CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - DRAWING FROM THE WELL

Schools across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will celebrate their strength of community when they open doors to families and friends for Catholic Schools Week (CSW) 2020.

CSW runs from Sunday 1 March to Saturday 7 March and the theme is  “Drawing from the well. Invitation, Encounter, Witness”. This acknowledges that Jesus Christ is always at the heart of everything we do. Recognising this is the foundation of a Catholic school education, the lens through which everything is viewed, and the belief that informs all policies and decisions.

“Invitation, Encounter, Witness” celebrates the connection of the school community with Jesus Chirst. Our students are invited to the well, where, with Jesus as their guide they encounter diversity of learning in a supportive and inclusive environment, and witness service to others and the community.

We opened our school to the community to come and have look at the great things we do. Year 5 & 6 opened the week with a wonderful, welcoming liturgy that focussed on the school community. Morning Tea and Open Classes finished off our morning.

On Wednesday and Friday mornings of this week from 10am, the school will be open to interested families looking to enrol in 2021. We will start with a short presentation and move to school tours conducted by the students. We have invited all the preschools in the area to come along as a group or as individual families.

Catholic Schools Week also marks the start of the 2021 enrolment period for all 58 schools across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. The region’s newest Catholic high school, Catherine McAuley Catholic College, Medowie, will welcome its first enrolments in Year 7 and Year 8 for 2021. 

With so many activities happening across all schools throughout the week, check out our Catholic Schools Week's Events Calendar or contact your local school to make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to get involved in the celebrations and see why so many families choose a Catholic education for their child.

If a member of your family is a student of one of our schools, or if you are considering a Catholic education for your child, please come along and celebrate with us.

CALENDAR ON THE PHONE

It was brought to our attention that the calendar of school events could not be accessed on your mobile devices. We have tried to rectify this problem by adding a button on the SCHOOLZINE App.

Look for the DATE CLAIMER tile on your dash board when you open the App on your phone. All the term activities should be there.

PUPIL FREE DAY

A reminder to all families that there will be a PUPIL FREE DAY on Thursday 19 March. The school will be closed so that teachers can attend a Writing In-service with other teachers in the Diocese. This day will form part of our skill buiilding of teachers so that our Spelling Focus can be extended into the writing of the children.

1-2-3 MAGIC

Expressions of Interest

Are you interested in attending a parenting program to learn:

• Why children behave the way they do
• How to support your children to manage their own emotions and behaviour
• How the brain effects behaviour
• How to maintain a successful relationship with your child
• Learn to manage difficult behaviour in children 2-12

After receiving a number of expressions of interest, the program will be presented to any anyone interested on March 24, 31 & April 7.

The Family Action Centre of the University of Newcastle will present a proven successful parenting strategy called “1-2-3 MAGIC”  The course consists of 3 x 2 hour sessions and is provided free. Please read the flyer for the finer details.

CHILDREN’S UNIVERSITY

Learning doesn’t always happen within the classroom setting. Children experience a myriad of learnings outside the formal school setting without really realising it.

At our assembly last week, were visited by a representative of the Children’s University. She explained to the children (and interested parents) about a program offered by the University of Newcastle as a way to encourage children to explore their learning outside the prescribed curriculum, be it in sport, the arts, technology and more.

There will be opportunities in school (lunch times and after school) as well as recognising the learning activities they are involved in themselves. The children are given a “passport” to get stamped when they recognise learning in which they have participated. Their aim is to participate in 30 extra-curricular learning hours by the end of the year.

If your child with your support is intereted in participating, return the EOI sent home last week. It is attached. PLEASE RETURN THESE BY TOMORROW.

COMPASS COMMUNICATION

As COMPASS has been with us now for over a year, the teachers are ready to explore new ways of engaging parents on their children’s learning. The App will be used to convey messages, reminders and notices relevant to each class. It will be a forum to communicate.

To ensure you have this access parents will either need the APP or access COMPASS through the webpage at:

https://shortland-nsw.compass.education

Compass Instructions