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.