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SEMESTER REPORTS
Teachers are working hard in preparing the Semester reports for parents on their children's progress. These will be made available via COMPASS on Friday 24 June from 4pm. Please ensure that you have access to your child's account so that you can access their report.
The reports will have some different aspects about them this time. Most notably will be the comments offered by the teachers. Comments will highlight some of the strengths the child has displayed as well as offering a challenge for them in the future to focus upon to improve their learning.
PARENT/STUDENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS
We are again trialling a method of reporting to parents their child's progress by involving the children in the feedback. Parents will have the option to bring their child along to the interview to give their thoughts on their learning.
PUPIL FREE DAY
There will be having a PUPIL FREE DAY on Wednesday 29 June. We will be conducting Parent/Teacher interviews on this day. A timetable will be made available to book a time on the day via COMPASS once the reports have been released.
WELCOME
We welcome a new family to the OLV community. Tesa and Elsa join us after moving to Australia from India. I am sure you will make them feel very welcome as they settle into the school routine. Though, I don't think the weather has been all that inviting for them.
CONDOLENCES
Our prayers go out to Laura, Cherokee and family who sadly lost their Grandmother last week and Tahlia, Josie and family who also lost their Grandmother. We wish them God's strength and peace as they move through this difficult time.
May almighty God bless their souls and those of the faithfuly departed. Rest in peace.
VALET PICKUP REVIEW
One of our changes during COVID was to introduce a valet pick up system in the afternoon. Now that restrictions have lifted, we would like to guage the feeling of parents about this process and look at having parents back into the school, especially those who would collect their children at the top gate.
Please take the time to respond to the short survey and give us your ideas. Cliock on the link and you will be taken to the survey. It closes on Monday at 3:00pm.
SOO1 QLD16 - NSW 10
What can be said -- what a great game played in an awesome spirit. Two very good sides, but the better team won. The rightful order of the world is being restored. Well done QUEENSLAND and thanks for the great competition NSW.
A a reward for cheering QLD on, I promised that there would be no homework for the rest of the week. Sorry I couldn't promise no homework for those that have to complete it for MONDAY next week.
Bring on Game 2.
A MESSAGE FROM THE GIFTED EDUCATION MENTOR
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 offered 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
Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.
How to participate?
1. Read about ICAS subject here https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas
2. 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
3. Make the online payment of $19 per test paid directly to the University of NSW (Due by 1 August
Cognitive Abilities Testing Update
All students at Our Lady of Victories will participate in the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test).
Testing will be completed within the next fortnight and our school will receive a report for each child. The Gifted Education Committee will meet to analyse results.
Our Gifted Education Mentor, Mrs York, will work with class teachers to develop further extension activities in programs. She will work in classrooms across the school to extend our identified students.
The CogAT measures the level and pattern of cognitive development and general reasoning abilities of students.
The CogAT measures three different cognitive abilities:
- the verbal section measures a child’s ability to remember and transform sequences of English words, to understand them and to make inferences and judgments about them
- the quantitative section measures a child’s understanding of basic quantitative (numerical) concepts and relationships, and
- the non-verbal section measures reasoning using pictures and geometric shapes. This section reduces the impact of language on the student’s score.
Parents, caregivers and students will not receive results of the testing. This test aids educators in understanding a student’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses and helps teachers to tailor classroom teaching practices.
Teachers and parents will be involved in completing further assessments and checklists to identify Gifted and Talented students. We will be holding information sessions for parents later in the year.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Email : lisa.york@mn.catholic.edu.au
Mrs Lisa York
Gifted Education Mentor
VOLUNTEERING
The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) has created an online application for the volunteering process. On the volunteer site, you can find the Volunteer Handbook, and coming are some videos that go through the Volunteers Induction. Applying through the volunteer site, results in your application going straight to the CSO, then the school gets updates once these are cleared. If you already have your WWCC and completed a paper volunteer application, there is NO need for you to reapply. If you would like to volunteer, and have not yet completed an application, please follow the link to do this online:
When you apply online, you will be notified whether you require a WWCC and/or police check. Please note: it can take up to 6 weeks for your application to be approved. You now only need to apply once, further applications are only required if your circumstances changes e.g. change in name etc WWCC expires.
Please advise the school via email when you register online and we will contact you when the clearance is received.
aNeN CAMINO
I will be spending 5 days walking throughout the Diocese on a pilgrimage called the aMeN Camino. It is a reflective walk organised by the Diocese for anyone who wishes to encounter relationship, story, the grace of God in the beautiful landscape of our own backyard. The aMeN caMiNo stretches your body, mind and spirit and provides an opportunity of transformation.
Using intervals of the Great North Walk, this five-day pilgrimage is a journey through the Watagans, around the lake and the beautiful Hunter beaches. A bush, mountain, beach, city and pub experience.
QUEENS BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY
Whilst a staunch suppoter of becoming a republic, I still look forward to the Queen's Birthday Public Holiday. This is happening on Monday so the school will be closed on Monday next week.
School Sleep Out
We have 22 children who are taking part in our school sleep out on Thursday 16th June. Children are to have dinner at home. Please make sure your child has had a shower and arrive in their pyjamas. The children will need their own bedding. Children are to enter from top gate (Sandgate Road) after 7:30pm. The children will need to bring their recess and crunch and sip to school with them for the following day.
Sausage Sizzle & Pyjama Day
On Friday 17th June we will have a sausage sizzle. All money raised on the day go to Saint Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. A note was sent home Wednesday explaining that the children will need to pre-order and return all orders by Tuesday 14th June.
We will also have a Pyjama Day where all children can wear their pyjamas to school for a gold coin donation. All children will need to wear their school hat and joggers to be able to play at lunchtime.
Vision & Mission Statement Survey
Thank you to all the parent who returned this survey. From the feedback we have received, everyone is happy with our new Vision and Mission statements so we will proceed in now promoting this to the wider community.
OLV Vision Statement
Love, Serve and Live the truth of Jesus.
OLV Mission Statement
In truth we LOVE empowering all to flourish and reach their full potential.
In truth we SERVE, acting always for the good of all.
In truth we LIVE learning and growing together in Christ.
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
Kindergarten have been busy learning the story of The Gingerbread Man.
Telling and retelling stories is an important part of every culture. Story telling demands specific language and vocabulary not used in conversational or day to day language for the children.
Words like "once upon a time, eventually and finally" are often new to Kindergarten children. Additionally, learning to retell a story with a beginning, a middle and an end is an important foundational pre writing skill.
Not only have Kindergarten mastered retelling "The Gingerbread Man" but they have also been challenged with changing the end of the story. Teachers call this a text innovation. It is an introduction to independent writing.
As you can see, we have some amazing story writers in Kindergarten - or should we say authors - who have innovated on the Gingerbread Man to create their own crazy (and sometimes hilarious) endings!
We hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Mrs Dunn, Mrs Adams, and Mrs Gallacher.
Finally the Gingerbread Man went to a river and met a dog. The dog said, “Let me help you. I will bring you to the other side of the river.” So the Gingerbread Man jumped on the dog. Suddenly the Gingerbread Man fell into the water and fell into pieces and the dog licked it and ate it.
Finally the Gingerbread Man came to a river and met a turtle. The turtle said, “Let me help you. I’ll swim down and get a log from the river. Then the turtle got the log and gave it to the Gingerbread Man. Then he got on the log and went across the river.
Finally the Gingerbread came to a river. At the river he met a tiger. The tiger picked up wood and made a bridge. The Gingerbread went across and they lived happily ever after.
Finally the Gingerbread Man was not caught and a turtle got there and said to the Gingerbread Man, “Let me help you. Jump on my bike.” He took him to a makeup salon and did his makeup.
Year 1
Year 1 have been learning the difference between Imaginative and Factual writing. This week our writing samples are based on an imaginary character, Sally Slime. She only plays with slime and is allergic to pets. She is coming to our house for a playdate. Our focus is on character description and varying sentence length to make our writing more interesting.
Year 2
As year 2 continue to develop their creating writing, we are beginning to look at the structure of a narrative. In groups, the children were given a picture and planned the introduction, problem and ending of their narratives. Check out their plans below. Stay tuned for the first drafts!
Stage 2 have continued to work hard on the writing of persuasive texts over the last fortnight. We have had lots of practice in writing the introduction and have moved on to using the features of persuasive texts – rhetorical questions, high modality words, opinions with evidence, etc – to write the paragraphs outlining our reasons.
Stage 3
Our learning intention in English has been to identify the purpose and audience of a range of fiction and non-fiction texts. Students defined the word ‘text’ and realised it covers a broad range of mediums and involves sharing a message or communicating.
We are learning there are three types of written texts. Students evaluated the purpose and audience of persuasive, informative and imaginative texts. As a class we categorised texts according to purpose, intended audience, vocabulary used and subject matter.
We enjoyed pasting texts into categories and explaining the purpose and audience in partners. Students identified categories of people that a text may be intended. For example; an information map would be aimed at travellers.
Understanding audience and purpose is important when improving our own writing. It will help students to make better vocabulary choices and extend the quality of written work.
| Kinder |
Lorcan H: for excellent colouring, cutting and organisational skills when completing our eskimo sheet. Amelia I: for being able to retell bible stories. Alexis G: for knowing all sounds and names of letters we have learnt. Isabelle M: for being able to write her full name correctly without her name tag. |
| Year 1 |
Lucy C: for great story writing, correct punctuation and excellent spelling. Maksim S: for quick thinking in Maths. Henry W: for great story writing and applying phonic skills to his writing. Tesa S: for a great start at OLV school and recognising all the numerals to 100 |
| Year 2 |
Van K: always offering a helping hand. Ariana C: great work scooping syllables in spelling. Gibson F: trying his best to be a respectful listener in the classroom. Erleen S: excellent effort when scooping syllables in spelling. Elsa S: bringing a friendly, happy smile to Year 2. Welcome to OLV, we are so lucky to have you! |
| Year 3 & Year 4 |
Sienna S: successfully working through the mathematical steps to solve word problems. Isabella T: your willingness to contribute to daily class discussions. Maxwell W: using more persuasive devices in your writing. Bella C: calculating the perimeter of shapes. |
| Year 5/6 |
Summer F: For demonstrating exceptional resilience at camp. Summer P: For always including others and encouraging them to do their best. Indigo H: For demonstrating fantastic team work while rock climbing. Fin T: For your great work on improving your self discipline and self regulation skills. All Stage 3: For your amazing behaviour, team work and encouragement of each other to push yourselves outside your comfort zone at camp. We are so PROUD of you al!! |
| Captains Awards |
Heath F: for playing fairly on the soccer field. Kaidence G: for always greeting people kindly of a morning.
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| EALD |
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| Lexia Awards |
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
We are looking forward to holding our first carnival in three years later this month. The children will have the opportunity to display their skills in running, throwing and jumping. We will be competing at the Fearnley Dawes Athletics Centre on Friday 24 June. We will travel to and from the venue by bus.
The children will be programmed in all events and may withdraw if they do not wish to participate. So, please talk to your children about which events they would like to have a go.
Our infants (5-7 year old) will compete in 70m, 100m, shot put and long jump.
Juniors (8-10 year olds) and Seniors (11-13year olds) will compete in 100m, 200m, 800m, shot put and long jump.
We will be looking for some helpers to assist with timekeeping and measuring on the day, so if you are able to help out please indicate on the COMPASS return going out next week.
We will be sharing the day with the children from Corpus Christi, Waratah. They will be running their events alternating between our events, not competing against our children.
The first two placegetters (juniors and seniors) in each event will be invited to represent the school at the Regional carnival the following week.
If the weather cooperates, it should be a great day.
DIOCESAN SPORT WEBSITE
The Diocesan Sport organisation (PSSA) has an information website that parents may access to find out about what is happening in the sporting world for our Diocese. It has infomation about DIO level events and trials. You can access the site with this link:
https://csnsw.sport/maitland-newcastle/primary/home
When you get the home page, choose a sport and get all the information you need, There are also photo galleries of the latest event showcasing the great talent we have in our schools.
We would like to wish the following children a Happy Birthday.
| Kindergarten | Cooper G, Lorcan H |
| Year 1 | |
| Year 2 | |
| Year 3 | Pippa M, John H, Luka S |
| Year 4 | |
| Year 5/6 | Suma M, Cooper C |
Congratulations and we hope you had a happy day
ST NICHOLAS OOSH Services
Just a reminder that the OOSH will be closed tomorrow due to staffing shortages. Parents are asked to make other arrangements for Before and After School care.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this closure.
If you are looking to enrol your child in the OOSH seice click this button.
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: