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. 

We have a wall in the office as well as the Project Nest in the Hall where you can pop in and write on a sticky note to add to the collection - feel free to do this at drop off or pick up times. Please keep your eye out for an email and on Facebook with dates for other opportunities to come in and read what others have contributed and add to what is there. If you would like to assist the Design Team with hosting these events, please contact the office and let us know.

Our Project Nest will be completed on Friday 8th November, as NOTOSH visit us on 11th November to work with our Design Team in collating the information we have received. Please give us plenty of ideas to go through as we work to build an even better Joeys!

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