Dear St John the Apostle Families, 

We have had a very eventful week this week. 

Our Year Five students had their first camp on Monday and Tuesday. On Friday last week, we were made aware of the severe weather warning (damaging winds) that could possibly be in the ACT and surrounding areas. On Monday, when I was driving to school, I realised that it was in fact way too windy to take the students to Warrambui during the day. If we went they would have had to stay inside all day. When I got to school we decided that we would have to make some changes and it was really important that Year Five experience camp. So we put our heads together and managed to book a fun and exciting day for the Year Five’s. 

They went to Questacon for two hours in the morning, had a pizza lunch and then watched Despicable Me 4 at the Dendy Movie Theatre. The bus arrived back at school at 5.20pm. The kids had a quick snack, got their luggage, sleeping bags and pillows and we jumped back on the bus at 5.40pm and they were on their way to Warrambui. When they arrived at Warrambui, they ate dinner and then played Trivia. Dean the Centre Manager ran Trivia. At the end of the game, he let the staff know that the students were one of the best behaved groups of students he had ran Trivia with. On Tuesday, the students participated in a number of outdoor and team building activities. Overall, the students were wonderfully behaved and had a great first experience of camp. Thank you to the team of teachers (Bree Dess, Beth Fear, Emma Alcock, Ryan Spencer, Carly Sargent and Steph Stewart) as well as our Inclusion Staff (Jack White, Cath Elliot) who ensured the Year Five students experienced an exciting and engaging camp. 

Thank you to our Year Two students for the reverent and respectful Prayer Assembly on Thursday afternoon. Thank you to Mrs Kate MacDonald for organising a visit for all of our students by Japanese Manga Artist & Cartoonist, Kenny Chan today. The students in our school have had many opportunities recently to engage in different educational activities. 

Learning Journeys

A reminder that Learning Journeys will take place this Tuesday (10 September) from 8.20-8.50am and 3.00-4.00pm. 

A Learning Journey is when you visit your child's classroom and they share with you some pieces of work they have completed recently or are currently working on. They may even do a little activity with you. It will take 20-30 minutes.

Learning Journeys are a great opportunity to maintain a connection with your child's learning at school.

You can visit anytime during one of the following sessions before or after school. There is no need to book. We look forward to seeing you.

ThinkUKnow Parent and Carer Presentation

The Community Council will be hosting a ThinkUKnow presentation on Wednesday 11 September (6.30-8.00pm) and all parents and carers are encouraged to attend.

ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The program is delivered in collaboration with policing partners New South Wales Police Force, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Western Australia Police, as well as Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.

The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming, sexual extortion, and importantly encourages help seeking behaviour.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology.

If you would like to attend please RSVP here

For more information, you can visit www.thinkuknow.org.au

Congratulations

Congratulations to all of the students who received ribbons for our Athletics events. Also, a big congratulations to Vincent Nott, Isabelle Jeffs and Allira Richardson who will be representing the Belconnen region at the ACT Athletics Carnival. 

Rebekah Brown

Principal (Acting)

Rosenshine's Principals of Instruction (Part 2)

3. Asking questions

This seems to be an obvious strategy but there are a few things that make sure it is effective.

Cold Calling or No hands up!

If you only ask the students who have their hands up, then students who are not attending think they will not be asked a question. To avoid this there are a few strategies.

Ask the question like this…

“Emily …spell “morning” for me. (Only Emily is listening and working out the answer.)

“Spell “morning for me” …Emily” (Everyone is listening to the question and working out the answer.)

This way every child in the class is attending because they are listening to the question but also for their name.

Time to Think

Teachers can ask up to 400 questions a day and the average pause time is half a second to 1 second.  This does not give students enough time to actually retrieve an answer from their long-term memory. One strategy that I use is I tell students I am going to give them thinking time.

We are going to spell a tricky word out loud. I am going to give you some extra thinking time so wait for my signal.

“Get ready..” (all students know this is the attention signal to look at me)

“Spell…morning” (I hold up my hand like a stop signal)

Wait for at least the count of 3…

Give response signal…open palm face up

All students respond together.

Enjoy this classic clip from the 80’s movie Uncle Buck…

4. Provide Models

This practise is very evident in classroom especially high school Science settings but it can be used in any grade. This might look like..

• A physical representation of a completed task. In Visual Art, when Year 3  learn about different ways of using paper for creating dioramas this reference is displayed for students to use a guide.
• Conceptual models. When Year 4 are learning about the layers of the Earth this image would be displayed.

• Explicit narration of our thought process when thinking through how to solve problems or undertaking a creative activity. During Maths lessons students often find videos like this one helpful to explain step by step.

Education of the Whole Child

“ Catholic schools work to improve the education and faith outcomes of students by creating communities of faith and learning. This task means joining the “work of education with the explicit proclamation of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium, no. 134), and by doing so, helping students to be good citizens in society and prepare them for their eternal life with God.” (Catholic Education Commission NSW)

 Here are some examples of how we educated the whole child this week..

Kenny Chan Manga Artist Workshops

Frisbee Clincis

Year One watering the seeds they planted.

Kindergarten Literacy Groups

Let me know if you have any questions or comments. stephanie.stewart@cg.catholic.edu.au


God bless,

Stephanie Stewart

What The Students Are Learning About

Miss McIver and her wonderful Year 3 Blue class celebrated mass with Fr. Chung yesterday afternoon.  The theme of the mass was  ‘Eucharist - The Bread of Life’.  Fr Chung’s Homily focussed on:

• the meal and the willingness to help others,
• we are invited to the special meal of Jesus, where he tells us that he loves us so much that he will die for us, and
• we thank Him for this love.

The students prayers include:

Logan: For our friends and family, me we all be happy and share meals together in joy, let us pray to the Lord

Annika:  For our teachers, may they teach with love and joy in their hearts, let us pray to the Lord.

Kyler: For health care workers, doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who tend to the sick, may their compassionate service be a reflection of Christ's love, Let is pray to the Lord.

Piper: For all students, that they may be blessed with diligence, focus and a love of learning.

Our excited Year 2 students presented a Prayer Assembly yesterday afternoon, celebrating the life and teaching of Jesus.  They shared impressive artworks illustrating the many things we know and believe about the life of Jesus.  The scripture focus was The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18:21-35.  Jesus told this parable to teach the importance of forgiveness.  

Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

What The Teachers Are Learning About

Next Tuesday, Year 3 and Year 6 students will be participating in a  Sacrament reflection. Year 3 students will be participating in a Communion reflection in the morning session.  Ryan Lenarcic from SFX (Liturgy and Spirituality Coordinator) will bring some Year 9 students over to assist.  The focus will be based on the scripture ‘Breakfast on the beach with Jesus’ John 23: 1-13.  Students will be given snacks to share a meal, e.g. poppers, muesli bars, packet chips or biscuits, etc.

In the middle session, Year 6 students will participate in a Confirmation reflection.

The theme is ‘The Fruits of the Spirit based on the scripture Galations 5:22-23.  The focus  is : How did my Saint live their faith?  How will I show my faith?

Year 6 students will be given a pizza lunch to share a meal at the end of their reflection.

In preparation of the Confirmation reflection.  I have learnt the process of 

Canonization - How Does the Catholic Church Declare Official Saints?  I have also learnt how to be a saint watching an engaging YouTube video from Fr. Mike Schmitz - You Can Be A Saint.  Here’s How.   Fr. Mike Schmitz talks of the teaching of the prophet Micah.  Micah was asked ‘What can I give the Lord?  What worldly possessions does he want from me?’ The Lord spoke through Micah and told them:

1. To do right.  2. To love justice.   3. To walk humbly with your God.

A saint is someone who says ‘Yes’ to God and never stops saying ‘Yes’.  To do what God wills, as God wills it because God wills it.

Catholic Life and Reflection

Last Friday afternoon, I had the privilege of sponsoring my nephew, Christian at his Confirmation at Mary Help of Christians in Pearce.  It was a joyous occasion.  Fr. Richard is a comedian.  I’ve never laughed so much in church.  He was very personable with every child talking to each child about their chosen patron saint as they were each presented with their sponsor.  There were a few St Sebastian’s so he asked those children what sports they played etc. Fr. Richard pulled an amused face when he saw my nephew had chosen St Blaise (Patron saint of candle makers, ailments of the throat, wild animals and wool combers).  He said that when Christian gets a sore throat he has to burn two candles across his chest as a remedy.  I’ve told Christian his birthday present from myself every year from now on will be two candles.  It was the happiest celebration.  The IT failed on the night but the students were well prepared and were amazing with their readings.  I found myself thinking about preparing the Confirmation reflection for our year 6 students.  Knowing what the chosen saint is a patron of is a surface level understanding.  I am looking forward to having our Year 6 students reflect on how their patron saint showed their faith - what did they do that showed they loved Jesus and were following his teaching?  What will they do to show their faith? What a perfect time for me to participate as a sponsor whilst thinking about a Confirmation reflection for our students!

Rebecca Stevenson

Religious Education Coordinator

Notices from the Parish

Happy Birthday to Kate Riley, Lachlan Stephens, Fiesita Maka, Hunter Campbell, Viliami Maka, Evelyn Wedd and Isabelle Jeffs who all celebrated a birthday over the last week.

Students will receive Spelling Mastery Awards once they reach mastery three times at their Spelling Mastery level. For some students this is 10/10 and for others it is 25/25. For Kindergarten students will receive Spelling Mastery Awards when they receive 10/10 for each unit they complete in Sounds~Write.

Students will receive Maths Mastery Awards each time they beat their Rocket Math Two Minute Goal.

Select students participating in an extension writing program will receive a Writing Mastery Award, when they achieve 85% on an allocated writing task. 

This year we will also be presenting Brag Tag Awards. These will be handed out each time a student receives 20 brag tags. 

Brag Tag Awards - presented on Friday 13th September, 8.50am (Week 8)

Spelling Mastery Awards - presented on Friday 13th September, 8.50am (Week 8)

Opening Hours

A friendly reminder that St Johns is a nut free school. Thank you.