St Lawrence & Mary Immaculate Parish Balcatta:

Parish Priest: Fr Emil Ciecierega SDS Assistant Priest: Fr Leonard Macionczyk SDS

St Lawrence Primary School 386 Albert Street Balcatta WA

Telephone: 9344 4944 Fax: 9344 5099 Email: admin@stlawbal.wa.edu.au

Home Page: www.stlawbal.wa.edu.au

Newsletter No. 13 9 May 2018

School Vision Statement The vision of St Lawrence Catholic Primary School, Balcatta

is to share the message of God’s love and friendship in a community of learners, developing the full potential of each child.

Learning is what we do-we are committed to learning at every level.

NAPLAN Every year, all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students across Australia participate in NAPLAN. These assessments

provide class teachers, the school, the system, the state and the country with information about student

achievement. Much is written in media in regards to NAPLAN and it is regularly used politically for one

reason or another.

It is important our students do their best to reflect the excellent learning that takes place here at St

Lawrence, however no standardised test can adequately reflect an individual student’s gains, efforts,

achievement or progress.

To our students I would like you, your family, friends and teachers to remember that these tests are

unable to measure all of what makes you the valued person who you are. The people who have created

these tests, and those that mark them, including computer programs do not know you as well as your

teachers know you or the extent to which I know you and certainly not the way your family and friends

know you.

They do not know that the language you speak at home may be other than English. They also do not know

that you may be a great singer and dancer or that you can play a musical instrument really well. They also

do not know how well you can draw beautiful pictures. They do not know that you have a sense of

humour which can bring a smile to your friend’s faces and make them laugh or that they can rely upon

you to support them when they need a kind and encouraging word. They would not know that you could

write poetry and stories, play all types of different sports and have interesting and enjoyable hobbies.

They also do not know that you probably accept responsibility for taking care of your brothers or sisters

from time to time. How well you help around the home and all the marvellous things you can do. They do

not know that you have travelled to or come from fascinating places and had amazing experiences. They

do not know how much you love spending time with your family and your close friends and they will not

know how much you are appreciated and loved by them. They do not know the strength of your Faith and

your inner fortitude.

You are trustworthy, kind and thoughtful and you try to do your best every day. Do they know that? No.

These things cannot be assessed by a standardise test that benchmarks results. Boys and girls do your best

but do not worry or over think these test. I have employed many staff over the years and I have never

asked a potential employee how they went in their Year Three NAPLAN test.

This year NAPLAN will take place from Tuesday 15 May to Friday 18 May. If you have any queries or

concerns in regards to NAPLAN, please visit the official website at http://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-

carer-support/parent-carer-support.html, or contact the classroom teacher.

Parents will be provided with a NAPLAN report for their child in mid-September. Individual student

performance is shown on a national achievement scale for each test. The performance of individual

students can be compared to the average performance of all students in Australia.

Engagement is essential-we are committed to Catholic Education’s mission through relationships with

all.

Mother’s Day Mass followed by Morning Tea

All our wonderful mothers and grandmothers are invited to join the school

community next Friday 11 May to recognise the important role of mothers.

Accountability is not optional - we have a personal and collective responsibility for our system’s success.

Playground Equipment

Could all parents please be aware that no children are to play on the playground equipment unsupervised

before or after school.

School Board Meeting

Will be held next Wednesday at 7.00pm. A big thank you to this wonderful group of people who give

generously of their time and skills to support our school. Board members include Caroline Narbey,

Michael Mucciarone, Michelle Millard, Patrick King, Diego Silva Cardona, Narelle Zaknich, Johanna

Carbone, Caterina Di Carlantonio, Sheldon Carey, Gabrielle Brennan and Fr Emil Ciecierega.

Discipleship is our calling - we are committed to deepening our relationship with Jesus.

As part of our May devotions the children come together every Friday after lunch to pray the Rosary.

This is a great shared prayer gathering and provides us all with the opportunity to express our love of

Mary and our commitment to developing our own prayer life. As with all prayer events you are always

very welcome to come and join us.

The Angelus: This lovely prayer is usually accompanied by the ringing of the Angelus bell, which is a

call to prayer and to spread goodwill to everyone.The Angelus has throughout the Church been

traditionally recited at 12:00pm. Every day here at our own parish at 12:00pm our parish bells chime

throughout Balcatta to remind us all of the importance to stop and reflect on our wonderful blessings and

to give thanks for all we receive. Included with this Newsletter is a copy of the Angelus. I strongly

encourage you all to take time every day to stop, give thanks and praise for that is good in our lives. The

Angelus is a very appropriate way to build this into our daily lives.

Our Sacramental Program for 2018 this term.

Sacrament Dates for 2018

First Holy Communion: Term 2: Saturday 16 June at the 6.00pm Mass

Sunday 17 June at the 8.30am Mass

Confirmation: Term 3: Saturday 15 September at the 6.00pm Mass

Sunday 16 September at the 8.30am Mass

Reconciliation Term 4: Wednesday 24 October at 6.30pm

I leave you with some words of wisdom from Martin Luther King:

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is,

'What are you doing for others?’”

Martin Luther King, Jr

I am blessed to have my own mother still with me. I am very grateful for the wonderful things she

sacrificed for me and for the great things she does for me. My prayers are for all the wonderful women in

our lives that love us like our mothers.

God bless each and every one of you.

Sheldon Carey. M Ed, B Ed, Grad Dip

Principal

Learning at Home Tips……

Story-telling is a great way to extend your child’s language and

listening skills, as well as expanding their imagination. Either you can

tell the story, or encourage your child to tell the story.

Story-telling might be about:

. A favourite character from a book or television

program.

. Another family member.

. Your child’s favourite toy.

Here are some tips to start your storytelling:

. Make it exciting, with different voices, puppets, props or a finger play.

. Start with what interests your child.

. Create a character and setting.

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

MOTHER’S DAY

An invitation is extended to all the mothers, grandmothers and mother figures in our community to join us

to celebrate Mass on Friday 11th May. Mass will commence at 9.00am followed by morning tea

provided by our wonderful P&F. We wish all the Mothers and Grandmothers a very happy Mother’s Day

and we hope you enjoy this special day with your families.

NAPLAN

Next week our Year Three and Year Five students will be completing their NAPLAN assessments. It is

important to remember that these assessments form part of the teaching and learning process that our

students are part of daily at school and children should be encouraged to do their best, just as they do

every day at St Lawrence.

RUNNING CLUB

It has been wonderful to see so many students at Running Club on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Thank you to our staff who volunteer their time so our students have the opportunity to develop their

fitness and to start the day in such a positive way.

SUSTAINABILITY AT ST LAWRENCE

This term, we are making a big effort to keep our undercroft area clean, tidy and free of rubbish. We are

working together to achieve a shared reward of extra play and are keeping track of our efforts using the

thermometer on the wall outside Pre Primary. We are also trying to promote sustainable practices in our

school by using recycling bins and remind parents that they can also recycle materials by donating clean

items to our Makerspace room.

CLASS NEWS

PRE KINDERGARTEN

Well it is a very special time for our mummies soon and we have been busy making something nice. We

are talking about all the nice things our mummies do for us and how our families are so special.

Tomorrow we will be cooking Pikelets in class – just like our mummies cook us lots of lovely food too!

Our day is always very busy but everyone in our class enjoys themselves.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL MOTHERS ON SUNDAY ❤❤❤

Mrs Kaylene Bozich, Pre Kindy Teacher

KINDERGARTEN

Our focus is 'Families'. This week is all about Mums followed by Dads next week. To celebrate Mother's

Day we will be having an afternoon tea in Kindy on Friday 11th May at 2pm. The children will sing to

the Mums a song and then they can enjoy a cuppa and something to eat with the other Mums. Hope to see

you there.

This Friday afternoon we will start our 'Fun Friday' which is a Fine and Gross Motor Program Mrs

Talbott and I planned in the holidays, with the Pre Primary children running every second week. Sessions

will cover development of gross motor skills during odd weeks and fine motor skills during even weeks

of the school term. Students will be encouraged to complete tasks of interest to them and these tasks will

also develop their social skills with our Pre Primary friends.

***Change of date*** Next Friday 18th May at 9:00am Kindy will also have a Librarian visit to discuss

the importance of reading in the early years. We will hold the session inside the Kindy classroom and I

would love to see to see you there. The Better Beginnings program is offered free by the City of Stirling

and each child will receive a pack and some beautiful new books inside to take home and enjoy!

Mrs Rachel Wake, Kindergarten Teacher

PRE PRIMARY

We have had a busy start to Term Two in Pre Primary!

We have settled into our routine very quickly and really started to enjoy our activities. Today we had our

first integrated activities with our Kindy friends to work on our fine motor skills. The students will

develop their social skills and be encouraged to complete tasks that interests them, therefore building their

independence.

On Friday afternoon, we have our Mums coming into class for a special Mother’s Day Pamper Party. The

children have been working hard to practice a lovely song to sing to their Mums before we begin the

Pamper Party.

We also have our first excursion next Tuesday and the Pre-Primary children are beyond excited. We will

be going to Cicerello’s in Fremantle to have a hands on session where we get to touch and hold sea

creatures. We will also be going to the beach to build sandcastle followed by a fish and chips lunch.

Mrs Laura Talbott, Pre-Primary Teacher

YEAR ONE

This week we had a visit from Steve from the Water Corporation. He told us about the important things

that we can do to make sure that we save water because it is precious and we need it for lots of different

things. The children are working on their fine motor skills as they work on making patterns using the

beads on our Pattern Tree. It is especially great to see children working together to help each other.

Thank you to all parents for their continued support with Morning Reading. A reminder that we will be

celebrating all our mums and grandmas with a special school mass on Friday morning followed by

morning tea in the hall. Wishing all mums and grandmas a very Happy Mother's Day. I hope you are all

spoilt on your special day.

.

Mrs Roselyn Pizzino, Year One Teacher

YEAR TWO

Thank you to our parents who have been listening to reading in the mornings, the children really benefit

from having the opportunity to read frequently.

This week, we began our unit of work for this term which is titled Once Upon A Time and we have spent

this week reading Jack and The Beanstalk. It has been interesting to hear the class share their ideas about

the story from the different character’s point of view and they have used some fabulous adjectives about

how each character feels at different points in the story. We have also been learning about what it means

to have a growth mindset and will be applying this learning to a building challenge in class on Friday.

Please continue to collect recyclable items, in particular paper towel rolls, which we will be using in

Week 4. Our news topic for this week is My Favourite Toy.

Mrs Bozich, Mrs Nyersh and I would like to wish all of the special

women in our student’s lives a very happy day on Sunday.

Dear Lord

You love us and care for us in all our needs. We give you thanks

for our mothers and for all the women in our lives who love us and

care for us like mothers.

We pray that you will bless them in all that they need.

Amen.

Mrs Jacki Tucker, Year Two Teacher

CLASS REPRESENTATIVES NEWS

YEAR ONE

Please join us for a ‘mums dinner’ at RIA Restaurant, Leederville, on Saturday 9 June at 7pm.

Cost is $55 which includes entrée, main and dessert. Please RSVP by 30 May.

Thank you Anna Speranza and Michelle Barbieri.

YEAR THREE

Year 3 Coffee Catch-up. 1 June after the Year 3 assembly at Blue Lotus Cafe inside Waldecks,

Karrinyup Rd. RSVP 24 May to Emma 0409 030 418 or mickemfaz@iinet.net.au

YEAR SIX

Join us for an indulgent afternoon with a High Tea at Atrium Buffet at Crown, Sunday 20 May from 3 -

5pm. Cost is $39 and includes a glass of bubbles. Please let us know if you can come by Monday 14

May. Michelle Millard and Fiona Radich.

Story Dogs Needed!

Our school would love to have this unique reading support program helping our students to become life-long readers. The teachers love this program, the students can’t wait to read and the program works! * Do you or does someone you know have a dog that is well behaved, gentle and is happy around children? * Can you spare a couple of hours a week? Call or email Story Dogs so you can start helping children to become better readers.

amanda@storydogs.org.au Phone: 0417 993 497 Web Site: www.storydogs.org.au

Dear Parents, Family and Friends

Our school would love to be part of The Story Dogs

Program, a National Reading and Literacy Support

Program.

But we need your help!

Do you have a calm dog and have a passion for helping

students with their reading skills?

Our school needs volunteers and their pet dogs to read with Year 2 student to help overcome

reading difficulties.

The Story Dogs Mission

‘To make reading fun for children, so they become confident lifelong readers.

No child should be left behind in literacy.’

The Program

When children read to a dog, the outcomes are amazing! It's non-judgemental, children's focus improves,

literacy skills increase and confidence soars. The non-judgmental, loving nature of dogs gives this

program its magic and helps children relax, open up, try harder and have fun reading to a friendly and

calm dog.

Reading sessions take place in a quiet area of the school grounds, such as the library or outside the

classroom. A reading session is approximately 20 minutes long, where each child is one-on-one with the

dog team.

Story Dogs handlers are volunteers trained to encourage emergent readers. This ensures the handler will

not judge the child and will help in a non-threatening way.

The children are usually Year 2 students generally between the ages 7- 8 years old who are chosen by the

school’s teachers. Parental consent is required before a child can participate in the program.

Story Dogs Facts

Story Dog Teams help over 1500 children each week with over 300 Dog Teams visiting over 150 schools

in NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS and SA.

In WA we have over 50 Dog Teams in over 40 schools.

Is this you?

If you are able to volunteer a couple of hours a week, have a passion for helping young children broaden

their horizons and have a great relationship with your calm dog, please have a look at the Website

www.storydogs.org.au , read the criteria at www.storydogs.org.au/volunteer and contact Amanda Milroy

for more information.

Contact Details

Amanda Milroy mob 0417 993 497 amanda@storydogs.org.au www.storydogs.org.au

LIBRARY NEWS

Scholastic Book Club brochures for the third book club of 2018

were sent home yesterday.

Orders are due back at school by next Tuesday15 May.

Orders can be made online using the LOOP system, or cash

payments can be sent in to school.

Mrs Jane Stanton, Teacher Librarian

Wednesday 8.30am - 9.30am and

Thursday 2.30pm - 3.30pm

Mrs Angie Miola, Uniform Shop Manager

NETBALL NEWS

We were blessed with fine weather again last Saturday and our Year 5

and Year 6 teams enjoyed their first wins of the season. All of our

players should be proud of their efforts last week and were able to play

some excellent defence to keep their opponents scores down.

Year 2/3 had a loss of 3-15

Year 4 had a loss of 7-1

Year 5 had a win of 3-7

Year 6 had a win of 13-27

Thank you to all of the spectators who came down to support our

teams.

Mrs Leah Ferolla, Netball Club President

UNIFORM SHOP

OPENING TIMES

SCHOOL BANKING

Welcome back to another term of saving!!!

We have two more new rewards available to order this term when you have reached 10 deposits.

Check out the new items in our Super

Savers range:

Glow Light

Sparkle Glitter Pens

School Banking Competition

As you know, this year, one lucky School Banker will win a family trip for up to

two adults and three children to Hawaii just by saving !

The trip includes:

Return economy flights to Honolulu, Hawaii plus airport transfers

7 nights accommodation at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel & Resort staying in

a Luxury Ocean Room, with beach views and breakfast included

AU$2,000 spending money

For a chance to win, students will need to make

15 or more School Banking deposits before the

end of Term 3, 2018. This will automatically

enter them into the competition for a chance to

win.

Please visit:

www.commbank.com.au/schoolbanking

for full terms and conditions.

Online Account Opening

Our online account opening process is SO easy and can all be done from home with

everything coming out in the mail for the children to join the School Banking

program and start saving! Please follow the link and help out our school!

www.commbank.com.au/schoolbanking

Happy Saving!

Leanna, Nicole, Katia & Jasenka

CANTEEN NEWS

MOTHER’S DAY RAFFLE

will be drawn this Friday 11 May.

Tickets 1 for $20 or 3 for $5.

Some great prizes to be won, including:

1st prize: $100 Northlands Shopping Centre Gift Card kindly donated by Northlands Shopping

Complex. Bottle of sparkling wine and box of chocolates kindly donated by the Radich Family.

1st prize: $100 Northlands Shopping Centre Gift Card kindly donated by Northlands, a bottle of

sparkling wine and a box of chocolates kindly donated by the Radich Family.

2nd Prize: $75 Ruby’s Roundhouse Tavern kindly donated by Ruby’s, a skin care gift pack donated

by Northlands Pharmacy and a box of chocolates donated by Iole Germano and family.

3rd prize: $50 Target Gift Card kindly donated by Target Innaloo, a Tea Cup and a box of

chocolates donated by Iole Germano and family.

SUSHI DAY Wednesday 16 May

Varieties include: Teriyaki Chicken, Tuna or Vegetarian. 5 piece $5.50 or 6 piece $6.50

Please order by Friday 11th May.

THANK YOU

To Nicole Tamburri for her help on Thursday and Rebecca Rzemek for her help on Friday, much

appreciated!

Year 2 mums: Volunteers are needed for Thursday and Friday of

Week 5. Your help would be very much appreciated.

Tickets for the raffle and entertainment books will be for sale on

Friday at the Mother’s Day morning tea.

Lots of yummy goodies for sale at the canteen today - we had Fried Rice, Fruit Cups and Real Orange

Slushies all for $1 each!

Christina Russo, Canteen Manager

Frances Caccamo and Antonella Crupi, Assistants

P&F NEWS

Mother’s Day Stall Thank You

Thank you to all the families who supported our Mother’s Day Stall on Friday. We hope the children

enjoyed choosing something for the special women in their lives.

Mother’s Day Mass and Morning Tea

This Friday after the Mother’s Day Mass, the P & F will host a morning tea for all the mothers and

grandmothers to say thank you for the wonderful job you do every day. Please join us in the hall for a hot

drink and something delicious to eat.

,

Penny Godfrey

P&F Vice President

pandf@stlawbal.wa.edu.au