Feast of the Assumption

On August 15 the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of The Assumption. This day refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary being assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life. We know Mary as the mother of Christ, chosen by God to be the mother of his only begotten Son, Mary was “immaculately conceived.” Both the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, understandably merit special recognitionand observance by the Church and as such Catholics attend mass on this day.

It is also an important day acknowledged and celebrated within parts of the Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches in many countries around the world. Our students will be engaging in prayer services in class to acknowledge the importance of this day.

Safety of Students

Parents/Guardians are reminded not to park across the driveway at the front of the school to drop students off. There are plenty of car park spaces on Fletcher street for families to park or alternatively please park in the church car park and students can walk across the school oval. Please be mindful to supervise your children crossing the road on Fletcher Street. While there is always staff on duty before and after school, staff are supervising the students in the school grounds.

Welcome to Our Patch- Out of School Hours Care

Welcome to Liv (Olivia) who is our new OSHC coordinator. Liv has been actively getting to know our students, families and staff. We warmly welcome her to our St Catherine’s School community. Thank you to a number of families who have enrolled their child in the program. I encourage lots of familie to avail of this service, even if you are not working. Enrolling your child one or two times a week can provide your child with a quality play experience and opportunity to connect with friends. More information to come about specialist programs that will be offered by Our Patch.

Professional Learning

Last Friday teachers engaged in professional development facilitated by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic School Southern Office staff in the area of writing. Teachers developed understanding of how to teach authorial and secretarial skills in writing, linking this to the Victorian Curriculum and Victorian Learning Progressions. Teachers also examined assessment of writing and accurately plotting student work samples on the continuum of learning.

Authorial writing skills are those involving understanding how to create a particular kind of written text (e.g. a letter or a report), how to construct sentences in an appropriate way for the particular text and how to choose the best words to make your intended message clear to the reader. Secretarial writing dimensions or skills are focussed on spelling, punctuation and either handwriting or keyboarding. Writing in the classroom involves a writing process of planning, drafting or composing, revising or editing, and publishing and aims to  actively involve students in purposeful writing around which both their authorial and secretarial skills are developed.

Science Week and Book Week

This week our students will participate in a number of multi-age science lessons, where they will explore science in action. Our teacher have planned engaging activities which explore elements of chemical science. 

Next week our school will celebrate book week, with dressing up, an interactive drama based incursion, rotational multi age activities and of course our book parade. Further details in the Book Week section of this newsletter.

Family Life Lessons

Over the last two years we have been unable to provide a family life program for students in years 3-6, due to covid.Students usually participate in this program once every two years. Our school advisory council advised me that they were happy for the school to deliver this program in class time.  We have now sourced an excellent presenter Cath McCallig an experienced teacher specialising in delivering family life programs to students in schools. Cath will deliver the program to year 3-4 classes and year 5-6 class with the teacher present over 3 sessions. Information regarding the content of the sessions will be sent home to parents via Operoo. This program supports aspects of the  Victorian Curriculum Personal, Social and Community Health.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS):

Each year our school community is invited to participate in surveys that help us gather data for school improvement. Further information about how parents can participate in the survey will be sent home via Operoo this week. Year 4, 5 and 6 students will also participate in the survey, along with staff.

Congratulations 

Congratulations to Joelle Diakrousis on accepting a full time position at St Patrick’s Mentone as Deputy Principal/Learning Diversity Leader. Joelle will begin her new position in term 4, 2022. I wish to acknowledge and thank Joelle for all she has contributed to our St Catherine’s school community. Joelle began working with us this year two days a week as a teacher in year 3-4MD. I know our school community will miss her and wish her all the best for the future. I will be in contact with parents in 3-4MD shortly, when I have finalised plans for Joelle’s replacement.

Congratulations to Zara who heads of to Canberra this Sunday to play in the U/12Schools Sports Victoria Hockey Team. We wish Zara and her team all the best for the tournament and look forward to hearing all about it.