Wednesday, 28th October 2015 —Term 4, Week 4

Dates to Remember:

28 October Reconciliation session 3

30 October Mission Day Liturgy

8.40 am Rm 11

Markets 1.30 pm

4 November Reconciliation Retreat

3.30—5 pm

Board meeting 5 pm

6 November Assembly—Kangaroos

8.40 am

11 November Reconciliation Ceremony 6 pm

St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral

90 Smith Street, Darwin

Weekend Mass Times:

Saturday (Vigil) 6.30 pm

Sunday—7.30 am/9.30 am/7.00 pm

A Prayer for World Teacher Day Giver of all wisdom and greatest of all teachers, Look upon our teachers with love. Grant them the resolve to nurture our eager minds and to never give up on us who fall behind. Bless their hearts for they rejoice when we succeed and encourage us when we fail. And bless them with gentle patience for the path of learning is never easy. Kindle a spirit and passion in them it is the flame that ignites the love of learning in us. Help them see the potential in each student. Their belief in us means much more than the grade we make. Instill in them a commitment to keep on learning. It shows us to not fear new knowledge and experiences. Inspire them to touch the future. They influence how big a dream we dream for ourselves. Bless our teachers who have come before, for their work endures to this day. Let the light of your example shine upon all teachers to build up with their words, to love with their mind, to share with their heart. Amen

From http://www.ncdsb.on.ca/pdfs/Prayerforteachers1.pdf

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

Dear families

On Friday, along with our Mission Day Activities, we celebrate World Teachers’ Day-acknowledging the im-

portant contribution teachers make to our community. This is a day to show our appreciation for our teachers and

support staff and to thank them for the positive impact they have on the students at St Mary’s. We are blessed to

have such dedicated, caring and committed staff.

St John’s Literacy project: Over the past few weeks, Year 11 students from St John’s College have been work-ing with our Transition and T/1 children on a special literacy project. The project has involved St

John’s students working with individual children in these classes to write a special book for them

based on their interests. The teachers and students were really positive about this experience, and felt that their efforts were generously appreciated by the children at St Mary’s. Mr Doug Stone

from St John’s communicated via email that “the St John's students and I were most impressed with the general tone, demeanour, orderliness, neatness and behaviour of the St Mary's Primary School children. The two classes we dealt with were a great credit to your school.” This was a great opportunity for our students and wonderful to receive such positive feedback. St John’s have been invited to attend our school

assembly on 13th November to share information about the project.

Music: Mr Alphonsus Tan has commenced private violin and piano lessons on Wednesdays at St Mary’s. Mr Tan

is a qualified teacher who is also working at MacKillop Catholic College, Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi teaching a range of instruments including strings, piano,

singing and woodwind instruments. There are limited spaces available. Lessons are $30/half

hour and fees need to be paid in advance.

Interschool swimming: Congratulations to St Mary’s School swimming team who represented our school at the Interschool swimming carnival last Thursday night at Casuarina Pool. Our team came 6th out of 14

teams which is a magnificent achievement. There were 18 students in the team - the largest swim-ming team for some time! For many of them, it was their first experience competing in an interschool

swimming event. I was immensely proud of the team’s achievement and to see each student’s perse-

verance, effort and commitment on the night. Well done!

BYOD: This year we have implemented a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Program for students in Year 5/6 in line

with our goal to enrich and enhance learning through the integration of Information Communication and Technol-

ogy. The transition to BYOD at St Mary’s has proven to be extremely successful and popular -providing opportuni-

ties for teachers to integrate technology meaningfully into the learning and teaching program and for students to

extend their learning beyond the classroom.

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

Children moving into Year 5 in 2016 will be eligible to join the BYOD program from the beginning of 2016. An infor-

mation session for parents of children in Year 4 will be held later this term.

Board Meeting: Unfortunately the Board meeting has had to be postponed until Wednesday, 4 November due to the unavailability of some Board members. The Director of Catholic Education, Mr Michael Avery has been invited to

attend this meeting. The main agenda item will be school safety and security, and the discussion of reports provid-

ed by our school based constable and the Manager of Work Health and Safety, Catholic Education Office.

Competition: Students in Room 10 have entered Miss Morgan in a Hot 100 radio competition for NT’s favourite

teacher. Whilst they would like to nominate all the teachers from St Mary’s, they feel that our school would be more

likely to win if we just selected one! Therefore they are seeking votes from St Mary’s school community to win prizes

for our school!

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Mission Day Liturgy and Market afternoon on Friday.

May God bless you all and keep you safely in his care.

Mrs Jacqui Langdon, Principal

Go to the Hot 100 website

http://www.hot100fm.com.au/

Click on the big apple which says ‘Apple for the Teacher’

Scroll down and find the third drop down box (Teacher surnames M – R)

Find Courtney Morgan – St Mary’s Room 10 (Careful! Choose the first one) Click submit! Repeat!

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

MJR News: Our Wall of Fame winner for this week is Isabelle Baldock (room 4) for

being a kind and caring student.

This week MJR house team winners were……Thomai Mostris (Little)...being my

friend...Georgia

Thomas Favelle (Hartzer)….he helped me reach something….Matilda

Mahlia Burroughs (Chevalier)...she was nice to me...Charlotte

Charlotte Wagner (O’Sullivan)...she sat with me….Messina

Student of the Week Awards

Room 5

Isaac Kelly

Sanna Curwen-Walker

Room 4

Matilda Reardon

Macey Moore

Andrei Favelle

Maddi Ruthven

Room 3

Lilly Downs

Yvaan Pala

Bridget FitzGerald

Marcus Kunnikorn

Room 2

Thomas Reardon

Taylah Kernahan

Room 1

Bronte Devitt

Liam McBride

Room 10

Andre Riccardi

Leif Aratema

Gabby Christie

Room 11

Aby Bowman

Yianni Mostris

Kangaroos

Robert Waters

John Hernandez

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

RELIGIOUS EDUCTION NEWS

St Mary’s World Mission Day 2015, Friday 30 October

Please join us for a Liturgy led by Room 11 at 8.40am.

Then, please join us at 1.30pm for:

St Mary’s Mission Market Stalls Each class will be hosting a stall. Some classes are calling for donations from home

to be taken to your child’s class by tomorrow (Thursday) at the latest:

This year’s theme is ‘Sock it to Poverty in Madagascar’ so we in-

vite students to bring a gold coin donation and wear casual

clothes and crazy socks. So, start saving your coins.

It’s going to be an event not to be missed!

Room Please supply from home

10 Jars, lollies, small stationary and toys

7 and 5 Face paint, glitter, *parent helpers

6 Nail polish, remover, cotton buds and balls,

coloured hair spray, old towels

11 Miscellaneous child prizes

3 Small smooth rocks

4 Ice cream cones, ice cream

2 Miscellaneous child prizes

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

Learning and Teaching Corner KidsMatter During the week the staff completed the last session in the KidsMatter Pri-

mary Program Component 2. Kidsmatter is a mental health and wellbeing

framework for primary schools and is proven to make positive difference to

the lives of Australian children. Component 2 looked at how teachers can

help their students to recognise and manage their emotions, developing care

and concern for others, make responsible decisions and establish positive relationships. Also in

classrooms this week each student completed a KidsMatter survey, which asked questions about

their social and emotional wellbeing while at school. The responses from these surveys will be used

to inform the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Action Plan for 2016.

Literacy – Building Comprehension Skills

This week when you’re listening to your child read why not take the

time to ask them some questions about what they have just read.

This strategy of questioning can be effective because it gives the

reader a purpose for reading, helps to focus their attention and monitors their comprehension.

There are four different types of questions:

"Right There" Questions found right in the text that ask students to find the one right answer located in

one place as a word or a sentence in the passage.Example: Who is Frog's friend? Answer: Toad

"Think and Search" Questions based on the recall of facts that can be found directly in the text. Answers

are typically found in more than one place, thus requiring students to "think" and "search" through

the passage to find the answer.Example: Why was Frog sad? Answer: His friend was leaving.

"Author and You" Questions require students to use what they already know, with what they have learned

from reading the text. Student's must understand the text and relate it to their prior knowledge

before answering the question.Example: How do think Frog felt when he found Toad? Answer: I

think that Frog felt happy because he had not seen Toad in a long time. I feel happy when I get to see

my friend who lives far away.

"On Your Own" Questions are answered based on a students prior knowledge and experiences. Reading the

text may not be helpful to them when answering this type of question.Example: How would you feel if

your best friend moved away? Answer: I would feel very sad if my best friend moved away because I

would miss her.

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

The following was received this week from the Heart Foundation.

Dear Jacqui

On behalf of the Heart Foundation, I am writing to express our thanks to the students, families, friends and staff of

St Mary's Primary School for participating in the Heart Foundation Jump Rope for Heart program in 2015. In par-

ticular, I would like to acknowledge Sarah Muller, whose efforts in co-ordinating the program greatly contributed to

its success.

Critical to the success of Jump Rope for Heart is the passion, motivation and commitment of teaching staff that co-

ordinate the program within the school. The commitment of staff just like Sarah, has a positive impact not only on

the health of the students but also in the heart health of the broader community. Sarah has been a true heart

health champion and should be commended for the time and dedication spent facilitating the Jump Rope for Heart

within your school.

We are most appreciative of the $2,278.08, raised by your school community. Heart disease remains the single

leading cause of death in Australia. By supporting the Heart Foundations Jump Rope for Heart, your school com-

munity is making a positive contribution to the health of all Australians, raising much needed funds for heart re-

search.

We trust that Jump Rope has contributed to the health of your students by encouraging healthy lifestyle behav-

iours and showing them the many benefits of participating in regular physical activity.

Once more, thank you for your invaluable support and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2016.

Warm Regards,

Soraya Russell

National Jump Rope for Heart Field Officer

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

P.E News …

Darwin Region Swimming Carnival

Last Thursday saw our awesome St Mary’s swimming team competed in the annual Darwin Primary Inter-Schools

swimming carnival at Casuarina Pool. We had 18 talented swimmers who gave their all both individually and in re-

lay events. A huge congratulations to the team who demonstrated the mighty St Mary’s Spirit, by competing in all

their events and fighting hard to the very end. We finished 6th overall from a total of 14 schools.

Thank you to the families that came out and supported our swimmers on the night, and to Miss Nancarrow, Miss

Morgan and Mrs Langdon who came to cheer on our swimmers as well.

Congratulations to Drossos Klidaras who came 4th in the 50m Breaststroke and our relay teams that received rib-

bons.

Sarah Muller, PE Teacher

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Term 4, Week 4

Transition 2016

Does your child turn five by 30 June

2016? If so they are eligible to start Tran-

sition in January 2016.

Please contact the school office for an en-

rolment package.

Our thoughts and prayers are

with Henry (room 3) and Emily

(room 6) Metcalfe and family as

Henry and Emily’s great grand-

mother passed away recently.

Also Samena Senge-Zagorianos

(room 4) whose grandmother passed away recently.

School Bank Account Details: School Bank Account Details:

Please note that St Mary’s Catholic Primary School has now

changed to the National Australia Bank.

Our details are:

Bank: National Australia Bank

BSB: 085 933

Account Number: 39 686 0268

Account Name: St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Please use only the NAB account as of now.

Below is Louis Lakin, Katrina Fong Lim (Lord Mayor),

Henry, Emily and Lucy Metcalfe in front of the room

3 ‘Happy Chappies’ banner at the City of Darwin

Children’s Art Exhibition last Saturday

Have your say!

Swing, slide, bounce or climb? Relax, socialise or

just enjoy the surroundings?

City of Darwin is planning an iconic new destina-

tion play space in Bicentennial Park, Darwin city.

We want you to tell us what you think is im-

portant for the new Community Play Space.

Jump onto our website to find out more and fill

out our quick and easy survey

www.darwin.nt.gov.au/cps