Notre Dame Catholic Primary School
Foundations for Life Long Learning 14 November
Dear Parents and Staff
After the excitement of Open Night and the Book Fair last week things appear to have returned to a slightly more relaxed pace. This is certainly not the case for the staff, though, as they are currently working on the children’s Reports. There has been quite a lot in the media recently about the validity of School Reports and, whilst I agree with some of what is being said, I see the amount of discussion and effort that the teachers put into developing these overviews of your children’s progress and acknowledge that, whilst relatively brief, they do provide an accurate record of your child’s progress and future needs. For many parents the written Report is only confirmation of what they are already aware of as they have had regular communication with their child’s teacher throughout the year. This communication is vital in maintaining an understanding of your children’s needs and ways in which you may assist them so I encourage you to speak with teachers if you feel that you need clarification at any time.
LEADERSHIP DAY
Next Thursday our Year Five students have a full day of activities designed to prepare them for their transition to student leadership roles next year. Whilst 8 students will be elected to be Student Leaders, all of the students are expected to take on the responsibility of setting appropriate example for the other children at the school and this day will hopefully assist them in understanding what this entails. Thank you to the Year Six Teachers and Bro. Stephen who have put together a day that will challenge the students and have them well prepared for next year.
AWESOME AUSSIES
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the Year Four Awesome Aussie presentations next Friday afternoon but I’m sure parents will be very impressed by the children’s research and the confidence with which they speak. The Awesome Aussies programme at Year Four is a precursor to the Night of the Notables in Year Five which is followed by the Careers Expo in Year Six. All of these excellent programmes provide the children with the opportunity to develop their research and oral presentation skills which should hold them in good stead for the years ahead.
BOOK FAIR
Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative. I hope that you and the children gained a lot of enjoyment from the books that they purchased. In addition to promoting the joy of reading we also earned $1332.50 in rewards that we can redeem through Scholastic who are one of our major suppliers of library books and class reading materials.
CANTEEN AND BANKING HELPERS
Many of the parents who assist in either the canteen or with school banking joined with our Canteen Manager, Kayleen McLean, and me last evening as a thank you for all of their efforts throughout the year. Without the very generous support of these parents, opportunities such as school banking and canteen are very difficult to sustain. If you are interested in joining the celebration next year speak with Kayleen or the ladies in the front office to learn more about volunteering.
AGMs
The Annual General Meetings for the Parents’ and Friends’ Association and the School Board will be held on Tuesday 26 November at 6.00pm. Nominations for representation on both groups are now open. Please see the P&F Report in this newsletter for details regarding becoming a member of the P&F for 2020.
School Board nomination:
There are three positions in total available for membership on the School Board with one current member nominating to continue for a further two-year term.
Below are the criteria for membership to the School Board as outlined in the Catholic School Board Constitution:
a) possession of special skills that will be an asset to the Board;
b) a deep interest in the welfare of all students and staff;
c) a desire to give service to the Catholic School Community;
d) a keenness to promote Catholic schooling;
e) an ability to work cooperatively and constructively with all other members of the Board; and
f) a sufficiency of time to devote to Board duties.
Nominations to the Board are to be in writing and handed in at the school office marked
“School Principal – Confidential”. Nomination forms are available on the school website or from the school office.
Should you require any further information please contact me through the school office.
TERM 4 UPCOMING EVENTS
FRIDAY15 NOVEMBER
Year 3P Assembly
Kindergarten excursion to Woolworths, Belmont Forum
WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER
P&F Meeting
WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER
Pre Primary Liturgy
Years 5-6 Family Life Education
THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Year 5 Leadership Day
FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER
Year 4 Awesome Aussies
Year 2M Assembly
EVENTS DURING TERM 4
TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER
AGM @ 6.00pm
THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Year 6 Elevate Program
Choir to visit Faulkner Park Retirement Village and
Little Sisters of the Poor
FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER
Colour Fun Run
FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER
Class Transition Day
Year 6 Graduation
Reports Online
TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER
Carols and Awards Evening
WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER
Thanksgiving Mass (Kindy - Yr 6)
BLESSING OF RENOVATED STAFFROOM & SUPPORT ROOMS
On Friday 1 November we officially opened the newly renovated Staffroom and wonderful Support rooms in the library. The new facilities were blessed and opened by our Parish Priest, Fr Quynh, and have been fully utilised by staff and students since the beginning of Term 4.
STUDENTS NOT RETURNING TO NOTRE DAME CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL YEAR 2020
If your child/children will not be returning to Notre Dame in 2020, it is important that you advise the school office immediately.
KINDERGARTEN CLASS NEWS
This term has commenced well as we look forward to a busy and fun filled term!
We have been looking at sea creatures, learning their names and creating them in art and craft. We have many favourites and have displayed them in the classrooms.
During our outdoor Perceptual Motor Programme we have been practising our skills with throwing balls, crawling, climbing and hitting balls. Completing these skills in the morning encourages our brains to engage ready for learning.
We have appreciated parent helpers during our activity time especially when there is a busy craft activity time.
Makerspace is a new session for the Kindy children this term. We have been learning how to use recycled materials to complete challenges and in IT sessions we have been learning how to programme Cubetto.
During outdoor play we have been using our imagination and skills of co-operation and sharing to build and play.
The blessing of the school’s renovations was an opportunity to be respectful and practise our listening skills. We were rewarded with fruit boxes and delicious cup cakes.
There was a lot of interest in the classrooms during our Open Night especially with our stepping stones which we completed with Mrs Flexman. They followed our Path from Kindy to Pre-Primary.
As the term progresses we look forward to our excursions and preparation to Christmas. We also look forward to progressing to Pre-Primary in 2010.
TERM DATES
TERM 4
End of Term for Students Friday 13 December
End of Term for Staff Friday 20 December
LOST PROPERTY
Has any parent found a gold chain which was lost on Tuesday 5 November? Please contact the front office.
ABSENCE FOLLOW UP LETTERS
We have distributed the outstanding absentee follow up letters. Could the reason for the absence be sent to the front office with your signature as soon as possible.
An email from parents/guardians regarding their child's non-attendance to school must state the name of student, the class, reason for the absence and full name of parent/guardian.
SPORTS NEWS
Interschool Athletics - Thursday, 31 October
Well done to the Years 1-6 students who represented Notre Dame at the Interschool Track/Team Games Carnival a few weeks ago. They all tried their hardest and showed good improvement with notable top two performances across the team games. A special mention to the Year 6 group who led the school well with fantastic individual and team performances, particularly in the Year 6 relay race, taking out 1st place in one of the best relays run by a Notre Dame group since I have been a part of the school. We finished in 5th place overall with St Joseph’s taking out the shield. Well done and thank you to the parents and teachers who assisted with training in the weeks leading up to the carnivals. The students are to be congratulated for showing great commitment to training and representing the school at the two carnival days.
WACA T20 Cricket Regional Finals
Good luck to the Year 5 & 6 boys representing Notre Dame at the WACA T20 Regional Finals today.
Junior Swim Day - Thursday, Dec 5
Notes will be going home soon to PP - Year 3 students for the Junior Swim Day held at Belmont Oasis. If any parents are able to assist on the day could they please email me directly. I’m particularly looking for parents who may be able to assist in the pool. Year groups will have session times for the day but it would be ideal if parents assisting could assist for all of the sessions. All students will participate in one individual race (according to their swimming ability) and one novelty event (kickboard or noodle). Please email me if you have any concerns over your child’s swimming ability.
Session Times
Year 2 & 3: 9.00am - 10.30am
Year 1: 10.30am - 11.30am
PP: 11.30am - 12.30pm
Brett Webb
Sports Teacher
COLOUR FUN RUN
NEXT WEEK'S ROSTER
MONDAY 18 NOVEMBER: Mei Lie
WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER: VOLUNTEER REQUIRED
FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER: VOLUNTEER REQUIRED
Hope to see you at the canteen soon.
Kayleen McLean
Canteen coordinator
UNIFORM SHOP
The Uniform Shop will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays in Term 4.
Opening times : 1.30pm-3.30pm
Danielle Lawrie
Uniform Shop Coordinator
SCHOOL BANKING
Every Wednesday 8.00am - 8.30am in the School Library.
P & F NEWS
2020 NIGHT MARKET
The 2020 Notre Dame Night Market will be back again on Friday 14th February.
Are you interested in hosting a food stall on the night? If so, please express your interest to Nicole Beresford (Notre Dame P&F member) via email by Thursday 5th December.
P&F CONSTITUTION UPDATE
The Notre Dame P&F Executive Committee are currently updating the P&F Constitution. The Class Liaisons will be emailing a copy of the current Constitution and the new draft Constitution to their classes. A hard copy of both of these documents is also available for viewing in the school’s administration. The P&F is happy to receive feedback and comments via the Class Liaison, or directly to P&F member Nicole Beresford up until the end of the school year.
PARENT TV
With numerous bushfires burning across the country today, our stress levels as a community are high. Even those of us not in immediate danger are upset about what’s happened and worried about what lies ahead.
Our kids are not immune to this.
As adults, it can be hard to know how to keep our children feeling safe when there’s danger around them. We can’t just pretend it’s not happening, but what can we do or say that will actually help?
Maggie Dent is a parenting educator and one of our team of experts at ParentTV. Along with other professionals like psychologists and paediatricians, Maggie offers her parenting guidance in short videos on the ParentTV website. We asked Maggie to make some videos with her suggestions of what the adults in our community can do to help our kids in this stressful time.
ParentTV is giving this resource pack away for free because we want to help and you are welcome to share this far and wide with your communities.
Here are her strategies for parents, early learning centres and schools:
Sam, Britta and the ParentTV Team.
COMMUNITY NEWS
MERCEDES COLLEGE 2020 ENROLMENTS
A sound education is an investment in the future of your daughter. Mercedes College is committed to providing an affordable education for those families seeking an all girls’ Catholic education in the Mercy tradition. For those families wishing to explore options, the Principal is always available to speak with you. Vacancies are still available for 2020; for more information please contact the Enrolment Officer on 93231323.
MAZENOD COLLEGE
CITY OF BELMONT
PARKING INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER
Please be aware that the limited parking at Miles Park will be reserved for people with ACROD permits and less mobile seniors.
City of Belmont will be running a free shuttle bus between Miles Park and outside the City's Civic Centre (Wright Street) from 4pm-7:30pm on the day of the event so please plan your parking accordingly. The park is also a short 10-15 minute walk from Faulkner Park.