray that you send your Spirit to enlighten, guide, strengthen, console, and open their hearts as they continue to seek a closer relationship with you.
Help them to truly know the deep and abiding love you have for each of them and fill them with the joy of your presence
As our community prepares these children for Confirmation, make us an instrument of your love,
Teach us to reverence what is holy in others and to be patience with what we do not understand.
Deepen our faith and help us to pass it on by our example
We pray that you continue to guide and sustain us,
and teach us the Way of Love
We praise you through Christ our Lord
Amen
Confirmation 2023
Congratulations to the students in Year 6 who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last night. Bishop Brian celebrated two beautiful liturgies and made all the candidates and their families feel very welcome and special.
King’s Birthday Long Weekend - Monday, 12 June
This weekend is a long weekend which hopefully provides a timely short break for our students and their families.
Staff Development Day - Tuesday, 13 June
Staff will all be onsite on Tuesday to develop their skills in Numeracy. This has been one of the areas we, as a staff, have identified that we could become better.
Kiss & Collect
Yesterday, the first cars were again arriving before 2.30pm!! The gates are not opened until 2.45pm - I fully understand the frustration of local residents and continually urge them to contact council rangers or the police. Quite often, those early to arrive are grandparents. Please have a chat to them - instead of sitting in the car for up to 30mins, arriving at 3pm is only about 5mins.
Uniform - Ties
Reminder that ties are part of the Winter School Uniform. We seem to be chasing up ties and wearing them properly far too often.
St Therese Catholic
School Core Values
Inclusion Excellence Respect
Collaboration Community
The Zones Of Regulation
SEL
Healthy Lifesyle Unit
Principal's Awards
Leo M - 1B
Charlotte G - 2B
Kate G - 2B
Silver Medallion
Phoebe P - 5B
Gold Medallion
Pippa K - 6G
Kaleigh-Ann R - 6G
St Therese School Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/westwollongong.sttherese
School Vision Statement
“Immersed in faith, pursuing excellence in learning
and the positive wellbeing of all”
WEN
GARDENING CLUB
Gardening Club is run every Wednesday at lunchtine with Mrs McGoldrick - all are welcome - PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN GLOVES.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
School Disco - Friday, 16 June
School Disco Volunteers
Reminder that the P & F School Disco will be held next Friday, 16 June. Please refer to the Disco Flyer for times and booking tickets. Parents who have a Working With Children Check are invited to nominate as a volunteer for either the K-2 Disco or the Yrs 3 - 6 Disco, please let Louise know by this Friday. Helpers will then be randomly selected with parents notified next Wednesday.
Bunnings BBQ - Saturday, 22 July (VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED)
After the closing of the Wollongong store, the P & F have been successful in gaining a date for the Kembla Grange store. The potential at this venue is to raise twice as much money for the school. It is also under cover! We do require volunteers to give us an hour or two between 8am and 4pm. All the organisation and ordering is being taken care of so we just need some cooks and servers. As stated before, this is a great way to meet new parents and to support a good cause … your child’s educational experience!
Book Club ISSUE 4 due Friday 9 June 2023
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament
Attached to this newsletter is a statement from the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference regarding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. This proposal which will become a Referendum later this year is a very significant event which the Bishop’s are calling on everyone to become educated on the issue so that you can make an informed decision when the time comes.
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
CURRICULUM REFORM NEWS - PRIMARY
NESA 3-6 English and Mathematics Online Courses
NESA has released 3-6 English and Mathematics professional learning courses which provide teachers with an understanding of the syllabuses. Each of these self-paced courses is NESA Accredited 2.5 hours of professional development (PD).
It is recommended that all leaders and teachers engage in this professional learning during the Familiarisation Phase of implementation.
These syllabuses will be taught in all schools in 2024.
New English 3-6 and Mathematics 3-6 Professional learning courses are now available on the NESA learning hub.
This link is also available on the K-6 Curriculum Support site.
Extended Leave (10 days or more)
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.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS
Staff Development Day
- 13 June
TIGS Production - The Sound of Music - Year 3 and 5
- 15 June
School Disco
- 16 June - 5.30pm Infants
7.00pm Primary
Netball Gala Day
- 20 June
P & F Meeting
- 20 June - 7.00pm
Year 4 Excursion
- 22 June
Kindergartern Excursion - Symbio Zoo
- 23 June
Year 2 Excursion
- 27 June
Year 4 Excursion
- 29 June
Last Day of Term 2
- 30 June
STUDENT BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays
7 June 2023 - 13 June 2023
Jack N - 3B, Jayden N - 3G, Hendrix C - 5G, Matilda P - 2B, Theodore H - 2B, Eva H - KG, Adriana C - 6B.
PARISH INFORMATION
BAPTISMS
For any new requests please contact Kathy at the Parish Office (email: westwollongong@dow.org.au any time or call 4243 9610 on Tuesdays 9am-3pm).
God bless you all,
Fr Duane
Calendar Dates 2023
2023
June 2023
9 - 9.30am Parish Mass - Year 4 attending
12 - Public Holiday - King's Birthday
13 - Staff Development Day (Pupil Free Day)
15 - 10.30am TIGS Production - The Sound of Music - Year 3 and Year 5 attending
16 - 5.30pm - 6.30pm School Disco - Infants attending
7.00pm - 8.00pm School Disco - Primary attending
18 - Refugee Week
20 - Netball Gala Day - Year 4 and Year 6
7.00pm P & F Meeting in Primary Building
22 - Year 4 Excursion to Holy Spirit - Peter Pan Production
23 - Kindergartern Excursion to Symbio Zoo
27 - Year 2 Excursion to Stanwell Park Reserve
29 - Year 4 Excursion to The Rocks Sydney
30 - Last Day of Term 2
July 2023
17 - Term 3 Commences - Students Returns
19 - Year 6 Mass with the Bishop in the Church
25 - 10.00am - 10.45am Surf Sense Education - Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6 attending
28 - World Youth Day (week)
August 2023
1 - Year 1 Excursion - Stanwell Park Beach
2 - Year 5 Excursion to Taronga Zoo (Overnight)
4 - Census Day
Year 3 Excurion - Science Centre
8 - Feast Of Mary of The Cross Mackillop
7pm P & F Meeting in Primary Building
15 - Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
21 - Book Week - Read, Grow, Inspire
22 - 5pm First Reconcilation in the Church
24 - 5pm First Reconcilation in the Church
September 2023
1 - World Day of Prayer for Creation
12 - 7pm P & F Meeting in Primary Building
22 - Last Day of Term 3
October 2023
9 - Term 4 Commences - Students Returns
15 - School Fete TBC
25 - 9.15am - 10.45am 2024 Kinder Playgroup
12.00pm - 1.30pm 2024 Kinder Playgroup
31 - 7pm P & F Meeting in Primary Building
November 2023
1 - 9.15am - 10.45am 2024 Kinder Playgroup
12.00pm - 1.30pm 2024 Kinder Playgroup
All Saints Day
2 - All Souls Day
4 - 11.30am First Holy Communion - St Therese Church
2.00pm First Holy Communion - St Therese Church
8 - 9.15am - 10.45am 2024 Kinder Playgroup
12.00pm - 1.30pm 2024 Kinder Playgroup
15 - 9.15am - 10.45am 2024 Kinder Playgroup
12.00pm - 1.30pm 2024 Kinder Playgroup
22 - 9.30am 2024 Kindergarten Orientation Day
December 2023
15 - Students Last Day of School 2023
11.30am End of Year Assembly
18 - Staff Development day
19 - Staff Development day
End of Term 4 2023