Dear Parents and Caregivers

We have had a very successful start to the school year, as a school we always dedicate the time to social and emotional learning in the first few weeks of each school year. This is the beginning of our Student Wellbeing which continues throughout the year. During these weeks, we do not permit any educational testing to take place as it is a time to develop relationships with our students. Hence, a focus of the last three weeks has been some testing in all classes and teachers have been busy looking at the data and adjusting curriculum programs accordingly.

It was so lovely to see so many families take up the opportunity to come and meet their child’s class teacher at our ‘Meet the Teacher Evening’ a few weeks ago. Our teachers found these meetings very useful in building a profile on each student and working in collaboration with you to support your child. As you are aware, open communication at Catherine McAuley is important and welcomed. Your child’s class teacher should be your first point of contact if you have any concerns or celebrations you wish to share.

Parent Teacher Interviews – 3 Way Learning Conversations

Parent / Teacher Interviews – 3 Way Learning Conversations,  is another formal opportunity to meet with teachers that is coming up later in the term. Teachers are busily revising Personalised Plans for Learning (PPL’s) for the new year. PPL’s are a formal way of planning and tracking the learning of those students progressing more slowly than we would expect, and a way of continually communicating with families about the plans we have for supporting their learning.

3 Way Learning Conversations with parents and children are a very important opportunity for discussion where teachers will report on progress thus far, especially if there are any difficulties arising. It will also be an opportunity to share the updated PPL for any children that have one.

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program- Literacy and Numeracy)

NAPLAN 2023 is just around the corner! At Catherine McAuley, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will be sitting the assessments during Week 7 and 8 of this term. The NAPLAN assessments are linked to the Australian Curriculum. The aim is to determine whether students are developing the essential skills; predominately in literacy and numeracy, that they will need in life. It is important to understand that this is one form of assessment that is used to gather data about your child’s attainment of Literacy and Numeracy skills. At Catherine McAuley, we use a variety of ongoing assessment and reporting processes to inform our teaching and support student learning.

CMS Student Leadership

At the start of every school year, classes are engaged in unpacking what it means to be a responsible school leader at Catherine McAuley School. Our 2023 CMS Student Leaders have been nominated to represent our three leadership domains:

• Mercy Leaders
• Sports Captains
• Classroom Student Leaders

We will acknowledge these students at next Tuesday’s Whole School Liturgy in the Joan Haren Performing Arts Centre (JHPAC), where they will formally receive a badge and certificate after being nominated by their peers / school community to these leadership roles.

School Events

Term 1, is moving at a very fast pace, and we have already had a few events happen within the school. Such events provide an opportunity for us to come together as a community, meet parents and carers and get to know the different families within our school community.

We have had our first Whole School Liturgy, which is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together to give thanks for the new school year and to welcome new staff, students and families to our community.

We also had our School Board Annual General Meeting (AGM), where we acknowledged the work of past Board members who served their time and welcomed new parents to our community who will guide and support future school initiatives.

Later this term, we will also be having our annual Year 6 School Camp, Sports Day (March 31) and our Holy Week Celebrations. We look forward to these events as it provides a range of different opportunities for families to come into the school and participate actively in their child’s schooling.

Catherine McAuley Volunteers

Many of the events offered by the school require the support of volunteers to make them successful. These include Sports Day, Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Stalls, Sports Carnivals, as well as excursions and community events.

It is hard to become a volunteer at short notice and we strongly encourage you to become a volunteer at the beginning of the school year, so that you are ready and available when you would like to support your child in this way. If you or anyone in your family would like to become a registered volunteer at the school, please complete a Volunteer Enquiry Form HERE

Catherine McAuley Community Team (CMCT)

Interested in joining the CMCT? Our next meeting will be Wednesday 15th March, we would love to see some new faces joining the CMCT isn't in an ongoing commitment or formal obligation whether you just come along to a meeting or two or just want to join an email list and never attend meetings or just want to help out volunteering at events we welcome all the input you are able to give. Please email Eleni Vailas evailas@cms.catholic.edu.au if you want to be involved in CMCT events.

We have hit the ground running with our CMCT Volunteers this term. Thank you to Theresa for overseeing the ordering for this years of Mother’s Day Stall Gifts, your help has been greatly appreciated.

Thank you to our amazing six parent volunteers – Ashlea, Amy, Kristyn, Lauralea, Sam and Vanessa who gave up there morning to cook pancakes for our whole school community on Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day, the pancakes were big and fluffy. Thank you for doing an amazing job!!!

Children’s University

Catherine McAuley will again be running the Children’s University Programme in 2023.

Children’s University encourages children to try new experiences, develop new interests and acquire new skills.

The programme aims to:

· Nurture aspirations and self-belief

· Foster curiosity and a love of learning

· Boost achievement and improve life chances

The Programme in a Nutshell:

Over a number of years, members aim to collect awards. Members must earn at least, but not limited to, 30 hours in their first year to reach Graduation. Numerous awards can be awarded within a year why stop at bronze when you could go for gold!

Hours accumulate every year and build on past achievement.

Graduation Ceremony:

Graduation will take place at Adelaide university in Term 4, 2023, with passports completed for the year and handed in by Week 10, Term 3.

Passports to Learning:

New participants will receive their passport to learning where they will record their learning journey. Students who have participated in previous years will continue using their passports to add to the hours they have already completed.

Learning Journeys:

Students undertake learning experiences outside the classroom, outside the normal school day. They provide evidence of their learning, for example, a book review or report, online for marking and fill in their passports.

There are a wide range of activities that students can participate in that will accumulate hours and these activities will be promoted to students once they have signed up to the programme. Certain co-curricular school activities also accumulate learning hours.

Eligibility:

This year, the programme will be open to students from Years 4-6.

Cost:

The cost of being involved in the programme is $16.50.

Click Here to complete the permission form, payments can be made via QKR.  No applications will be accepted after this date Monday 20th March.

Yours in Faith, Growth and Unity

Marc Forster, Eleni Colonico, Linda Caldinez

Catherine McAuley Leadership Team 

Journeying Together and Mission - invitation to be an instrument of HOPE and MERCY 

By now you would have received information and coin boxes regarding our Term 1 fundraiser Project Compassion. Each year we support Caritas Australia, during our Lenten season, helping them help vulnerable people around the world, now and ‘For All Future Generations.’ Project Compassion 2023 is a timely reminder of our commitment to our mercy mission and our school’s mercy charism knowing that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of so many now and of generations to come.  

Through various community development programs, run by Caritas Australia, many are taught techniques / strategies, especially around farming through learnt conversation, to grow drought-resistant crops. Using the funds from the crops’ harvest, several start other farming initiatives, such as housing chickens and hens, selling eggs to earn an income to support themselves, their family and broader community. 

Each year, spanning across the six weeks of Lent, Project Compassion brings thousands of Australian schools, parishes, and supporters together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world. Your generous support can help change lives today - and For All Future Generations. Thank you. 

Many Year 6 students expressed an interest in becoming a Mercy Leader which involves providing and developing leadership opportunities which are truly transferable in many facets of the student’s life. Leadership is a skill for life, and our school is committed to ensure our students have regular opportunities to be involved and strengthen their leadership skills. 

Please keep our Mercy Leaders in your prayers as they embark on their Mercy Leadership journey, being the light, hope and mercy of their school and broader community - You are the light of the world. These words urge all of us, no more than that, command us to be light, the light of Christ, and let it shine through us into the world and the people around us. To our Mercy Leaders, we believe Jesus is saying - you have the love of God, you have hope and faith in Christ, and you have the encouragement of your school and family members, let others see it in your mercy and compassion, justice and courage and forgiveness. You have the light of Christ within you, let that light shine through in everything you say and do. Very bluntly Paul says to the Ephesians,  

“You are full of light from the Lord, and your behaviour should show it!” (Eph 5:8). 

Please join me in congratulating the following Year 6 students who won a Mercy Leadership position: Ella-Grace, Matthew, Aubrey-Rose, Maya, Kai, Kasey, Ella, Hadassah, Saxon, and Matilda. Catherine McAuley once said, “We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.” Over the year, these ten Mercy Leaders will be involved in fundraising events, Monday Morning Prayer, Liturgies, Small Mercies days, and much, much more. Well done to you all. 

The Elizabeth Parish Sacramental Program starts this Term further promoting the Gospel as the ‘living word’ in our schools and parish faith communities. The Sacramental Program prepares enrolled candidates for the Sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation in partnership with school APRIMs, their classroom teachers, parents, and families. Adults are also able to begin and/or continue their sacramental journey through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Program. Please visit  https://www.ofw-adelaide.org.au/rcia-becoming-catholic.html for more information. 

This year’s Sacramental Program will be conducted at St Ann’s Church (Midway Road) and St Thomas More Church (Laverstock Road) with a central focus on the human experience and its relevance to the Gospel teachings and reverence to the Catholic faith tradition. Contemporary learning and teaching approaches are used to deliver an interactive and engaging Sacramental Program. 

Parents and Godparents are urged to attend all relevant Sacramental meetings, workshops, and evening celebrations and rehearsals to enhance the faith experience of the Sacramental Program. More information will be shared at the first meeting. 

Please read the letter below if you are considering the 2023 Sacramental Program for your child. Please direct queries to either myself or Edna at the Parish Office. 

Lord, 

As daylight fills the sky, fill us with your holy light. May our lives mirror our love for you whose wisdom has brought us into being, and whose care guides us on our way. Touch me, O Lord, and fill me with your light and your hope. Give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, comfort when I am alone, hope when I feel rejected, and peace when I am in turmoil. Amen. 

Mrs Caldinez 

APRIM  

Click Here to view the Southern Cross Online

In 2M, 2E and 2R we have been busy building friendships, learning expectations and prioritising our wellbeing. We practice mindfulness daily in our classrooms to calm our nervous system and get us ready to learn. We have been working hard with Mrs Vandenberg to learn and practice giving affective statements. This is a useful strategy to develop our independence in solving small social problems. Some highlights of our first 6 weeks at school have included our weekly library visits, Shrove Tuesday and ice blocks during the super hot weather. We have had a busy and fabulous start to Year 2!  

Wow! What a fantastic start to Year 1 we have all had! 

 We have loved getting to know each other and learning more about our gifts and talents.  

In Maths we have begun exploring patterns. We have learnt how to identify and continue AB, ABC, AAB and ABB patterns. We even got to design and create our own pattern bracelet inspired by First Nations artist Marissa Thompson who makes pattern bracelets out of seeds and other natural materials.  

In Literacy we are learning to write recounts. We know we must include who, what, when and where. We are also busy learning lots of new phonemes, digraphs and tricky words in InitiaLit.   

In Religion we are developing our understanding of the liturgical calendar and why we have different coloured prayer cloths. Our prayer cloth changes during Lent as purple is a symbol of preparation. We enjoyed eating pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. 

In HASS we have been exploring the different things at our school that are natural and constructed.  

Hello Families, 

In week 0 we were very fortunate to have Michael Lincoln from the CEO come and complete PD about Restorative Practices with all the staff,  as this is a focus we are again having in our school. 

What is Restorative Practices? 

• Restorative Practice is a technique of addressing problems or conflict that focuses on repairing and healing. This supports the development of healthy relationships and conflict resolution skills. The goal is not to be punitive or punish, but to restore. It is a balance of firmness and fairness. We support a positive and safe school climate, and this supports our belief to create a greater sense of community.  

Restorative Practice promotes the following: 

• Respect for self 
• Respect for other children 
• Respect for teachers 
• Respect for learning
• Respect for environment 
• Reflective listening 
• Positive language 

In the past five weeks I have been supporting lessons in classrooms and encouraging students in the  implemention of affective statements to each other, which is part of Restorative Practices. This is not a new concept for many students at CMS, more a refresher and a reminder on how to deal with small problems that maybe occuring, this teaches students  independence, ownership and resilence. 

What is an affective statement? 

Affective statements are a way to communicate to another person how they have been affected by their actions or behaviours. Affective statements are also an effective way to teach students how to express their emotions appropriately. Naming feelings helps students develop a larger vocabulary to use words vs acting out emotions. It also helps students understand the impact of their actions. 

An affective statement is broken into 4 parts. 

What an affective statement looks/sounds like:

Problem: You were playing dodge ball and the ball hit you in the head and it hurt. 

Person saying affective statement: 

1. (Say something positive to whom you are giving the affective statement to, always relating the statement to the problem) 

I love playing dodge ball with you we always have fun.  

2.Tell the person about the problem/behaviour that has affected you 

When you hit me in the head with the ball today it was quite hard  

3.The feeling that you felt when the problem occurred, 

It really hurt and I also felt embarrassed,  

4. Tell the person what you would like to happen next time 

Next time can you aim for my arms or legs and not my head, 

You will probably notice posters in classrooms and around our school showing the process of an Affective Statement.  If you have any questions or would like to know more, please do not hesitate to ask.  

Lee-anne Vandenberg 

Student Wellbeing Counsellor 

Have you enrolled your child for Reception in 2024 or 2025? We are starting to fill our class lists and urge all families with younger siblings not yet enrolled with the school to return their Application for Enrolment forms as early as possible.

Siblings are not automatically added to our class lists unless parents/guardians have completed an Application for Enrolment and returned the associated paperwork such as birth certificates.

Our 2024 Term 1 and Term 3 places are filling fast.

To discuss your child's enrolment or to collect an Application for Enrolment form contact the front office.

ZSAPP Communication

All school communication is distributed to families via Zsapp.

Information is targeted as a whole school, or to a particular group, eg Year level, class group or specialists group ie Choir.

Using our school database Parent/Guardian 1 information, notifications are sent via Zsapp. It is crucial for Parent/Guardian 1 to be registered for Szapp using the email address the school has on file.

If your notifications settings are off on your phone, please check your Zsapp feed regularly for updates.

Please see below how to install Szapp, if any assistance is required, please ring the school on 82841666, or pop into the front office.

PARKING / KISS and DROP ZONE

We remind families of the parking laws on Adams Road, between 8.30am - 9.30 am and 2.30pm – 3.30pm there is  NO PARKING directly outside the school grounds.

Please DO NOT park and leave your vehicle in the ‘Kiss and Drop” zone.

We particularly ask families to use the pick-up and drop off zones during this time correctly – drive in, drop off and drive out. Parking in this area causes great frustration for those wanting to drop off. Council and police monitor these areas regularly and fines are issued to people who do not follow the parking conditions as outlined on the signs.

We look forward to everyone abiding by the procedures and rules that have been put in place for the safety of everyone accessing and leaving our Campus.

We understand the difficulty which surrounds parking at the Campus and urge all families to use patience and respect whilst remembering that the safety of our children is our priority.