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The diversity of experiences for students over the last fortnight have showcased the rich learning agenda offered at Holy Name Catholic Primary School. We all have something to offer our students and it is nice to see so many members of our community getting involved. The value added by the actions of students, parents, staff, our Parish and community should be acknowledged and celebrated. From the planning of our Spring Ball, Bookweek Parade & Activities, Mission Day Liturgy and Activities, visits to local Preschools in the evenings, hosting of the Diocesan Primary Principals in the Manning, the First Aid Course for Staff, the Father's Day Stall, Raffle & Breakfast, the Well-being Week agenda (including meditation, yoga, a flashmob and staff lunch), the Netball Gala Day, preparation for Eucharist, down to the organisation of School Photos - we are grateful.
During this time we are also thinking about those in our community who are struggling with challenges and illnesses. We are especially thinking about Mrs Gooley who misses our community terribly and Mr Waters whose health has deteriorated over these last couple of weeks. Please take a moment this week to pray for them both.
Growth Coaching Culture
I spent the last two days in Sydney continuing my learning as an Educational Coach with Growth Coaching International. Engaging with current research and best practice in this field has given me fresh insights into the use of coaching in our context. My dream is for these conversations to be embedded within the culture and identity of Holy Name School to support the personal and professional growth and well-being of our staff. I would also like to see these conversations extend to students as they begin to set their own goals and face challenges that could be supported by having a conversation with a teacher or peer. I am positive about the impact this would have on student learning outcomes.
Many of our teachers are already trained as peer coaches and our Leadership Team are engaging in the Educational Coaching course. Watch this space into the future.
Parent-Teacher Interviews
On Wednesday 25th September, our Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews are planned. This year, we are beginning to learn a new way of engaging with this process. Year 3 are modelling a process for teachers and parents called Student Led Conferences. These conversations will happen between the students and their parents in their classrooms with the teacher present. Within this process, the students and teachers prepare a journey for the Yr 3 parents that provides an opportunity for them to share the experiences and samples of work that demonstrate their child's learning and progress at school. All other interviews will be delayed for 15mins so that our teachers can observe this process in action. Please use the following link to book a time with your child's teacher. Yr 3 parents, you are welcome to the Yr 3 rooms anytime between 3.15pm - 5.45pm.
https://holynameps.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/1
NAPLAN
Last week we received access to our student results for NAPLAN 2019. As there were variances in the method of test completion and because there were some problems with the technology in different schools, NESA advised that the comparison data around this year's NAPLAN may change as updates to the marking are completed. We did receive copies of student results and look forward to analysing this information to see how the results compare to previous years and how our school has performed in the targeted areas. Over the coming weeks, our staff will look closely at this information, along with assessment information from other sources, to set our 2020 targets. It was great to see some exceptional results for students as well as exceptional progress by others.
Additional Creative Arts opportunities
A number of years ago, Music teachers began working in our school during school hours to offer families the opportunity for private tuition when it was difficult to access this after school hours. These lessons also supported the development of our School Band. Over the years, this concept has evolved and we currently have Nic Parsons teaching brass instruments and Katherine Todd teaching piano and guitar. Heidi Parsons also teaches guitar as part of the Sam Brett Nelson Kickstart Foundation and Carmel Brown from St Clare's gathers all musicians together to play as our School Band. We have also prioritised this area of our curriculum by employing a teacher 2 days each week to conduct specific music and drama lessons across all grades.
It is exciting to announce that Helsinky Morizon will join the team of music teachers and will offer singing lessons for interested students. As with the other options, Helsinky's lessons are accessed privately, however, the school provides the space and time for this to happen if families make this decision. Please see Helsinky's contact details below for more information.
Happy Father's Day to all fathers and father-like figures this Sunday. We are grateful for the energy, love and for the positive role model you provide for your children.
Brooke Stephens
Only one week to go until our Spring Ball Kitchen Garden Fundraiser for 2019. The team have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure the night will be a huge success. Thanks to Miss Spinks, Mrs Stephens, Mrs McCarthy, Mrs Banham, Mrs Robinson and Mrs Deak for working hard in preparation for our night.
There have been many generous sponsors who have donated prizes for our Silent Auction, Lucky Door and Raffle prizes. Gordon Cooper has generously offered to take photos on the night which will be available for purchase after the Ball and we have some fun games and raffles.
Please support these businesses who have supported our school:
Billabong Koala & Wildlife Park |
AquaMarine Beauty Day Spa |
Priceline Forster |
Lakeside Tavern |
Face HQ |
Forster Golf Club and Pro Shop |
Reel Ocean Adventures |
Temptations Café |
Hamilton’s Oysters |
Flying Fish Café |
Valley Industries |
MKH Hair |
Ultrasonic Clinic |
One Hair & Beauty |
Tuncurry Newsagency |
Beaches International |
Forster Bowling Club |
Good Vibes Art |
Dolphin Marine Magic Coffs Harbour |
Forster Bowling Club |
Great Lakes Pharmacy |
MH Hair |
Forster Beauty Salon |
Tuncurry Pharmacy |
Coasting Home |
Great Lakes YMCA |
Cooper’s Photography |
Woolworths Forster |
One Hair & Beauty |
Stash House |
Forster-Tuncurry Meat & Chicken |
Dolphin Marine Park Coffs Harbour |
Club Forster |
JUJU |
Forster Surf & Sport |
Rosita Floral |
First Aid & Saftey Training |
CLININK Beauty |
Tartt |
Lee Townsend – The Yarning Circle |
Lakeside Tavern |
Elizabeth Teasey |
Forster Bowling Club |
Forster Tennis Club |
Ice Creamery/Lolly Shop |
Beaches International |
Good Vibes Art |
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CASH Donations |
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Forster Denture Clinic |
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A & B Dormor Builders |
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Mick Perry Concreting |
ST NICHOLAS OOSH HOLIDAY PROGRAM
Please find attached the upcoming holiday program for St Nic's OOSH at Holy Name. Any families wishing to join in with this program need to register with St Nic's and register for the Holiday program. Links to the documents needed are attached to make it easy. This is a fantastic service for our families and one that I encourage you to support if you can.
Last Tuesday Holy Name celebrated Mission Day for the people of Ghana. Richard Cootes shared with the children what their money was spent on last year and the difference they can make to communities. Our children set out and put mission into action, raising $1950.00. Well done Holy Name! Congratulations to Year 5 and 6 for hosting excellent stalls and to our community for donating so generously.
Wow, what a gathering! Thank you to our fathers, grandfathers and father figures for joining us today at our annual Father’s Day Breakfast! It was the largest gathering of dads we have ever had. We welcomed father’s sharing breakfast with us for the first time and thanked fathers who have journeyed with us through the grades. For some, this was their last breakfast with our community. Many people contributed their talents to help make this day such a success. Thank you Mrs Banham, for creating our photo booth setting with the letters KIND, to Miss Spinks, Miss Meers and Year 3 for singing a heart filled song about dads being our heroes and to our staff for cooking and serving a delicious meal.
The time has come… The School Run4Fun Colour Explosion has kicked off!
Students have now been supplied with a Sponsorship Form and it’s time to fundraise! How exciting!
Students who raise as little as $10 will receive a prize for their efforts, but why not aim higher? The more money we raise the more we can provide back to the students in our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.
Sign up now at www.myprofilepage.com.au and create your child a Profile Page. Use the unique code on page five (5) of the Sponsorship Form and see if you’ve won FREE sponsorship donations. The other exciting promotion is the highest fundraising student in our school will go into a draw to win $2,500 Helloworld Travel Mount Ommaney Gift Voucher which can be used towards a cruise, flights, and/or accommodation. You can check your ranking on our school’s leader board online. Who will be our highest fundraiser? Only time will tell! Happy fundraising!
Do the right thing- Social and Emotional Learning Program
Social and emotional well-being is important to children. Skills such as listening, sharing, helping, and emotional control enable children to get along with others. These skills can be taught. With practice, they can become a normal part of a child’s behaviour.
Social-emotional skills also play an important role in improving academic skills. In fact, experts often refer to social-emotional skills as academic enablers! Classrooms are a great place to teach social-emotional skills. They provide many opportunities to practice skills during daily interactions with others.
During the next 2 weeks, students in our class will be working to improve their capacity to "Do the right thing".
The SEL competency is about responsible decision making and problem-solving in social situations. Students will learn how to Think, Ask and Decide before they Do. Ultimately, we hope our students learn that good decisions lead to doing the right things and to good consequences.
Week 6 of each term is marked in our school calendar as Well-being Week. Students certainly initially celebrate it as a week without homework, however, staff see it as an opportunity to focus on the wellbeing and mental health of the entire school community, and to take the time to be mindful, active and grateful.
We began our week with an early morning ‘Educators Mindfulness’ meditation before the students arrived. Our Mini Vinnie’s Team served the usual breakfast club meal of hot Milo and toast to students and then we settled into our usual Monday morning rhythm. During the week, our librarian Mrs Amy Arrow played relaxing music in the Learning Hub and stationed art tables with mindfulness colouring-in for students during lunch break. Mrs Kristie Banham helped the Art Club create a beautiful 'Kindness’ photo space on the primary playground which provided background for many family photos at the Father’s Day breakfast. Mrs Nicholls and her Mini Vinnies team surprised us all yesterday with flash mobs on the playground and three of our senior students Piper Bowen, Sophia Huebner and Indigo Titow led a lunch time yoga class.
Wellbeing Week is also an opportunity for us to share information with the parent community about wellbeing and mental health through the platform of our Facebook page.
If you have concerns or questions about how you can support your child’s wellbeing and mental health there are many people in our school community who can help you. The classroom teacher is always the best place to start, Simone Maloney our Learning Support Teacher, our Pastoral Care Worker Maureen Nicholls and all members of the Leadership Team are available via appointment. Parents are also able to access the services of a Parenting Educator from Catholic Care who visits us once a month. Appointments can be made by contacting Simone Maloney. If you feel your child needs the support of our school psychologist Larissa Collins, please speak with the classroom teacher or Simone who can help guide you through the referral process.
If you or a member of your family need non-urgent information or assistance regarding the wellbeing and mental health of your family, the following services may be able to assist you:
Catholic Care Taree (02) 4979 1120
Lifeline ph. 13 11 14
Black Dog Institute (02) 9382 2991
Carers Australia 1800 242 636
Headspace 1800 650 890
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia1300 78 99 78
MindSpot Clinic 1800 61 44 34
Relationships Australia 1300 364 277
SANE Australia 1800 18 7263
Beyond Blue (03) 9810 6100
BeYou beyou.edu.au
On Monday 19th August Holy Name School kicked off Book Week with a festive parade. Students and staff came dressed in a colourful array of costumes, with non-fictional and fictional influences and many invited their parents and grandparents along to join in the fun.
This year’s Book Week theme was 'Reading is my Super Power’ which meant we had a strong contingent of superheroes. Our librarian Mrs Amy Arrow invited students to visit the Learning Hub this week to read the books nominated for the 2019 CBCA Book Week Awards.
On Wednesday, Holy Name School hosted the Regional Debating Final. The Holy Name team was made up of Ethan Hudson, Jonathan Botros, Matilda Dickson and Dylan Kinkade. Unfortunately, Matilda fell ill on the day and couldn't debate so Manuela Stewart stood in for her at the eleventh hour. Miss Redding was our adjudicator with her able assistant Mrs Harris.
The topic for the final against St Joseph's Taree was "The Internet Should be Banned at School." The Holy Name Team were the affirmative team and put together a great case. We knew that the score would be close and Taree ending up winning the debate by a single point. They will progress to the Diocesan Championships later this term. Thanks to Mr Pomplun for organising the day.
Dear Parents / Carers
All Book club orders need to be back at school no later than Friday 6 September 2019.
I have attached a 'How Parents order using LOOP?' With these instructions you just need to register and pay online.
I would like to encourage our students to read as it would enable our students to strengthen their vocabularies, critical thinking skills and broaden their knowledge of the world around them.
Scholastic rewards are a form of currency created by Scholastic as a way of giving back to schools. The rewards allow our Library Assistant to buy books to enhance our school Library.
Regards
Kerry
Kickstart Soccer
Years 1, 2 and 3 have been enjoying Soccer clinics with Jeff Summers each Thursday. The children are learning a variety of Soccer skills and enjoy Jeff's enthusiasm.
Basketball
Children in years 4, 5 and 6 have completed a six week basketball course with Elliott from the Taree Tornadoes. Elliott is a very experienced and passionate coach and as well as teaching the skills, he also taught the children teamwork skills and the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Netball
Last Friday, the students in Years 3 and 5 travelled to Taree for the Manning Region Netball Gala Day. The children had a round-robin day with students from the other Catholic Primary Schools in our Region. The children had a great day and represented Holy Name School with pride and enthusiasm.
Last week, MSP Photography were at school for 2 days taking our 2019 School photos. Individual, Class, Siblings and Group photos were taken and the packs should be here before the end of term. Group photos will also be available for purchase at the Office when they arrive.