We respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land on which we are meeting – the Alngith people. We also acknowledge the contributions of First Nations peoples to the education of all children and people in our country Australia, in which we all live and share together. 

We are quickly coming to the end of the year. This time of the year can be busy with end of year celebrations. It is also the time of the year when we announce staffing for 2025.

We can now announce that we will be farewelling some staff and welcoming new staff to our school.  Mrs Kate Backhouse and Miss Stacey Edmonds will be returning to Cairns next year. It is never an easy decision to make, and both Kate and Stacey have made the decision based on what is best for their families.

The next few weeks will give us opportunities to take time to farewell both Kate and Stacey as they prepare to return to Cairns. They have been valued members of St Joseph’s and they will be missed. We wish them all the very best for their new journeys in life and look forward to celebrating with them before they leave.

Last week we welcomed Mr Matthew Bakes to Weipa. Matthew will be on staff in 2025 and is making the brave move with his young family from Victoria to take up a teaching position at our school. Matthew is in the process of finishing the school year, packing up his life and expecting a new baby. He is excited about the move and has thought out his decision carefully. We will welcome Matt in the new year.

This week we start the process of recruiting a class teacher to fill the other vacant teaching position. We will be able to let families know about class teachers for 2025 once we finalise the recruitment process. 

With only the last few weeks of term to go and the heat building, I ask that we take care and go gently into the end of year. I am looking forward to the get togethers in the next few weeks and catching up with families before the end of year.

Sincerely,

Kath Porter

Andrew Chinn 

We had a wonderful visit in Week 1 with Andrew Chinn. He spent the day working on songs with our choir students, Prep to Year 3 and Year 4 to 6 students. In the afternoon he played a whole school concert for our school community. We sing a lot of Andrew Chinn songs at school for our masses and liturgies, so it was heaps of fun to sing them with him live. 

Feast of St Francis of Assisi 

October the 4th was the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis is perhaps the most known and loved saint within the Catholic Church. He loved animals and nature and became one of the greatest saints in history for he was a true servant of God. Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us to show compassion for all of God’s creation. 

Catholic Mission 

October was Catholic Mission Month. Our Catholic Mission Ambassadors Claire Dore and Ava Emerick shared the following message with us: 

Thanks to the generosity of Australians like you, last year Catholic Mission were able to support vital programs around the world that help to promote dignity and human rights. The theme for World Mission Month this year is taken from the book of Matthew, ‘Go and invite everyone to the banquet.’ This message of inclusion reminds everyone to open their hearts and minds to each other.  

We feel privileged and humbled to share with you the story of the local church’s mission in Mongolia. The growth of the church community is thanks to the missionaries who have dedicated their lives to service and continuously provide essential social services to Mongolian society. We would also like to share with you the story of the House of Mercy. The House of Mercy functions as a first aid centre for people who are homeless. All people in need are provided with free laundry and bathing services, basic food supplies and clothing if needed. The House of Mercy shows how the Church cares for others.  

We are inviting you to do two things. Firstly, to pray for all our Catholic missionaries and the poor people they serve around the world. And secondly to invite your generous support for the important work of Catholic Mission by donating online. On behalf of the people of Mongolia and those engaged in mission, and the thousands of people like them in all the places you help to heal people’s lives, thank you for your support. We invite you to reflect on these words of Pope Francis: “Every Christian is called to be a missionary and witness to Christ.”  

For our Catholic Mission fundraiser this year for Socktober, the students wore silly socks for a gold coin donation and tried our soccer shootout for another donation. Everyone looked great with their silly socks and heaps of students had a go at the shootout. Yoa from Catholic Mission had lots of prizes for the students and as a community we raised $300 for Catholic Mission!!! Well done St Joey’s! It feels great to help others in need. 

All Saints & All Souls Day 

All Saints' Day is celebrated on November 1st to remember all saints and martyrs during Christian history. It is followed by All Souls' Day on November 2nd to commemorate those who have passed within the faith. Long ago in Ireland and Britain, Christians would come together on All Hallows Eve (now Halloween) to ask for God's blessing and protection from the evil in the world. The source of the modern Halloween celebrations stemmed from the donning of saintly and evil spirit costumes to act out the battle between good and evil.  

On All Saints' Day there's a call to live as saints, to remind us how we're supposed to live. On All Souls' Day, we commemorate the faithfully departed. Each celebration touches on cultural beliefs about the spirit world, honoring the dead and feasts, so when you celebrate Halloween this year remember to prepare for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day as well. 

Bishop Joe’s Visit 

We had a lovely visit with Bishop Joe and Fr. Dariusz earlier this term. They drove 820km to make Weipa the Bishop's first parish visit since his ordination. We had sent Bishop Joe a short video before his ordination to welcome and introduce him to our school and parish, and were pleasantly surprised when he returned the favour by sending us an amazing video of his time and adventures in Rome. We were blown away!  

Since then we have been learning about Bishop Joe and watched his ordination via live stream, but nothing compares to the real thing! It was such a wonderful experience for our community to finally meet the Bishop in person. He exceeded all our expectations and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this wonderful, authentic human being. 

During his time in Weipa he was very busy: 

• presiding over three masses at the Church, two with the local parishioners and one with St Joseph's Parish School community 

• spending some time with each class from Prep to Year 6 at St Joseph's Parish School and answering some very interesting questions from the students 

• lots of shared meals with local parishioners and community members 

• speaking with the local First Nations Peoples and Elders at Napranum 

• supporting the local Weipa Pink Ribbon Charity Golf Day 

• fishing at some local fishing spots. Nev Turner, local Weipa lure maker, even made the Bishop his very own signature lure! 

Month of the Holy Rosary 

The month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. It is referred to as the month of Mary because it is a time when the Church encourages devotion and prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary with the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7. The best way to celebrate the month is to pray the Rosary. Rosary beads are used to help Catholics count their prayers. Catholics often pray the rosary to make a request to God, some to thank God for blessings received or for requesting a special favour, for example if someone is sick to help them recover.   

How to Pray the Rosary 

   1.Begin with the Sign of the Cross. 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

   2. Holding the crucifix, pray the Apostles’ Creed. 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. 

   3.On the first bead, pray an Our Father. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 

   4.On each of the next three beads, pray a Hail Mary. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

   5.On the next bead, pray a Glory Be. 

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

   6.Pray the first decade. 

On the large bead, announce the mystery and then say an Our Father. 
On each of the 10 small beads, say a Hail Mary while continuing to meditate on the mystery. 
At the end of the decade, say the Glory Be. 
Then say the Fatima Prayer: 
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy. Amen 

   7.Repeat this pattern for the remaining decades. 

Our Father -> 10 Hail Marys -> Glory Be -> O my Jesus (Fatima Prayer) 

   8.After the 5 decades, conclude with the Hail Holy Queen prayer. 

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. 
Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. 
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ 

   9.Close with the concluding prayer. 

Let us pray: 
O God, whose Only Begotten Son, by His Life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 

   10.End with the Sign of the Cross. 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Mysteries of the Rosary 

Each of the five decades of the Rosary highlights a unique moment within the Paschal Mystery. There are four sets of mysteries — Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous, and Glorious. When praying the Rosary, we enter into one set of these mysteries at a time, meditating on them through the eyes of Mary. The Church traditionally prays certain mysteries on specific days of the week, as follows: 

Joyful Mysteries (Monday, Saturday) 

The Joyful Mysteries invite us to contemplate the Incarnation, and we enter into the wonder of Jesus coming to earth as a baby. 

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday, Friday) 

The Sorrowful Mysteries help us relive the passion and death of Jesus. We attempt to understand the depths of God’s love for us as we reflect on the cost of our salvation and redemption. 

Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday, Sunday) 

In the Glorious Mysteries, we meditate on the awe-inspiring miracles that take place after Jesus’ death. These events show how Jesus is who he says he is – the Son of God.  

Luminous Mysteries (Thursday) 

Through the Luminous Mysteries, we meditate on the events of Jesus’ public ministry. 

Thank you and God Bless. 

Julie Dore 

Assistant Principal Religious Education (Acting) 

Dear Parents and Guardians,    

Wow - Week 5 already, the term is certainly full steam ahead and there have been may events already Assemblies, CES Visitors, Day for Daniel, Prep Transitions and many more exciting events to come over the term including Starry Starry Night, Awards Morning and Year 6 Graduation. 

Zones of Regulation  

The Zones is a systematic, cognitive behavioural approach used to teach self-regulation by categorising all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete-coloured zones. The Zones of Regulation uses four colours to help children self-identify how they’re feeling and categorise it based on colour. The curriculum also helps children better understand their emotions, sensory needs, and thinking patterns. They learn different strategies to help them cope and manage their emotions based on which colour zone they’re in. 

The Green Zone  

The green zone is used to describe when you’re in a calm state of alertness. 

Being in the green zone means you are calm, focused, happy, or ready to learn. This is predominantly the state you want your child to be in. It’s also the state most needed in the classroom in order to learn.  

The Yellow Zone  

The yellow zone describes when you have a heightened sense of alertness. This isn’t always a bad thing, and you still have some control of your actions when you’re in the yellow zone. Being in the yellow means you may feel frustrated, anxious or nervous. But, it could also mean you’re feeling excited, silly, or hyper – which is okay in the right situations.  

The Red Zone  

The red zone describes an extremely heightened state of intense emotions. When a person reaches the red zone, they’re no longer able to control their emotions or reactions. Being in the red zone means you’re feeling anger, rage, terror, or complete devastation and feel out of control.  

The Blue Zone  

The blue zone, on the other hand, is used when a person is feeling low states of alertness or arousal. When you’re in the blue zone you may be feeling down – sad, sick, tired, or bored. You’re still in control, as you are in the yellow zone, but with low energy emotions. 

At this time of year when school life is very busy it is important to check which Zone we are in and to takes steps and strategies to get ourselves back to the Green Zone.

Visitors 

This week we have the wonderful Lorraine Carroll - CES Speech Therapist and Zinna Alyward - CES Occupational Therapist visiting Weipa providing their services to St. Joseph's School.  

Also this Week, Sandra Van Rooyen - Consultant Inclusive Education from Cairns Catholic Education will also be with us. Sandra will continue to provide her service to St. Joseph's School throughout the week. 

Last week we had Ms Sandi Brown, our new School Counsellor visiting St. Joseph's School Weipa and working with Staff, Parents, and Students. 

Reynolds Raffle

On Friday the 18^th of October at the Golf Club the Reynolds drew the winning tickets for the North Queensland Cowboys signed 2024 Jersey and the Brisbane Broncos signed 2024 Football.

Many people attended the event to support the Reynolds family and with the support of the St. Joseph’s School community and the Weipa community we raised $4817.25.

We would like to Thank the North Queensland Cowboys for their Donation of a 2024 signed Jersey and Brisbane Broncos for a 2024 signed Football.

If you have any questions, please feel free to make contact with myself at a convenient time that suits. My email address is   mturner@cns.catholic.edu.au     

Kind regards, 

Melanie Turner. 

From Learning and Teaching

As we approach the halfway mark of Term 4 for 2024, we are excited to for the students to participate in their Bump-Up Transition Day! This special day is designed to help students smoothly transition to the next grade level, and it offers numerous benefits that support their academic and social-emotional development. Here are some key reasons why this day is vital for our students:

Familiarisation with New Environments

Transitioning to a new grade often means new classrooms, teachers, and routines. Bump-Up Transition Day allows students to explore their future learning environments, easing anxiety and building excitement for the upcoming year.

Meeting Future Teachers and Peers

Students will have the chance to meet their new teachers and classmates. This interaction fosters a sense of belonging and community, helping students to feel more comfortable and connected as they step into a new chapter of their education.

Understanding Expectations and Routines

Each grade comes with its own set of expectations and routines. During this day, students will learn about what’s ahead, from academic challenges to daily schedules. Understanding these elements can help them approach the new year with confidence and clarity.

Skill Building for Success

Bump-Up Transition Day often includes activities designed to help students develop essential skills for the next grade. Whether it’s team-building exercises or academic workshops, these activities promote critical thinking and collaboration, preparing students for future challenges.

Reducing Anxiety

Transitioning to a new grade can be stressful for many students. By participating in a Bump-Up Transition Day, they can alleviate some of that anxiety. Familiarizing themselves with their new surroundings and meeting key figures in their upcoming academic life can provide reassurance.

Building a Growth Mindset

Experiencing new challenges can help foster a growth mindset. Students learn that change is a natural part of growth and that they are capable of adapting and succeeding in new situations.

This is an excellent opportunity for students to take a big step toward their future with confidence and enthusiasm.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to ensure a smooth transition for our students.

Kind Regards,

Tiffany Barber

Counsellor Corner - Social media and your family

There has been a lot of discussion in the news lately regarding the dangers of social media for children / young people.

As a counsellor, my top worries include: the sending and or receiving of inappropriate material, sextortion, bullying, threats, anti-social behaviour, damage to reputation, self-esteem, self-harm, mental health and lack of sleep. Kids have to be 13+ to use most apps, but most kids can get around this easily. That’s why it is really important to have healthy conversations around social media use, dangers to self and others, and set boundaries and time restrictions early in the piece.

If you would like to learn more about the different social media platforms, the Carly Ryan Foundation have a great set of fact sheets for parents / carers on Discord, Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, TIKTOK, Twitch & Youtube. They give you information on age restrictions, why and how the apps are used, privacy settings, data storage, location identification and risks.

If you would like to learn more about online safety in general, please have a look at the esafety Commissioner  webpage. Here you can learn about online harm, how to report concerns, what’s illegal and or restricted online content, cyberbullying, image-based abuse, sexting, extortion, consent, available supports and more. There are also a few pages of interest:

• Parents/ Carers https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
• Young People https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people
• Kids https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids
• First Nation people https://www.esafety.gov.au/first-nations

Sincerly,

Sandi Brown

Welcome to week 6 and can you believe, the middle of our final school term for the year? Time really does fly when you’re having fun. It’s been a busy time in Prep with lots of learning as well as exciting things happening both in the classroom and wider community.  

So far this term we have loved having Bishop Joe come and visit us, performing our own version of Little Red Riding to share an important safety message on Day for Daniel at assembly, our visit from Andrew Chinn, and Ride to School Day. We are also excitedly preparing for our upcoming annual Starry Night performance which we cannot wait to show you.  

In English, we’ve been exploring retell and have been loving listening to stories and then being able to retell them in our own words through writing and oral expression. We have also been working so hard at consolidating all of our letters, sounds and tricky words learnt across the year and are using these in both our reading and writing.  

In Maths, we’ve been focusing on a range of topics including money, measuring in both capacity and mass, and of course consolidating our number sense to 20 and beyond. We love using hands on manipulatives to explore these topics like getting out play money, playing games, using our balance scales and water trough with a range of containers, and much more. It’s always so great seeing the children so thoroughly engaged and enjoying their learning.  

During Science with Mrs Dore, we’ve been exploring motion and again have participated in a range of hands on activities to see how things move in a range of different ways. It’s also been a fantastic area for us to practise our speaking and communicative skills as we share thoughts, ideas and explore concepts in groups.  

Geography has been lots of fun this term where we have been exploring the world around us, and taken a good look at maps and compasses. We have been learning all about the important parts of a map including the key and different symbols, and we’ve looked closely at Australia and where we sit on the map.  

Music has been a whirlwind of excitement this term as we have been exploring the tempo, volume and composition of music. We loved experimenting last week with body percussion to different styles of music. This week we get to have a close look at different instruments and how we can use our knowledge of different musical concepts to compose our own music.  

PE and Health are always a favourite of ours each week. This term sees us looking at a range of different ball games learning some of the basic rules and foundational skills to play each one. We have loved so far looking at AFL, volleyball, basketball and soccer and look forward to the games to come too. Health takes us on an exploration of respectful and positive interactions with others and how we can be respectful and mindful of the emotions of others in our own communications as well.  

Technologies has been all about data this term with Mrs Dore and we have loved learning all about collecting data, analysing it and turning it into information. We have been using a range of programs to record and communicate this data to others.  

AUSLAN this term sees us continuously building our toolkits of short phrases and words to communicate. We have loved this subject this year and are very grateful to be able to participate in life long learning skills that we can take anywhere with us.  

We are in our final unit of Religion for the year and one of our favourites. We have been learning all about special celebrations in the church and have loved taking a close look at the Nativity. We are learning all about Christmas and how we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, as well as other special events held in the church. We have also learnt about other special events like Baptism and enjoyed going over to the church to find some of the things we have been learning about associated with this special time. These have included the Baptismal candle, font, and we event got to have a little smell of the oils used.  

Lots of exciting learning happening this term along with the weather most definitely heating up. A gentle reminder to continue sending in hats and water bottles and a nice early bedtime to help get us through the remainder of the term.  

Again, thank you for your continued support and positive partnerships throughout the year. We truly are grateful for the wonderful parent community we have in Prep and it has been a pleasure being on your child’s first year of schooling journey with you. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me either via SeeSaw or at kbackhouse@cns.catholic.edu.au  

Many thanks, 

Miss Backhouse and Miss Rachael 

We have been super busy learning about so many wonderful things about Mary. We are recognising how she is portrayed in images and artwork, why she wears the colours she does, the way she acts in them and how she plays such an important role in Jesus’ life. Just this week we went on a search for Mary in our school and the church. Many images or statues of Mary were found. Our favourite of them all is listening to all the songs and prayers about Mary.  

In our writing lessons we have had a focus on poetry with students learning a few different types of poems. Using our descriptive language to create interesting poems has been so much fun.  

During Maths these past few weeks we have been collecting data and creating graphs to show our data and this past week we have had a focus on money. We are recognising the value of money and how to add it up to make different amounts using a variety of coins. We are excited to learn about First Nation weather calendars and compare them to the calendars we use everyday in our classroom.  

We are loving our Health lessons with a focus on belonging and stereotypes. We have had our kindness koalas on board this past week and have really seen everyone share the love in and around our room. We are getting better at knowing the difference between stereotypes and unkind comments.  

A gentle reminder that for Starry Starry Night, students need to wear Christmas clothes and comfortable shoes. The link for our song is on Seesaw parent announcements too. 

Kind Regards 

Stacey Edmonds

Dear Parents and Carers, 

It truly is hard to believe how fast this year has flown and how far we have come this year. We are almost the end of year 2 and I am so proud of the growth of your wonderful children. 

In Reading this term we are continuing to understand and comprehend what we read in our reading groups. Students read a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts including persuasive, imaginative and informative. You will find their “Hot Reads” on SeeSaw after we have had our reading group book for one week. Their expression and fluency have improved immensely! 

In Writing, students are learning about the structure and features of persuasive texts. They are learning to convince their audience of a particular point of view. Their final assessment will be writing a persuasive text following the correct structure and ensuring they use high modality words. 

In Mathematics we have been learning new ways to add two-digit numbers such as string addition. We have been refining our multiplication, division and doubling skills through hands-on learning and games. Our final Mathematics unit for the year will focus on money and graphing.  

In P.E. this term, students have been experiencing different sports including dodge ball, basketball, volleyball and touch football. They are learning to display sportsmanship and team building skills to work together.  

We celebrated Silly Sock Day on Friday Week 3 and several of our students also participated in the soccer shoot out. Thank-you to Mr Jaime for being the goalie for the day! 

On Monday Week 4 we had a very special visitor, Bishop Joe. It was a wonderful Mass and then we were lucky enough to have him come into our classroom afterwards. We chatted about what it is like to be a Bishop, how old he is and if he likes fishing and pig hunting. 

At the end of this term, we will be performing our Christmas song at Starry, Starry Night. Students have already been practising their singing and actions and are looking forward to dressing up as an Australian animal. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding their outfit for this event.  

 Some gentle reminders: 

-Please connect to SeeSaw if you haven’t already and turn notifications on so you don’t miss any messages 

-Library Day – Wednesdays 

-Homework Day – Wednesdays 

-P.E. – Wednesdays (wear sport uniform) 

-Starry, Starry Night – Tuesday 26th November 

Any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me via SeeSaw or email at ttapper@cns.catholic.edu.au  

Kind Regards, 

Mrs Tash Tapper 

Dear Parents and Caregivers,  

We’ve reached Week 6, and it has been another exciting week of learning and growth in Year 3! Here’s what we’ve been up to and what’s coming up next: 

English (Poetry):  

This week, we’ve been exploring how poets create interesting and imaginative poems. We looked at how poets use descriptive language, rhyme, and rhythm to engage their audience. The students enjoyed experimenting with different word choices and sound patterns in their own poems. It has been wonderful to see their creativity shine! As always we have been developing reading, spelling and comprehension skills. 

Geography:   

Our geography focus has been on schools around the world. We’ve discussed what a typical school day might look like in different countries, comparing the structure and resources with our own school. This has helped the children understand and appreciate the variety of experiences children their age have globally. 

Mathematics (Fractions & Time):   

In maths, we’ve been working hard on understanding fractions and telling time. The children are becoming more confident in reading the clock and identifying halves, quarters, and other fractional parts. Next, we’ll be moving into an exciting unit where we’ll learn how to create 2D representations of areas as maps, and practice reading maps—an important skill that links well with our geography lessons. 

Religion (The Beatitudes):  

Our religious education lessons have focused on the Beatitudes. We’ve been discussing what they mean and how they guide us to live with kindness, humility, and love. The students have shown a deep interest in learning how these teachings can be applied in their daily lives. 

Science: 

In science, we’ve been exploring the properties of solids and liquids, observing how heat can change their states—like ice melting or water freezing.Through guided investigations, they are learning to ask scientific questions, use materials safely, and handle equipment responsibly to draw meaningful conclusions. This hands-on experience is helping them understand the concepts of matter and energy in an engaging, practical way! 

Sport:  

In sport, we’ve been developing our fundamental movement skills and teamwork through fun team sports like dodgeball and tee ball. These games have provided a great opportunity for students to practise working together, while also improving their coordination and agility. 

As always, thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or would like to know more about what we’re learning, please feel free to get in touch. 

Kind regards,   

Debra Hamilton and Amanda Peters 

Year 3 Teachers 

Hi Year 4 families! How have we arrived at Week 6 of Term 4 already?  

Our learning has continue to challenge us and help us develop a deeper understanding of what has been taught. In English, we have undergone text analysis to write a preference and argue this preference in a debate! We have developed clear arguments with evidence!  

In Science, we have been exploring materials. One experiment was about conducting a fair test and dependent and independent variables. This experiment was called Snap, Stretch or Tear! This investigation helped us develop our vocabulary for this unit as well! We are describing the properties of  

One of our favourite Maths activities was the Chance and Puzzle Escape Room. We had to solve 5 problems to ‘escape the room’ and win the golden key to release everyone! We focused on the probability of outcomes (e.g. rolling dice, flipping coins, etc) and using mental calculation strategies to do multi step problems.  

In Religion, we have been investigating the history of the Catholic church in Australia. We have researched significant people and developed our understanding of Indigenous spirituality before the church was established.  

Our highlights were the visits from Andrew Chinn, Father Darius and Bishop Joe. Check out our photos!

Kind Regards,

Rhiannon Bell 

Hello families and friends of Year 5, 

We are full steam ahead with our learning tasks in Year 5. The students have been busy preparing a response to a wordless storybook. This has involved planning, drafting and publishing a narrative storyline to co-inside with the images from various storybooks.  

Students were fantastic in their angles tasks earlier in the term, and we are now revisiting decimals and use of number lines and fractions. We are also doing daily revision of operations such as adding fractions, dividing whole numbers and multiplying decimals.  

Thank you to all the students who have put their best foot forward and applied for leadership roles. We are currently in the process of voting and announcing school leaders. Next week we will do the same for our house leaders.  

As we approach the end of term, we will get into different events such as awards, Christmas and farewells. Whilst this is a busy time of the year, it is still important that all students attend school right up until the end. We are constantly reviewing and consolidating during this time, and attendance is crucial. 

For our Starry Starry Night performance, I ask that students wear Christmas themed clothing that is appropriate for school. I have purchased a set of Christmas glasses for each student to wear on the night, and we will be performing Jingle Bell Rock and buddying up with our Preps to read the Nativity poem scene.  

Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me! 

Kindest,  

Emily Ridgley 

The definite highlight so far was winning the overall Ride2Challenge with 100% attendance.  Go team! 

As Leaders, the Yr 6’s have been holding LUNCHCLUB every 2^nd play this Term.  The activity may vary and the Grade level, however they are all in the Library. Each group needed to plan and prepare for this as an ongoing activity and be prepared to change it up and give up one play a week.

BLOOKET -Jed, Jackson, Sione      A Blooket is a fun quiz game with different game modes and is a bit of a challenge. Students need laptops and have to answer 10 questions. The classes who came along were really great and engaged.  It was hard to come up with new questions each week.

Just Dance -Rachel, Marley, Paetyn   The younger kids are a bit too loud and they all crowd together and scream over each other.  That was annoying.  The older kids listen better, but less of them come.  Overall it’s been okay.

Musical Chairs -Daston, Mike, Dave   The kids really like it, they can get a bit too excited and some want more prizes.  We have also noticed they are getting louder and not listening as well as at first. It is time to do something different.

Quizlet – Tye, Marley, Alex   It has worked well but it has been a struggle to keep up questions.  We have been surprised with the general knowledge of the Yr 3’s. We will focus on more difficult questions.

Scavenger Hunt -Vanessa, Toby, Dean    First time was crazy noisy with too much activity!  Next time we will have the older students and we will make it more challenging so it will work better. They really enjoyed finding the clues.

In class, we have been investigating microbiology/mould/what reacts with yeast. We conducted a yeast experiment to find out what activates yeast.  We also looked at different types of bread and changed the variable of heat, moisture and light to see how that affected the growth of mould of the bread. The results were quite confronting and it has made us all think about what ingredients are in the food we eat.

Our English focus has been exploring Ballads.  Ballads are songs. They have hidden meanings and have a rhythmic pattern. They are like poems and have metaphors and other literary devices that make them flow. We have annotated lots of different ones and are about to write our own ballad.

In Geography we have been looking at different countries and the exports and imports in connection to Australia. As well we have investigated population, land mass, cultural and financial connections. As part of our Assessment, we picked a country and completed a slideshow answering 10 questions varied over many topics.  The focus was how Australia is connected with this country.

In PE it has all been about learning new team games and participating in physical activity like Tball, Soccer, touch, basketball and more. We have been looking at ways to extend how to keep our body fit and healthy and build teamwork. Favourite team game has been Random Ball.  After doing the Shuffle beat test, this term we are aiming to beat our Beat test score each week.  We have learnt that the environment plays a factor in results.

Buddies - The last few weeks we have been doing so many fun things with our buddies.  Making origami animals, designing and creating an APP, writing our own stories and playing Dodgeball together. Many happy memories made!

Miss Libby