NEWSLETTER 11 - 1st August 2023

Tina Badcock Retiring

It is with great sadness that Mrs Tina Badcock is retiring from St Patrick’s. Tina has worked at St Patrick’s and Catholic Education for 20 years. She has contributed to the effective learning of many students as a teacher and more recently in the role of Literacy Practice Leader. Tina will be sorely missed by many staff and students. We wish her well and all the very best for the next part of her life journey.

Karyn Kingshott Long Service Leave

Mrs Karyn Kingshott will be going on Long Service Leave in Week 5 this term, Monday 21st August until Monday 16th October. Ms Melenna Zeleznik will replace Karyn in year 6 on Mondays and Tuesdays each week while Mrs Kingshott is on Long Service Leave. Ms Zeleznik has extensive experience teaching and is also currently working in year 2 Wednesday to Friday each week. We hope Mrs Kingshott has an enjoyable time away.

Fee Assistance

In the light of Catholic social teaching and the preferential option for the poor in the Gospels, the objective of Fee Assistance is to provide access to a Catholic education for those families whose children are eligible for enrolment but who are unable to meet the fee requirements because of financial hardship. It is also to ensure that fee remissions are granted appropriately and consistently so they support those with genuine financial hardship and allow these parents/guardians to maintain their dignity.

There are four forms of fee assistance in a Catholic school:

• Discount for families with a concession card;
• Discounts for families with three or more children in Catholic schools;
• Humanitarian entrant families - fees waived for three years;
• Fee remissions for families in financial hardship.

Currently, with rising interest rates and inflation, some families may be experiencing financial difficulty. If families require financial assistance for paying fees, please contact the office on 6426 1626 and make an appointment with me to review the fees. All requests are treated with the strictest of confidentiality.

For Jesus spoke of caring for the poor and marginalised:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me…In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me" Matthew 25: 35-40.

ThinkUKnow

If your child is using the internet through social media, apps, gaming and instant messaging, they may have ‘friends’ or ‘followers’ on their accounts they have only met and spoken to online. Unfortunately, it can be easy for someone to lie about their online identity and it can be difficult to prove someone is who they say they are. Online child sex offenders are manipulative and capable of grooming a young person into believing they are someone else, including an online ‘friend’. Many social networking apps also have location options, which can allow for others to connect based on a particular location. This can present privacy challenges particularly if personal information such as a home location or address is being shared with other users.

ThinkUKnow is a federal government initiative that aims to help protect children and young people from the threat of online child sexual abuse and exploitation, reducing vulnerability to abuse, and increasing confidence and ability to seek help from an appropriate source when needed.

Police officer Paul visited our years 3-6 students to educate them about being safe online. The students learnt that not everyone online is who they say they are and not everyone who is online is your friend. Online games such as Roblox and Fortnite are open world games. The average age of a person who plays these games is 34 years old. Children are often scared to ask a trusted adult for help for fear of losing access to their device.

Recommendations about being safe online include:

• Tell a trusted adult that you are going online;
• Don’t close the door of the room you are in;
• If someone you don’t know interacts with you online, tell a trusted adult;
• A trusted adult includes, parents, grandparents, teachers;
• Say no, if someone starts asking questions about you online;
• Don’t use your real name - use a nickname;
• Keep your accounts or games private;
• Play in single player mode or with a trusted friend.

Students were advised that there is always someone who can help and someone who will listen. Tell a trusted adult or alternatively they can always call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or go the website Kids Helpline

Information about ThinkUKnow was retrieved from ThinkUKnow

For more information from ThinkUKnow go to the website.

INSIGHT Project

Catholic Education Tasmania is committed to supporting our educators with a deep understanding of the Science of Learning through the INSIGHT Project. The INSIGHT Project will focus on improving three key areas of teaching and learning. These include how we teach; what we teach; and what our students have learnt.

As a part of INSIGHT, we continue to teach our students the essential core knowledge and strong foundations systematically and explicitly to be successful readers and writers. We continue to develop teacher’s literacy knowledge and practice, use evidence-based programs, and develop consistent frameworks in literacy.

As a system wide initiative, we are introducing Spelling Mastery across years 3 to 6.

What is Spelling Mastery?

Spelling Mastery builds spelling skills for students in Years 3 to 6 through a highly structured method that blends the following approaches:

Phonemic approach - helps beginning spellers learn the relationships between spoken sounds and written letters and then apply them to spelling

Morphemic approach - exposes advanced spellers to prefixes, bases, and suffixes

Whole-word approach - gives spellers at all levels the meaning and root of a word.

Spelling Mastery interweaves these three approaches according to students skill

development and provides lessons to help efficiently and effectively teach the

spelling skills students need to become proficient readers and writers. Explicit instruction, careful selection of spelling words, and repeated and cumulative practice help students master each concept and reinforce and retain key information.

Every child in year 3 to 6 has been assessed in Spelling Mastery. From this assessment, we have ascertained groups which allow targeting the students at their level and movement between them as students progress. Beginning this week, students will move to their instructional class groups for Spelling Mastery each day and then return to their regular class afterwards.

We are excited to continue the INSIGHT  project as it will allow us to truly target students' learning in their zone of development. If you have any questions regarding the project or the placement of your child in the program, please contact me on 6426 1626.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

It is a nationwide measure through which parents/carers, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.

NAPLAN results allow parents/carers and educators to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time – individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards. 

For information about reading your child’s individual student report visit youtube
Reading the NAPLAN Individual Student Report 

Have a great week!

Carmen Aylott

Principal

2023

Term 1 - Friday 3rd February - Thursday 6th April

Term 2 - Wednesday 26th April - Friday 7th July

Term 3 - *Tuesday 25th July - Friday 29th September

Term 4 - *Tuesday 17th October - Thursday 14th December

*Student Free Days Monday 25th April, Monday 24th July, Monday 16th October.

2024

Term 1 - Wednesday 7th February - Thursday 11th April 

Term 2 - Monday 29th April - Friday 5th July 

Term 3 - Tuesday 23rd July - Friday 27th September 

Term 4 - Tuesday 15th October - Wednesday 18th December 

*Student Free Days Friday 12th April, Monday 22nd July, Monday 14th October.

(Easter Break - Good Friday 29th March, Easter Monday 1st April, Easter Tuesday 2nd April. Return to school Wednesday 3rd April.)

August 

September

The Mini Vinnies group, consisting of Oliver Anand, Xavier Parker, Alexander Fawkner, Avril Lewis, Dakota Skipworth, Ellie Hayes, Matilda Roach, Noelle Cheuk, Bella Goss, Harper Clark, Bella Carrasco and Jed Atkins, received their badges at the school assembly on the last day of Term 2.  Sam, from St Vincent De Paul, visited the school and talked with the group about the history of the St Vincent De Paul organisation and discussed ways that the Mini Vinnie group might be able to assist the local community.

The” Wear Your Winter Woollies Day,” raised $200.00 and we also received many donations of warm clothes and blankets that will be passed onto the local St Vincent De Paul store.  This term we will be organising a fundraising event for the Samaritan Fund-details to follow in the coming weeks.

Congratulations to the following students who have received Student of the Week.

Prep

Lilah for your positive and enthusiastic start to Term Three. 

Thank you for trying your best, Liilah.

Year 1

Mason for your enthusiastic start to Term 3, especially with our mathematics money unit. 

Year 2

Year 3

Ross for his enthusiasm towards class discussions and for demonstrating kindness towards others.

Year 4

Dominic for being a champion to your peers and always encouraging others to do their best.

Year 5

Izabella for her positive application to classroom tasks and an upbeat approach to the start of Term Three.

Great job Izabella!

Year 6

Frank Dewrance-Milligan for the positive attitude he has started Year 6 with!

Congratulations to our House Raffle winners this week:

Dooley - Porter 

Martyn - Maisie

Byrne - Daphnee

The Devonport Basketball Spring Primary School roster commences in early September. The roster for grades 3 – 6 roster commences on Friday 1^st September and Wednesday 6^th September for grades 1 and 2.

Registrations are now open with closing date Wednesday 16^th August 2023. (NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED)

Link to register as follows:- https://www.playhq.com/basketball-tasmania/register/57ece8

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the DBC Office on 64242440.

Spring Roster Parent Information

Spring Roster Parent Information 193.66 KB

"Rehearsals are well underway for the College production of Pippin. Students have been working hard on dancing and singing, and things look positive. We have some talented students in the lead roles and supporting players with great vocal talent. The choreography as well is led by some very well-tuned dance students. The sets are being created by a fantastic artistic team and constructed by Bevan Scramm and his crew.

Pippin tells the story of a young man, fresh from his studies at University, determined to live a fulfilling life and do the extraordinary. As he moves through his life, he realises that the promise of an exciting life isn't all it is cracked up to be. With some fabulous choreography and singing, Pippin will be a show you will never forget.

Tickets are on sale now through the Paranaple Arts Centre. Avoid disappointment, don't miss out, and get your tickets early! Adults - $30.00  Concession - $22.00  Student - $20.00

A reminder to parents that St Patrick's is a Nut Allergy School and that we ask that parents not pack nuts or nut products in their children's lunchboxes.

Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for their development. The experiences they have can shape who they become as an adult. We realise the importance of these years and ensure that our SETUP sessions are full of play-based activities that allow children to investigate and learn in their own way.

Lots of time spent playing, talking, listening and interacting with you helps your child learn the skills they need for life. These skills include communicating, thinking, solving problems, moving and being with other people and children. That’s why our SETUP sessions allow children time for provocative play and exploring both on their own and with other children. We do offer arts and crafts, storytime, interactive games and activities as well as outside play.

Our sessions run every Friday from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m during school terms. Please bring a piece of fruit to share, a hat and drink bottle. Tea and coffee is provided for parents/carers. We hope to see you there!