Dear Parents and Carers

We offer a big St Pat's welcome a new student Lhyanne in 34Y this week. 

We thank our teachers for their dedication and teaching for Semester 1, 2023. During the Semester our teachers have continued to consolidate their pedagogical skills in the use of explicit and direct instruction in English and Maths. Our Year 3-6 teachers have learned about and implemented the Reading Mastery program. 

Celebrating learning 

I have enjoyed talking with students about their learning and asking about the work of which they are most proud, the learning that they enjoy, and the learning that is challenging. Here are some quotes from two students from each class.

Staffing Term 3 We look forward to announcing soon the Term 3 teaching team we are working to finalise this staffing early next week. 

Blessings,

Jo

Learning is inspired and celebrated in community 

Schools are communities of learners. Parents/caregivers, students and staff are united with the common goal of creating and engaging in learning through connections with peers, communities and the world. Learning is inspired through collaborative endeavours, innovation and authentic purposes. It is celebrated through the recognition of achievement and growth. 

Learning is social. Effective teachers adopt strategies that emphasise the power of the learning community, including collaborative activities that model and promote mutual support, respect and trust. In learning communities, there are shared responsibilities and equitable distribution of resourcing and support. Inclusive and positive interactions are central to engaging all students in learning. Priority is given to student talk and students having ample time to share their thinking, clarify ideas and inspire each other. Teachers model and reinforce the giving and receiving of constructive and encouraging feedback. 

Schools actively create conditions to engage parents / carers as partners in students learning. Teachers value and respond to the community’s experiences, cultures, histories and stories. They promote the inclusion of the community in the teaching and learning of their classrooms by utilising available expertise. Schools reach out to the community and offer support through education programs and social, community-based engagements. 

This week students have had the opportunity to share and celebrate learning with parents.

In MAPPEN 3/4 students had a research project about an endangered animal. Students created presentations in Google Slides for Parent Teacher Interviews and designed information posters for display in the classroom.

In STEM 1/2 students worked on a creation for a family member.

1/2 students also set up displays of art and work in their classrooms for parents to view.

Year 5/6 students have been working on creating a travel expo as a part of their Term 2 MAPPEN unit. The quality of work has been excellent, with students creating a wide range of written and technology-based presentations. 

Religious Education Upcoming Dates

Fri 21st July - Naidoc Mass in Moruya (Koori students attending)

Sun 23rd July - Family Mass 9:30am (Morning Tea & youth Group)

Fri 28th July - NAIDOC Mass 9:15am

Celebrating Learning in Religious Education 

3/4 shared learning from Religious Education at Parent Teacher Interviews this week. They have been learning about the inamges of God.

God came to Mt Sinai as fire. He met Moses and gave him the ten Commandments. 

Religious Education in Term 3

Students in Years K-6 will be exploring the Catholic Social Teaching in Term 3.

Catholic Social Teaching is the great wealth of Church teaching on how to live out our faith in the world.

There are seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching

• Life and Dignity of the Human Person
• Call to Family, Community, and Participation
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Preferential Option for the Poor
• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
• Solidarity
• Care for God's Creation

Thank you to the families who have finalised their Term 2 school fees.

As we have now moved to a new finance system, the preferred method of payment is BPAY. Please note that the Biller Code and Reference Number has changed.

For those who have set up a Bpay payment plan, please ensure you are now using the new Biller Code and Reference Number listed on your new statement.

If you have any questions, please contact the office on 6492 5500 or office.bega@cg.catholic.edu.au

Apps for Mental Health

School holidays are nearly here, and this may represent a struggle to limit screen time. We all already know that it is healthy to limit screen time for our families to help support mental health and physical health. So it’s important to balance screen time with getting ourselves moving, outside, playing games, doing sport or getting together!

However, electronic devices are a prominent feature of our modern world and there are a multitude of apps which can be used to actively support our mental health. 

Why not explore a new app this holiday and promote some family self-care?

Many of you will already have heard of Smiling Mind which is an app that has a range of mindfulness exercises for young children, teenagers and adults. The exercises are engaging and easy to follow. This is a free app with free content. Why not give it a go?

Another app which has many mindfulness exercises for all ages is Calm. This app also has some sleep stories (some narrated by celebrities) which can really help those children, young people or adults who are struggling to get to sleep or get back to sleep. This app has free content but to gain access to all of the stories and exercises you do have to subscribe.

A reminder: If you or anyone you know needs further support during the school holidays, please see the information below for helpline contact details:

For young people aged 12-25 check out: headspace.org.au - 1800 650 890 

For children aged 5 – 25 check out: Kids Helpline, a 24-hour telephone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 – kidshelpline.com.au 1800 55 1800 

Lifeline has a 24-hour telephone counselling service as well as online chat and text services -  lifeline.org.au -  13 11 14 

Parentline is a free telephone counselling and support service for parents/carers of children aged 0-18 - www.parentline.org.au -   1300 1300 52 Parent Line is free.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy break. See you in Term 3!

Thanks for reading - Sam, School Counsellor (Provisional Psychologist)

The middle primary rugby league gala day was a lot of fun. The students who attended all enjoyed the day which was about having a go without any winners or losers. We are grateful to Country Rugby League and also the AFL for providing these gala days.