Filter Content
- Principal's message
- Pedagogical Mentors at Holy Name
- St Clare's Newsletter
- Well-being Week Term 3, Celebrate Kindness
- Religious Education
- Pastoral Care
- Garden Project
- Staff Profile, Mr Gary Pomplun
- ICAS
- 100 days of Kindergarten celebration
- Free local counselling for children with a disability and their families
Dear Parents, Carers & Friends,
I hope you enjoyed Wellbeing Week and the opportunity it provided to relax a little on the regular routines of homework. For some of our families, these changes to routines may present challenges as students prefer to stick to routines. Encouraging revision or reading is always a good idea in these cases! Our staff relished the opportunity to catch-up on outstanding tasks in what would normally be staff meeting time and shared a BBQ lunch together today to finish off our week.
I am pleased to inform our community of the revised 'Vision' for Holy Name Primary School. This Vision began its formation through the School Self-Review process last year and concluded when our staff gathered at the beginning of this term. We believe our Vision captures our current and future focus. Thank you for your contributions during our Self-Review. Your feedback is welcome and once we unpack this Vision in a Mission Statement, we will also share this with you.
The Catholic Schools Office Vision for our Diocese is:
'At the heart of everything there is always Jesus Christ.'
The Holy Name Primary School Vision is:
'Belonging, Learning & Serving, in His Holy Name.'
We believe this statement captures the aspects of wellbeing, high expectations for learning and our commitment to developing the capacity of our students to see the needs of others and to know they can make a difference through their words and actions. The statement is full of action words and the vision we have for Holy Name is one of doing, of always working to be better than we are, of never being happy with the status quo but always striving to ensure our community are looked after, have the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves, and to reach out to our community and beyond. It is simple but says so much. I love that it ends with our school name because it reminds us that our work is grounded in the work of Jesus and when we do things 'in His Name', we are committing to following His lead.
There is an article below that includes information about our students reaching out to show kindness to the staff of St Vincents Hospital in Victoria. The response from their community to ours is warming for the heart. This initiative, led by our Pastoral Care Worker, Mrs Banham, is evidence that we all have a role to play in fulfilling the vision of our school.
Principal Awards
Last week I visited classrooms to present the Principal Awards that would normally be given out at the awards assembly mid term. These awards are earned when students are acknowledged on 4 separate occasions for an aspect of their learning or personal growth deemed noteworthy. For two of our students, Sophia Whitehouse-Miotto and Neil Uprety, this was their third Principal Award, resulting in the Silver Badge being awarded. Congratulations to all students for their efforts in class and on the playground that were noticed by their teachers.
Yr 1 - Sasha Dempsey, Ebony Clarke, Albert Lawson and Shyah Anson
Yr 2 - Sophia Whitehouse-Miotto, Zia Singh, Chase Brooks
Yr 3 - Ruby Hedge, Neil Uprety
Yr 4 - Jaxon Zabell, Aston Hodges
Yr 5 - Abby Moelker, Baran Zanjani, Madeline Mackay, Mia Hamilton
Yr 6 - Hayden Robertson
Our teachers are making a difference
There is a real energy around our school at the moment as we target the learning growth in Reading of all students. You will observe some changes in what the students are bringing home and what they are focusing on in their English lessons. As our partners in this process, we encourage you to support your child's reading growth by reading with them at home each day and reinforcing the learning goals the teachers have for your child/ren. I know that Yr 3 and Yr 4 teachers will be seding out some changes to the homework from next week and look forward to seeing the impact of the class and homework on our student's achievement in reading. We are focused on learning growth for all students, not just for those still learning the basics of reading.
In class, the teachers have been working to make the learning visible for students by introducing 'Learning Intentions', which are statements that begin with 'We are learning to...' and then co-constructing the 'Success Criteria' or 'I can statements' with students. The learning goals become real and visible for each child as they understand what they need to do to get to the next stage of learning.
In the classroom, these steps to success are mapped out on what we call a 'Bump It Up Wall' (example below) so that students can engage with the learning progress they are making. Student pictures are placed along the Bump It Up Wall depending on the work sample they produce. These walls can be used for different areas of the curriculum depending on what teachers are targeting. We are focusing on Reading in English and Problem Solving in Maths.
All teachers are monitoring the growth of student learning using a Data Wall in the staff workspace to visually track student progress towards intended learning goals. During the fortnightly collaborative meetings on Fridays, the teachers use the wisdom of the group to introduce new strategies for students who appear to be 'stuck' in their learning progress.
Generosity of our P&F
For some time, our P&F have been aware that the school tents have passed thier used-by date. The tents are used at sporting carnivals to provide shade for our staff or students. This week we were fortunate to receive a brand new tent, courtesy of our P&F Association. We are grateful and ever hopeful that we will have the opportunity to use the tent in the near future! Thanks Mr Isbel and the P&F Association!
Changes to end of year events
All end of year events will look different under the COVID-19 Guidelines. The Leadership Team and staff are currently working on a revised plan for all events and will communicate with families before the end of term to make sure everyone knows the revised plan. The Kinder Transition, Yr 5 and Yr 6 Excursions, as well as the end of year festivities for our Yr 6 students are the main events we are hoping to adapt.
Congratulations Mr & Mrs Hassett
This week, Mr & Mrs Hassett welcomed their second child into the family. Sebastian John Hassett was born on Tuesday night, weighing a healthy 3.17kg. He is a sister to Skylah. Mum and bub are doing well and are home already. Mr Hassett will take his paternity leave over the next 4 weeks to make sure Sebastian and the family continue to do well. Thank you 4H families for supporting Mr Hassett during this time. Wherever possible, we have made sure that Miss Sullivan, who teaches the class each Wednesday is the educator employed to replace Mr Hassett while he takes this special leave.
Playground work
It shouldn't be long now before the fencing goes up around the cricket pitch. We are also investigating moving the fence a little at the Carawa St entrance to enable the students to stand further back and for parents to be on the grass (so that we don't continue to have families waiting on the road).
If any of our families have a connection or know a business who would help design an area along the Lake Street fence, adjacent to the Netball Court, please provide me with their details. We are considering garden, equipment and possibly a table and chairs.
Wishing you well,
Brooke Stephens
Pedagogical Mentors at Holy Name
This year Suzie Monks and I have been employed as Pedagogical Mentors which is a new role to Holy Name School. Pedagogical Mentors are experienced Catholic School Educators employed to work collaboratively with other teachers to plan, evaluate and model quality, evidence-based teaching practice. We work closely with the Leadership Team and teaching staff to plan strategic ways to enhance the learning opportunities for the students at Holy Name.
Our first focus has been to provide professional learning and support to teachers around Learning Intentions and Success Criteria. We know that having a clear intention for a lesson and allowing students to see what successful learning looks like, allows students to understand why they are learning a concept and what they need to do to gain the most from the task.
Already we have been pleased to see a shift in student’s ownership of learning. Part of our role is to participate in learning walks each week. Along with the Leadership Team, each week, Suzie and I visit classrooms during the literacy block and talk with students about their learning. We ask students:
- What are you learning? Why?
- How are you doing?
- How do you know?
- How can you improve?
- Where do you go for help?
Mission Liturgies
Holy Name is building a partnership with the Catholic Care Community Kitchen, whereby we donate any produce from our garden beds to the kitchen and the Leadership Team collects donated food from Coles and delivers it to the kitchen once a week.
In addition to this, classes are being asked to donate pantry items to be given to the Community kitchen, feeding those hungry and less fortunate in our local community. Last Friday, Yr 1 and Yr 2 gathered to listen to Fr Greg talk to them about how Jesus helped the poor and he thanked them for thinking of others in our community who have very little. If someone is in need or has less than you, share what you have. Three overflowing baskets of food items were presented to Catholic Care Community Kitchen Co-ordinator Sue Abdoo. Well done Stage 1!
5c Friday
Last week saw Mini Vinnies launch 5c Friday’s at school. Wanting to effect change in a small change way we have already raised $100.40! We will keep this initiative running for the remainder of the term, thank you to everyone who has sent their 5c pieces (plus other silver coins) we really appreciate your support. Mini Vinnies will meet in coming weeks to brainstorm where the funds will be used and distributed.
Saving the environment with Beeswax Wraps
We have also started on our Beeswax Wrap making project. In small groups members of Mini Vinnies are working on making these wraps to cut down on single use plastic and donating some to the Catholic Care Community Kitchen.
Spreading kindness interstate
Earlier this year at lunch-time Art Club, the students of Holy Name Primary School began making ‘word birds and rainbows’ because they saw a need to brighten the days of others, particularly our front-line workers in hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Initially we made some word birds and sent them to both Manning Base Hospital in Taree and Cape Hawke Private Hospital in Forster for both the staff and patients. Knowing these workers were essentially showing up to care for others and knowing patients had restrictions on visitors, we felt it was a beautiful way to reach out and brighten peoples' day. We also know how isolated some people in our community are, especially those in nursing homes with restricted visitors, so we also sent a box of rainbow words to the lovely residents at Kularoo Gardens and a box of birds were paid forward to Father Greg to share with the parishioners at church.
With Victoria recently going into Stage 4 restrictions we decided to send a box of rainbows and kindness cards to St. Vincents Hospital in Melbourne for the amazing health professionals working hard to keep everyone safe.
It has really gathered momentum and the students take such delight in knowing they are spreading joy to someone who may need a little love. We have also received a number of photos from the community holding their gifts. Observing the joy and sheer delight in the student's faces as they see the difference they are making by paying their kindness forward is a gift in itself. We will continue to make to give and keep sending our acts of kindness out into the community.
Kristie Banham
Classes are continuing to care for their garden beds at Holy Name. We have already supplied some fresh produce to the Community Kitchen for which they were very grateful.
Over the coming weeks we will plant our Spring and Summer crops in our beds.
We are also after some laying chooks if anyone can help us out.
Staff Profile, Mr Gary Pomplun
1. What do you love about/enjoy as part of your job?
2. What do you love about HNS ?
3. Can you describe your role ?
Over the past two weeks, some children have undertaken the ICAS tests through the University of NSW. Children can participate in Science, Digital Technologies, English, Maths and Spelling and see how they fare against Australian and International entrants.
The testing has all gone to the online platform this year and the children have managed the transition very well.
100 days of Kindergarten celebration
Early this month, Kindergarten celebrated ‘100 days of Kindergarten’. From the beginning of the year, we have been counting each day using tens frames to reach 100 days. This year, not only did the Kindergarten teachers, including Mrs Banham, dress up as a ‘100 year old’, the children were also invited to dress up as a ‘100 year old’. This added to the enjoyment of the day, with many students turning up to school unrecognisable, wearing grey hair and overalls and pearls and holding walking sticks! We began the day with a Zoom call to our parents, who were able to join in with our celebration. Then the children spent the morning, making their 100 days of Kindergarten crowns to wear.
After first break, the children participated in activities relating to the number 100. The activities included, using 100 plastic cups to build a tower, making 100 paper chains, participating in 100 physical activity activities such as push ups and squats and race to 100 dice again.
Then for lunch, Mr Pomplun and Mrs Loring offered to cook 100 sausages for sausage sandwiches and the Kindergarten and Year 6 children enjoyed lunch together. After lunch, the most anticipated activity of the day was when the children each received a cupcake with their Year 6 Buddy to decorate and enjoy.
This year more than ever, we wanted the Kindergarten children to enjoy a very special day celebrating their achievement of reaching 100 days of Kindergarten. We had wonderful support from our families who contributed to our rotational activities and who were just as eager for their children to dress up as a ‘100 year old’.
Mrs Praschinger and Mrs Monks