Dear Parents,

Last term I advised parents that I would share the DIBELS assessment results from across the school. As this was the first time the primary classes conducted these tests there were issues that meant we were unable to get the full range of data we needed. As such we can not share what we have. We will work on the problems we encountered and hopefully can share the results after the next suite of testing.

Last week I sent home NAPLAN reports for our Year Three and Year Five students. This year saw a move away from reporting achievement in bands to proficiency standards. The standards are

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support

NAPLAN tests are a one off and may not reflect the effort children put into their learning every day. We also have some students who become anxious in a formal testing environment and their results may not align with other assessments gathered by their teacher. We had a number of students from Year Three with high levels of anxiety withdraw from the testing program.

The school does not have access to all NAPLAN data at this stage but has been given some basic information. From this I was able to compile the table below that shows the percentage of students in each proficiency standard.

I will share further insights from our NAPLAN results once they are available.

Winners of the Love in Action - Terry Kennedy Nagle Award for Presentation Schools

On Monday St Mary’s was informed by Sr Susan Miller, Leader of the Presentation Schools Network, that our K-2 and Year 3-6 entries had won their categories for the “Love In Action” Video Competition.

Congratulations to our Infants Choir who sang our school “To Love is to Serve,” (lyrics composed by Michael Mangan last year) and Mrs Presser, St Mary’s Choir Leader, who organised their performance.

Congratulations to 5AT who brainstormed, planned and acted out the ways they believe that Love in Action is present at St Mary’. They compiled an excellent “Breaking News - Love in Action at St Mary’s” video.

A huge thankyou to Mrs Kitty Hardy who was able to film, edit and produce the top quality videos that were entered. 

The theme was "Love in Action as inspired by Nano Nagle," illustrated in a 2 minute video. Sr Susan said that all entries were VERY creative and illustrated student's understanding of Nano and how their school lives Love in Action in her spirit. She also commented that the quality of the students' understanding was a credit to them and she thanked the staff for their leadership in making Nano and her spirit, a lived experience in our school.”

The school receives two prizes of $150, but in the spirit of Terry Kennedy and Nano Nagle, whose aim was that students and teachers are enabled to make Nano’s spirit a reality in their lives, the winners are asked to donate half their prize to a charity of their choice. Once the stakeholders have a decision we will communicate this to our community. 

The 2023 Winners are:

• Infants (K-2): St Mary's  Primary School, Young - K to 2 Choir    

INFANTS SCHOOL SONG 

• Primary (3-6): St Mary's Primary School, Young - Year 5AT

            Yr 5 BREAKING NEWS 

 Assembly and collecting students to take home, after assembly

We have reviewed the process for parents to collect their children after Friday assemblies as there are difficulties and bottle necks. Starting next week we will be:

1. Asking parents to sign their child's name on the list at a table which will be positioned at the entrance to the hall, manned by Mr Hughes, as they enter the hall BEFORE ASSEMBLY.
2. At the end of assembly, Mr Hughes will read out the list to parents, and the children will go to their classrooms, collect their bags, go straight to the office where they will meet their parents and go home with them. There will not be the need to sign your child(ren) out because you would have already done this on the list as you entered the hall before assembly. 
3. Mrs Hardy will use the list to complete the sign-out process on COMPASS, alleviating the bottleneck previously occurring in the front office. 
4. If parents do not place their child’s name on the sign out list, they will be required to follow the old process.
5. Old Process: Students return to class. Parents go to the front office and sign out their child(ren). Office staff call the children over the PA. Teachers direct children to pack up and collect bags and go to the front office. 

Public Speaking timeline for Term 2

It is Public Speaking season again and over the last few weeks each class in Year 3 to 6 have been writing and presenting their speeches. Each year group will then conduct speak-offs to finalise two students per year who will progress onto the speak-off with St Joseph's Primary School Grenfell.

This year the speak-off will be hosted by St Joseph’s at Grenfell on Friday 11th August. Those students who qualify from there, will represent St Mary’s at the Western Regions Finals which are being hosted by us this year at St Mary’s Young on Monday 21st August. Should students be successful and qualify from the WR finals, they will go on to represent St Mary’s and the Western Region at the Archdiocesan Finals at Ss Peter and Paul Goulburn  on Friday 8th September. 

The topics that were selected by Goulburn this year are:

Public speaking is a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in and practice skills which are crucial in life. We appreciate that talking in public can be stressful, but in a safe and non-threatening environment, and as a growth mindset school, we believe that children can develop self-confidence, communication skills, critical thinking abilities, memory, focus, leadership qualities, and the ability to overcome fear and anxiety.

The important dates are summarised below and are on the school’s calendar. Those students who qualify will bring home letters for parents with all the relevant information that will assist with planning.

Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum (DMCSC)

This term staff have commenced teaching the PDHPE curriculum which is based on the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum. Mr Hughes wrote a detailed explanation last term in Week 8 to introduce to parents what it is about. Please see this report via the attached link, if you did not read it previously. 

NEWSLETTER 2023 TERM 2 WEEK 8

It is very important that you are aware of the content, as your children may come home and talk to you about some of the things covered. Also for your help, I am attaching the Parent Guides for K-2 and Year 3-6 which have an excellent summary of the content covered and ways that you are able to support your child(ren). Working together we are able to ensure that the best child protection information is understood by students. 

Infants Parent Guide K-2

Primary Parent Guide 3-6

Kind regards

Mrs Katie Thompson

He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, then the darnel appeared as well. The owner's labourers went to him and said, "Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?" He said to them, "Some enemy has done this." And the labourers said, "Do you want us to go and weed it out?" But he said, "No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn." 'He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.' He told them another parable, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.' In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: I will speak to you in parables, unfold what has been hidden since the foundation of the world. Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, 'Explain to us the parable about the darnel in the field.' He said in reply, 'The sower of the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the Evil One; the enemy who sowed it, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of falling and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the upright will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Anyone who has ears should listen!

REFLECTION

This week’s Gospel begins with Jesus telling His disciples another parable.  The parable begins with the words:  “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed ‘good seed’ in his field.”  However, when everyone was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds in the wheat field. The enemy left deeply satisfied because he had “bested” his enemy. 

As the crop began to grow, the weeds also grew.  The servants of the Master went to him and asked: “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?  The field is filled with weeds!”  When the Master then realised what had happened, he told the slaves: “An enemy has done this.”  The slaves asked if they should uproot the weeds.  The Master told them to let the crops grow together.  Then, when it was time to harvest the crop He would instruct the harvesters to gather all the weeds and burn them.  When this was done, then they could safely gather the wheat.

What are the “weeds” in your life?  What is the damage or difficulty that your “weeds” cause in your life?  Do you strive to uproot your “weeds” before they take root?  Naturally it is easier to pull up weeds when they first begin to grow.  At this point, the roots are tender and they do not yet have deep roots.   Yet, if we do not pull out our “weeds,” they will grow and flourish and establish deep roots.  Over time, the weeds likely will spread into the good soil and kill the healthy plants. 

Most likely, we will never uproot all the weeds in our lives.  However, if we nurture the good seeds that we have sown, we will produce an abundant, if not perfect, harvest.

CONFIRMATION

Thanks to all parents who attended the Confirmation Parent Evening last Wednesday and for those that forwarded their apologies. Students have now commenced preparation for the Sacrament and I ask that you keep them in your prayers as they get ready to celebrate this special milestone in their lives.

MASSES, LITURGIES AND PRAYER SERVICES

Today, Year 6 celebrated a lovely mass with Father Jiss.  The mass was focused on the Parable of the Sower. We would like to thank those families who were able to come and celebrate with us.

On Friday next week, our infants will be presenting a special Grandparents prayer service as part of Grandparents Day. The prayer service will be held in the Hall at 11:30am. We extend a warm welcome to all grandparents and families in our school community.

God Bless,

Warren Ziebowski

(Religious Education Coordinator)

Harden Trent Barrett Legends Gala Day

Please find below the teams for the upcoming Gala Day in Harden on Thursday 10th August. Mr Ziebowski will be attending with the students. Thank you to our parents who have offered to manage teams - we really appreciate your support!

The draw will be communicated once it is recieved by the organisers.

MacKillop Girls Rugby 7s Trials  - Year 5 & 6 only

A reminder the registrations are open for these trials and details can be found here. It will be held in Sydney on Thursday 31st August. Please register via the Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage. 

Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage links:

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations 

https://csnsw.sport/help/help-guide-for-parents