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Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,
Thank you to the parents who completed the recent survey about the information sessions. We appreciate your feedback and will make some changes to the process for the 2022 meetings. As a result of your feedback and our reflections as a staff, we have also decided to develop a summary of the reading pedagogy to send to families who will then be better placed to support their children to achieve their learning goals. A few parents mentioned they would like more opportunities to meet with teachers and to be at school. In Week 10 of this term, on Tuesday afternoon, 30th March, we will be hosting Student Led Conferences in Years 2-6 between 3:30-5:30pm, with Kinder and Year 1 also providing an adapted version of these conferences for the families in their classes. Additional information will be provided closer to the date but for the Yr 2-6 parents and carers, as long as the COVID GUidelines continue to allow these visits, parents attend the class with their child for whatever time they wish between the hours of 3:30-5:30pm. Please save this date as the students will have prepared information and work to show you in the conference.
St Clare's Information session at Holy Name
This Wednesday afternoon from 3.15pm in the school library, Theresa Avery, the Assistant Principal and Curriculum Coordinator from St Clare's High School will visit Holy Name parents to share information about the school and answer any questions. We would love for you to join us and ask that you sign in using the COVID QR code as you arrive. This is a great opportunity to learn a little more about the high school learning environment. For any parents who cannot make it to this time, St Clare's will offer Open days throughout the year and we will advertise them in our newsletter or via Compass.
Charlee receives a Gold Badge!
Congratulations to the following students who are our Principal Award winners for Term 1, Week 5.
Year 3 |
Max Isbel Max Stephenson |
Year 4 |
Chloe Annakin Madeline Todd Grace Zarate |
Year 5 |
Kannika Broadbent Nate Siddle Ellie Goodin |
Year 6 |
Lee Hinchcliffe Charlee Pinto Stevie Anderson |
Congratulations also to Kannika Broadbent and Nate Siddle, who both received their Silver Badge for 3 Principal Awards altogether.
We are also excited for Charlee Pinto, who received her Gold Badge this week following her sixth Principal Award. This is an outstanding effort and a true reflection of Charlie's commitment to learning and modelling the values of our school - well done!!
The Holy Name School Playgroup on Thursdays in our Mackillop Hall between 9-10am is such a nice experience. We encourage our families to spread the word among their friends to drop in for a visit. Led by our Pastoral Care Worker and supported by our Aboriginal Education Teacher and Family & Youth Ministry Coordinator, the children enjoy different activities and a snack together, and our parents are encouraged to either join in or sit back and have a cuppa while their children play and enjoy the company of others. As the year goes on and the children become more familiar with our environment, we may go for little excursions to the Kinder rooms and playground to check out what goes on in 'big school'.
This week is Week 6 and therefore Wellbeing Week here at Holy Name. This means we limit our meetings outside of the regular school day and set no homework for students. I can't believe it is already time to take a breather from the routines of the school week and hope our families enjoy this slight change to the demands placed upon them. Of course, if your child prefers to stick to routine, there are always plenty of reading or home activities they could be doing to keep the patterns of behaviour going.
Best wishes for a fabulous fortnight,
Brooke Stephens
Curriculum
I attended the Assistant Principal’s Assembly Day at the CSO last Friday and there was discussion about new syllabuses being developed by NESA. By 2022 there will be new English and Maths Syllabuses for K-2. The focus is on core knowledge and skills, building strong foundations in the early years and the engagement of relevant stakeholders. Following this there should be new syllabuses K-12 in Maths and English by 2024.
The RE team at the CSO are also working on reviewing the K-6 Religious Education syllabus.
SRC
We will meet as an SRC on the next 2 Wednesdays at school. This is due to the fact that I was at the CSO on Friday and we will have Year 6 children at St Clare’s for the Creative Arts Days on Thursday and Friday. This week we will be planting out the garden, making some tokens for our new behaviour system, planning the Cross Country and organising some anti bullying role plays to share with the school community.
Next week we will begin a rubbish audit at Holy Name and begin to look at how we can reduce our carbon footprint here at school.
Sport
Diocesan Swimming
Last Thursday, Miss Redding accompanied the Manning Swim Team to the Diocesan carnival in Newcastle. Holy Name students made up the bulk of the Manning team and all the students competed to the best of their ability.
Sophie Scislo (6L) and Hamish Carmichael (3/4H) have qualified for the Polding Carnival in Sydney later this term.
Sophie came 1st in the Open 100m Freestyle, Senior 50m Freestyle and Senior 50m Butterfly. She also came second place in the Senior 50m backstroke and Senior Individual medley. The medley must have had the crowd on their feet as there was only half a second between first and second!
Hamish came 2nd place in the 10yrs 50m freestyle and Junior backstroke.
This is a great achievement from these two young swimmers who put in many hours each week training at the YMCA.
Winter Trials
Last week the Winter Sports Trials were held at St Joseph’s Taree. Holy Name School has students going to the Dio Trials in the following sports:
Girls Netball |
Abby Moelker, Charlotte Cooper and Mia Hamilton |
Boys Soccer |
Taj Johnson, Nate Siddle, Levi Van-Haren, Charlie Gibson and Nash Syron |
Girls Soccer |
Shenia Lakin, Jade Thacker, Annie Portelli, Bonnie Dempsey and Ellie Goodin |
Rugby League |
Alexis Wakefield, Ethan Cullen and |
Hockey |
Isabel Allport and Liam Shanahan |
Regional Touch trials will be held at Wingham this Wednesday morning. The following students will be attending the trial:
Charlie Gibson, Cooper Emmerton,
Lorenzo Gray, Jack Le Roux, Levi Van Haren, layla Hickson, Bonnie Dempsey, Marla Coulton Donnelly, Chelsea Price, Charlotte Coioper and Alexis Wakefield.
Good luck children!
Cross Country
Our Holy Name School Cross Country will be held at Pebbly Beach, next Wednesday March 10th. Information regarding the event for students in Years 3-6 will come home tomorrow.
Road Safety Tip
Riding to school is a great way to keep fit. It is important that children’s bikes undergo a check every few months to ensure everything is in working order. Bike helmets are also compulsory in NSW and should comply to the Australian Standards.
Catholic Care Taree provide specialised services and a support network to assist families facing a variety of adversities.The Holy Name School Learning Support Team can collaboratively plan with the specialised staff from Catholic Care and families to improve outcomes and the wellbeing of students.
Catholic Care offers:
- After Care
- Brighter Futures
- Bringing Baby Home
- Counselling
- Early Intervention Placement Prevention Program
- Foster care
- Guardianship and open adoptions
- Integrated family and domestic violence strategy
- Marriage and relationship education
- Parenting Hub
- Relative or kinship care
- Restoration
- Supported Independent Living
- Behaviour Support https://www.catholiccare.org.au/services/behaviour-support/
- ASD assessment
If you would like to enquire about any of these services please contact the Taree office on (02) 6539 5900 or email ccenquiries@catholiccare.org.au
Warm regards
Simone Maloney
Learning Support Teacher
Welcome and Investiture of Leaders Mass
Our whole school gathered in the school hall last Tuesday to welcome new members of our school community, parents and teachers to the new school year. At the conclusion of the mass we inducted our new 2021 School Leaders. Our leaders made a pledge of leadership and received their badges after Fr Greg blessed them.
Mini Vinnies
In the coming weeks Mini Vinnies members will be inducted into their positions and will be given a St Vincent de Paul leadership badge to wear every day. This will happen at a morning assembly.
Caritas
Lent is a time of Alsmgiving. Each class has a Project Compassion Box on their prayer space. Please give generously to those in need during this Lenten period.
Genevieve Williamson
Religious Education Coordinator
During Week 7 this term, Holy Name will be competing in the NSW Netball Schools Cup. The Schools Cup is an initiative by Netball NSW to provide primary and secondary school students with the opportunity to enjoy netball in an inclusive and enjoyable environment.
How the Schools Cup works:
Holy Name has entered a Year 6 girls' team. The girls are very excited to be competing in the Cup and are looking forward to a fun filled day of Netball.