Newsletter - Term 3 Week 4

Calendar

From The Leaders

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus walks on water and wants Peter to have faith to join him. The raging storm in Matthew’s Gospel represents the times in our lives when we feel in danger of losing touch with God, with the people we care about, and even with ourselves. Perhaps we find out one of our friends has lied to us and we wonder if we can trust that person again. Or maybe we feel so overwhelmed by our work or by a crisis occurring in our family that it seems as if we might never know peace again. The Gospel reminds us that especially in those moments when we can’t seem to find Jesus, Jesus finds us.

Whole School Focus on Writing!

It is amazing to see how our whole school focus on writing is going. Year 2 have been working hard to create their hybrid texts on whales, Year 6 have been sharing their learning intention with their families and Year 1 loved coming together as a grade this week to co-construct their Success Criteria for  writing and to learn all about the Bump it up Wall. The students did an amazing job of identifying stars and stairs in each of the samples shown. At the end when asked where they think they will see themselves on the wall, there was an overwhelming demonstration of confidence. Most think they will be right at the upper end! We can't wait to see our authors shine! You might like to ask your child about what they are writing at the moment!

Grandparents and Special Persons Day

We welcome Grandparents and Special Person’s to join us at school on Wednesday 6 September to acknowledge the amazing gift you are to each of us. This will begin with a short liturgy at 9:00am, followed by activities in classrooms and a BYO picnic lunch. We hope as many families can join us as possible, with this being linked in to our Creative Arts Spectacular showcase the following night. Don’t forget Friday 8 September is a Pupil Free Day whilst staff attend our Staff Spirituality Day.

Pick Up and Drop Off Safety

We ask all families to please be conscious and considerate of each other, and the road rules during pick up and drop off. We have had recent concerns raised about u-turns, crossing of double white lines, people pulling up in the bus bays and parking on the grass outside OOSH. We appreciate how busy the traffic can be, especially when we need to ask some people to go around the block when waiting for the Car Park pick up service. Please be aware that we cannot have traffic on the crossing lines so if you have pulled up there, you will be asked to move by a staff member so that we can ensure the safe crossing of pedestrians. Thank you all for supporting us in ensuring that our students and their families are safe.

Come Pray With Me

Don’t miss the opportunity to join us at school to find out more about different prayer styles. Come along and experience this with your own child in a small group and take home a ‘goody bag’ to use at home. Opportunities are available again this week on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 2:40pm till 3:00pm or on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 8:40am to 9:00am.

Whole School Prayer

Please remember that each week we pray as a whole school community on a Monday morning at 9:00am and everyone is welcome to join us. This week we thank 3 Faith for hosting our prayer. 

ICAS Updates

The ICAS assessments continue next week. Please see the schedule of times below. We thank Mrs Kath Brazel for supporting the administration of ICAS.

ICAS English - 14 August 2023
ICAS Science - 21 August 2023
ICAS Spelling - 22 August 2023
ICAS Mathematics - 28 August 2023

Pastoral Care

Protect Your Child Online from Inappropriate Content

As children explore the online world, they may encounter inappropriate content that can be harmful and
disturbing. This content can have emotional consequences, causing nightmares or changes in behaviour,
especially if it's vivid.

Inappropriate content includes prohibited or offensive material that is unsuitable for children's age and
developmental stage. It can be accessed inadvertently through search engines, hyperlinks, pop-ups, junk mail,
online games, or referrals from others.

Prevention

• Talk openly and regularly about online behaviour
• Let them know they should come to you or a teacher if they encounter online problems or see
  something wrong, emphasising that they won't get in trouble for seeking help.
• Avoid device threats that may discourage open communication. Children may fear losing their device,
  causing them to keep online problems hidden.
• Monitor the content your child accesses online, including video games and streaming services. Utilise
  parental controls for streaming platforms.
• Ensure children access online content in common areas like the lounge room, allowing for better
  supervision and reducing the risk of exposure to inappropriate content.

Talk About It
Start conversations with your child about their online experiences:

• Ask if they've ever seen something that made them feel uncomfortable, worried or upset.
• Discuss how to handle negative situations online and ensure their safety.
• Explore their knowledge of online safety and why it's important not to share inappropriate content
  with peers.

Take Action
If your child views inappropriate content:

• Determine if it was accidental or deliberate, and have an open conversation about their motives.
• Stay calm, listen to their feelings, and offer emotional support as needed.
• Seek advice from resources like NSW Parentline (1300 1300 52) if necessary.

Resources to use with your child
1. esafety kids: I saw something online I did not like
2. Younger children watch: Swoosh and Glide and Rule Number 5 story time video
3. Hard to have conversations. Tips for parents
4. ThinkUKnow I’m worried my child might see something inappropriate online

Sports News

Diocesan Athletics

Best of luck to all our athletes travelling to Coffs Harbour on Tuesday for the Diocesan Athletics Carnival. The weather is looking perfect for a great day of competition. We know you will compete in true Aggies spirit and demonstrate fair sportsmanship to all. Successful students will gain selection in the Diocesan team to compete in the Polding trials at Homebush on 13 October.

Rugby League - Primary All Schools Cup 

Planning has continued for the Primary All Schools Cup on Tuesday 29 August. Mr Brazel has been busy recruiting new players for the Under 10 and Under 12 rugby league competitions. Aggies will send two teams in each age division and one in the women’s league tag. All teams will participate in the gala day format, with the teams accumulating the most wins advancing to the finals. The 10’s and 12’s league is full contact, and students will require a mouth guard and boots to take the field. Travel to and from Stuart’s Park will be by bus. 

Paul Wilson Cup and Diocesen Netball Challenge

Year 6 students will travel to Laurieton on Thursday 31 August, to compete in a soccer and netball gala day. The day incorporates two competitions, with competitive and non-competitive leagues. Five mixed soccer and five mixed netball teams will compete on the day. The day is also the Hastings Zone selection for the Paul Wilson Cup (soccer) and the Lismore Diocesan Netball Challenge, with successful teams moving on to the finals in Grafton later in the term.

Postive Behaviour Support

Sydney Dance Company

Wow! What a week it was last week for our school community. We had two amazing days of workshops with The Sydney Dance Company for our students in Years 3-6.  Our dancing educators were wonderful. They inspired all who participated to have a go and have fun. The start of each workshop was a chance for the students to learn about the Sydney Dance Company and what they do, as well as learning about the company values that all performers must adhere to and follow as part of a professional creative community. The values are around Safety, Respect, Commitment, Kindness and Communication. The above statements resonated with our students as these values are part of what we offer to our students throughout their educational journey in a Catholic School. These values also align with our Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and focus on following the four R’s Respectful, Responsible, Resolute and Resilient. 

We even made the news thanks to Prime 7. 

Student Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 300 Dojos:

Amelia C

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 200 Dojos:

Archie M, Carolina H, Charlotte L, Ezra V, Hazel L, Jett N, Jett L, Jude H, Liam C, Lotte P and Nicholas M

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 100 Dojos:

Aurora S and Indigo D

Canteen News

P&F

We are hosting a Spring Fling at Hello Sailor on Friday 1 September. We hope you can join us - click on this LINK to book your tickets.

Parish News

General Information