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Newsletter Week 8
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Friday, 16 June
Jesus had “heart” but, more importantly, He had a heart. The word “heart” is synonymous with grit, soul, intuition, love, strength, generosity, and, in its most total sense, the very centre of humanity. This feast embraces all of those meanings. Christ’s Sacred Heart teaches us that God loves us as a friend loves a friend, as a parent loves a child, or as a sibling loves his closest brother or sister. That is, Christ loves us in the same way as a person loves us, only more intensely.
Understanding God’s love should be as simple as recalling your little hand in your father’s big hand as you walked next to him at night as a little girl. It requires remembering running into your mother’s soft embrace, cheek to cheek, after skinning your knee. Jesus Christ’s love for us is as human and as clear as a beating heart.
Lord, you deserve all honour and praise,
because your love is perfect and your heart sublime.
My heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude
for the many blessings and graces you have bestowed upon
me and those whom I love.
Forever undeserving, may I always be attentive
and never take for granted the gifts of mercy and love
that flow so freely and generously from your Sacred Heart.
Amen.
Staffing Changes
Next term, we will welcome back Frank & Maree Timpano, as well as Kerrie Maidment, after their European adventures. This will facilitate the following changes:
- Mrs Bethany Tirchett will take on a role to support teachers to become more effective in differentiation within the classroom. This will be for the remainder of the year.
- Miss Jazmin Tikkeros will now remain on Year 4 Blue for the remainder of the year except for the first 6 weeks of Term 3. Due to other factors, we have been able to keep Jazmin who has done an outstanding job with 4 Blue. This is the second extension of Jazmin’s contract which is great for the students in her class. Jazmin had pre-booked an overseas holiday which she deserves to enjoy.
- Mrs Laura Miller, currently teaching 6 Gold, will teach Year 4 Blue for the first 6 weeks of Term 3.
I will also be taking the first two weeks of Term 3 as Long Service Leave and heading off to Africa. Mrs Dimitra Vezinias will be the Acting Principal during this time.
Semester One Academic Reports
The Parent Portal on Compass to access reports will be opened at 3pm on Friday, 16 June. If you require a printed copy of your child’s report, please contact Louise or Mary-Anne in the office.
Parent Teacher Learning Meetings
These start with Kinder this week with other grades following from Week 9. Year 6 and Year 3 Gold will schedule these meetings next term. Students are invited to attend these meetings as the focus is on their learning successes so far and set goals for Semester 2.
Kinder 2024
Next week, letters of offer will be sent to about 40 prospective Kinders to join our St Therese School Community in 2024. While there is still 7 months before commencing, the excitement is obvious as the children come in for their interviews. While the official enrolment period is now complete, applications will still be accepted over the course of the year for Kinder next year or for any other grade for that matter.
School Events
Over the next two and a half weeks, we have
- two high school productions,
- three grade excursions,
- a disco,
- a gala day and
- parent teacher learning meetings!!
Life is never boring in a Primary School.
End of Term Assembly
This will be held on Friday, 30 June at 11.30am in the hall. Parents are invited to attend.
Australian Judo Champions
Congratulations to Enzo H-D, Koa & Texas P, all who finished 1st in their respective divisions at the Australian Judo Championships on the Gold Coast, Queensland over the weekend.
- Enzo (5G) - Australian Junior Judo Champion Under 46kgs (10-11yrs)
- Koa (4G) - Australian Junior Judo Champion Under 32kgs (10-11yrs)
- Texas (6G) - Australian Junior Judo Champion Under 50kgs & Under 55kgs (10-11yrs)
What an awesome achievement!!
St Therese Catholic
School Core Values
Inclusion Excellence Respect
Collaboration Community
The Zones Of Regulation
SEL
Healthy Lifesyle Unit
Principal's Awards
Zoey C - 1B
Harriet A - 2G
Leo T - 3B
Silver Medallion
Lola F - 4G
Mila G - 4G
Gold Medallion
Alexis M - 5B
Amari F - 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 Tuesday at lunchtine with Mrs McGoldrick - all are welcome - PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN GLOVES.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
School Disco - Friday, 16 June
Kinder - Year 2 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Year 3 - Year 6 7pm - 8.30pm
Thank you to all those who nominated, as volunteers, to help run the disco. As stated previously, names were today drawn out with those parents selected, notified individually.
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!
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.
NAPLAN 2023 Update
School-level results available late Term 2
Teachers will get access to school-level results towards the end of Term 2 in the school and student summary report (SSSR) and a new proficiency standards report.
Further information about how to access and interpret the reports and support materials for communicating the proficiency standards to parents and carers will be emailed to principals and NAPLAN coordinators throughout Term 2.
Parent reports available early Term 3
Print copies of individual student reports (ISR) and additional student reports (ASR) are expected to be sent to schools for distribution to parents and carers early in Term 3.
News on the Digital Curriculum
NESA has developed ‘Supporting your Child: Parent and carer guides’ in English and Mathematics for Early Stage 1 - Stage 3. These guides are now available on the Digital curriculum website and accessible through the Teaching resources tab.
The NSW Government student learning library
The NSW Student learning library is a suite of learning resources which are accessible for teachers, parents and carers, and students to be used in class or at home.
The resources are aligned with new syllabuses and have been quality assured by educational professionals within the department. The new resources will supplement and complement other resources being provided by the department, including units developed by department curriculum experts to support the roll-out of new syllabuses.
The library currently contains K-2 English and Mathematics learning resources. The remaining K-10 learning resources are to be released over the next 3-5 years aligned to the new NSW syllabus rollout.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/initiatives/nsw-student-learning-library#/
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.
Mrs Dimitra Vezinias
Assistant Principal
K-2 Planning
At St Therese our teachers are dedicated and committed to improving our professional practice to improve outcomes for our students. This year our K-2 teachers have undertaken significant Professional Development about the New English and Mathematics Syllabuses. So far we have looked at Oral Language, Viewing texts (reading) and Mathematics.
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
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
14 June 2023 - 20 June 2023
Taylor M - KG, Shyla S - 5B, Ariya D - KG, Isla P - 4B, Matthew A - KB, Mira A - KB, Quinn C - 2G, Abeba B - 6B, Eliza G - 6B Gwen K - 1B, Darcy MW - 1G.
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
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
South Coast Athletics Carnival
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