2021 Term 4 Week 3 Newsletter
Prayer Focus
From the Principal
Welcome
On behalf of the entire school community I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the Prior family - Cirilyn, Greg and Flynn (Year 1). I am sure everyone will make them feel right at home and a part of the St Francis Xavier school family.
Blended Learning Survey
Over the past few school newsletters I have encouraged families to participate in a survey in relation to Blended Learning at home and at school. The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback to improve the rollout, if and when Blended Learning is to be implemented again. Personally, when I have been invited to complete a survey I am often left wondering what were the findings.
In an effort to ensure families are not left wondering, I have included some of the results of the Blended Learning survey. Please note that there were 16 participants out of a possible 195.
Yours in Faith,
Warren Niethe
Principal
All Things Learning & Teaching
The Learning Continues
It's wonderful to see all our students continuing to demonstrate a love of learning. This week we feature Year 5 students making the most of their flexible learning environment.
Online Safety Basics
In our increasingly technological world it is important to monitor children's digital footprints. We have included some important information this week from the Australian eSafety Commissioner that will help your children safely navigate their digital world and educate them to avoid harmful online experiences.
Your support and guidance can give your children the confidence to make sound decisions online ― and ask for help when they need it. Explore websites, games, apps and social media together and set some rules using the three key strategies.
Cyber Safety - How to support your child online - Free webinar
The webinar will cover: what do to about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders, using games, apps and social media to support mental wellbeing, the pros and cons of digital mental health platforms and strategies for young people to support friends online.
eSafety parent guide to digital technologies and mental health is a new webinar developed by the eSafety Commissioner. The one hour webinar will provide parents and carers with strategies to help young people and their mental health when they are online.
The webinar will run on Monday, 22 November 2021 from 7:30pm-8.30pm. It will be presented by Greg Gebhart from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. You can register for this webinar by clicking on the link below.
Thank you to the eSafety Commissioner for scheduling this additional webinar for the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT.
Sharon de Dassel
Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching
Faith & Mission
Socktober
This Term, classes have been looking at resources from Catholic Mission to raise awareness about global poverty and inequality. Socktober is Catholic Mission’s annual fundraiser and this year we will be supporting it by wearing crazy socks AND making sockballs for a Sockball Shootout next Friday. This year, money raised for Catholic Mission through Socktober will be going to the Good Shepherd Sisters Kindergarten Centre in Thailand.
Students have been asked to bring in recycled items from home to make sockballs eg. old (clean) socks and T Shirts, bubblewrap, plastic bags, bread bags and string. T Shirts can also be cut into long, thin strips to make string to tie up the sockballs. On Friday next week, students can wear crazy socks to school and bring in a gold coin donation. We will also play some fun games using homemade sockballs.
Stage 2 Mass
Stage 2 attended Mass this week. In their Term 4 Religious Education unit, they have been exploring the theme of forgiveness. Jesus used the Parable of the Lost Son to explain that God always forgives, no matter what. Olive, Finn, Sam and Honorlea did a great job dramatising the Parable of the Lost Son for the Gospel reading.
Feast Day of St John Paul II
Today is the Feast Day of one of the most well-known popes in recent history. St John Paul II is most remembered for his charismatic nature, his love of youth and his world travels. In addition to being the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and speaking 12 languages, he recognised the importance of the contribution of young people in building the church, establishing World Youth Days which bring together millions of young people all over the world every year.
Katrina Ryan
Leader of Evangelisation
Positive Behaviour Support
Part of being a school that focuses on Positive Behaviour Support philosophies, is a commitment to facilitating positive relationships across the school and community. This year, several St Francis Xavier teachers have volunteered to be mentors to our Year 6 students. Being a mentor means setting aside some time each week to connect with our Year 6 students, who are preparing to transition out of primary school and into a high school setting. This time of life is exciting and offers new opportunities for students but can also add to the uncertainty and stress of learning and making friends in a new environment. Our teacher mentors are here to assist students to navigate their final Term of primary school with positivity, confidence and a growth mindset. We are very proud of our Year 6 students!
Laura Cooke
Leader of Positive Behaviour Support
Sporting Roundup
Here are some fitness activities that your children might like to complete at home:
- Play catch in the backyard.
- Play tag in the backyard.
- Go for a walk around the block or take your dog for a walk.
- Make and complete an indoor or outdoor obstacle course.
- Try to keep a balloon up in the air.
- Complete a body coach workout inside or outside (click on the link below).
- Ride scooters or bikes around the block.
- Design and play a family game or race such as, how many star jumps can you do in one minute.
- Play with water. Set up sprinklers and let the kids run through them.
- Draw hopscotch on the driveway or concrete and play.
Tiffany Wishart
Leader of Sport
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards), Australian students with a disability must be able to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers. To ensure this, students with a disability may receive adjustments to access education, based on the professional judgement of teachers, in consultation with the student and/or their parents, guardians or carers.
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) gives Australian schools, parents, guardians and carers, education authorities and the community information about the number of students with disability in schools receiving adjustments to address the functional impact of a disability on their education. The Australian Education Regulation 2013 requires all schools to report the data collected for the NCCD to the Australian Government on an annual basis.
Gold Token winners
Well done to all of our Token recipients this week and congratulations to the Gold Token winners! Keep up the great work everyone.
Free Webinars in October
Parent Assembly will be hosting three webinars for parents throughout the remainder of October. Please find attached a flyer for these webinars. This is an updated version of the previous flyer with a new webinar to help parents support children and young people as they navigate these times of change and uncertainty. Please use the pdf below to register for these webinars.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Parent Assembly.
