What students are learning about

The month of October is considered the month of the Rosary. So it is a great opportunity for students to learn more about Mary. As we finish remote learning we are looking at the parts of the Hail Mary and what scripture they come from.  It is another way of helping students to understand the importance of the bible in our everyday lives.

What teachers are learning about

We were lucky enough to have another staff meeting on High Impact Teaching Practises. This time it was focused on how to increase the vocabulary of our students. I am always keen to find ways to incorporate these strategies into Religion lessons.  

So, you may notice in the Mary work, there are some vocabulary slides that look like this.  

In the classroom this will involve specific teaching using recitation and repetition. I am excited to have the students back soon so we can start increasing their vocabulary.

For all of my schooling I went to Catholic schools. For primary school I went to Our Lady of the Rosary in Brisbane.  It was the 70’s so it had nuns with their hair covered, a pretty strict priest. We weren’t allowed meat on our sandwiches on Friday and we were asked why we were not at Mass on Sunday!

One of my clearest memories is when we had to process up to the statue of Mary at the front of the church and leave flowers. It was hot (it always was) so I am not sure if it was May or October but most likely May. I wasn’t really sure what was going on but I loved the white statue with a carpet of flowers at her feet. I loved walking up (solemnly, I took it very seriously) and feeling like I was part of something bigger.

At my wedding I laid flowers at the foot of Mary in the little church in Hall.  My mother and my Oma visited Lourdes several times and brought back Holy Water to bless sick friends and family. My goddaughter's name is Mary!

So Mary has played a significant role in many aspects of my life. A gentle presence that always brings me blessed comfort.

“Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42),

God bless