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- Prayer Focus
- The Principal's Report
- St Agnes' Parish Christmas Hamper Appeal - Out of Uniform Day
- Celebrating Our Faith
- Learning Together
- Parish News
- Sport Spotlight
- P&F - Save the Dates
- #Yr6leaders
- School Travel
- Kindergarten
- Sunshine Cafe
- School Accounts
- Student Awards
- What's On Next Week ...
- Advance Dates for Your Diary
- This Week's Notes
- The Billboard
PROJECT NEST
Our Project Nest has been set up in our Hall this week and we have talked with the children about what this means for our community. Last week we sent home some “Family Homework” that helps us begin this process. You will have received an envelope with two sheets of paper. One was an explanation of the task and the other was the sheet to complete and return to school.
We had asked for it to be back to school this week so that we have our initial parent and carers ideas to build upon in the coming weeks. Thank you to those who have already returned theirs, we are amazed with all of the great comments coming in to help us know what you are thinking. They are now on display in the hall (no names are attached) and we have rewarded students with MJR tokens for their House, which go towards the tally for Term 4. If you have yet to return yours, please do so as we really want everyone’s ideas.
STUDENT TECHNOLOGY DEVICES
Please remind your children that if they are bringing devices from home to school, they are to be handed in to the office on arrival at school and collected at the end of the day. If you need to contact your child through the day, please contact the office and we will ensure they receive any messages. If your child’s class requires them to use the device for learning tasks, teachers will ensure they are available to them. Students are responsible for the use of their devices when they are not in school grounds.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
What a privilege it was on Tuesday night to share this most wonderful occasion with our children and families. We are grateful to Bishop Greg, Fr Paul and Fr Peter for celebrating the Rite of Confirmation with us in such a beautiful way. Thanks go to Mr Lawrence, Mrs Saunders and Mrs Thurgate for their preparation of the children; Ms Hatherly and our Faith Choir, all of the staff who supported the children at the ceremony and all of the family members who were there to be part of this occasion. We were so proud of the students for the way they respectfully and reverently participated in the Sacrament.
TERM 4 - PEER SUPPORT AND LEARNING JOURNEYS
This week we began our Peer Support program, led by our wonderful Year 6 leaders. Our students were excited to have the opportunity to work together to build community and learn about how we work together.
GRANDPARENTS DAY AND BOOK WEEK PARADE
It was wonderful seeing all of the special “Grand” people in the lives of our students and to see their excitement as they visited us for a special prayer held in the class rooms followed by the book parade in the MPA. We hope all the grandparents, parents and visitors enjoyed the open classrooms and sharing a lunch with their child. Book week activies continued in the classrooms during the afternoon.
PRINCIPAL APPRAISAL PROCESS
CLASS PLACEMENTS FOR 2020 SCHOOL YEAR
Later this term, teacher teams in each grade will begin to ‘split’ their classes to create two new class groups for 2020. This is an important and complex process as teachers aim to create two ‘even’ groups. Children will be asked to complete a sociogram to identify a few friends they believe they work well with, and teachers ensure that every child is placed with at least one of these friends. Considerations include, but are not limited to, assessment data, peer dynamics, learning and behavioural needs and the ratio of boys and girls.
If you believe that teachers need to consider a specific factor for your child to be a successful learner, please submit a written response to the Principal by the end of Week 3 (Friday, 1st November). You can email to: sjpport@lism.catholic.edu.au
Please understand that requests from previous years will not be referred to and only written responses received by 1st November will be considered.
Tess Koning
Principal
St Agnes' Parish Christmas Hamper Appeal - Out of Uniform Day
We invite you to embrace the real spirit of Christmas, the spirit of giving to others. Next Friday 1st November, students are invited to come ‘out of uniform’ in exchange for a non-perishable grocery item. Through your generosity over the years we have been able to supply hampers to those in need in our Parish whether it be to ease the financial burden which Christmas brings to some or to let those experiencing grief or in need of personal support know that we as a Parish care for them.
Some suggested hamper items are Christmas cake, biscuits (sweet and/or savoury), tinned ham, chips, pavlova shell, noodles, soft drinks, long life juice, pudding, long life custard, lollies, chocolates, spaghetti, beetroot, placemats, candles, cordial, tin fruit, cereals, rice, jam, marmalade, tea, coffee, salmon, asparagus, fruit mince pies, general groceries, a gift for a member of one of the families, vouchers for meat/veggies/CD's (please don't include cash or alcohol).
Your support is most appreciated.
YOUTH MASS
Sunday, 27th October
All welcome - Please bring a plate to share for a light supper after Mass. See you there 5:00pm at St Agnes’ Church.
EXURO
Mrs Hoitink and 12 students joined other students from around our region for a day led by Youth Ministry Officers and Year 10 students from St Joseph's Regional College for a faith-filled day working in small groups that allowed them to share their faith, hopes and experiences.
The Year 10 students did an exceptional job connecting and building relationships with our students who were made to feel very welcome to the larger group as soon as the day began. They were great role models for our students in faith and what it looks like to contribute to our community when they reach High School. Our students look forward to sharing their experiences with their peers.
ST JOSEPH'S CELEBRATES THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Congratulations to all our Confirmation Candidates who gathered on Tuesday evening with Bishop Gregory Homeming to receive this very special Sacrament. We are so proud of our students who were remarkable in their participation in the Ceremony. Well done to you all. Bishop Greg commented on the manners and behaviour of our students. He was especially impressed with the ‘Thank you, Bishop Greg’ he heard as he confirmed each candidate.
Congratulations to everyone involved. A special thank you is extended for our Year 2 teachers, Mrs Saunders and Mr Lawrence, and Aunty Kim in the office for their support and preparation of the Sacrament journey and ceremony. Again our Faith Choir led by Ms Hatherly and Mrs Koning enhanced our celebration with their musical talents.
Ann Thurgate
Assistant Principal Mission
ACER PROGESSIVE ACHIEVEMENT TESTS
Over the coming week our students in Year 2 - 6 will be completing their ACER PAT Maths and Reading tests. ACER’s Progressive Achievement approach is used in thousands of schools in Australia and around the world. The approach focuses on assessing and monitoring student growth over time and is underpinned by an understanding that students of the same age and in the same year of school can be at very different points in their learning and development.
These tests are designed to provide objective, norm-referenced information to teachers about their students’ skills and understandings in a range of key areas. The Mathematics test assesses students’ skill and understanding in the six strands of Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability. The Reading test assesses students’ reading comprehension skills, vocabulary knowledge and spelling.
Why do schools use PAT tests?
- They provide a measure of student achievement in each learning area.
- There is a common achievement scale for all tests within a learning area.
- They are mapped to the Australian Curriculum.
- They provide overall descriptions of the types of skills mastered and those still to be developed based on test performance.
- They can be used to inform teaching and learning and to assist in planning effective and targeted learning programs.
A healthy education system has multiple assessments (large-scale and small), each designed to suit the purpose at hand. Standardised tests are an imperfect measure by nature, and cannot be expected to measure children’s learning as competently as the teacher who spends hours with them every day.
On the other hand, individual teachers’ judgements cannot map learning across the entire education system. We may be experts on the progress of our students, but we cannot compare that progress with students in the school down the road, let alone a school in another state or territory. Standardised assessment provides the best birds-eye view of where the system is working, and where additional attention is required.
If you have any questions about the ACER testing please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher for further clarification.
SUMMER SPORT TRIALS
Good luck to our competitors trialling on Monday in Basketball, Touch Football and Cricket.
Basketball - There has been a slight change to the time - Please meet before 9:30am at the Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium. Bring your own basketball if you have one.
Touch Football and Cricket - Please meet at school at 7:30am to depart by bus.
Yours in Sport
Laura Hatherly
HALLOWEEN DISCO
- St Joseph's Primary School MPA
- Thursday 7th November 2019
- Infants 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Primary 6:30pm - 7:30pm
- Cost $5 (includes a drink)
- Come dressed in your best halloween costume!
CHRISTMAS MOVIE UNDER THE STARS
- Wednesday 4th December
- Gates open at 6:30pm with a movie start time of 7:00pm (sundown)
PEER SUPPORT
Next week in Peer Support the children will share the things they enjoy in life and have an opportunity to discuss their favourite activity. This session enables children to recognise what makes them happy. Discuss with your child their favourite activity.
Laura Hatherly, Leah Toole, Kate Mitchell and Holly Hough
Year 6 Class Teachers
Applications for student travel in 2020 opened on Friday, 11th October 2019.
Students progressing to Year 3 and Year 7 no longer need to re-apply if they:
- are continuing at the same school
- are residing at the same address
- have not been sent an expiry notification from Transport for NSW.
Where a student meets the new distance eligibility, the system will automatically update their entitlement. If they do not meet the new eligibility, they will receive an expiry notification via email.
Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.
If students need to update their information or re-apply, they should go online to https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/updateDetails
Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2019 to ensure student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card is not cancelled. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2019, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued.
Students residing in Rural and Regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the commencement of the new school year from their nominated operator, this may be distributed via the school or sent direct to their address. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/Parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AUTHOR HAYLEY LAWRENCE VISIT
TERM 4 CANTEEN MENU
Check out our new items:
- Pasta Salad lovingly made in house.
- A Lasagne and a Macaroni Cheese cooked in Port Macquarie by St. Agnes Food Services.
- Also from St Agnes' Food Services, a meal on a tray! This terms offering is a tasty, nutritionally balanced Sweet Lamb Curry with rice, broccoli and pumpkin - Yummo.
All meals comply with dietary requirements.
Our Volunteers for Week 3 Term 4
Monday | You are welcome to join us |
Tuesday | You are welcome to join us |
Wednesday | You are welcome to join us |
Thursday | Avril Ferraro |
Friday | Danielle Jarvis and Erin Bennett |
We ask that if you are unable to attend on your rostered day it would be very much appreciated if you could organise your replacement and let me know. This would really assist me enormously. Thank you.
Don't forget you can order online by 8:30am- it's so easy!!
- Go to www.flexischools.com.au
- Click “Register Now” to create account
- Top-up your balance
- Start ordering immediately
Annemaree Tonkin
Canteen Coordinator
We kindly ask that you finalise your school accounts as soon as possible. It is an expectation that all school accounts will be paid in full by Week 8 of Term 4 (Friday 6th December), with the exception of 2020 Book Pack costs. Statements were emailed home this week. Please ring Aunty Antoinette in the school office to organise a payment plan if you are experiencing any financial difficulty.
K Gold | Keilah Long | Isla Baird | Marco Grech |
K Green | Harry Slater | Heidi Lawrence | Archie Rex |
1 Gold | Rhys Cutler | Kyra Edkins | Alivia Johnson |
1 Green | Jack Armitage | Ameiley Ervine | Jason Loumeau |
3 Gold | Lainey Campbell | Harmony Amanatidis | Mary Charlton |
4 Gold | Jack Cremins | Ella Herbert | Mia Cameron |
5 Gold | Sophie Holmes | Jack Banks | Jhed Monckton |
5 Green | Sophie Pynaert | Lachlan Burns | Milla Swain |
6 Gold | Madison Wyndham | Jacob Queripel | Esther Cummins |
6 Green | Domonic McArdle | Ethan Mueller | Sean Veech |
Week 3 - Term 4 |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 31st October |
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Friday |
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Week 4 - Term 4 |
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Tuesday |
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Thursday 7th November |
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Friday 8th November |
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Week 5 - Term 4 |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 14th November |
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Friday 15th November |
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Week 6 - Term 4 |
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Wednesday 20th November |
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Thursday 21st November |
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Friday 22nd November |
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Week 7 - Term 4 |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 27th November |
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Thursday 28th November |
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Friday 29th November |
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Week 8 - Term 4 |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 4th December |
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Thursday 5th December |
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Friday 6th December |
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Please note these dates can change from time to time due to unforeseen circumstances and we will endeavour to advise you of any changes at the earliest possible opportunity. Our school Google calendar can be accessed via this link for additional advanced dates -
For your convenience school term dates are located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2019
As we are aware that parents and carers need to know about Staff Development Days so they can forward plan work arrangements, our last remaining day (pupil free) is:
- Monday 4th November (Term 4, Week 4)
The last day to book your child in for childminding is Tuesday 29th October so that we can organise staffing for the day. Please see the note that was sent home this week.