Term 2, Week 3 - 5th May, 2022

From the Principal

Dear families,

Last week I attended the INSPIRE Maths Leading Learning Day - a day where leaders from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools INSPIRE Maths Strategy meet to explore and discuss the best ways to support our Math teachers and to set goals for the Term. 

On this day, we explored Kotter's 8 Step Model of Change and this allowed me to reflect on our implementation of the INSPIRE Maths strategy and why I believe the implementation has been successful at St Maria Goretti.

The 8 Step Model of Change is as follows: 

• Clear vision​
• Core business​
• Communicate clearly​
• Short-term wins​
• Power in numbers​
• Shared leadership​
• Provide resources and time​
• Change becomes new reality

The purpose of the INSPIRE Maths strategy is to:

- build curiosity into learning

- support mathematical mindsets

- inspire inquiry learning

- develop mathematical proficiencies.

We have been on an improvement journey in Maths over the past two years. When we began our improvement journey, it was important that the vision was communicated to all - staff, parents and students. Our school has a vision to create a culture in our maths classrooms where courage is encouraged, mistake making is valued as a pathway to learning, where students are challenged and curious about maths. Our teachers develop deep curriculum clarity and are confident in planning maths lessons that include collaboration, dialogue and visible thinking opportunities for the students. Our team connects with other educators to build capacity and create school and system efficacy. 

Our core business as a school is teaching & learning. Through the implementation of INSPIRE Maths, we have a goal to improve student mathematics growth across the whole school. This can be measured in a number of ways - in class assessment each term, PAT M testing at the end of the year and NAPLAN Numeracy testing for Year 3 and Year 5 students.

Throughout our journey of improvement, our teachers have been given the opportunities to build their capacity as effective mathematics teachers through professional development, collaboration with other teachers, modelling and coaching cycles.

Our students have been provided with opportunities to work more collaboratively, they are encouraged to be visible thinkers and have worked hard on improving their mathematical mindsets. 

I feel it is important to reflect on the work we have committed to over the past two years and the success we have had so far. INSPIRE Maths is our new way of doing and our new way of thinking. Referring back to Kotter's model, the change is becoming the new reality. It is rewarding to witness the growth in our students - their mindset and their achievement.

Please see below a few student perception survey results. It is clear that our mindset work has developed the level of enjoyment in maths, love of challenges and love of learning in our students. 

NAPLAN Online 2022

Below you will find a link with some information for parents and carers regarding the upcoming NAPLAN Online assessments for students in Year 3 and Year 5.

This year we will be running NAPLAN in Week 4 of Term 2 (starting Tuesday the 10th of May). Students have started practice tests so that they become familiar with the online platform.

Students, teachers, parents and carers are invited to use the public demonstration tests to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and related functionalities available in the online NAPLAN assessment. 

Public demonstration site (nap.edu.au)

Recent School Updates

COVID update

We currently have no staff members or students in isolation. 

Student Amenities Project

We are moving ahead with our new student amenities project. After engaging suitable builders to quote on the project, we have now moved to the stage of seeking approval from the Executive Director of Toowoomba Catholic Schools.

We envisage the works to start around September 17th and proceed through to 2nd October during school holidays with a week either side giving a four-week project time frame. Although some works will be during school time, much care will be taken to minimise disturbance to the students by fencing off the area and demolition works to be carried out before and after school hours.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Yours in education,

Casey Robinson

Principal

“May the Sacred Heart shield you and uphold you in every trouble” (Mary MacKillop, 1873).

Life and Learning in the Library

This term our students are being challenged to;

be curious, ask questions, seek answers, read and learn

The Years 3-6 class will be practising all these learning behaviours in a guided inquiry on the features and importance of Aboriginal dance. Today, we shared our existing knowledge of Aboriginal dance and formed our questions which we will attempt to answer over the next 2 weeks using reliable, relevant information sources.

The Prep-2 students are always encouraged to ask questions and seek answers when we read together. Please continue this practice at home as you can model being curious about the world and seeking answers to your questions by reading reliable information.

Access to Senior Fiction

We require a signed permission letter from guardians before a student in Year 5 and 6 can borrow from our senior fiction collection. Please discuss this with your Year 5 or Year 6 student and request a permission letter for more details if you would like your student to have access to this collection. 

Happy Reading Everyone!

Anne Anderson 

Teacher Librarian

Students of the Week - Week 2

Students of the Week - Week 3

Sight Word Certificates

Learning Overview - P-2

Learning Overview - Year 3-6

Visit by Registered Nurse for Free Prep Vision Screening

Good vision is important for a child’s educational, physical and social development. Vision screening checks for common eye conditions that may impact your child’s ability to see and therefore impact their learning and development.

A Registered Nurse will be visiting the school on Thursday 16th June to conduct vision screening for children in their prep year.  If you wish to have your prep child participate in this free vision screening program, please complete an online consent form by Friday 3rd June.   The online consent link will be emailed to you from the school administration.

Parents do not need to be present for screening, however if you would like to be, please contact the school to arrange this.

If your child’s vision is screened, you will be advised of the results in writing. If a vision concern is found, you will receive a phone call from the nurse to discuss referral to an eye health professional for further assessment. If a vision concern is identified and your child requires glasses, eligible health care card holders may be assisted with free basic glasses through the Spectacle Supply Scheme.

Participation in vision screening is not compulsory. If you do not wish for your child to participate in screening, please complete the consent form and indicate that you wish to decline screening.

If you have any questions, please contact the Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program on 1800 687 372.

Parent Partnership Forum

Notices

Our Lady of the Southern Cross Parish - Mass Times

Saturday 7th May - 5:30pm Mass

Sunday 15th May - 9am - Lay Lead Liturgy

Sunday 22nd May - 9am - Mass