Dear Parents,

Home Reading

Literacy is one of the most important foundations for success in school and life. However, one in seven Australian adults do not have the required standards of literacy to meet the demands of everyday life. Reading with children during their critical early years is key to developing their language and literacy skills, it helps children establish the building blocks for literacy and foster a love of reading. International studies have found that the number of books at home is strongly linked to a child’s academic achievement.

I would like to place a strong emphasis on a couple of things moving forwards 1. students getting opportunities to read both at school and at home and 2. The importance of parents being engaged and connected with their child’s learning.

I believe that school has a crucial role to play in providing these opportunities (particularly the latter), and early next term, staff will host interested families and share some Maths games, reading strategies and other related learning and advice for families at home. In the meantime, I encourage parents/carers to read with, read to and listen to their child read each night as a way of building a love of reading.

Athletics Carnival

Tomorrow, we will hold our annual Athletics Carnival. I understand that the change of date may interfere with original plans of assisting or supporting students tomorrow, however, if you are able to assist, please come down and lend a hand. Our students participating in long jump and high jump will go to McAuley and Bull Paddock on Monday. Thank you for everyone's patience and understanding in having to reschedule both our field events and the actual carnival yesterday. 

Unexplained Absences

Last week, I flagged the need for our school to be accounting for any unexplained absences throughout the term. If families could keep using the Compass app, it would be appreciated. Reminders will be sent home in the coming weeks to account for some of these absences that are yet to be entered.

Win the Moment, Win the Day

Last week, I mentioned the great work of our Saints and how we can use their example to seek opportunities to reach out and be of service to others in need. Something that I will introduce to the students over the last couple of weeks this term is the idea of “win the moment, win the day.” There is always an opportunity to help a peer, a family member, another local community member…often, if we are not looking for that moment, it passes us by and we miss the opportunity to do good for somebody else. I want our students (and school community) to continue looking for these moments and take in the comfort/joy/positivity it brings another person and in turn ourselves.

Win the moment, win the day!

Enjoy the remainder of your week.

Ryan

A big thank you to all the families who have donated to our warm winter woolly appeal. The baskets in the front office are starting to fill up. We will collect until next Monday so if you would still like to donate you are more than welcome to.

The month of June falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical colour green. This symbol of hope is the colour of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. 

June 13th is also the feast day of St Anthony of Padua.

Called the Wonder Worker, he is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church and is implored as the patron of lost things. He is also the patron saint of sailors, fisherfolk, priests, and travellers. St Anthony devoted his life to working with the poor. He was a preacher and theologian and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII.

I wish you all a wonderful week.

Jeanette Dumbrell

With the cooler weather upon us we remind families to send in a box of tissues with students each term please

Last Thursday year 5/6, Ms Collins and Mrs Dobbie travelled to Adelong to an author talk with Pip Harry who has written many novels and childrens stories. She is from North Sydney and has written the books "The Little Wave' and "August and Jones" as well as "Because of you" and "Are you there Budha?" Pip encouraged students to make a bucket list of things they would like to do just as August and Jones did in the story. 

Before the author talk students enjoyed a picnic, play at the park, hot chocolate and a cake as their class reward. 

Tomorrow the Shang family are on home cooking

Book club orders are due on-line by Friday 21 June

Please contact Mrs Murray for any book club enquiries!