Notre Dame Catholic Primary School
Foundations for Life Long Learning - 15 November 2018
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Dear Parents and Staff
The last few weeks of the school year are always very hectic as we have the dual focus of completing the year well, ensuring that the children are ready for the transition to the next year level, but also preparing for the 2019 school year. There are also the celebratory events to prepare for such as Graduation, Carols and Presentation of Awards Evening, Thanksgiving Mass, class outings and, of course, preparation of the children’s Reports. So much to do and so little time. I think we’re all looking forward to the finish line and the holiday break ahead.
STAFFING
- Miss Carmel Cutri has recently requested a year of absence from our school which I have been happy to grant. This has necessitated the appointment of an Acting Assistant Principal for the 2019 school year. Applicants were interviewed yesterday and I am very happy to announce that Mrs Stefanie Bradshaw has been appointed to this role. Stefanie is currently one of our Year Three teachers who coordinates the Gifted and Talented programme. I’m sure all members of our community join with me in congratulating Stefanie on this significant appointment.
- For the past two and a half years Mrs Daniela Boyle has been our Acting Assistant Principal due to the incumbent, Mrs Velma Erskine, being on secondment to other schools. Earlier this year Mrs Erskine secured an ongoing position at another school and relinquished her position at Notre Dame. During interviews, yesterday, it was determined that Daniela was definitely the most outstanding applicant for the substantive position and will duly take up this position from the beginning of 2019.
Congratulations to both Stefanie and Daniela, I look forward to working with both of them, along with Bro Stephen in our Leadership Team next year.
SCHOOL BOARD INITIATIVE
Throughout this year the School Board has discussed the facilities within our school on many occasions. Whilst the school is still relatively new, having been built in 2011, it was determined that:
· there is need for some dedicated rooms to accommodate Literacy and Numeracy support and
· the current Staffroom is inadequate to accommodate our 60 staff members.
We have for some time been working with consultants from Catholic Education WA and Architects to develop working drawings of our proposed project and hope to be in a position to commence work early in 2019. Copies of the drawings will be on display in the school reception should community members wish to view them and I am happy to discuss the proposed works. We are hoping that the works, whilst quite extensive, will be able to be completed with minimal disruption to school activities.
AWESOME AUSSIES
Our Year Four children have been working very hard on their projects about “Awesome Aussies” for a considerable time now and tomorrow afternoon they will be sharing their knowledge with their classmates and families. The presentations will be in the Year Four classrooms commencing at 2.15pm.
ELEVATE EDUCATION
Unfortunately, due to prior commitments, I was unable to attend these very informative sessions. The reports that I have received suggest that there were a number of very practical tips given by the presenters that were well-received by the students, staff and the 20 or so parents who attended the evening session.
Thank you to the P&F for, again, supporting our community with this excellent educational opportunity.
2019 BOARD NOMINATION FORMS DUE IN TOMORROW 20 NOVEMBER
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION
Parents, If your child/children will not be returning to Notre Dame in 2019, it is urgent that you advise the school as soon as possible.
CHRISTMAS VIGIL MASS - Monday 24 December 2018 @6.00pm @ Notre Dame Church
Fr Quynh has asked the school to place an advance notice for the Christmas Vigil Mass at Notre Dame Church. He is inviting students to do the Readings and Prayer of the Faithful. The children attending the Family Mass will process with him at the beginning of the Mass. The children are most welcome to be dressed in the real theme of Christmas – Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, sheep and wise men (kings).
If you are attending the Christmas Vigil Mass and your child would like to participate in the readings etc. please notify Daniela Boyle or Joanita Stapleton from the Notre Dame Liturgy Committee.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FRIDAY 16 NOVEMBER
Yr 4 Awesome Aussies
Merit Assembly
MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER
Yr 5 Leadership Day
Kindergarten incursion by Ruth Faulkner Public Library @10.00am
TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER
P&F Meeting
WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Visit by Father Quynh Kindergarten P&M @ 9.30am
PP Liturgy @ 10.00am
THURSDAY 22 NOVEMBER
Choir to sing Christmas Carols - Parish Senior Citizens
FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER
Junior Swim Day 9.00-12.30
TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER
Annual General Meeting (Board & P&F) @6.00pm
YEAR 4 CLASS NEWS
Awesome Aussies
The Year 4 have been busily preparing for their Awesome Aussies afternoon, to be held this Friday. Parents are invited to meet 54 Awesome Aussies, ask them questions and admire the biographies, posters, props and costumes that the students have prepared. This will take place in the Year 4 classrooms and commence at 2.15pm. Here is a sneak preview!
Sebastian Schmelzkopf 4M
My Awesome Aussie is Steve Irwin. He was called ‘The Crocodile Hunter.’ He protected animals and where they lived. I chose Steve Irwin because he loved animals and I do too.
Dylan Austen 4M
My Awesome Aussie is Jamie Dwyer. He is the captain of the Australian Men Hockey team. I chose Jamie Dwyer because he likes hockey like me.
Coby Jones 4P
My Awesome Aussie is Ned Kelly. I chose Ned Kelly because some people thought he was a hero and other people thought he was a criminal.
Sajana Khatri 4P
My Awesome Aussie is Turia Pitt. I chose her because I think she is very lucky because she survived a fire while she was running in a marathon. I think she is very brave and interesting in some of the shows that she has been on.
In Religion we have just completed our unit, ‘All Powerful God,” where we looked at the forces of creation. We wondered about God and as we did, came to realise God’s power and how this power provides for many of our needs. We learnt how Jesus’ friends celebrate the Bible and the stories and the power of God’s words and promises. We integrated this topic with art and created seasons posters that were both beautiful and unique.
The Year 4 have been enjoying their latest sustainability unit in HASS this term and have designed some reusable newspaper bin liners as part of their Design and Technologies project. Students had to investigate the effects of plastic and what changes we could make to disposing of household waste. Students had to design the newspaper bin liner and then brainstorm together to improve on their initial design.
Indiana (4M) and Sierra (4P) are pictured with their bin liner designs and notes on how they improved their initial design. The Year 4 have been researching incredibly hard into the effects on the environment and ways they can reduce waste at school, at home and in the general community.
LIBRARY NEWS
All classes have their last library borrowing this week. The library will be doing some housekeeping in the next couple of weeks – you can assist by returning overdue books to the library as soon as possible. We use this time to find missing books, shelve books in the correct place and see what items need fixing or replacing. Promptly returning your books by next week will ensure that this process goes smoothly.
Many thanks for your wonderful support of the library in 2018. Library planning has already started for 2019 and here is a sneak peek at the events coming up:
14 February 2019 – Library lovers day – have a blind date with a book!
22 May 2019 – National Simultaneous Storytime @ 11am Story: Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove
Enjoy the holidays with a good book and remember that “a room without books is like a body without a soul.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero
Mrs Sarmardin
Library Technician
SPORTS NEWS
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
As a special incentive, and to celebrate our 35th birthday, we are offering a bonus prize to any student who registers online and receives a donation. This includes the students who have already registered and for donations of any amount. We have currently raised $1319. We have a couple of weeks to get to our school goal of $5000 so get online, register and start donating!
Every small donation per student will help us achieve this goal. I’ve included the link below:
https://jumprope.heartfoundation.org.au/2018/Notre_Dame_School_-_CLOVERDALE_-_WA_-_139779
Brett Webb
Sports Teacher
CANTEEN NEWS
Next week's roster:
Monday 19 November: Mei Lie (1 hr)
Wednesday 21 November: Karon Russell; Paulina Golding
Friday 23 November: Ros Lovick
Hope to see you at the canteen soon.
Kayleen McLean
Canteen coordinator
UNIFORM SHOP
Please note: Uniform Shop will be closed on Monday 19 November 2018.
Orders and payment can be made at the front office.
Danielle Lawrie
Uniform Shop Coordinator
SCHOOL BANKING
P&F NEWS
2019 P&F NOMINATIONS FORMS ARE DUE IN ON TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER.
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