Notre Dame Catholic Primary School
Foundations for Life Long Learning - 29 November 2018
Dear Parents and Staff
In my article for the Graduation booklet for our 2018 Year Six students I included the quote above. It is my belief that we live in a world full of opportunities and that these children have been particularly well prepared for this. We are all very proud of what they have contributed to Notre Dame and I wish them all happiness and success (in whatever form that may be) as they leave the security of Primary School and move onward to the wonderful opportunities and challenges of High School. I’m very much looking forward to sharing their Graduation Mass with them, and their families, tomorrow evening.
ADVENT MURAL
This coming Sunday marks the beginning of the Season of Advent as we await the birth of Jesus at Christmas. To highlight each of the days of Advent, Mrs Mary Evangelista and Mrs Carmel Kempton, with the assistance of a few others, have created a beautifully embroidered Advent Calendar which we will hang from the balcony outside the Year Five classes from next Monday. A wreath will be placed to highlight each day of Advent. Our Monday morning assembly will be held in the Mother Mary Piazza so that we can all witness the grand unveiling of this magnificent piece of artwork.
CLASS LISTS
These were posted on the school webpage at 4.00pm yesterday. An SMS message was sent to all families with the access code. If you have experienced any difficulties in accessing the Class Lists please contact the school office.
STAFFING
· You may have noticed from the Class Lists that Miss Sue-Ellen Gullotti has not been assigned to teach a class next year. Sue-Ellen has requested a year of absence while she pursues some other opportunities. Whilst she will be missed in 2019, I look forward to Sue-Ellen’s return to Notre Dame in 2020.
· I have great pleasure in welcoming Miss Erin Horne who will be joining our staff to teach the Year 3P class. I wish Erin much happiness and success during her time at Notre Dame.
· Mrs Joanne Millard will be returning to Notre Dame after the birth of her daughter earlier this year to teach the Year 3M class on Thursdays and Fridays and to take Specialist classes with both Pre-Primary classes on Wednesdays. Welcome back Joanne!
· The Year 3M teacher for Monday to Wednesdays is yet to be appointed due to late staffing changes. We hope to have completed interviews and appointed a teacher by early next week. I will advise families of this appointment in next week’s newsletter.
· Mrs Margaret Hennessy has made a request to reduce her days of work to three days per week. I have agreed to this and Mrs Daniela Boyle will take up the other two days of Literacy support as part of her Assistant Principal (Curriculum) role.
TRANSITION SESSION
The children (4K – Year 5) will have the opportunity to meet their new teacher/s tomorrow morning during our transition session from 11.05am to 12.05pm.
The children who will be commencing 4 Year Old Kindy in 2019 will also meet with their teachers from 11.20am to 12.20pm tomorrow.
SEMESTER REPORTS
All families should have recently received a letter explaining how to access their children’s Semester Reports which will be available from 4.00pm tomorrow afternoon. If parents experience difficulties in accessing the Reports please contact the school office.
SCHOOL BOARD AND P&F AGMs
Thank you to the parents and staff who attended these meetings on Tuesday evening. The following were elected to the committees for 2019.
Thank you to all who have volunteered to serve our school in these capacities. It is through your generous service that our school continues to grow.
My special thanks to all who have stepped down from either of the committees or an executive role. Your contribution to our school has been significant and is greatly appreciated.
THANKSGIVING MASS
Next Wednesday at 8.45am we will be celebrating Mass to thank God for all of the wonderful opportunities and experiences that we have had throughout this year. We would love to see many of the parents there to celebrate with us.
CAROLS AND PRESENTATION OF AWARDS EVENING
The classes are all ready to entertain their families on Tuesday 4 December at 6.00pm. Families are welcome to bring along a picnic dinner to enjoy before the concert begins. Please take note of the following so that we may all have an enjoyable evening:
The children are to be in their classrooms by no later than 5.45pm so that the staff may get them organized before taking them to their allocated seating area.
We pray that we will be blessed with fine weather and look forward to a wonderful evening of performances by the children. It can become quite cool in the evening so please ensure that you and your children have warm clothes.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER
4YR OLD - YR 5 Transition session
Yr 6 Graduation Mass @ 6.00pm
Reports - Online @ 4.00pm
TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER
Carols & Presentation of Awards
WEDNESDAY 5 DECEMBER
Whole School Mass led by Year 5 @8.45am
THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER
End of year class excursions
FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER
Students conclude
YEAR 6 CLASS NEWS
This Friday, our fantastic Year Sixes will be graduating primary school. The ceremony will be an opportunity for the students to reflect on the challenges they have faced, their achievements, as well as their disappointments, and to remember the staff who have helped them throughout their journey at Notre Dame. Community members are invited to attend the mass which commences at 6pm. The Year Sixes are very excited to celebrate their graduation mass, with a ‘Hollywood’ themed party taking place in the parish centre afterwards.
To end the year with a bang, the students are very excited to kick up their heels and perform their ‘Footloose’ dance at the Christmas Concert next Tuesday. It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talents and to perform in front of the community for one last time.
Finally, it has been an absolute pleasure getting to know the Year Sixes throughout the course of the year. We wish them all the best for the next chapter of their lives.
Mr Seers, Mrs Boyle & Mrs Jennings
GATE (GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION)
Throughout Term 4, the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) students have worked hard in small groups to create a product using ‘Little Bits’. They had to research, plan, discuss and then finally put their bits together for a final product. This was not an easy process and many of the students changed their ideas through trial and error and further discussions within their groups.
On Tuesday afternoon, the students had the opportunity to present their ideas to their parents in an informal presentation. The ideas included a few exciting side show alley games with real prizes, a paddle boat and a ‘Party in a Box’ just to name a few. It was great to see the students engage with each other and their parents and give detailed explanations about the process and materials they used.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the students for their dedication over the year, it has been wonderful to see such great minds at work. Also, to their parents for their support and dedication in dropping their child off every Tuesday morning at 7.30am.
We look forward to continuing the program next year!
Mrs Bradshaw, Mr Tyrrell and Bro Stephen
CANTEEN NEWS
A big thank you to everyone who volunteered this year in the canteen your help is appreciated and makes the canteen function more productively.
I would now like to once again ask for volunteers for 2019. If you have half an hour at 8/8.30 or can stay until lunch your time, every little bit, makes an enormous difference. Any time you can spare whether it’s weekly, monthly, once a term or once a year, your help would be appreciated. If you are able to volunteer please come see me at the canteen on Monday, Wednesday or Friday and place your name on the roster.
END OF TERM SPECIAL
Wednesday 5 and Friday 7 December
Christmas Jelly Cups (red & green jelly) $1.50
POT LUCK FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER
What we have left in the fridge/freezer is on sale eg burgers, pies nuggets etc please see canteen on the day for availability. Please check before ordering on Friday as some stock will be low.
Hope to see you at the canteen soon.
Kayleen McLean
Canteen coordinator
UNIFORM SHOP
WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY 1.30pm-3.30pm.
Orders and payment can be made at the front office.
Danielle Lawrie
Uniform Shop Coordinator
SCHOOL BANKING
P&F NEWS
Do you feel like every day is a constant battle with a child who is continuously defiant? If you are struggling, you're not alone, and ParentTV expert Steph has some fantastic advice and strategies to help you deal with defiance...Watch her full video here:
Dr Kristy Goodwin gives insight into when the best time is to introduce your kids to social media in this blog post.
Link to share:
What helps us build confidence? What is NOT helpful in building confidence? This video explores ways to model and teach authentic confidence and self-mastery. It also looks at how we can see failure as a feedback opportunity, and how developing a passion can be just as valuable as developing an ability, when it comes to building confidence. Watch the full video here:
We hope you have a wonderful week!
Sam, Britta and the ParentTV Team.