Leadership is very much the flavour of week 7 as we are immersed in the process of electing leaders to positions of responsibility for 2020. Our Year 5 and Year 9 students participated in Leadership Days last week were they focused on the principle of servant leadership and what leadership looks like in a Catholic school and the wider community. We have high expectations of all our students and staff, and very obviously our leaders are expected to be the role models that rise to these expectations and model them for the rest of the school body. The calibre of the students from which we will elect our leaders is so very impressive and the students were able to identify and recognise that leadership is not about a badge and kudos but about commitment and service to their community. We will have leadership speeches on Thursday and the entire school community will vote on that day. Leadership is not defined by a badge and many of the best leaders may never wear a badge or ever be acknowledged for the exceptional qualities that they demonstrate. We hope that whether our students wear a badge or not that they aspire to be the best versions of themselves living out the catholic values of kindness, inclusivity, compassion, respect and so many more positive qualities.

So too our Staff Leadership Team have been busy planning for the coming year and all the challenges that it will bring with it. Yesterday we spent time drafting our annual School Improvement Plan that focuses our energies on our priorities and allows us to maximise the opportunities to achieve our identified goals. As part of the Literacy and Numeracy action Plan agenda we have received funding and support to improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes for our students. Coupled with this we have identified that we must focus on providing every students with the opportunities to learn by differentiating curriculum, activities and learning for where each student currently sits. Also we plan to work on developing and building resilient and positive learners who will embrace learning challenges and who are lifelong learners because of the skill set that we can build.

Challenging Learning Parent Workshop

Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend the Challenging Learning workshop with George Telford last Wednesday. George was able to present the idea that learning is about more than knowing information but about having the skills to attempt and persist with tasks and activities. He spoke at length about how parents can help their children to become great learners. He spoke on the notion of challenge and how it is not always better to get the easy stuff right because there is no learning involved but to struggle with the more interesting and challenging stuff because that is where learning happens. He continued that we are not about proving learning but improving learning and that the parent should provide feedback on the learning process not on the person to see improvement. It was a wonderful opportunity to have a speaker of George’s calibre to provide his insights for parents. Hopefully we will have other opportunities like this next year. Make sure you don’t miss out next time.

2020 IPad Information Session

We have had to postpone our IPad information session scheduled for tonight due to low numbers. We hope to be able to provide one-to-one support for parents who are new to the BYOD program. It is also our intention to make available for all new parents and year 4 parents a booklet of important readings and information for them to make sense of this tool in the classroom.

Beyond Sacred Heart 2019

Last week’s Beyond Sacred Heart was an undeniable success. To see so many impressive visitors in the school on Friday for the culmination of the week’s activities was inspiriting. The fact that there were so many people from so many different careers and fields prepared to give up their time to help our year 10 students was wonderful. Thank you to Mrs Gale and Mr Mahon for their efforts in bringing this all together to provide our students with invaluable insights into the world beyond our playground.

Class Groups 2020

As like every year since we first began staging class groupings the staff have spent an inordinate amount of time constructing class structures for 2020. There are many different factors that are considered in compiling class lists. In the past we have asked for friendship groups for consideration but they are very problematic because they often contradict each other and friendships come and go. In the best interests of the students the teachers work together to construct classes that will be the best environment in which every child could learn. We are not asking for friendship preferences from students but will rely on the teachers’ judgements based on observations in the playground and classrooms. If there are some extenuating circumstances that dictate that we consider a specific friendship please contact Mr Brad Winsor in the first instance in the next week.

Year 6 Thanksgiving Mass

This week sees the Year 6 Thanksgiving Mass on Friday 29^th November at 12noon. We would love the school community to join with the wider parish and town community to wish our Year 6s well on the conclusion of their Primary journey. They will then spend the afternoon celebrating at the Town pool.

Week 7 is full of activity as we begin the final month of the academic school year. Year 10 work experience begins this week and we wish all our students the very best experience of the big wide world of adult work. We have teachers feverishly completing assessment data to input into semester reports to be distributed after the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 11^th December WEEK 9. The last transition activities for Year 7 2020 are on Thursday 28^th November culminating in the morning tea at 11.05 in the TAS rooms catered by the transitioning students.

Thank you for all you do for our students and community.

Go gently and if you can be anything…be kind!

God Bless

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal

Year_6_T_Shirt.pdf

Please return note and money by Friday 29 November

Stage_3_Canberra_Excursion_Itinerary

This term Stage Two has been learning some dance moves from Nardia and Elouera Special School.

Primary Sport – Weeks 6-9

Swimming for Primary Sport (Years 3-6) continues this Thursday, through until Week 9. Students must bring their swimming gear (including a rash top), towel, hat, $2.50 entry (or fitness pass).

MacKillop AFL Trials 2020

Students currently in Year 4 and 5 have the opportunity next year to trial for the MacKillop AFL Team.

Trials are being held on Tuesday 18^th February 2020, in Wollongong. Nominations for this event close Friday December 6^th 2019. Students are to see Mrs Litchfield for nomination information. Parents are to nominate their child online via the website.

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations

Primary Dates:

TERM 4

17/12 Years 2-9 Annual Swimming 12-3pm

Secondary Dates:

TERM 4

17/12 Years 2-9 Annual Swimming 12-3pm

Dear Parents,

The P & F are catering for the Meals on Wheels Christmas Luncheon to be held at Dickson Hall next Tuesday 3rd December.

Brigid Holder is the Catering Coordinator and is looking for parents to help out for an hour or so from 9.00am with prep, plate up and clean up. If you are able to help on the day please contact Brigid on 0417482863.

Brigid is also in need of 3 x Large Rice Salads, 3 x Large Pasta Salads and 3 x Large Potato Salads for the Luncheon. If you are able to make one of these please contact Brigid on the above number.

Our Year 9 students will be serving the Luncheon