News
Junior Primary News
In Year 1/2 we have been working on increasing our effort in our overall learning. We have used a bump it up wall to help us understand what good effort looks like and have developed the neatness of our writing too. It has been wonderful seeing the students increase their effort and put more care into their work in their drawing and writing. Their bookwork has grown immensely, and it has enabled them to feel more confident to produce work that they feel proud of.
Senior Primary News
During my 6-week placement I have had a great time coming back to St Columba’s to teach in the 6/7 class. Some highlights include eating Oreos during a science experiment about Earthquakes, exploring angles in Maths and learning about interesting characters through a character analysis unit. The 6/7s have shown their vast abilities through drawing realistic facial features in art to bring them all together in creating a realistic portrait and having me umpiring some ruthless netball games filled with intensity. Other fun adventures along the way include moving classrooms and being able to supervise the Peter Pan concert practices.
Thankyou to the 6/7 class along with Mrs Rowe, Mr March and Mrs Honner for collectively being my supervising teachers.
Grace Collins
Spanish News
Our current topic is “Los Pasatiempos” (Pastimes). In this activity we worked in groups to test our vocab. knowledge, matching the picture to the word. It was a race and Team Alexandra, Sophie and Eddie were first finished!
Literacy Coaching
Round Table Writers
Our “Round Table Writers” group are completing their written responses to the task of describing the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes, but are using the voice of a personality other than their own. Some choices include a spoilt young woman, a crow (the bird variety) and an ambitious builder, to name a few. They are editing their work, and after conferencing with me, publishing the essay. These works will be posted in various ways and in different venues. As writers we know that we write in order for others to read our creations. We hope you enjoy the works you are able to read.
Regards,
Mandy Thompson
Principal's Report
Hi all,
It’s been a big couple of weeks here as always at SCMS as we head into the final stages before our move into our new JP building next week. Today I wanted to bring you in to the picture into a couple of changes to our reporting process as well, as well as offer a brief reflection from my conference from last week.
School Reports
At SCMS like many schools we provide a written report at the end of Semester 1, and the end of the Semester 2. This semester we have been working on a new Learning Platform called SEQTA in which to plan and report. This has been a substantial change for our staff.
We assess your student against the Australian Curriculum, across 9-10 subjects depending on the Year Level and Semester.
This semester in a change from previous years, we will be providing an A-E grade (excluding Reception), an Approach to Learning indicator, and a comment for ALL assessed subjects. Previously there had only been a comment for Religious Education, English, Mathematics, and a General Comment. This change is obviously an increase in workload for the teachers. We hope this change will bring our families a broader look at what is covered in each subject and the attainment of your child across all subjects.
Conference Reflection
Last week I attended the SACPPA Conference at The Bend Motorsport Park. This is a bi-annual conference that is held to provide the principals in the Catholic System with the highest level of Professional Development.
At the conference they had a panel of young people. These were a Year 12 student and a recent graduate from a metropolitan city Catholic school, as well as a Year 9 student from St Joseph’s Murray Bridge and a 2nd Year Teaching Student at Flinders University. The panel were asked a variety of questions about their education, and what it’s like to be a young person in 2023.
It soon became apparent to me that I had connections to a couple of these people. The Year 9 student at St Joseph’s Murray Bridge played a big part in my first year of teaching, although she obviously didn’t know it at the time. Her mother took Maternity Leave in the back part of 2010 that allowed me to win my first every contract in a Year 5 class!
One of the other brilliant young people on the panel was a 2nd Year Teaching Student at Flinders University. She was asked to reflect on her education and what shaped her the most from it. At this point she told a story of her audition for a class play at St Joseph’s Murray Bridge many, many years ago. She was auditioning for King Arthur and was encouraged by her Year 6 teacher at the time to go for it. She would be perfect for it she was told, and it didn’t matter that she was a girl. She stood up and auditioned so beautifully that many of the students were laughing at the pitch perfect delivery of her jokes and performance. It was outstanding.
To her through, they were laughing at her. She was utterly humiliated. She ran out of the auditorium embarrassed and around the corner to cry. As she sat there her teacher came out and sat beside her and talked her through the idea that other students were not laughing at her, merely engaging in her wonderful performance. Her teacher sat with her for the next half an hour, sitting with her at her level on the ground and spoke of the resilience required to be on stage and perform in front of her peers, parents, and teachers. She left the conversation determined to win the role. It’s sat with her throughout her education and into her formation as a young teacher.
A few things stood out to me from this anecdote, and from all the stories that the young people told on the panel. Young people today are not particularly interested in flashy buildings, technology, or the newest and greatest teaching program. They are often frightened by the expanse of social media and the new wave of Artificial Intelligence technology. None of these things are what they will remember from their schooling experience.
They are interested in connection. For a teacher (or parent for that matter) to put their phone down and listen to them. Speak to them at their level whether they are 5 or 55. To not dismiss their emotions, but to understand them and help them back to a place of calm and determination.
At this conference I happened to be the teacher she was speaking about, but I see our teachers having these conversations every day at our school. It’s what we’re particularly good at. At that time at that conference, this student words meant everything to me, perhaps even in a stronger way then my words had meant to her a decade ago. When you are sitting through construction meetings, completing admin tasks sometimes it feels a long way from the classroom and the job you signed up for.
I wonder how many of us have reached out to the people who shaped us growing up? Some times it’s worth taking the time to do that. We never know the story someone else is fighting.
Kind Regards,
Scott
Junior Primary News
In InitiaLit 2 this week, the students learnt about letters, postcards and newsletters and they had the opportunity to create this article together:
The Year 1/2 class and the Receptions joined together to help Jo make some posters for the new Junior Primary area. The students put paint on their hands and pressed them onto the posters (but don’t worry it came off) to act like petals on a flower. The students recognised when they mixed certain colours together on their hands, they created secondary colours and it was lovely to see them use this knowledge contextually. They also had the opportunity to decorate gingerbread garden sheds with icing and they had lots of fun. They also got to take some gingerbread home to eat. The Year 1/2 and Reception students are very exciting to enter the new classrooms in the next coming week.
- Maddison Simons, Maddy Coombe, Lachy Fantinel, Lachie Forbes, Madsy Matthias and Miss Watkins
Upper Primary News
Year 5 Debate! For technologies the Year 5s constructed a debate to argue for and against the topic ‘Are smartphones really smart?’. Students impressed the audience with the ways they constructed their argument using strong facts, persuasive language and thinking thoroughly to write a rebuttal sentence.
Netball Carnival
On the 11th of May Adelaide, Tahlei, Poppy, Ella, Jada, Amelia, Emma and Gabriela attended the Netball Carnival At Minlaton. The girls had a great day playing short 20-minute games against other schools, with little breaks! They all showed great sportsmanship and encouraged each other as a team. Well done to Poppy Craggs for being selected in the SAPSASA Netball team!
Library News
The children are so excited with new books arriving.
A big Thankyou to Jo Forbes and Julie Tonkin for covering all our new books.
Could all Issue 4 Book Club orders please be in before Wednesday 14th June.
Many thanks
Julie Anderson
