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- Messages from the Principal
- Swimming Carnival 2020 COVID Restrictions
- Bullying
- School Fees
- Messages from the Assistant Principal
- Adopt a School - Connor Watson
- Aboriginal Education News
- Religious Education News
- Library News
- Sports Uniform
- Transition Program for Year 7 at St Paul's, Booragul
- Tupperware Online Fundraiser
- Parish Bulletin
- St Nicholas OOSH Cardiff
- Meat-Free Monday
- Move and Play
Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,
This week has seen us celebrate and remember our Saints – All Saints day and All Souls Day. Whilst live streaming Sunday Mass. Bishop Brian Mascord spoke not only about the Saints we know of and formally recognise such as Mary MacKillop, but of all the others who are saints through their words and actions, who are not formally acknowledged but none the less lived or are living lives that reflect the love of Jesus in everything they do. How many saints have you known or currently know? How are you making Jesus real each and every day through your interactions with others? A challenge for all of us!!!!
Term 4 is shaping up to be the fun term for 2020!!! So far, we have had our Book Parade and the Soctober Football Challenge. In coming weeks, we will celebrate NAIDOC Week, have our swimming carnival, engage in Buddy Training with Years 4 and 5, and then prepare for end of Year awards and liturgies. So, 2020 may have been a bit slow and quiet at times, but it is finishing with a bang!
Kindergarten 2021 Transition mornings begin on Friday November 6, and continue each Friday throughout November. We are all very excited to meet face to face our new kinders and their parents – all be it just a 10 minute “Hi” for the parents! Our K2U Facebook page has been very well received by all and I thank Mrs Cate Larke for all her work in driving this initiative.
This week we also welcome a new family into our village - Aleisha and Aaron along with their 3 children, Mia Year 5, Jayda Year 3 and Zeus in Kindergarten. We extend a very warm welcome to you all and hope that you come to know and love the St Kevin’s Village as much as we do.
So here’s to our growing village! Keep safe everyone and continue to Make Jesus Real every day in the way you greet, treat and speak to others.
Regards,
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
Swimming Carnival 2020 COVID Restrictions
No parent helpers or spectators this year.
Year 1 and 2 MUST BE competent and competitive 50m swimmers. Please email Mr Vaughan with their names and preferred strokes if you haven’t done so already. Remainder of Year 1 and 2 will stay at school.
All of Year 3-6 will attend. All students attending MUST complete attached student water skills assessment and return to school. A hard copy has also been sent home today.
All students are to travel to and from the carnival via the hired bus as parents are not permitted on site at the pool.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is something we hear much about and is also a word that can get overused during times of disagreement between peers. So, what is bullying?
It's more than just a fight or disliking someone.
It’s being mean to someone over and over again…..not just a one off incident of a disagreement between children.
Bullying is an ongoing or repeated misuse of power in relationships, with the intention to cause deliberate (on purpose) psychological harm. Bullying behaviours can be verbal, physical or social.
Bullying can happen anywhere – at home, online, with friends, in a group, on the bus or at school.
Here at school we explicitly teach the children how to greet, treat and speak to others appropriately. We talk about how words matter. We discuss with the children that sometimes we do say the wrong thing; sometimes we do get angry at someone else; sometimes we may not include others in our games ….. and then we talk about how to forgive and say sorry; how to mend friendships; how to be a better friend. We all make mistakes and we learn from those mistakes. Are these incidences of bullying? Usually no, they are stand alone incidents. However, when a pattern or repeated behaviour occurs, then we have a different situation.
Cyber Bullying – the new way to bully.
I have had a number of parents in Years 4-6 contact me in regard to inappropriate online behaviours. Children are engaging in online games and social media, which are, in many cases, a positive experience, especially as restriction have sometimes distanced us from friends and family. However, we are also seeing an increased number of arguments or disagreements arise, leading to inappropriate comments being made in the online environment. Parents often ask the school to intervene in behaviours that are occurring when children are at home. All social media sites have recommended ages, yet these are ignored so children do not miss out when “everyone else” is online. Let me assure everyone else is NOT online. If you believe your child does have the maturity to use social media, you should still supervise their behaviour by ensuring they use their device in a public space NOT their bedroom and that they allow you to access their accounts. Additionally, we have an increasing number of parents who are worried about children that access their devices overnight, resulting in extreme tiredness at school, as they wake up every hour or two to check for messages.
One strategy that school psychologists recommend is that at 8:30pm all devices – phones, iPad and laptops are put on charge in a public area e.g the kitchen, and there they stay till 7am the next day. This prevents children from accessing social media through out the night and being subject to issues that you as their parents would rather, they not be. It also ensures that the children get a good night’s sleep ready to learn at school the following day. Psychologists also state that use of this social media is highly addictive just like chocolate or alcohol for adults. The more they are on social media, they more they crave the immediate response and “Likes” to their posts. If when you remove the phone, iPad or laptop for re-charging overnight, and your child reacts in a very negative, angry way, then you have uncovered and identified their addiction to social media and gaming. Withdrawal will work and it will be rocky, but it is so worth it to build resilience and empathy in your beautiful children once more.
Please refer to https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents for excellent advice on keeping your child safe online.
Parents, a reminder that school fees are now due and payable. Reminder fee statements have been emailed out in Week 2 this term. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact the Principal on 4954 0036 to discuss. Year 6 parents are advised that successful enrolment into St Paul’s requires a fee clearance from St Kevin’s.
Messages from the Assistant Principal
Dear Parents,
Writing and Spelling
Our staff have been so grateful for the support that parents have shown this year especially in supporting our whole school focus on improving student’s writing. We have received some questions from parents and carers around spelling and the best way to encourage students to be better spellers.
What you need to know...
Spelling is a tool for writing. Reading, writing and spelling are interconnected. Readers and writers are constantly building up images of how words look. Writers become conscious users and consumers of words. They take notice of words in the books they read and the words they see in their environment. Good spellers are resourceful. When they notice that a word does not look right, they experiment and substitute other letters, find the word in a book, a magazine, the environment, the dictionary, use the spell checker, or ask someone.
Every writing time is a spelling time. Writers compose for meaning first and foremost. They proofread to ensure the intended message is conveyed accurately and appropriately for their Intended reader.
Teachers vary the way they teach spelling, depending on the age and needs of students. Most spelling words relate to the work the children are studying or are selected because children use them in their writing. In order for children to retain correct spellings and apply spelling rules, they need to use the words in their writing.
Children need encouragement to use words that they cannot necessarily spell. Spelling should not be a deterrent for writing or effective expression of meaning. It is preferable for a child to use the word ‘serendipity’ because it is the word of choice even though he may not be able to spell it yet, rather than not use it at all or be forced to substitute a less significant and less interesting word. Using words is how new words are learned.
Children who lack confidence with spelling or are fearful of getting a word wrong, often restrict their expression to words they know and can as a consequence, become reluctant writers.
It is desirable that children become independent spellers rather than rely on you to spell words they don’t know. The first step is to encourage them to identify words they think they have spelled incorrectly. When children want to write a word, encourage them to ‘have a go’ at spelling it using sound knowledge and then look again to see if they think it is spelled correctly. Initially, focus on what they have right rather than what is wrong. Show them where they have made an error and see if they can correct the word by trying other letters; draw the shape of the word; ask where they saw the word last; or suggest they find the book where the word appears.
What parents can do…
- Draw attention to words in the environment and in the books you read together, for example: ‘Look at those two words … they almost are identical except for the last letter’; ‘That word is really long’; ‘That word is French’; ‘That word has three syllables in it’; ‘Those two words rhyme’.
- Play games with spelling. Play games like Scrabble, crosswords, making words from number plates, letters in your names, words that can be spelled the same forward and backwards. Look for spelling aps that you can play together, for example, Boggle.
- Play word games like thinking of rhyming words, opposites, or words that sound like their meanings. The Internet has many fun and free spelling activities.
- Point out unusual words in the books you read together.
- Look for words in the environment.
- Show that you care about spelling. Ask: ‘Who knows how to spell …’ Say that you will write it down and take a look at it to see if it looks right.
- Children learn to spell by writing and noticing words when they read.
- Model how reading and writing is an integral part of your day.
Adopt a School - Connor Watson
Adopt a School- Connor Watson
A huge thanks to Connor for choosing to support St Kevin’s in 2020!
We have extended our thanks and congratulate him on receiving the NRL Ken Stephen Medal community award.
Connor is a proud Indigenous man. To celebrate NAIDOC week (9th-15th November) he has created a few videos of him reading some Indigenous storybooks.
Yaama Ngindaay! (Hello everyone)
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each year to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
How is it different to Reconciliation Week? NAIDOC week celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s 65,000 plus years culture and Connection to this Country. Reconciliation Week aims to heal hurt and damage created since colonisation |
2020 National NAIDOC Poster
Tyrown Waigana, a Perth based artist and designer, and Noongar and Saibai Islander man has been named as this year’s winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC Poster Competition.
His winning entry - Shape of Land - was judged by the National NAIDOC Committee to have best illustrated the 2020 NAIDOC theme: Always Was Always Will Be, which recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.
Tyrown’s passion for art and design began at an early age and his goal is to make a living of being an artist and take on exciting new creative projects.
Shape of Land description:
- The Rainbow Serpent came out of the Dreaming to create this land. It is represented by the snake and it forms the shape of Australia, which symbolises how it created our lands.
- The colour from the Rainbow Serpent is reflected on to the figure to display our connection to the Rainbow Serpent, thus our connection to country. The overlapping colours on the outside is the Dreaming.
- The figure inside the shape of Australia is a representation of Indigenous Australians showing that this country - since the dawn of time - Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land.
St Kevin’s will celebrate NAIDOC Week from 8-15 November |
Due to current CoVid restrictions we have to acknowledge and celebrate NAIDOC Week a little differently this year, however the learning and activities we have planned will be very educational and meaningful.
Wednesday 11 November – Learning and Discovery
Mr Taylor will visit each room to lead a Prayer Service, talk about NAIDOC Week and share a short story or video.
We will also have…
- NAIDOC Bunting for display
- NAIDOC Blow-up beach balls for each classroom and the library
- NAIDOC Mini Yo-Yos as a gift for each child
We look forward to celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s 65,000 plus years culture and connection to Country during NAIDOC Week celebrations at St Kevin’s next week.
Take care, stay safe, and look after your mob.
Yaluu ngali ngamilay (We will see each other again)
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
A HUGE thanks to everyone for supporting our Catholic Missions Socktober appeal. We raised over $2500. Please check out our photos on Facebook.
This week we also had commemorated All Saints Day and All Souls Day with an in classroom liturgy. Thanks to the magnificent art work of the children under the direction of Mrs Jasmina Boudan each one of our little angels was captured. See below.
St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal
St Kevin’s has traditionally been extremely generous in assisting the local chapter of St Vincent De Paul provide a little joy for local families. Unfortunately, we are unable to do food this year. Vinnies are hoping to distribute a Woolworths gift card that families might use to buy some Xmas goodies.
How can we help?
We are hoping that we can provide cash donations to St Vincent De Paul’s. This will involve a multi-step process.
Step 1: On Monday 9th November a book of 10 Xmas raffle tickets will be sent home with each child, with prizes similar to previous year’s Easter Raffles.
Step 2: On Wednesday 18th November we are having an out of uniform day with students bringing in a cash donation.
Step 3: On Friday 27th November at 2pm we will gather as a school outside ( utilising both the COLA and the Hall) and draw our raffle tickets. We are hoping to make up at least 20 prizes.
A huge thank you to everyone who made a purchase at the Book Fair. We earned $574 worth of vouchers to spend on new resources for our library and classrooms!
Reminders
Please remember to return any outstanding library books. We are no longer doing library borrowing due to building works around the library and we need all books returned for the end of year stocktake.
Home Reading is continuing. Readers are to be returned every Wednesday.
Transition Program for Year 7 at St Paul's, Booragul
As part of the Transition Program for Year 7, 2021 at St Paul’s, the College will be conducting the following events:
- November 9th - Parent Information Power Point Presentation emailed to Parents/Caregivers of Year 7 2021 replacing the Year 7 2021 Orientation Evening at the school (due to COVID Restrictions). This will include an opportunity to interact and ask any questions you may have.
- November 17th - Learning Support Orientation Day.
- December 1st - Student Orientation Day at St Paul’s (following COVID safety measures).
Information and invitations regarding these events will be directly emailed to all Parents/Caregivers.
Kind regards,
Belinda Dempsey
Year 7 Student Coordinator
St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul
Tupperware Online Fundraiser
The P&F, along with Lisa Rigby, are hosting an online Tupperware fundraiser. All orders are online with online payment and all orders are delivered to your door. If you would like to purchase, please follow the below link.
The sale will run until 16th November. When customers spend $150+ you can purchase a mystery pack valued at $150+ for only $50. A great time to buy!
Firstly, we want to say a big welcome to all our families who started with us last week! We had a fantastic first week getting to know all the wonderful children and learning about their interests and what they would like to see us do here at OOSH.
We started off the week with lots of drawing, building and puzzles! There has been an abundance of creativity and participation in all our activities. The children have absolutely loved the staff led games both morning and afternoon such as musical statues, colour corners and basketball. Already we are seeing new skills develop and we look forward to continuing to get to know the fun, energetic, creative, clever, and caring personalities!
Our new OOSH friends were very excited to share with us their suggestions for our morning/afternoon tea menus, each having a turn listing their favourite snacks, meals, vegetables, and fruits. We are excited for all the yummy foods that we have coming up!
A few friendly reminders!
- Download the Xplor app (This link was forwarded to you after enrolment, which will enable you to sign in/out using the contactless QR code)
- Image release form to be signed at parent information table and handed in.
A big thankyou to our families for making the first two weeks of Term 4 so successful! We look forward to the rest of the term here at St Nicholas OOSH!
Please feel free to come to us with any questions!
Sam (Mon – Fri), Natalie (Mon-Thurs), Trexia (Fri)