23 Term 4 Week 1

WELCOME BACK:

Welcome to Term 4!

I write to you today from sunny Ballarat where I am with our Year 6 students on camp. Over my 20 odd years as a teacher, I can’t remember a year where I haven’t been on a camp! I am a very firm and strong believer about the benefits of camps – for both students and staff. Not only are they great fun – they are often the moments and things that students remember most from their Primary school life, but they also are such a fantastic learning and development opportunity for students. It is amazing what students are capable of when they put their mind to it. Once again, out students have been brilliantly behaved and commented on by other adults and staff about their respectful and polite attitude and behaviour.

I thank Kym, Brooke, Tony, Helen and Milano for their willingness to organise the trip and give up their time away from home to allow this opportunity to occur.

Next week our Year 4s take off on their 2 night camp, and we wish them well on their adventure!

A BUSY, BUSY TERM:

As I have recently mentioned in correspondence to you, Term 4 is shaping as a particularly busy one. I often say the most important way families can be ‘involved’ in their child’s education is to ensure that they know what is going on. I also acknowledge that you are often inundated with information and constant messages from us here at school. If you are also engaged at other schools with other kids – the amount of information often doubles and triples in nature!

This week, Ella provided all families with a term calendar outlining key events and dates occurring this term and a reminder about where to find this information on our website.

As we navigate the next few weeks, I would ask that you support us by ensuring you read carefully about and are aware of the many pieces of information we will send to you. In most cases this will take place via email or See Saw. Please ensure you check your email regularly and read and action the items which require it.

Please see the important whole school, class and cohort dates that are outlined in the newsletter and other correspondence.

SPORTS DAY:

One of our major school events of the year is our annual Sports Day. Information has been sent home in hard copy and email form over the last few weeks and as per the message above I would ask that you read this information carefully and action the things that need to be done.

DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH:

What do Richard Branson, Whoopi Goldberg, Picasso, Dick Smith, Tom Cruise and Steve Jobs have in common? They are all very famous (and some very rich) people who have also have dyslexia. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction.

We are learning more and more about dyslexia and the number of people who are being diagnosed with dyslexia is increasing significantly. It is believed that is because we are becoming more and more aware of it, and many people in the past (and today) have probably had dyslexia but never been diagnosed with it.

October is Dyslexia awareness month. This is a great opportunity to shine a light on dyslexia and we are encouraged to spread the word about ways to support people living with dyslexia, by sharing their stories and planning activities that support their learning.

2024 PREPARATIONS AND CLASS PLACEMENTS:

We are finalising our plans for the 2024 school year and in the coming weeks I look forward to sharing more information and details about the year ahead with you including teaching and ESO appointments.

I can let you know that for next year we will continue to have the same class structure as this year with two classes per year level from Year 2 – Year 6. Due to increased enrolment interest, we have accepted a third class of Reception students next year as we did with our Receptions this year. This will be the final time that this occurs, and from 2025, we will need to revert back to two classes.

One of the very important aspects of our work in Term 4 is the organisation of classes for the following year. I can tell you from previous experiences, that this is very involved and time consuming work. There are many things which we consider when we place students in particular classes. Educational, behavioural, well-being and social needs and a balance between them is vital.

In the first instance I would ask that you trust that our teachers, who know your children in the school environment extremely well will put the time and energy and consideration into placing your child into what they would determine to be a suitable class for the following year. 

If you would like any aspect of your child’s needs in terms of class placements considered when we complete placements, I would ask that you put this in writing to me via email. I would ask that this is completed no later than Friday 27^th October. 

Please ensure that your request has a clear ‘educational’ reason behind them and if you need to discuss any further information with me about this, you are welcome to do so in person with me. I would also suggest that requesting specific teachers is generally unhelpful – as often there will be changes to the teaching structures and personnel we have in place from year to year.

REMINDERS:

The start of the term is always a good time to remind parents of important whole school practices.

LATE ARRIVALS:

As you know our gates are open from 8:15am and close at 8:50am. Our expectation is that students arrive at school anytime between 8:15am and 8:40am when our classroom doors open. Our day officially begins at 8:45am. Arriving on time is a very important deal. Often the first 5 – 10 minutes of each day involves important information and preparation for the day ahead.

We often find that when students arrive late, they are rushed and this impacts upon their success in the morning learning block – which is generally the core curriculum area of Literacy / English.

Please ensure that you are making the effort so that your child arrives on time to school.

PICK UPS AND DROP OFFS:

I provide these reminders about our Kiss and Go protocols:

We’d ask that you ensure that you read and pass on these messages to any member of your family who uses our kiss and drop area in the morning or afternoon:

• Don’t arrive prior to 3:00pm to pick your child up. There is no point, students do not leave classrooms until 3:00pm and you risk a $192 fine for ‘parking’ in a no parking space. Instead, arrive between 3:05 – 3:15pm and this will ensure that you will be waiting for no longer than the 3 minutes allowed. We have staff on duty and supervising students until 3:20pm, so there is no need to rush to get to pick up time.
• If you arrive and the line in the Kiss and Drop in Mulga Avenue is full, do a lap of the block and wait until a spot in Mulga Ave opens up. It is both illegal and very dangerous to ‘line up’ down Ramsey Avenue.
• Ensure that if you are using the Kiss and Drop to collect your child, they can quickly, easily and without adult support get in the car, do their seatbelt up and allow you to move off from the line straight away. There really should not be a need for you to get out of your car at this time. If there is, we’d ask that you park and walk in to school to collect the students.
• We will keep reminding students of the need to be ‘ready’ and concentrating on knowing when your car arrives.

As always I thank you for your continued support of our school!

James

Dear families and friends,

Welcome to Term 4 of 2023!  As I reflected on the Stella community and began to ponder what I needed to include in this newsletter, this thought popped into my head… We are all so very, very blessed and in a myriad of ways!  Our hearts and prayers go out to those in our world at this time in particular, who would not be feeling this way. 

Term 4 RE Focus Calendar

I include a snapshot of this term’s RE focus events.  Families are always most welcome to come along and join us.

Fr. Joseph Raja will be on leave for the next month, retuning to India to visit with his father and family.  This will not affect classes attending the 9.15am Tuesday Parish Mass, as Fr. Joseph has organized other priests to come in his place.  We wish him a safe, relaxing and very enjoyable holiday as he has a break from his many Parish commitments and look forward to seeing him on his return.  He will be back in time for our End of Year Mass on Wednesday December 6^th.

I will leave you with some wisdom from Pope Francis…

“This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas.  The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead toward the Good.”

Looking forward to journeying with you this term!

Many blessings,

Tanya

Dear School Community,

Stella Maris has been successful in winning a grant from Woolworths and Junior Landcare to be used for revamping the Vegetable Garden (situated near the Ramsay Street School Gates and the Church).

This is very exciting news as the students gain so much joy from being involved with our garden, whether it's planting, composting with the worm farm or harvesting. We have an opportunity to make the garden bigger and better than ever, and would like your input and help. 

We are organising a Working Bee for Sunday 12th November, and are looking for around 20 volunteers. It will involve some digging, moving soil and some heavy lifting. 

If you have some skills or interest in this area please email me at Emily.Hughes@smps.catholic.edu.au

More information to come on School Facebook Page, please consider getting involved - it will be a great opportunity to make something amazing!

Thanks!

A window into the adolescent brain – Held at St Thomas School & Preschool, Goodwood – (Week 2) Wednesday Oct 25 6pm – 8pm .

The ages between 11-20 years are loosely considered adolescence. It is a critical time for human development and is best-known as a period of change.

So, what’s a parent to do? Firstly, lets understand what’s really happening within your teenager during this vulnerable time. Change gears & shift your parenting to embrace this new dimension.

Here is a link to register for this free event

https://registrationcentre.cesa.catholic.edu.au/event-5420335

Stella Maris School Sports Day will be held at SA Athletics Stadium, Mile End on Friday 10 November. The day will commence at 9am and conclude at approximately 2pm.

Please see the note and permission forms sent home today and please return the permission form by Friday 20 October 2023.

Please contact the office if you would like more information.

Lessons commence week of Monday 16 October 2023