Holy Name Primary School, Toowoomba eNewsletter

From your Principal

Communication: The Key To Success

Communication is an essential skill that is vital in all aspects of life. Whether it be at home, in the workplace, or at school, effective communication is crucial for building and maintaining relationships, solving problems, and achieving success.

In a school environment, communication is particularly important. Teachers must communicate effectively with their students to ensure that they understand the lesson and are able to apply what they have learned. In turn, students must communicate effectively with their teachers to ask questions, seek clarification and feedback on their learning. Leading educational expert and author of Visible Learning, John Hattie believes effective communication between teachers and students can have a significant impact on student learning.

This term, the students of Holy Name have been explicitly focusing on communication.

Power of the Mind: Communicate

I can explain where I am at and where I am going with my learning.
I know my classroom is a safe place to share.
I can learn from challenges.
I can stay calm and focused.

Parents and carers also play a significant role in school communication. Effective communication between parents and teachers can lead to positive outcomes for students, such as improved academic performance and social skills.

We want to ensure that all members of our community can communicate effectively and efficiently. As emails have increasingly become the mode of communication for many of us, a set of guidelines for the use of this tool have been developed.

Communication Guidelines

Holy Name Primary School is committed to open, honest and timely communication. We are also committed to communication being respectful, measured, sensitive and constructive. In adhering to these principles, we aim to strengthen relationships between parents and the school to further enhance the wellbeing and learning opportunities for our students.

Email is an important and convenient means of communication that can assist our school to provide more effective services to our school community. It is not designed to replace the functionality of a phone call or face-to-face meeting with parents, which in most cases are our preferred options.

The aim of these guidelines is to establish clear expectations for both staff and parents in the use of email as a communication tool.

Expectations of both Staff and Parents

When communicating via email, staff and parents are expected to adhere to email etiquette including:

Emails should be brief and informative. Issues that require a level of detailed discussion should be dealt with in person or over the phone.
Emails should always be respectful and constructive. If the email relates to a concern or problem, the focus should be on understanding the problem and finding a solution.
Emails work best when they are positive. Please avoid sending negative or emotionally charged emails.
Please be mindful that the tone of an email can at times be misunderstood or misinterpreted albeit unintentional.
Staff and parents are not expected to respond to emails that require ongoing dialogue. A face-to-face meeting should be arranged in this circumstance.
When emailing a group, staff and parents must ensure they do not disclose the email addresses of others without permission to do so (Blind CC should be utilised).

Expectations of Staff

Email should not be used to discuss a sensitive issue which was not initiated by the parent or had not been previously discussed with the parent.
When an email is received from a parent that requires some time to gather information and reply properly, the staff member should respond acknowledging that the email has been received and indicate when an informed response will be sent.
Staff will aim to reply to parent emails within 24 hours.
Staff may choose to send or respond to work related emails at a time of their own choosing, but there is no expectation to respond to these emails outside of school hours.

Expectation of Parents

Please do not send urgent or critical messages by this medium as given work demands teachers may not get to read emails until late in the day.
Remember to respect staff personal time, including weekends and holidays. Parents shouldn’t send emails outside of work hours and expect an immediate response.
It is the responsibility of every parent to keep the school administration and class teacher up to date with current email addresses.

At Holy Name Primary School we believe that children and their families have the right to positive educational and life experiences and that clear communication between school and parents is the The Key To Success.

Blessings

Kerri-Ann Manthey

Annual Calendar of Events

APRE News

Hello Holy Name Community! My name is Allison Busiko and I am the Acting APRE while Mrs Bliss is enjoying a well-earned holiday. The school has been abuzz with various outings this week such as the Year 5 and Year 6 camp and the Prep to Year 2 excursion to the Empire Theatre to see, “Are We There Yet.” The activities will keep coming with the Mini Vinnies Sleep Out, NAIDOC Week Celebrations, TCS Arts Fest and Athletics Carnival and in the last two weeks of the term. Term Two is certainly a busy time!

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

In Week 9, Holy Name will celebrate NAIDOC Week to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. The 2023 National NAIDOC Week theme is For Our Elders.

NAIDOC Week officially runs from 2 to 9 July, which falls within the school holidays. Therefore, in Week 9, on Monday and Friday, Holy Name will celebrate NAIDOC Week with two guest speakers and interactive activities including games and arts.

Report Cards

The teachers are busily teaching and finalising student report cards. These reports will be uploaded to the Parent Portal on Monday 19 June (Week Ten) and your child’s Portfolios will be sent home. The reports will summarise your child’s learning so far in 2023. When the teachers make a judgement about your child’s progress, they have used a variety of methods including; tests, work samples, questioning, observations and discussions.

To clarify, please remember, that a:

‘C’ Overall Grade on the report card means your child is demonstrating the necessary skills and understandings for that part of the curriculum.
‘D’ Overall grade means that your child is on their way! They have not reached the end of year standard and require teacher assistance to complete learning.

‘E’ Overall grade means that your child requires extensive teacher support to complete their work. Students operating within this level will often have their work modified a year level one- or two-year levels below their current level.

If your child is not achieving the benchmark, you will be contacted by the teacher before the report card is placed on the Parent Portal to arrange an interview time. This is a fantastic opportunity to understand your child’s knowledge and skills.

If, at any time, you would like to discuss your child’s progress, please email your child’s teacher/s and arrange a meeting. We are in partnership with you! We love to see the growth each and every child is making and we understand the importance of sharing this growth with you.

Prep News

It is hard to believe Term Two is almost over. Time flies when you are having fun!

In English, we have been reading and sequencing Fairy Tales. Over the next two weeks, our Preps will practice retelling their chosen Fairy Tale through a performance. Watch this space….we may need help with costumes and props.

Our Preps have enjoyed their weekly PMP sessions and have enjoyed trying out the new equipment.

Our Athletics Carnival is on Thursday 15^th June. The preps have been busy practicing ball games. I’m not sure who is more worn out afterwards…..the preps or Mrs Holm and myself.

Term 3: We will commence additional homework in Term 3. We also have an excursion to Amaroo scheduled for Thursday 20^th July. More details to come soon.

At the end of this term we will say goodbye to Eric. We wish him and his family all the best in Mt Isa. We will miss you, Eric!

Have a great week.

Mrs Kauter and Mrs Holm

Year 1 News

The highlight of the term for Year 1 students has been participating in Dance and Chinese lessons on Fridays.

In Chinese, students have been learning words and how to use basic greetings such as hello, goodbye, and introducing themselves. They particularly enjoyed singing greeting songs. They have enjoyed the challenge of learning how to draw Chinese characters and the exposure to a new language. Chinese lessons will continue throughout Term 3.

Thank you to all the parents who came along and watched our final dance lesson last Friday. I am sure you will agree the energy was high and the enjoyment experienced in participating in Dance Fever this term was electric.

There is still so much more to come this term including an excursion to the Empire Theatre to see a stage show and the athletics and ball games carnival.

We congratulate all students on their engagement in learning this term and the effort they have put into their studies.

Year 2 News

Welcome to the end of Semester One!

We have had a busy term with many highlights. We participated in the Dance Fever Program and performed last Friday for our parents. The students all participated well and thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

In Science, the students enjoyed exploring life cycles on a range of animals. Students used this information to create and publish a PowerPoint on their chosen animal. They learnt how to add pictures, create text and apply effects to their slides. They had so much fun!

In Geography, the students have been learning all about the different continents and oceans of the world. We can now correctly label a world map and identify geographic divisions. We have been learning about how to follow and give directions.

The students participate in weekly Chinese lessons. They have been learning greetings and basic phrases. Students have been learning how to write various symbols and sing a song in Chinese. The students have all been engaged and look forward to this lesson each week.

In preparation for the upcoming Athletics carnival, we have been practising our ball skills. Students have been learning how to play Leader Ball, Tunnel Ball and Captain Ball. The students are very keen to show off their ball skills during the Athletics Carnival in Week nine.

All students are to be congratulated on the growth they have shown this term. We look forward to seeing this continue in Term three.

Best wishes for the upcoming holidays.

Miss Kimmorley and Mr McAllister

Year 3 News

Wet and cool start to the week 8. I know that some people love the cold weather, but I must admit I prefer the warmer months.

Please have a conversation with your child to discuss this week’s focus of - Look, Listen, Do. Mrs Manthey addressed the school on Monday where she discussed this focus with all the students.

The Year 3 students have been busy revising work and testing over the last week and half. We will continue to work through our units and assess as we go for the end of semester report card.

The students have now finished their Dance Fever lessons. They have enjoyed having these each week and hopefully had a good time last Friday performing their final piece. Congratulations to the class for being so enthusiastic to attend each week.

The House Athletics Carnival and Ballgames Carnival will be held in Week 9 on Wednesday and Thursday. It will be a great for our students to show their talents in athletics.

Reminder, if your child is away, please let the office know so accurate rolls can be kept by the school.

Have a good week.

David Anderson

Year 4 News

Hello Students and Parents,

First semester is coming to an end. Students are continuing to grow. Reports are being finalised. Good times are being had. As you have been informed, at the beginning of term we went to Cobb and Co museum. We have been using this experience to develop our English, HASS, Science and Technology skills since. Year 4 had a blast at Dance Fever and really enjoyed the presentation. Our favourite part was probably seeing Jackson do a backflip, he has got some cool skills. For the remainder of this term we will be adding to our knowledge and finalising our work for this term. Most importantly we will be prepping for the athletic carnival! GO CONCANNON, Mort and McCauley!! But mostly GO CONCANNON!!!

Year 5 News

It has been an incredibly busy and active term here in Year 5, and I am delighted to share the wonderful achievements and experiences of our students.

Emu Gully Camp: A Journey of Growth, Maturity, Resilience, and Teamwork. Our recent trip to Emu Gully Camp was an extraordinary adventure, filled with valuable life lessons and unforgettable memories. The students displayed remarkable growth, maturity, resilience, and teamwork throughout their time at the camp. They eagerly embraced every challenge, whether it was navigating the ropes course, conquering the log swing, or working together during team-building activities. It was inspiring to witness their determination, as they supported and encouraged one another, fostering a true sense of unity. I am incredibly proud of their achievements and the personal growth each student demonstrated during this empowering experience.

Gardening Club: Nurturing Nature's Beauty Our enthusiastic green thumbs have been hard at work in the Gardening Club. Under the guidance of our dedicated volunteers, the students have been learning about the importance of sustainable practices and the wonders of nature. They have been cultivating various plants and herbs, watching them grow from seedlings to flourishing specimens. This hands-on experience has taught them about responsibility, patience, and the rewards of nurturing life. The Gardening Club continues to foster a sense of environmental stewardship, and we are excited to see the fruits of their labour in our school gardens.

Building Clay Monsters in Visual Arts: Unleashing Creativity In our Visual Arts program, students have been unleashing their imagination and artistic skills by building clay monsters. Through this project, they have been exploring various sculpting techniques and expressing their creativity in unique and exciting ways. Each student has embraced the opportunity to experiment with different shapes, textures, and colours, resulting in a delightful array of whimsical creatures. The clay monster project not only encourages artistic expression but also nurtures problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills. We look forward to showcasing their masterpieces.

A Proud Teacher As their teacher, I couldn't be prouder of the Year 5 students. They have embraced challenges, demonstrated remarkable growth, and consistently displayed maturity and resilience in all aspects of their learning journey. Their teamwork and support for one another have been exemplary, creating a positive and inclusive classroom environment. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to guide and witness their progress, and I look forward to the remainder of the term, filled with exciting adventures and achievements.

Warmest regards

Mrs. Brenda Roberts.

Year 6 News

Dear Year 6 families

It is hard to believe we are nearly at the end of yet another term at Holy Name, let alone the fact that we are nearly halfway through the school year!

We have had an enjoyable Semester One with lots of learning and of course, plenty of fun.

As we reach the end of an eventful semester, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible progress our Year 6 students have made. It has been a pleasure guiding them through this semester of learning, and I am immensely proud of their achievements.

Our Year 6 students have shown tremendous dedication and growth in their academic pursuits this semester. They have risen to the challenges presented to them and demonstrated a remarkable thirst for knowledge. I look forward to seeing the wonderful work they produce next semester.

This semester, we have focused on fostering essential skills and attributes that will empower them to thrive in high school and beyond. A strong emphasis has been placed on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Our students have engaged in stimulating discussions, debates, and group activities that have encouraged them to think independently and consider different perspectives.

To support their transition to secondary education, we have also emphasised the importance of organisation, time management, and effective study habits. Our students have been encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, ensuring they are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the future.

At Holy Name Primary school, we believe in nurturing well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically but also demonstrate character, resilience, and a passion for personal growth. Our Year 6 students have embraced a wide range of extracurricular activities, allowing them to explore their interests and develop their talents.

Our budding athletes have showcased their skills in inter-school competitions, displaying exceptional teamwork and sportsmanship. Our musicians and performers have delighted us with their talent during rehearsals for the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Arts Fest

Additionally, our Year 6 students have shown great compassion and a sense of responsibility by actively engaging in community service projects. They have volunteered their time and effort to support local charities, demonstrating empathy and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world.Top of FormBottom of Form

Some of the highlights from this semester include Prep Buddies, The Mad Food Science Incursion, Dance Fever, Emu Gully Camp.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our school leaders this semester and I look forward to continuing to work with them throughout Semester Two to prepare them for high school.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday,

Miss Hose