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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
On Wednesday we celebrated the special role Catholic schools have in the education of our children. We will continue to showcase our unique role later this term with a mini conert and open class rooms in Week 9. Some of our leaders will be joining other Diocesan schools in a celebration next week as well.
We celebrate being fully alive and the link below will take you to to a special message form the Director of Schools and Gr Greg Barke, the Diocesan Administrator.
https://youtu.be/IPq3WkPNgFc
SORRY DAY
Thursday 26 May is recognised as "Sorry Day" which is the beginning of Reconciliation Week. It is a time when we acknowledge the hurt our First Nations people have endured during the years since the European colonisation of our country.
Check out the art work that the children have produced to acknowledge the importance of the day.
MINI DANCE CONCERT
The children have been working with Miss Gallagher to develop a dance concert to put on for parents and friends. On Thursday 23 June you are all invited to come along and be entertained by them as part of "Catholic Schools Week". The min-concert will be followed up with some in class activities in your child's class. We hope you can make it.
HAPPY CAMPERS
Our year 5/6 children are currently away on camp enjoying the days testing their skills and personal limits. It is a great opportunity to bond with each other and see how they can provide encouragement and support for their peers to extend their limits and comfort zones.
The children will return on Friday at around 2:30pm. Parents can pick them up from the Sandgate Rd entrance.
TEACHER INDUSTRIAL ACTION
A reminder that the staff will be involved in industrial action tomorrow and there will be no classes. As the availability for supervison will be very minimal, parents are advised to seek an alternative to sending their children to school.
NEWCASTLE PERMANENT MATHEMATICS COMPETITION
On Friday 29 July 2022 all students inYear 5 and 6 will take part in the 2022 Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition.
On Friday 29 July 2022 all students in Year 5 and 6 will take pat in the 2022 Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition.
There is no cost to enter the competition and students will complete the online test at school. Students will have 45 minutes to complete the test.
All students do the same test, however, results are processed and reported in two divisions: Year 5 and Year 6.
Results and certificates will be awarded to high achieving students. The Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition is completed without a ruler or calculator.
More information and practice papers can be found here. https://www.newcastlepermanent.com.au/community/primary-maths-competition
Please contact Mrs York for further information.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN Update
Over the past fortnight our students in Year 3 and Year 5 have successfully participated in NAPLAN testing. NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit in May each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students do.
What does NAPLAN assess?
NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum. Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
How is my child’s performance reported?
Individual student performance is shown on a national achievement scale for each assessment. A result at the national minimum standard indicates that the student has demonstrated the basic literacy and numeracy skills needed to participate fully in that year level.
A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided to parents and the school later in the year.
How are NAPLAN results used?
- Students and parents/carers may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.
- Teachers use results to help identify students who need greater challenges or extra support.
- Schools use results to identify strengths and areas of need to improve teaching programs.
A MESSAGE FROM THE GIFTED EDUCATION MENTOR
Gifted Awareness Week
May 21st to 29th is Gifted Awareness week, which aims to raise awareness of the identification, support, and learning needs of gifted children. This year's theme is “like minds” and focuses on the importance of connecting like-minded learners on their learning journey.
Gifted Education Lead School Program
In 2022 Our Lady of Victories began the 3 year process of becoming a Gifted Education Lead School (GEL school). We have been achieving a range of goals in the first year of the program including;
- Appointing a Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) – Mrs York
- Professional development for all OLV staff and GEM
- Establishment of a Gifted Education Committee
- Implementing CoGat testing of whole school
- Analysing results and forming a plan for Gifted Education
Formation of OLV Gifted Education Committee
This term our staff formed a Gifted Education Committee. Staff met to discuss the identification of Gifted and Talented Learners. The team formed a plan to identify, target and implement programs in all classrooms. There will exciting initiatives and opportunities offered at Our Lady of Victories.
Identifying Gifted Students using Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAt Test)
All students at Our Lady of Victories in grades 1- 6 are currently being tested using the CogAt test. We will complete testing by the end of Week 7 and spend time analysing the data as a staff. Students in Kindergarten will be tested in Term 4. We will continue to implement the CogAt test with all new students, including new Kindergarten enrolments each year at OLV.
What is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
It is an extensive multiple-choice K-6 assessment that measures learned reasoning and problem-solving skills in three different areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal.
CogAt Data and Identifying Gifted Students
The test uses age norms to calculate scores and compare students of the same age. Stanine scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 9. A higher stanine equates with a higher level of cognitive abilities development.
Teachers will use CogAt data, together with other identification tools to understand students and cater for extension learning needs in the classroom.
ICAS ASSESSMENTS
As part of supporting Gifted Education opportunities at Our Lady of Victories we will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS competitions later this year.
What is ICAS?
The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is an online academic competition organised by the University of NSW.
Tests will be held online and completed at school in between 8 August and 2 September.
Tests are available for students in Years 2 through to Year 6 in the specific subject areas of;
English, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.
Sitting an ICAS test is optional and recommended for capable or gifted students.
ICAS Results and Rankings
Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals. The UNSW will provide students who sit ICAS with an overview of their results.
How to participate?
- Read about ICASsubject here https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas
- Visit the ICAS Parent Payment System Parent Portal to select tests to complete.
https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
Your school access code is: GCQ920
- Make the online payment of $19 per test paid directly to the University of NSW.
Soccer
Each year, in Terms 2 and 3, we enthusiastically enter soccer season at OLV. Unfortunately, it often heralds the beginning of issues on the soccer field…well, not this year!
In the last week of Term 1, Year 4 were asked to write down suggestions for modified rules, acceptable behaviours, and expectations for school soccer. During Naplan, Ms McGann worked with the Year 6 students to collate and refine these ideas into a list of rules for the students by the students. (See below) The time was spent modifying and clarifying the rules, penalties and behaviours – for players and refs – and teams were assembled across Years 3-6. These have been implemented over the last two weeks, and whilst there have been a few teething issues, there has been nothing that hasn’t been able to be sorted out quickly and calmly. Congratulations to our senior students who have built, maintain and monitor this new ‘system’.
PBL Update
During Weeks 1 – 4 of this term, the staff and students spent quality time unpacking the term ‘respect’, so that when we use the term in our everyday language, we are all aware of what it means - treating others the way you would like to be treated. In each class, the students discussed ways that respect looks, sounds and feels like. Each class created a chart with their thoughts. Kindergarten and Year 1 had some assistance from their teachers, but the rest of the student body created these with appropriate levels of support. Importantly, EVERY child has had a chance to have their say, to have their voice heard.
When collating the responses from across the school, there were several post-it notes with the same or similar ideas, which were bundled and stapled together. Things like:
- Respect looks like helping, being kind to others, letting others go in front of you, taking turns
- Respect feels like happy, calm, good, joyful
- Respect sounds like kind words, “Do you want to go in front of me?”, “Are you ok?”, saying sorry, thanks (or something similar).
It is worth looking at what the other post-it notes say as I believe that it is a beautiful representation of our school. I am so proud of the efforts of every child at OLV because this shows their understanding of the word ‘respect’. We will continue to embed this concept, but we now move on to our next focus – I AM SAFE.
Staff and students will look at ways to stay safe in various different places on the playground, including the fields, COLA, toilets, equipment, classrooms, etc. Again, it is an opportunity for the students to have their voices heard on this issue and that the ‘rules’ are being made with them, not for them.
Parish Sacramental Program
Wewould like to congratulate John, Sienna, Pippa and Jesse C on receiving the sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday night.
School Sleepout
Just a reminder that permission notes and $10 need to be in by Monday 30th May for any primary child that would like to participate in this.
Out of Uniform Day
We have an out of uniform day Friday 3rd June. Children will need to bring along a gold coin donation. The money raised will go towards St Vincent de Paul's Winter Appeal.
St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
St Vincent de Paul would like donations of winter clothing, warm blankets to help out the homeless people in our community. If you could help in any way please place your items in the St Vincent de Pasul bins outside the office door.
2022 SCHOOL FEES
- Letters have gone home this week please see the following:
- If paying fees by instalment, please ensure your payment commences before the 31 March 2022 and is paid in full by 30 November 2022.
- If paying fees in full in one payment please finalise prior to 30 June 2022.
- Our preferred method of payment is either BPay or direct debit. Please avoid using COMPASS Pay.
- For Fee Payers wishing to establish a new Direct Debit, or adjust their existing direct debit, please complete the form on the Catholic Development Fund web-site www.CDFmn.com.au and return to Leanne in the Office.
- For those families experiencing financial hardship, or wishing to discuss other payment arrangements, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment with the Principal.
- If you would like a weekly, Fortnighly or Monthly breakdown please contact Leanne in the office, some parents received this already.
- Schools will commence the school fee management process after the 31 March 2022, if there has been no contact with the school office or no initial payment received.
VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION
In order to Volunteer at OLV you are required to complete the Volunteer Induction and be cleared by the Catholic Schools Office to Volunteer.
Please follow this link https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/people/volunteer/ and complete the steps.
EXTERNAL PROVIDERS
If your child will be seeing a provider (eg; speech or OT ) this year at school,
please complete the attached application form and return to school. If you require further information, please don't hesitate to contact the office.
Kindergarten
This week the children wrote about what they did on the weekend without any assistance from myself.
Wonderful work Kindergarten. Kindergarten have learnt 12 sounds so far and are using them extremely well in the writing tasks.
Year 1
Year 2
This term with the help of Mrs Adams, Year 2 have been focusing on how we can expand our vocabulary to improve our word choices and our writing. We have been learning about Tiered vocabulary and how we can use more Tier 2 words in our writing to make it more interesting. Below are some writing samples using the first three ‘Tier 2’ words that we were explicitly taught. Miss Payton and Mrs Adams are so proud of how our vocabulary is growing and how we are becoming very clever ‘word wizards’. See if you can guess what the three words are, after reading our writing!
Year 3 & 4 - Stage 2
In Stage 2, we have been learning how to write persuasive texts in order to convince someone to think about a topic in a certain way. We have looked a lots of examples and identified what makes some pieces of writing good, and what makes some pieces of writing great, and have been trying to use these in our writing at school and our writing at home.
We have focussed on the introduction and here are some group examples of our efforts.
Year 5/6 - Stage 3
In Stage 3 this term we have been exploring persuasive texts. We have been learning about the structure of a persuasive text and the importance of supporting an opinion with evidence. We explored persuasive devices such as rhetorical questions, emotive language, personal pronouns, high modality words, exaggeration, alliteration and the rule of three. We use devices in our writing to convince the reader to believe our opinion. We were given the topic ‘Homework Should be Mandatory for All Students.’ As a class, we brainstormed reasons for and against the topic and discussed evidence we could use to support our arguments. We selected our side of the argument and wrote a persuasive text. We enjoyed trying to convince our teachers that homework should or should not be mandatory! Have a look at some of our writing!
| Kinder |
Cooper G - for sounding out, leaving spaces between words and using full stops correctly when writing sentences. Israel L - for knowing his friends for ten. Caleb S - for starting to sound out when writing. Nikita P - for starting to sound out words when reading. |
| Year 1 |
Ruby H - for demonstrating excellent knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures. Fetui T - for excellent progress in writing. Josie B - for beautiful manners and co-operation with class members. Malachi K - for great participation in singing, "Pharaoh, Pharaoh". |
| Year 2 |
Evan S - excellent improvement and enthusiasm when spelling new words. Billy F - a continued improvement in reading. Eli O - His enthusiasm and participation in sport. Mila C - Great effort in problem solving. Grace B - being a word wizard and using new Tier 2 words across all KLAs. |
| Year 3 & Year 4 |
John H - For noticing the /er/ sound in words. Kasey S - For solving division facts. Charlotte H - Working hard in all subjects and contributing to class discussions. Well done. Isabella C – impressive improvements in her cursive writing! |
| Year 5/6 |
Harry F - For your interesting facts about Australia’s global connections in Geography Marley B - Completing Mathematics tasks about 24 hour time with enthusiasm and completing complex problems Cooper C - For always displaying a responsible attitude when completing tasks and taking pride in your work Caleb J - For your interesting knowledge of Australia’s global connections in Geography |
| EALD |
Paola G – for excellent storytelling of The Gingerbread Man Jesuloba A - for thoughtful and interesting use of new vocabulary. Leisha K - for her motivation and interest in learning new rules around English spelling and language. |
| Captains Awards |
Zephyr K - for showing kindness in the playground to other people. Clayton S - for respecting students around you during the soccer games. |
| PBL Awards |
Kinder: Zephyr Kakoulidis |
| Lexia Awards |
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
We will be holding our annual Athletics Carnival on FRIDAY 24 JUNE. The children will have the chance to test their skills and speed against themselves and each other. We will have events in 70m, 100m, 200m, 800m, Shot Put and Long Jump. The children will beasked which events they wish to enter and a program will be made up.
Please stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks.
DIOCESAN SPORT WEBSITE
For parents that would like to see what is happening in Diocesan sport, you can go to the information website that has all you need to know about sport at the Diocesan level.
NEXT MEETING
The P&F association will be meeting again on Monday 30 May. This will be the regular monthly meeting. We are hoping to elect a president for the Association. Mrs Adams (our EAL/D Teacher) will be presenting a program for our infants classes that we would like the Association to support. Come along and participate in the discussions and decisions of the Asoociation.
Meeting time is 7:00pm in the school library. There will aslo be a TEAMS link for the meeting for those that can't make it.
We would like to wish the following children a Happy Birthday.
| Kindergarten | Elodie D, Josie B, Alexis G, Micko A, Harry W |
| Year 1 | Ruby B, Kaidence G |
| Year 2 | Annabelle H, Evan S, Eli O |
| Year 3 | Sienna S |
| Year 4 | |
| Year 5/6 | Alek S,Max G |
Congratulations and we hope you had a happy day
ST NICHOLAS OOSH Services
How to enrol for our OOSH Services:
You will be able to access the school newsletter here, special dates notifications and other messages from time to time.
Go to this link to download the Schoolzine App: