St Luke's Catholic Primary School
Newsletter - Term 2, Issue 4 , 11 May 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
As calendar dates can be subject to change, please always confirm events by checking our website - https://www.stlukeswoodvale.wa.edu.au/community-calendar
14 May
- Mother's Day Breakfast (7.30am) & Year 1 Assembly
18 May
- Parent Child Workshops for Confirmation
19 May
- National Simultaneous Storytime @ 11am - 12pm
- Science of Reading Parent Workshop 6pm
21 May
- Merit Award Assembly
Please note that the 4th of June is a PUPIL FREE DAY!
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” 1 Ephesians 4:32
This Friday morning, we celebrate the postponed Mother’s Day event. I am in awe of all the volunteers, particularly the Fathering Project Father’s who have offered their time to come into school early and help prepare a beautiful mother’s day breakfast. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am sure that over the weekend, many of you celebrated with your own families, the continued sacrifices that a mother does offer on a daily basis. I was extremely touched and moved by the story of Leila Abdallah, who lost three of her children by someone else’s selfish act. Leila was named 2021 mother of the year. She speaks of forgiveness when two days after the event, she proclaimed her faith in God.
“The guy I know was drunk, driving on this street. Right now I cannot hate him. I do not want to see him, but I do not want to hate him. I think in my heart to forgive him, but I want the court to be fair. It is all about fairness. I am not going to hate him because that is not who we are.”
She was experiencing the deepest grief any mother can experience. No one would blame her if she ranted about this man in the most negative way, hating him with all her being. Yet in her darkest hour, she chose to forgive, painful though it may be, she chose light over darkness. Her faith is not a symbol, it is her life, it is who she is. A powerful testament of faith, that challenges all of us when we are confronted with the true meaning of forgiveness.
“I forgave. I focused on my kids, not the driver. I prayed for the driver without ceasing. I looked at him with eyes of compassion because I'm a mother. A mother knows how to love and forgive." - Leila Abdallah - Mother of the Year
SCIENCE OF READING PARENT WORKSHOP
The term “science of reading” refers to the research that reading experts, especially cognitive scientists, have conducted on how we learn to read. This body of knowledge, over twenty years in the making, has helped debunk older methods of reading instruction that were based on tradition and observation, not evidence. St Luke’s has been on the journey of the SoR in the last year, and have already made some significant changes to our literacy pedagogy. Learning to read is a relatively lengthy process that begins very early in development, before children enter formal schooling. The quantity and quality of language and early literacy interactions during the preschool years profoundly affect the acquisition of the language building blocks that support skilled reading (Snow et al., 1998).
We have invited Jenny Baker to speak with our parents, but in particular our PK – Year 2 parents. We strongly recommend that one parent attend this informative workshop, as it impacts all children at St Luke’s. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 19 May at 6pm.
Please respond to the link below, to inform us of your attendance:
NAPLAN 2021
I have been so proud of the way our Year 3 and 5 students have embraced the Naplan assessments this week. I am proud of their determination and commitment to achieve their personal best. I am grateful that we have outstanding teachers who continue to teach with enthusiasm to ensure that all students do their best. However, I wish to remind parents that Naplan is only one test. One test that certainly does not define who they are. They have been created in the image of God and their true abilities lie beyond any test. I am comforted by the words of a principal at another school who expressed his thoughts and feelings through a letter to the students:
This week you would have received your NAPLAN test results. We are pleased that you tried your very best in these challenging tests and during the weeks and months leading up to them.
I’d like you, your family, friends and teachers to remember that these tests are unable to measure all of what it is that makes you the valued person who you are. The people who have created these tests and those that mark them don’t know you as well as your teachers know you, to the extent to which I know you and certainly not the way your family and friends know you.
They don’t know that many children at our school speak one or more languages other than English. They also don’t know that you may be a great singer and dancer or that you can play a musical instrument really well. They also don’t know how well you can draw beautiful pictures.
They don’t know that you have a sense of humour which can bring a smile to your friend’s faces and make them laugh or that they can rely upon you to support them when they need a kind and encouraging word. They wouldn’t know that you can write poetry and stories, play all types of different sports and have interesting and enjoyable hobbies.
They also don’t know that you probably accept responsibility for taking care of your brothers or sisters from time to time. They don’t know that you have travelled to or come from fascinating places and had amazing experiences.
They don’t know how much you love spending time with your family and your close friends and they won’t know how much you are appreciated and loved by them.
You are trustworthy, kind and thoughtful and you try to do your best every day. Do they know that?
The NAPLAN test results give you some very specific information about yourself but it can’t say everything about who you are and what you have achieved.
I hope you are happy with your results and that they inspire you to do even better in literacy and numeracy. Just remember that there is so much more to describe who you are that can’t be shown in these scores.
Len Christie, Principal
9th September 2014
PARKING REMINDERS
I wish to remind parents to please do the right thing when parking on surrounding verges or in front of resident’s homes. While I know that majority of our parents do the right thing with respect to following the correct procedures in parking when picking up their children, we do have some parents who unfortunately at times, choose to park illegally. I have been notified that the City of Joondalup may do an impromptu visit to ensure that road rule regulations are followed at all times.
You may have noticed that during morning drop offs near the church car park, most car park bays are now blocked off by orange cones. This is so that parishioners who arrive early for mass are always guaranteed a spot in front of the church and have easy access. Many of our parishioners who attend the early mass, are elderly and find it quite confronting during drop off times. We are also conscious of children being dropped off, while at the same time cars are reversing out of bays.
At the end of the day, please also do not park up the where our top kiss and ride are operating, as reversing out into this line of traffic is dangerous. Please park on Parkside Ramble Park or at the very top car park near our Arts Centre.
Our priority is the safety of all our students. Thank you parents for choosing to do the right thing for all concerned.
CLIMATE SURVEY
Just a friendly reminder to all parents to please complete the climate survey at your earliest convenience. At this stage, we have only received 12 responses. We value your input!! We want your feedback!!
To respond the PaCS at St Luke’s Catholic Primary School in 2021: www.NSIPartnerships.com.au and enter the code SLPACS in the Start Questionnaire field.
STAFF JEANS DAY FRIDAY
Some parents may have noticed that on Fridays our staff are wearing their jeans to school. The purpose of Jeans Day Friday is to raise money and awareness for the amazing charity group ‘Brother Ollie’s Wheelchair for Kids’. All proceeds will be donated to him personally at the end of the term. Our Year One students will have the opportunity to work with Brother Ollie in the coming months. This is part of their service commitment for the year. https://wheelchairsforkids.org/
Have an incredible weekend, filled with lots of love and laughter.
God Bless,
Maura Killalea
ACTING PRINCIPAL
MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Mandatory Reporting
We have been working hard to get all our regular volunteers enrolled to complete the mandatory reporting training. If you requested to be enrolled and have not yet heard back from the CEWA Child Safety Team, please check your junk mail folder or let me know so that I can check your details were entered correctly. Sarah.williams@cewa.edu.au
Behaviour Tonics Parent Information Session
Thank you to the Kindy parents who were able to attend the information session about the restorative behaviour approach 'Magic 1 -2 -3' We hope you found it worthwhile and were able to take some tools home to compliment what our teachers do here at St Luke's. For further information about this approach please click here: www.behaviourtonics.com.au
Kiss and Ride
Could ALL families please display their name card on their cars during Kiss and Ride. It makes our lives so much easier when calling children to the cars. Thank you to all the families displaying their name during pick up. It really helps to speed up the kiss and ride! If you need a new sign please email Heather admin@stlukeswoodvale.wa.edu.au Many thanks for your assistance in this matter.
Cyber Safety and Digital Wellness Junior Parent Workshop
WE HAVE A NEW DATE! Please place the 15th of June in your diaries for this worthwhile parent workshop. Thank you to our incredible P&F who are sponsoring this event so that parents can attend for free. We look forward to seeing you all there. Please RSVP by clicking here.
KID’S BULLETIN
The Kids’ Bulletin for The Feast of the Ascension: May 13 or Sunday 16th, 2021
https://thekidsbulletin.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/the-kids-bulletin-ascension.pdf
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos will be held on Friday the 11th June and Monday 14th June. 3P photography will be facilitating this day for us. A scheduled roster will be sent out soon.
If you have some great news to share or any achievements, we would love to hear from you so that we can share it in our newsletter: sarah.williams@cewa.edu.au
Have a fabulous week!
Sarah Williams & Justin Kirry
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
STAFF SPOTLIGHT!
Favourite Food - Anything spicy...yum!
Pets- An 11 year old Golden Retriever cross who still thinks he’s a puppy. He also loves swimming in the ocean.
Interesting Fact - I was an English Language Teacher in Singapore for 14 years. I worked in the Japanese Primary School where there were over 1000 students!
Hobbies - Gardening (well, I try) and baking all kinds of different cakes.
Favourite way to chill - Watching scary movies with my dog Banjo because no-one else in my family likes them.
If you see Mrs Freer-Smith around the school please say hello and welcome her to our school!
School Advisory Council
The S.A.C continues to explore modernising our branding to honour our traditions whilst also moving into the future. Our marketing and branding sub-committee are working to engage in an appropriate company to partner with us in this journey. We will be taking into consideration the results of the parent and staff surveys that were conducted last year. There will be an opportunity for community engagement at a later stage in the process. If you have any questions please contact Justin Kirry.
Lucie McCrory
S.A.C Chairperson
ST.VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY - YR 4 BLANKET DRIVE
The year 4s are doing a blanket drive, to give warmth to poor and homeless people through some CLEAN, GOOD CONDITION blankets. All donations go to Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Please drop off at year 4 classes at St Luke’s. Together we will make it a fair and warm winter for everyone.
Thank you for supporting this worthy cause and we greatly appreciate your contribution.
From,
The Year 4 classes of St Luke’s
Please donate by Friday, 28th May.
THANK YOU!
Written by Sarah Saad
SUSTAINABILITY
We are collecting bread bags and bread tags (any brand) for the chance to win playground equipment for our school. A box will be appearing shortly outside the Library but please bring any bread bags and tags to the Science room in the meantime.
Tania Farcich
SUSTAINABILITY
NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME
NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME – WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2021
Wednesday, 19 May 2021, St Luke’s will be holding our National Simultaneous Storytime in the Library.
Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 21st successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes. The event seeks to promote the value of reading & literacy and the fun of sharing books.
This year’s book is “Give Me Some Space” by Philip Bunting. Mrs Killalea will be reading aloud to the children after recess.
The children will be participating in some fun activities over the next week, learning & reading about Space, and we will be busy making eclipses and taking astronaut selfies. We look forward to sharing our pictures with you soon.
ADMINISTRATION
If your child has a current medical condition please make sure that you have completed a current Medical Action Plan. It is important for the school to obtain these annually to be kept up to date of any changes which may affect the health and wellbeing of your child. These forms are accessed via our website https://www.stlukeswoodvale.wa.edu.au/medical
Thank you.
Heather Macdonald-Rudez
ADMINISTRATION
STUDENT ABSENCES
If you wish to notify of your child's absence from school you can do this by using any of the processes below;
- Access our school website www.stlukeswoodvale.wa.edu.au. on the home page please use the quick link Absentee icon (image above).
- Email admin@stlukeswoodvale.wa.edu.au. Please include your child's name, class and reason for absence.
If your child is late, please ensure they sign in through the front office to prevent you from receiving an Absenteeism SMS.
Thank you,
Administration
SCHOOL UNIFORM
Uniform Shop is open on Thursdays only from 7.45am - 9.45pm and again from 2.15pm to 3.15pm. If you need to contact the uniform shop co-ordinator please email Jodi on 8790svc_uniform@cewa.edu.au
We are receiving a high amount of lost property. Please ensure your child's uniform, lunch box and water bottle are clearly labelled and relabelled with you students name if it has been a second hand purchase. Administration is unable to return lost items to students when it does not have a name.
Thank you.
Jodi Lyra
UNIFORM CO-ORDINATOR
P&F NEWS
Last Friday the kids enjoyed shopping for their Mums at the Mother’s Day Stall. A huge thank you Alana Metaxas and all the volunteers who helped make the event a success. Congratulations to our Mother’s Day Raffle winners.
Father Son Camp
As advertised last week, the Father Son Camp has been rescheduled to 25th – 27th of June. This year we are trying a new online booking system for this event. Spots are limited, so to secure your place, please click on the link below to register. Once registered you will receive an automatic reply which will direct you to our payment method. YOUR SPOT IS ONLY CONFIRMED ONCE PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
Further information regarding the camp can be found on the attached form. Thanks to Paul Murphy for putting on such a wonderful weekend for our school families.
Please note: Children attending the camp must be currently attending St Luke’s Primary School, siblings who are no longer attending St Luke’s Primary School are not permitted to attend.
To register for the camp please fill out this form: Click Here
Kangaroo Café
Kangaroo Café is bounding along this term and for those wanting to order food for their little joeys please have your order in by Thursday 11pm for the following Monday. If you need to cancel your order ON THE MORNING of canteen (Mondays) please text Mez on 0401 000 916. Thanks again Mez and all your team for making this available this term. The kids and families really appreciate your hard work!
COMMUNITY NEWS
MUSIC TUITION
Music tuition in Term 2 will be offered in guitar, piano, flute, violin and cello through Keyed Up Music at St Luke’s. Lessons can be arranged during school time or after school where available. To enrol your child, please visit www.keyedupmusic.com.au and fill out the online enrolment form. Information regarding lessons and fees can be found on the website.
Drums continue to be taught by Mr Christian Lombardi 0451 422 769 cjlombardi@hotmail.com
There is a new Emergency Assistance service that has recently opened in Joondalup.
The Vinnies Support Centre is a welcoming community-based place that is open for anyone doing it tough. We can provide assistance with
- Food
- Bills
- Rent
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Financial Counselling referrals.
If you are finding anyone in the community needing a helping hand, please let them know about this service.
They are currently open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-1pm and appointments can be made by calling 1300 794 054.
Thank you
Maija Hildebrand
Services Development Manager
VINNIES SUPPORT CENTRE