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Dear Parents and Carers,
I can't believe how quickly the term is moving. Next week is our final transition for the Kinder class of 2024 and the visits for our current K, 1 and 2 students to their next year's grades. It has been a wonderful success and the staff involved are impressed by how settled the students in all grades are with the move. Following our final transition day next week in Week 5, we will recommence playgroup on Thursday mornings at 9am for our early learners to continue to feel part of our community and build relationships with their future classmates.
Class Lists
Our teachers have completed the first draft for the class lists for 2024. This is always a good opportunity for parents to share any information with the school that would support this process. Parent voice is always considered and where the decision is educationally sound and practical, we work with the family to make the best decision for the child.
Staffing
Our staffing for 2024 is almost finalised. This week we can announce that Mrs Rose Loring will be a permanent member of our staff from 2024, Mrs Sophie Tull will replace Mrs Praschinger who is expectiing her second baby and will finish up in Week 8 of this term, and Mrs Michelle Quilter has been employed 0.6FTE (3 days a week) in a permanent position to release Mrs Kyla Loring as Assistant Principal and Mrs Genevieve Williamson as Religious Education Coordinator. We currently have 0.3FTE (3 days a fortnight) and 0.2FTE (2 days a fortnight) positions advertised. Please share this with anyone you know who might be interested.
Daily schedule and student arrival times
We have noticed an increasing number of students attending school prior to the school being open for business with the appropriate level of supervision in place. Students should not arrive at school earlier than 8.15am in the morning if arriving by foot, bike, scooter or car. If students are riding or walking to school, we rely on families to make sure they leave home at a time that aligns with the daily schedule of the school. Parent drop-off should not occur before 8.15am.
Outside of the lack of supervision prior to 8:15am is the impact the early arrival time has on the capacity of our groundskeeper to mow the grass and blow the leaves and dirt from the concrete areas of the school. There have been numerous times that he has been unable to do his scheduled work for fear of a rock flicking up at children or being impacted by the dirt and dust that flies around when he is cleaning up the leaves.
The school organised to have St Nicholas OOSH operating from 7:00am each morning so that families could use this service if they need to get to work prior to the scheduled start of the school day. Thank you for helping us to keep your children safe at school.
Learning & Wellbeing at Holy Name
This week our leaders presented a video to Dr Lyn Sharratt and other schools on our journey this year in settting up a process called Collaborative Inquiry in our school. We spoke about the structures in place at Holy Name that allow us to monitor the impact of our teaching on student achievement of outcomes. The srong and positive learning culture of the school was evident in our conversation with Lyn following the presentation and this was reinforced by Lyn asking to use our school as an example to other schools in the area who are commencing their journey with Lyn in 2024. Our teachers work collaboratively every day and every week of the year, using data to inform practice and student achievement information to monitor the impact of the changes they make. The strength of our middle leadership culture will continue to drive the learning agenda from 2024 and the structures in place to support this process will be maintained.
Congratulations to Mr Hassett who we are extremely proud to acknowledge has achieved the Highly Accomplished level of accreditation with the NSW Educational Standards Authority. As one of our pedagogical mentors, Sean leads by example and has the opportunty to work with teachers at Holy Name to develop the culture of feedback and learning growth that we are aiming for among staff and students. Well done Sean!!
Here is the video we presented about the learning agenda this semester and how we are working to build the assessment capability of students and increase their ownership and engagement in their learning journeys.
Have a great fortnight,
Brooke Stephens
SAVE THE DATE
As you would know, our Principal, Mrs Brooke Stephens, will be leaving Holy Name at the end of 2023. We are planning a litugy and celebration here at school on Friday, December 8th from 1.30pm. All are invited to attend.
Garden
We now have access back to our garden space and most of the beds are clear. Next week, we will plant out the beds with Summer crops such as: tomato, zucchini, herbs, eggplant, Asian greens and corn. Some Stage 2 students have volunteered to be part of Garden Club, which runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the second break. Our chickens have been laying really well of late, so we have been able to send many eggs over to our Parish Community Kitchen.
We are in the process of getting some shelving for our garden shed and have already purchased some new tools for the students to use.
PBL
Our PBL focus for the past fortnight has been Taking my Responsibility for my Actions. The students can demonstrate this skill by being truthful, by accepting they are at fault in a conflict, by being ready to learn and by using kind words.
Our focus for Weeks 5 and 6 will be Being a Good Sport.
The Class Award Winners for the past fortnight were:
KM | Lexi Barnett | Marcus Bradbrook |
KP | Amillia Hackett | Levi Orsi |
1N | Charlie Cadiou-Scopelitis | Ruby Garrard |
1M | Mia Pruim | Angus Jenkins |
2S | Will Naughton | Kirra Nadin |
2L | James Chisholm | Vince Wieckoski |
3M | Danny de Sousa | Gypsie Justice |
3W | Oliver Crain | Olivia Sleiman |
4H | Sasha Dempsey | Levi Miller |
4L | Tarnaya Coleman | David Drummond |
5F | Riley Allport | Jade Smith |
6M | Colbie McCabe | Maddy O'Riley |
6R | Aurora Mahony | Lukas Bakewell |
The Principal's Awards for this fortnight went to:
Sasha Dempsey | 4H | 60 Surfboards |
Mackenzie Quilter | 4H | 60 Surfboards |
Tarnaya Coleman | 4L | 60 Surfboards |
Zia Singh | 5F | 60 Surfboards |
Amity Letcher | 2S | 40 Surfboards |
Zomoreda Al-Azzawi | 2S | 40 Surfboards |
Noah Adamson | 3W | 40 Surfboards |
Danny De Sousa | 3W | 40 Surfboards |
Reegan Skelton | 3W | 40 Surfboards |
Noah Bergagnin | 3W | 40 Surfboards |
Sienna Sorbello | 2S | 20 Surfboards |
Eva Wilson | 4H | 20 Surfboards |
Levi Miller | 4H | 20 Surfboards |
Sasha, Mackenzie, Zia and Tarnaya will receive their Silver Badges at Monday mornig assembly.
All Souls’ Day Mass
This week the Primary years from Holy Name joined with our Parish in celebrating the All Souls Day Mass at the church. This is a day when we pray for the souls of the faithful departed, and for honouring those who have passed.
Oscar, Oliver and Maddelyn represented the school wonderfully, and read the readings, Responsorial Psalm, and Universal Prayers with great dignity. A special mention must go to Charlotte and Joshua from Year 3 who presented the gifts to Father Peter with respect.
Christmas Hampers
As we stride forward into November and ever closer to Advent and Christmas, we turn our thoughts to others who may be facing hardships in what we normally consider a joyous time. Every year Holy Name asks our families to join with us in providing Christmas Hampers for families within our school community and Parish who could use a little support and love in this time.
We are asking those who can help to do so. Each class has a basket for donations, which will be gathered across the school and made into hampers. Please contribute if you are able to; every little helps. We are looking for non-perishable foodstuffs, basically anything that you’d keep at home in a cupboard or on a shelf, not in a fridge or freezer.
If you have any queries about this, please ask either myself or your child’s teacher.
Kind regards,
Fin MacKay
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
Transitions @ Holy Name School
Our Transition program is into it’s fourth week and we couldn’t be happier with how successful it has been. During these first five weeks of term 4 we invite our new Kindergarten 2024 students to come to our school for the morning session to get to know each other but also to become familiar with the school setting and routines. When the new Kinder students visit our current Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 students transition to their new grade and work in the classrooms that they will be in for the following year. We have noticed over the years, but in particular this year, that this process is extremely beneficial for all students involved as it reduces the possible anxiety that comes with moving up to the next grade. We have a consistent structure to our English Block in our K-2 classes so this allows teachers to effectively follow the lessons for the grade that is visiting their class, and ensures that the transition visits are not only beneficial for student well-being but that the learning continues as normal over the 5 transition visits. Here are some photos from our transition visits this week.
Our 45 Kindergarten 2024 students have transitioned so beautifully over the past 4 weeks. The highlight for the students has definitely been meeting their Year 5 (soon to be Year 6) buddies. The buddies have been an amazing in showing the new Kinder students around the school, helping them to complete tasks and interacting with them during playtime. This week was a particular highlight as we were able to visit the Learning Hub and listen to stories on the sensory mat. We are looking forward to our final transition where we will celebrate being ready to start big school next year! Check out these photos!
Responsible Pet Ownership Presentation
Today we had Sally from ‘Living Safely with Pets Program’ come to Holy Name to present to our K-2 students. The program educates children on what it means to be a responsible pet owner and how to live safely with dogs. The Presentations were delivered using multimedia tools, role play, songs and story-telling which really engaged our students. The educator brought along a suitably trained Border Collie named Holly, who allowed the students to practise the safe way to approach and interact with a dog that is not familiar to them. Students practised these 4 steps: 1. Walk up slowly and stop. 2. Ask the owner if you can pat their dog 3. Let the dog smell your hand with your thumb tucked in. 4. Stroke the dog gently on the back. Students also learnt the signs and behaviours to notice on a dog that might be dangerous and how to protect themselves if they encounter an aggressive dog. We are very grateful to Sally for taking the time to visit us and educate our students on how to interact safely with pets.
Mrs Suzie Monks
Primary Coordinator
Mini Vinnies
Mini Vinnies are continuing with their good works and action meetings, they are like a little hive of bees busily stitching over 50 dream pillows. This project is almost finished and we will share with you the recipients next newsletter; suffice to sat they have really enjoyed learning to sew, and the results of their sewing. It’s also been a lesson in perseverance as stitching takes time and often needles come away from thread. These students however have all worked hard at competing multiple dream pillows and should be extremely proud of their efforts.
Wishing Tree
Our Christmas Wishing Tree will be in our school office as of next week and as per previous years please feel free to take a card from the tree and return it with a gift for those in our community in need. In previous years, our donations have been received by children and families in our community, the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter and CatholicCare. This is a wonderful opportunity to live our school motto “Concern for Others”.
Breakfast Clubs
Monday and Wednesday mornings continue to be busy and full of activity as students are able to share cold Milo now the weather has warmed up and toast on Mondays and fruit on Wednesdays. Thank you to CatholicCare who continues to support these programs at our school by donating bread and fresh fruit for our students to enjoy. A big thank you goes to our Mini Vinnies students who are always ready to serve students on Mondays and Wednesdays. Breakfast Club is available for all Holy Name students from 8.15am.
Art Club
Students have been still busy plaiting friendship bracelets with wool in Art Club. We have also commenced some collaborative Christmas poster making and listening to Christmas carols, even though it might be a little early!! Art Club is always filled with joy and even more so when we play the Christmas tunes!!
Wellbeing
https://about.au.reachout.com/home
Anonymous and confidential, ReachOut is a safe place where young people can openly express themselves, get a deeper understanding and perspective on what’s happening in their lives, connect with people who will provide judgement-free support, and build the resilience to manage their challenges now and in the future.
Designed with – and specifically for – young people, ReachOut is 100% online, anonymous and confidential, and lets young people connect on their terms. From one-to-one peer support and moderated online communities, to tips, stories and resources, ReachOut offers a wide range of support options that allow young people to engage in the ways they want to, when they want to.
The Promoters of Safeguarding continue to endorse a culture of safeguarding across the Diocese. To this end, your attention is drawn to healthy screen-time limits for young people. The Australian Government Department of Health recommends a limit of 2 hours per day of sedentary, recreational screen time on television and electronic devices outside of school hours for teenagers.
When talking to young people about healthy screen-time boundaries, it's all about finding a balance. Here's a quick guide to help navigate this conversation:
Start by acknowledging the positives: Begin the conversation by highlighting the positive aspects of technology and screen time. Mention how it can be a great tool for learning, connecting with friends, and exploring new ideas. This sets a positive tone and shows that you understand the value they find in screen time.
Educate about the importance of balance: Share with them the importance of balancing screen time with other activities like outdoor play, reading, and face-to-face interactions in order to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Set clear guidelines: Establish clear and realistic screen-time guidelines. Involve them in the process by discussing and negotiating appropriate time limits for different activities, such as homework, entertainment, and socialising. This helps them feel a sense of control and responsibility.
Model healthy behaviour: Children often learn by example. Show them that you also adhere to screen-time boundaries and prioritise activities outside of the digital realm. Be a positive role model, demonstrating a balanced approach to technology use. When the whole family puts away their devices at a certain time, it can be much hard to argue with.
Discuss the impact on sleep: Emphasise the importance of quality sleep and how excessive screen time, especially before bedtime, can negatively affect sleep patterns. Help them establish a screen-free period before bedtime to promote better sleep hygiene.
Address online safety: Talk about the importance of being mindful of the content they consume online and the potential risks associated with excessive screen time. Discuss privacy settings and the significance of respectful online behaviour.
Be open to their perspective: Finally, keep the conversation open and encourage them to share their thoughts and concerns. Understanding their perspective can help you work together to find solutions that are reasonable and acceptable to both parties.
World Kindness Day – Have you considered volunteering?
Monday 13th November is World Kindness Day. Kindness has the power to change the world. We all have the power to make people happy. We do this in our actions and our words. Examples include giving someone a compliment, saying hello and genuinely asking people how they are going.
Volunteering our time is another way of being kind, and having our parents volunteer at our school is one way to make your children (our students) very happy. You could volunteer to be part of our reading groups or involved at our sporting events.
If you have ever considered volunteering at our school, please let us know so we can direct you to the volunteering registration form. Or you can access this yourselves by going to https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/people/volunteer/