26 April 2021

Newsletter Articles

Our Mission @ SJM

St James’ Primary School community excel in education through living and learning in Christ.

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Principal’s Message

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope you had a great break. I know I did.

Thank you to all the families that are getting organising their child’s winter uniform. It is appreciated. At this stage we have sold out of school ties. We are awaiting a new shipment. These should be here in coming weeks. I am sorry for any inconvenience.

ANZAC DAY 2021

Yesterday we came together, in person and in spirit, to commemorate the men and women who have served our nation in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

It was wonderful that our Muswellbrook community could come back together, in person, to commemorate ANZAC Day.

Thank you to those families who either attended the March and/or provided a photo for our ANZAC presentation. Check out the Anzac Day reflection video on Facebook.

Pupil Free & Moving Days This Term

This term there are two Pupil Free Days that will affect the entire SJM this term. There is also an Infants’ Moving Day that will only affect students in K-2.

1. Infants Moving Day – Friday 7th May.
   a. The Catholic Schools Office have approved a Pupil Free/Moving Day for students in K – 2 on this day.
   b. If you cannot look after your child on this day, the school will provide minimal staff for supervision only.
   c. Primary students, Years 3 – 6, are at school as normal.
2. Pupil Free Day – Monday 31st May – Week 7
   a. On this day staff will be undertaking Professional Development in Assessment.
3. 3.Pupil Free Day – Friday 25th June – Week 10
4. a.On this Day staff will be undertaking Spirituality formation.

Catholic Schools Week

As you know, Catholic Schools Week has been moved to Term 2. This has been designed so that we can welcome more people in our schools since COVID-19 restrictions have now eased.

Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated within the Diocese in Week 3: Monday 3rd May – Friday 7th May.

The theme for Catholic Schools Week in 2021 is ‘Faith in our Future.’ This year, the Maitland – Newcastle Diocese joins with dioceses and Catholic education systems and schools across the country to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.

I strongly believe we have an important role in education, just as the early pioneers did 200 years ago.

As we are inching toward the completion of the infants’ classes I have made the decision to move our SJM Catholic Schools Week celebrations to Friday 28th May (Week 6). This will give us ample time to set up in our new rooms.

We are excited to get in there and to share them with you. More information in next week’s newsletter.

Mrs Marina Norton

I would like to inform the SJM community that Mrs Marina Norton will be taking Long Service Leave this term.

Mrs Norton will be taking leave from Week 4, Monday 10th May until the end of term, Thursday 24th June.

We are very fortunate to have replaced Mrs Norton already. We have appointed Mrs Jane Harris for this period. I know you will welcome Mrs Harris at the appropriate time.

Mother’s Day @ SJM

We are so excited to welcome back our mothers and grandmothers into the school community for Mother’s Day. This will take place on Thursday 6th May.

Please book your spot for the day on the humantix link below. Please note there are no capacity limits at present.

NO CANTEEN WEEK 3

Please note there is no canteen in Week 3 – Friday 7th May. This is our Infants’ Moving Day.

Enrolling Now

We are now taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2022. (Children must turn 5 by May 31 2022)

Enrolments are filling fast, please ensure your child a place and register your interest ASAP.

St James’ Muswellbrook is a Catholic school that strives for academic excellence. We take great pride in our Catholic identity, expressing Gospel values in all the Key Learning Areas and throughout the general life of the school.

Our school community is built on active partnerships between parents, school and the local parish. At St James’, we continue to build upon those early educational foundations laid by you, the first educators of your children. As such, we encourage families to take an active role in their child’s education.

Our school community is open and caring, where social justice, honesty, compassion and love are nurtured and valued.

If you are interested in enrolling your child at SJM, I encourage you make an appointment and have a chat with me. Phone 6543 3094 to make an appointment or for more details.

You are most welcome at St James’ Primary School.

Religion

St. James’ celebrated an amazing Holy Week during Week 10 last term. It was absolutely fantastic to see the events of Jesus’ last week portrayed so beautifully and reverently. This portrayal of Jesus’ life allows for many conversations to happen as the week progressed and it was wonderful to hear a Kindergarten student say upon return to school, ‘Jesus is alive again!’

The Easter eggs and bunnies from the Easter Raffle all went to the raffle ticket winners. Congratulations to those students and families that enjoy an extra feast of chocolate during our Easter season. The Mini Vinnies students would like to thank all the families who bought tickets and supported this amazing raffle. We are pleased to share that this raffle has totalled at $765.55. This is a fantastic effort.

Thank you to all families who expressed an interest in the Sacramental program for 2021. This program will run throughout Term 2 to prepare the students to celebrate their sacraments on July 24 2021 at 5.30pm in the St. James’ Church in Brook Street. Please keep these students in your prayers as they continue their faith journey.

Mrs Jane Jacobs
Religious Education Coordinator

Assistant Principal

We have had a great start to Term 2. Thank you everyone for putting in a huge effort to ensure the start of the term has been so smooth. It looks like it is going to be a busy term, so please make sure you are checking all forms of communication – Compass, Facebook and notes home.

To start the term, I thought I would provide you with a summary of the History content from our Human Society and Its Environment syllabus. Within this syllabus, teachers work through content in the areas of history and geography. The history component is a disciplined process of inquiry into the past that helps to explain how people, events and forces from the past have shaped our world. I would encourage you to go and have a look at the K-10 History syllabus using the following link, as it provides a detailed look at the content your child will cover in History units of work from Kindergarten to Year 10. I also provide for you below a summary of the concepts, knowledge and skills for each stage to the end of our primary schooling at SJM.

Kindergarten - By the end of Early Stage 1, students communicate stories of their own family heritage and the heritage of others. They identify similarities and differences between families and recognise how important family events are commemorated. Students sequence familiar events in order and pose questions about their own and their family’s past. They identify and compare the features of objects from the past and the present. Students acquire information by direct observation, talking to others and by viewing, reading and/or listening to texts. Students relate a story about their past using a range of texts and language associated with time and change.

Year 1 and Year 2 - By the end of Stage 1, students identify change and continuity in family and daily life using appropriate historical terms. They relate stories about their families’ and communities’ past and explore a point of view within an historical context. They identify and describe significant people, events, places and sites in the local community over time. Students describe the effects of changing technology on people’s lives over time. Students sequence events in order, using a range of terms related to time. They pose questions about the past and use sources provided (such as physical, visual, oral) to answer these questions. They compare objects from the past and present. Students develop a narrative about the past using a range of texts.

Year 3 and Year 4 - By the end of Stage 2, students explain how and why there has been change and continuity in communities and daily life. They identify traces of the past in the present and can explain their significance. They identify celebrations and commemorations of significance in Australia and the world. Students describe and explain how significant individuals, groups and events contributed to changes in the local community over time. They describe people, events, actions and consequences of world exploration. Students identify the importance of Country to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and explain the impact of British settlement in Australia. Students sequence key events and people in chronological order and identify key dates. They pose a range of questions about the past, identify sources (such as written, physical, visual, oral) and locate information to answer these questions. They recognise different points of view. Students develop and present texts, including narratives, using historical terms.

Year 5 and Year 6 - By the end of Stage 3, students describe and explain the significance of people, groups, places and events to the development of the Australian colonies and then Australia as a nation. They describe and explain different experiences of people living in the Australian colonies and then in Australia as a nation. Students identify change and continuity and describe the causes and effects of change in Australian society. Students explore the factors that led to Federation and trace experiences of democracy and citizenship over time, including the struggles of various groups for rights and freedoms including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Students engage with global connections through stories of various migrant groups and their contribution to Australia’s economic and social development. Students sequence events and people in chronological order, and represent time by creating timelines. When researching, students develop questions to frame an historical inquiry. They locate, identify and use a range of sources to record relevant historical information to answer inquiry questions. They examine sources to identify and describe points of view. Students develop texts, particularly narratives and descriptions. In developing these texts, and organising and presenting their information, they use historical terms and concepts and incorporate relevant sources.

NAPLAN Online

NAPLAN Online testing period (for all Year 3 and Year 5 students) – Tuesday 11th May to Thursday 20th May. All Year 3 and Year 5 students will require headphones for the testing period in May. The headphones will need to be kept at school for the whole two weeks and will not be returned until your child has completed their last test. You will not be able to share headphones with siblings at this school or another school, so please start thinking about what this looks like for your family. Hopefully you already have headphones at home and this will not require a new set to be purchased.

Any parents who do not wish for their child to participate in the NAPLAN testing in May, should contact our principal Aaron Moon to have a chat about the process of withdrawal.

Schedule for testing

Note – students will have the opportunity to participate in catch up sessions during this period. Catch up sessions have been scheduled for after the first lunch break.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) are responsible for the administration of NAPLAN tests across Australia. They have created a public demonstration site for everyone to have a look at so that we all feel comfortable with the testing platform. You can visit the demonstration site at the link below:

I have included a screenshot of the first sample question from the Year 3 Reading Test from the demonstration site. As you can see, the test is very visual and the students are asked to click on their answer before moving on to the next question. The students are also provided with a timer in the top left corner of their screen, as well as a prompt of the number of questions that they are still required to answer. I would encourage all parents to click on the link above and have a go at some of the questions. This will give you a good indication of what our students are asked to do during this testing period each year.

ANZAC DAY

Thank you to everyone who represented our school at the ANZAC Day March and Ceremony in Muswellbrook. It was great to see so many SJM students joining together to show our respect for the men and women who have in the past and continue to serve our country with such dedication. It was also exciting to see so many parents in the crowd waving and cheering on our students. Thank you for showing your support in everything we do in our community.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

Today we had MSP Photography come and take our school photos for 2021. All students had their photo taken, even if you did not return the photo flyer. It is not too late to order your photos. You have the option of ordering online in the next 7 days. Please use the flyer provided for your child at the end of Term 1, as each child has their own shoot key.

TOYS AT SCHOOL

Just a reminder that students are not permitted to bring toys to school. We have had a few reported incidents of toys starting to appear in classrooms and in the playground. Although it is fun to play with toys at school, it is not fun when that toy is broken or lost, so please check your child’s bag regularly to ensure they are not packing extra items to play with.

Shannon Hall
Assistant Principal

Primary Coordinator

Welcome back to Term 2!

I hope you and your beautiful family took time in the holidays to rest and recharge, ready for another busy term ahead.

GROW YOUR MIND

Across the school this term, we will be focusing on Emotional Regulation. In each newsletter, I will be incorporating new tips and strategies for you to use, and work on with, your child at home.

On Internal Weather

How is the weather today? Sunny? Rainy? Windy? Freezing? Will it be the same tomorrow? Probably not. And neither will our mood. Our emotions come and go. Sometimes it is super easy to let our strong emotions like anxiety or anger be the boss of us, instead of the other way round.

One way to be the boss of our emotions (which means we make an active choice in the best way to respond) is to tap into our internal weather.

How do you do this?

1. Stop and breathe. What am I feeling and where in my body am I feeling?
2. If there is a storm raging what can I do to calm it down a little?
3. Take three deep breaths and remind yourself this moment won’t last!

Thought of the week:

Choose kindness, always.
Miss Eloise Hand
Primary Coordinator & Lead Teacher of Positive Education

Class News

ES1

Welcome back to all students and families in KG and KM. What a busy and exciting term of learning that we have ahead of us. This term in English will see the students look closely at Fairy Tales, their characters, settings and the events of each different story. For the next two weeks we will be looking at Little Red Riding Hood.

Each student has a yellow Home Reading Diary that they are able to record their reading (parents reading with children) every night. After 25, 50, 75, 100 and so on nights students are given a raffle ticket for the end of each term to go into the draw to win a Gift Voucher at Big W. This is a great incentive towards your child’s reading. The students always enjoy listening to different stories. Please ensure that your child has a library bag to borrow books on a Tuesday during their library lesson. Students in Kindergarten are able to borrow two books per week. The children are always excited to select and borrow books to read at home with you.

A few reminders for the beginning of Term 2:

• Please ensure that your child has some fruit or vegetables to eat during Crunch and Sip. Please send in a spoon or fork if needed to eat their fruit/veg.
• A bottle of water that students can drink inside the classroom.
• Winter Uniform will start Week 3, as it is getting cooler please send a labelled jumper/jacket with your child.
• Sport uniform is worn on Wednesday.

Mrs Donna Smith and Mrs Jane Jacobs

Stage 1

Welcome back, the students have been excitedly telling us what they got up to in the holidays, we have heard stories of camping, gardening, fun at the park and the safe arrival of new family members. Everyone seems very happy to be back at school and ready for another fun filled term. We would like to welcome Tilly and Lachlan into Year 1. Stage 1 are busily preparing for the Mother’s Day Liturgy, as part of this celebration we would like to create a ‘Mum’ power point, please email a photo to trishelle.threadgate@mn.catholic.edu.au by Monday 3rd May.

Miss Emma Beletich, Mrs Mary Ballard, Mrs Trishelle Threadgate and Miss Jane Boyle

Stage 2

Stage 2 students back hard at work for Term 2. During the first 5 weeks of Term 2 the children will be honing their athletics skills in time for the Athletics Carnival. In Week 3 children will be asked to nominate for the 200m, 800m and 1500m for the carnival. All students will run their 100m age race and complete Shot Put and Long Jump trials during sport. Our rotation is back into full swing with the children learning and experiencing different States of Matter in Science. During Science they will have fun experimenting with items which are solid, liquid or gas. In Religion we are learning about the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the importance of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In History this term the children will be studying Community and Remembrance. The children will be able to discuss various celebrations and all of Stage 2 are preparing for the Anzac Day Liturgy.

Year 3 Naplan:

Tuesday 11th May: Writing Test.
Wednesday 12th May Reading Test (Headphones required)
Friday 14th May Language Conventions (Headphones required)
Tuesday 18th May Mathematics (Headphones required)

Mrs Marina Norton, Mrs Jane Dengate and Mrs Donna-Maree Watt

Stage 3

There is no doubt that for Years 5/6 students the highlights of Term 1 included the production of a play based on their English text, Wonder; and the dramatization of the Way of the Cross during Holy Week. All 5/6 students had the opportunity to be part of these activities and both performances were quite outstanding, All Years 5/6 students are to be congratulated.

Over the next two weeks in all 5/6 classes there will be a focus on NAPLAN Tests preparation. Although, the Year 6 students will not be doing the tests, they will also greatly benefit from the revision in all areas- Writing, Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy. Year 5 students will sit for the NAPLAN Test in Weeks 3 and 4 of this Term. the dates are as follows-

• Tuesday, 11th May- Year 5 Writing (40 minutes) Online Test
• Thursday, 13th May- Year 5 Reading Test (50 minutes)
• Monday, 17th May- Year 5 Language Conventions Test
• Wednesday, 19th May- Year 5 Numeracy Test

Students will also be starting new areas of study in all KLAS, including:

• English: apart from the NAPLAN preparation, they will be getting ready to start the concept of Genre including Poetry and Fantasy Stories.
• Mathematics: the study of Data which includes the practise of skills in conducting surveys and representing collected data in a variety of graph forms
• HSIE: will continue with the study of Diversity and Connections of the world
• Science: A new unit of work will start in Week 1, The States of Matter. The unit will investigate the properties of solids, liquids, and gas

The year 5/6 teachers would like to thank all parents and carers for the continuing support which makes a significant difference to the learning outcomes of the students.

Mrs Rebecca Harrod, Mr Aldo Rufo, Mrs Clare Collett and Miss Lauren Osborne

Learning Support

There is lots happening in Learning Support at St James at the moment. Keep your eye out for regular updates and information on how we are supporting the students at SJM!

CILSP

St James has been selected to participate in the 2021 COVID intensive learning support program. The program will start during Term 2, 2021 and run throughout the school year. This is a joint effort between The NSW Department of Education, Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) and The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW).

2020 was a difficult year for everyone, particularly students and teachers who made sure that quality learning continued despite seven weeks of remote learning and other disruptions. Through this program we will provide small group tuition for students who need it most.

Initially, students in Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6 will be targeted through this program in Term 2. Other Grades will be integrated into the system as we move through the year. Please note that students are being identified through a variety of means including comparison of student results from last year with previous years. Students included in the program may not necessarily be the lowest in their classes, but could be students who do not seem to working to their potential, or whom have not made the expected progress over the past 12 months.

As part of the program, we also have some teachers who have made themselves available before and after school hours for small group literacy and numeracy support. Places in these groups will be offered to students based on assessed individual needs.

If you have any questions about the CILSP program, please contact me for further information.

Renee Gavin

Library News

Borrowing Day

Please encourage your children to borrow and return library books, on their borrowing days.

Tuesday – Kinder
Thursday – Years 1 and 6

New Resources

Please see new resources attached.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Students, who are participating in the Premier’s Reading Challenge, have received their recording sheet. The books are available during borrowing times. They must read 20 books before August 13. Students must read 15 books from the PRC list and 5 of their own choice. If possible, they need to visit the PRC website to locate the ID number for each book.

If not, they can visit the school library for assistance. The title and author, must be listed on the record sheet, and be dated and signed by the parent.

Rules for books in a series: In an approved series on the PRC booklist, you can read any three books as PRC books. You can read up to five other books from the same series as Personal Choice books. (PRC website)

The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. (PRC website)

Please feel free to contact the library if any problems/concerns arise during the year.

lisa.wilson@mn.catholic.edu.au or 65433094

Happy Reading!

St. James’ P & F Association

P&F Committee Contacts