Term 2 Week 1 2021 (23/04/2021)
What is On?
Dates for the remainder of 2021 which are current at 2pm Friday 23rd April 2021
Please be aware that we need to complete our 2 missing Staff Professional Learning Days
Monday 26th April to Friday 30th April - Catholic Schools Week -From Tuesday to Friday, you are welcome to ring and arrange to visit your children's classrooms. Thursday after the Liturgy, all classrooms will be open to visit.
Monday 26th April - Visit to Stage 3 from Kate Thompson - Principal - McAuley Catholic College
Wednesday 28th April - Zone Cross Country - Grafton
Thursday 29th April - Catholic Schools Week Liturgy 10am in School Hall. Morining tea provided in the garden.
May
Wednesday 5th May - Proclaim Lismore - all staff attend - School closed
Friday 7th May - Mother's Day Breakfast 8am until 9am (ish)
Tuesday 11th May to Friday 14th May - NAPLAN
Thursday 13th May - AEDC data day
Monday 24th May - Our Lady Help of Christians Feast Day - National Mass at approximatley 11am
Wednesday 26th May - Dio Cross Country-Grafton
Wednesday 26th May - National Sorry Day
Thursday 27th May - Thursday 3rd June - National Reconciliation Week
June
Friday 18th June - School Athletics Carnival
Thursday 24th June - Last Day Term 2 for students
Friday 25th June - Staff Professional Learning - School Improvement Plan - all staff attend- school closed
July
Monday 12th July - Staff Professional Learning - Resheduled from Term 1 - all staff attend - school closed
Tuesday 13th July - Children return for Term 3
Tuesday 13th July - Zone Athletics-Coffs Harbour
Thursday 22nd July - Confirmation
August
Friday 13th August - Diocesan Athletics - Coffs Harbour
Friday 20th August - Potential Little J's start date
Wednesday 25th August - Reconciliation
Thursday 26th August - Soccer/Netball Carnival-Grafton - Stage 3
Saturday 28th August - First Eucharist
September
Thursday 16th September - Last day Term 3 for students
Friday 17th September - Professional Learning - First Aid - all staff attend - School Closed
October
Tuesday 5th October - Professional Learning Day - Rescheduled from Term 1 - all staff attend - school closed. (Monday is a Public Holiday)
Wednesday 6th October - First Day Term 4 for students
November
Monday 22nd to 26th November - Stage 3 Camp Drewe
Friday 26th November - Potential final Little J's date
December
Tuesday 14th December - Final Assembly - Year 6 Graduation
Wednesday 15th December - Last Day Term 4
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to Term 2.
You will have received the COVID plan for the rest of the year and will be as excited as we are to move to a "New Normal!"
Next week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week and you are invited to join us for a classroom visit, morning tea, Liturgy and just welcome to join us - indeed invited.
Catholic Education has been undertaken in Australia for 200 years this year and as a school we will mark this achievement on May 24th. The school captains, Tully and Jesse will represent the school in Lismore on this date and St James' School will also celebrate. It is a big deal for something to have lasted 200 years, with the same guiding principle that every child should have the opportunity to be educated to understand that they are loved by God. The wording has changed over the years but to know and be loved by God is at the centre of our mission. We are pleased to acknowledge this milestone.
When you visit you may notice our new flag poles and new lining in the COLA. Both of these have been on the maintenance plan for several years and it is pleasing to be able to complete this work. Today, every child is bringing home a "Light Up The Dawn" light which has been decorated for Sunday. This is our way of remembering when we are unable to march. Could you please send to yamp@lism.catholic.edu.au an image of your family driveway, verandah or display for our ANZAC Day remembrance which will be in next week's newsletter.
The enrolment period has begun in all Catholic schools and McAuley Catholic College Principal Kate Thompson is visiting us on Monday. At St James' School the online enrolment portal is open and interviews are underway. If you are intending to enrol for Kindergarten 2022, these enrolments are now due. We are required to have numbers at the beginning of Term 3 and as such the process is underway. No enrolment positions will be offered without an interview undertaken at the completion the online enrolment process. This applies to current families, as well as new families.
ANZAC at St James- Call of the Fallen
In France this week in schools across the Western Front the children will answer the roll call of the fallen. They are still present in the lives of the children and their efforts to serve others are remembered.
Today we remember and pray for those who served from our community. This means that every name from our community on the cenotaph above Main Beach was read out by our leaders and the response from our children was " Present". We joined together this morning to remember.
RE News
Catholic Schools Week & 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia
Next week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This is an annual celebration of Catholic education. This year, Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools join with other dioceses and Catholic education systems and schools across Australia to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.
Since the very first Catholic school was established in NSW in 1820, countless children and young people have benefitted from the dedication and commitment of faith-filled staff in our Catholic schools. Throughout the last two centuries, thousands of dedicated women and men, often with very limited resources, rose to the challenge of building the vibrant and diverse Catholic education system that exists today.
Inspired by the person and spirit of Jesus, Catholic schools are called to be signs of God's love and hope in the world. They are vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning, providing quality education and opportunity, and supporting every child to find meaning and purpose in their life.
The theme for CSW 2021 is 'Faith in the future'. When the pioneers of Catholic education in Australia taught their first lesson, they most probably did not fully comprehend the resounding impact their actions would have 200 years later. We continue this journey and are proud to be educators in a Catholic school in the Yamba community.
Sport News
Cross Country
Well done to all those students who competed at our school Cross Country carnival on Tuesday. Congratulations to the Age Champions, listed below, and the winning house, Angourie.
Students who qualified for the Clarence Zone carnival have been notified. The carnival is being held at McAuley College in Grafton, next Wednesday, 28th April. Those attending need to make sure they return their money and email permission to the school by next Tuesday at the latest.
The Diocesan carnival will also be at McAuley College on Wednesday, 26th May.
Cross Country Age Champions
8/9 Years - Jake Seivers & Sailor Short
10 Years - Levi O’Shea & Marlie Zvatora
11 Years - Jesse Daley-Malone & Taya Murphy
12 Years - Dexta Jones & Tully Waghorn
Curriculum Corner
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD DURING NAPLAN
The NAPLAN Online test window for Years 3 & 5 starts on 11 May 2021 and finishes on
14 May 2021.
NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school.Teachers will ensure students are familiar with test formats prior to NAPLAN tests.It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing, but about assessing learning progress. The best approach for preparing your child for NAPLAN is to encourage your child to do the best they can on the day. Your child’s school is your first point of contact for questions about NAPLAN. Schools in all states and territories are moving from paper tests to online tests. All schools are expected to transition to NAPLAN Online by 2022.Online assessment will provide more precise results and has been shown to result in better engagement from students with tailored testing.
Christine Jeffrey
Student School Banking 2021
We are looking for a new Student Banking Operator for 2021.
If you are interested please call Sue in the School Office on: 6646 3266
Diocesan Notices
Families of Students with Diverse Learning Needs
Attention: Primary and Secondary School Parents/Carers of Children with Diverse Learning Needs
The NSW Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) recognises that families of children with differing abilities require targeted advocacy and support and has developed a valuable resource to assist parents of children with diverse learning needs. Please access this resource via the CCSP website. https://www.ccsp.catholic.edu.au/students-with-diverse-learning-needs
From School to Work for Students with Disabilities
There are free webinars for both students with disabilities and their parents to inspire and support students to develop a vision for employment after the completion of schooling.
Southern Family Retreat
Attention: North Clarence, Nambucca and Hastings
The Southern Family Retreat will be hosted by Parent Assembly on 22-23 May. The attached Flyer offers more information
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rys6pMgrB7-jjtLHdh_bhDj5XacGzYOm/view
Birthdays
Fionn Mawn - 2nd May, Miss Ross - 3rd May, Levi O'Shea - 4th May, Mrs Dougherty - 7th May