Dear SJMS Community
On Sunday we celebrated Pentecost. In the Gospel, Jesus appeared and breathed the Holy Spirit into his friends. These days, coming to faith is a journey where we discover God’s existence within the realities of our life experiences. This can happen through prayer and reflection. Regular time to pray and reflect is a wonderful practice that can aid with our spiritual growth and enable us to identify our unique gifts and see grace in what the world offers us.
COVID Update
Last week it was wonderful to welcome back the Speech Pathologists and Allied Health professionals who work with students within our school.
Mr Siinmaa writes below giving the latest update on the easing of COVID restrictions and its impact on school sport, which we hope to see up and running in Term 3.
Thank you for your ongoing support toward the limited parent access to the school site. This has assisted with the management of physical distancing of adults and the density of groups on site. I hope we will return to allowing parents and caregivers back in the school sooner rather than later. As soon as these restrictions lift, I will alert the community via the Skoolbag app.
World Environment Day
This Friday we celebrate World Environment Day which is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. World Environment Day began in 1974 and has grown to become a global platform celebrated in over 100 countries.
Each World Environment Day a theme is developed that draws attention to a particularly pressing environmental concern at that period of time. This World Environment Day, it’s ‘Time for Nature’. The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature. Yet, these are exceptional times in which nature is sending us a message: To care for ourselves we must care for nature.
It’s time to wake up. To take notice. To raise our voices.
This week our Year 5/6 students built 3 planter boxes containing native bush foods from a Bunnings grant won by Miss McGee. You can view the video of the first part of the project here.
The garden includes plants such as Midgen Berry, Salt Bush, Sea Celery, Native Thyme, Aniseed Myrtle, Raspberry Wattle, Pig Face and Murnong Yam.
World Environment Day is a day our students take action or do something to take care of the Earth. Increasingly students are realising that the 'something' can be local, national or global. It can be a solo action or involve a group.
NCCD Data Collection
Last term we provided all families with information about the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability. This term our school is collecting information and evidence about students for whom adjustments are being made. The DDA and Standards use a very broad and inclusive definition of what constitutes a disability, it does not require a medical or professional diagnosis. This can include students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, auditory processing disorder and health conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and asthma. The decision as to whether a particular child falls within this definition for this data collection relies on the professional judgement of school staff about each child’s additional educational needs. A decision as to whether a child should be included in the data collection will occur in consultation with you, as a parent or carer, if you do not wish your child to be included please contact Toni Benci. The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data is an Australian Government initiative and separate from the current process through which some students receive support through the Catholic Education SA Special Education Program and are also recognised as students with a disability.
Semester One Reports
Our Semester One Reports are an important part of our reporting to families. The reports provide a comprehensive overview of how your child is progressing half way through the year. Reports will be sent home on Friday 26 June, Week 9. These reports are part of a year-long/4 phased reporting process to parents. We have already had our Learning Conversations in Term 1 and of course case by case individual meetings. In Week 1 of Term 3 there will be the opportunity to have a Parent / Teacher Learning Conversation to discuss your child’s report if required, details of how to book an appointment will be made available to you via email on Monday 29 June.
Master Plan
Thank you to those parents and caregivers who contributed towards the detailed design of our Performing Arts Studio presented in our last newsletter.
Below are some drawings of Stage 2 of the Master Plan at William Street. This is the extension of the First Floor, currently where our 5/6 classes are located. This development needs to be completed to fulfil the masterplan process for William St. This aspect of the masterplan counter leavers out to the school boundary towards St Ignatius Oval, making 4 classrooms or themed spaces (one extra than current footprint) with a linked break-out space in-between creating an indoor/outdoor learning space. The area also creates a sense of open collaborative learning spaces conducive to an array of learning opportunities, incorporating various theories of design and pedagogies of learning. While it is difficult to capture what was a 2 hour conversation about this plan, I will ask that you have a look at the plans and feedback any initial thoughts via this link.
God Bless
Brady Stallard
Photos: Year 5/6 students with the cars they designed and built during their angle investigation.