Newsletter Term 4 Week 4
Principal's Report
Here I am in my first week as acting Principal and it has been a very busy week! First and foremost, you will see we have changed our newsletter! More details are below.
The children have been participating in the STOMP dance class every morning with Kira from STOMP and Charlton College. Monday and Tuesday saw a few technical errors but we have now sorted everything out and things are working as they should. I don’t think we will be able to do a zoom in for the concert on Friday because if we allow you all to zoom in to the same link, we won’t be able to see the dance teacher. I will try and video the dances and send them through like we did last year.
This week we discovered a number of children had damaged the backs of quite a few classroom chairs. Apparently if you rub the string from a mask really quickly on the chair backs, it burns a hole that looks a lot like someone has cut it with a Stanley knife. Who’d have known! We had a few boys own up and they spent the following day scrubbing the chairs. They were asked to tell their parents as well. I hope they did.
I also ask that you please keep an eye on your child’s iPad. What they are watching, what they are listening too and the games they are playing. We have rules that state the children can only have age appropriate apps etc. on their devices. This includes snapchat, Instagram, music and YouTube. We also ask that iPads come to school fully charged every day and if they are broken, they are repaired ASAP. Please contact me if you need the name of a screen repairer.
Monday and Tuesday will be school closures. Monday is a curriculum day for staff and Tuesday is the Melbourne Cup public holiday. Before we know it, Frank will be back on deck and life will be back to normal. Frank's foot is healing well and he is aiming to be back on Friday 12th November at this stage.
Have a lovely long weekend, rest up and prepare for the countdown to Christmas.
Cate Olive
New Newsletter Format
This week sees the rollout of the new newsletter format. The newsletter will be emailed to everyone each week and will also be available on the knowledge banks in the SIMON Everywhere App. We are still experimenting and setting up the letterhead but this is an example of what is to come. You can scroll down and read the newsletter or you can choose the tab at the top and that will take you straight to the section you wish to read. Our website will also be getting upgraded, but that will be a longer process. The school calendar will also be available in time. If you have any suggestions of what we could add, please give Cate a call and let her know.
Foundation, 1, 2 Class News
This week in the Prep/1/2 class, the students have thoroughly enjoyed participating in daily dance lessons through the STOMP program run by our favourite dance instructor Kira. The students have been practicing choreographed dance moves to upbeat, catchy dance tunes in parts, before putting all they’ve learnt and practiced together for a final performance each day. By the end of the week, the students will have learnt 5 dances – all whilst working on their movement, hand/eye coordination, rhythm and beat skills in fun and energetic ways!
The weather has been warming up and during breaktimes it has been great to see the students enjoying their social time outdoors in the wonderful play spaces that the school has to offer; from creating amazing imaginative experiences in the sandpit, playing on the playground, searching for lizards and little critters that have been seen scattering around, playing the occasional friendly game of cricket, exploring the natural spaces the grounds offer – grassy oval, rose garden, bushy tree areas, quadrangle zone and most recently the surge in interest amongst the students of ‘Beyblade Battles’ – a spinning top battle game inspired by Flynn who has brought his game in to play and share with the class.
The students have been enjoying our weekly music sessions where we’ve been learning about body percussion and how to follow a rhythmic beat. The students have picked up a few songs really well such as the well known ‘Wellerman’ and today we have a go at Queen’s ‘We will Rock You!’ – both songs were performed extremely well by the group using stomping, clicking, clapping and patting.
Grade 3, 4, 5, 6 Class News
Literacy: We are completing our PAT Reading testing this week, looking at areas in reading to focus on individually. Students are continuing to consolidate their comprehension skills through shared, group and individual reading tasks. We are continuing our work in writing on structure, sequence, grammar, spelling and proofreading with our bushranger theme.
Maths: We are completing our PAT Maths testing this week to determine students’ strengths and the concepts that they still need to work on in Maths.
STOMP: This week the students are involved in the STOMP Program. They are learning new movements and skills when it comes to contemporary dance and having a lot of fun.
Important Information
Lunch Orders
Please remember to send lunch orders into school on a Tuesday with money.
Masks
It is now a requirement for Grades 3,4,5,6 students to wear masks while indoors. There are masks available at school but if your child prefers to bring their own from home, this is fine.
It is recommended Prep,1,2 wear masks but not compulsory.
Reconciliation Program
The reconciliation Program will be held on Thursday 9th December. Mrs Bernadette Zagame will facilitate the program from 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. for Yr 5, 6, and 7 students who are eligible. They will then receive the sacrament at 6:00p.m. that evening in the Church with Fr Gerry. Bernadette will contact you with details.
Graduation Mass
Graduation Mass will be held on Tuesday 14th December at 6:00p.m. Followed by a BBQ tea and celebration in the quadrangle. At this stage it would be a requirement that all of those in attendance would need to be double vaccinated although these rules are changing all the time so we will keep you updated.
End of Year
The children will finish school on Wednesday 15th December. This will be followed by a staff planning day on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th.
Sports Uniform
We will now be having sport on a Friday afternoon so can everyone please wear sports uniform on a Friday each week (no longer Wednesday). Please remember sports uniform is yellow shirts (or Grade 6 shirts) and sports shorts. Sports shorts are available from the office in all sizes for $10 each.
National Water Week Poster Competition
Congratulations to Sheena Fitzpatrick for her prize winning drawing in the GWM National Water Week Poster Competition. Her picture even made the newsletter and will be featured in a calendar for 2022. Well done Sheena.
Community News
Karate In Charlton.
Are you looking for a new challenge or maybe just a new way to keep fit? Why not try Karate? Shihan Lance McInnes, a 50 year veteran of Kyokushin Karate visits Charlton every Monday night during the school year and is looking for new students. All ages are welcome and all abilities are catered for. Why not come and try the first lesson for free? Training starts at 6.00 PM sharp at the St. Andrews Church Hall, Halliday Street, Charlton. For more information contact Lance on 0438 768 412.
Humour
Winging his way to America from Ireland, Father O’Leary asked a stewardess, “How high is this plane, Miss?”
The stewardess replied, “About thirty-two thousand feet, Father.”
The Father’s jaw dropped in amazement.
“Who’d have believed it? And could ye tell me how wide it is?”