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I'm excited to announce that we are launching our newly designed school website in the coming days, a project that has been in the planning and development phase throughout 2021. The new look site provides a comprehensive overview of our school and all that we offer in an easy to navigate and user-friendly format, that can be accessed on any device. Further, it more accurately reflects the school that we are today, with our new flexible learning spaces, playgrounds and facilities. The website is not only for prospective families but provides a wealth of information including policies, support services, news and events for all families in our school community.
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
School photographs will take place next Wednesday 17 November. All families should have received an information pack for ordering and sibling photo envelopes are available by contacting the school office.
ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR SUMMER SCHOOL UNIFORM regardless of whether it is their regular timetabled sports uniform day. PE lessons on Wednesday will be adjusted to accommodate for school photographs and students in Year 5, Year 6 and 2 Blue may wish to bring their joggers to change into for PE.
CLASS PLACEMENT 2022
The process for discerning class placement for students next year has commenced and while it may seem a relatively straightforward process, it is far from the reality. Rather, there are many factors that must be carefully considered when formulating classes to balance the varied needs of students in each year group across the classes.
Once again this year parents/carers will have the opportunity to write to me with any special considerations regarding class placement. This is definitely not an opportunity to request teachers or friends for your child/ren. Requests for special considerations MUST be in writing, marked confidential, and sent to me before Friday 26 November. Requests received after this date will not be considered.
SEMESTER 2 REPORTS
Due to extended remote learning because of COVID-19, the Semester 2 Reports will focus on essential learning with priority given to Religious Education, English and Mathematics.
The Federal Minister for Education and Youth has released a statement, recognising the continuing extraordinary circumstances created by the pandemic. The statement allows for a flexible approach to reporting and schools impacted by the pandemic are not required to report against each KLA using the A-E scale in Semester 2, 2021.
Teachers will therefore report on participation in the areas in Religious Education, Mathematics and English and include a general comment. Attendance will not be included and the Semester 2 Report will be available via the Compass portal on Wednesday 8 December.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
Principal
THURSDAY 11TH NOVEMBER – REMEMBRANCE DAY
Each year, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, our country (along with many countries around the world) observes a minute’s silence. Remembrance Day (also known as Armistice Day) on 11 November marks the end of the First World War and is a day to remember and honour those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
We pray that we value the freedoms that we enjoy today and commit ourselves to creating peace in our world by recognising that peace begins in our own families, classrooms, schools and communities, and it begins with us. Each one of us can make a peaceful world.
War brings suffering, death, sadness and separation. If we could all be a little more selfless, instead of sometimes being so selfish we could bring love and peace rather than conflict and fighting to a little part of the world in which we live.
They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.
SUNDAY 21ST NOVEMBER – CHRIST THE KING (YEAR B)
The new liturgical year bagan on the First Sunday of Advent last year, and it ends on Sunday 21st November with the Feast of Christ the King. During the liturgical year, we re-live the life of Christ and try to immerse ourselves in the kingdom he came to establish. It is right, therefore, to ask yourselves at this end of the year: "Is Christ more king of my life now than a year ago?"
The call of Christ the King is for each of us for constant conversion. "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." To do this is astonishingly easy – we just need to follow Christ and do more of the little things that make us better people!
And so, after another year of following Christ: "Is Christ more king of my life today than a year ago?"
OCTOBER - MISSION MONTH
Thank you to all those who were recently able to support our annual Socktober Mission Appeal. Our final count was $1969. What an amazing effort and just highlights the generosity and compassion of our school community.
How our money might help:
PRAYER INTENTIONS
We pray for all families in our school community who are in need of our prayers, as well as our country and world.
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
St John the Evangelist, pray for us.
Kylie Crowe
Religious Education Coordinator
PB4L is an evidence-based framework that emphasises school-wide systems of support for all students and staff. These include proactive strategies for defining, teaching and supporting appropriate student behaviours. Positive behaviour supports are implemented for all students, across all school settings, by all staff, at all times. This continuum of support ensures students’ academic and social outcomes.
All student behaviour expectations are founded on our three school rules – Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe.
PB4L Raffle Ticket Winners
Week 5
| Gunyah | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Jake | Jax M Jaydon K |
Cruz B Jaxson M |
Katie V Rohan G |
Izaiah N Grace LL |
Destiny Taj |
Lilah Sam B |
Dakota Cooper Stevo B |
Congratulations to all the students that received Merit Awards for Week 4 and 5.
Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to our Age Division Champions and our winning house.
2021 Age Division Champions
|
Gold Medallion |
Silver Medallion |
Bronze Medallion |
|
|
5/6 Years |
Ivy N |
Sienna K |
Isabel S |
|
7 Years |
Yasmina A |
Sophie J |
Poppy W |
|
Junior |
Ella P |
Sienna G |
Temperance A-P |
|
11 Years |
Emily H |
Ruby W |
Jessica D |
|
Senior |
Lily B |
Mikayla F |
Halle B |
2021 House Point score
1st Place – McCabe
2nd Place – Joseph
3rd Place – MacKillop
4th Place – Ward
Michelle Atkins
Sports Coordinator
Congratulations Emily H (Year 6) for her award and recognition at the upcoming 2021 CDF Sports Awards.
Please join us on Friday, 12 November 2021 for the 24th Annual CDF Sports Awards to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our student athletes. This will be an engaging presentation with action videos and also feature guest appearances from past students who were in action at the Tokyo Olympics. Over 150 students and 9 school teams will receive awards and showcase the incredible talent we have in our Wollongong Diocesan schools.
We have now moved to Compass to automatically generate our Principal's Awards, so there is no need to send in merit awards to count towards a Principal's Award. The only Principal's Awards to be sent in would be the old red ones, which would be counted towards a medallion.
In particular, could Year 6 parents please note this and send in any old red Principal's Awards to count towards a medallion. Four Principal's Awards are required for a bronze medallion.
Our school awards have a specific value, awards accrue to receive a Principal’s Award, followed by school medallions.
| Award | Quantity Awards | Value | Frequency |
| Merit | 3 per class | 1 Point | Weekly (Friday assembly) |
| Core Value | 3 per class | 2 Points | Each Term (Friday Week 9) |
| Principal's | 1 | 1 PA |
After receiving an equivalent of six (6) points, from either Merit and/or Core Value awards. Presented each Term (Friday Week 10) |
| Bronze Medallion | 1 | N/A |
After receiving 4 Principal’s Awards Presented each Term with Principal’s Awards |
| Silver Madallion | 1 | N/A |
After receiving 5 Principal’s Awards Presented each Term with Principal’s Awards |
| Gold Medallion | 1 | N/A |
After receiving 6 Principal’s Awards Presented each Term with Principal’s Awards |
To assist in understanding how Merit and Core Value awards combine to achieve a Principal’s Award, the following examples have been provided.
Examples of current system awards
- 6 Merit Awards (6 points) = Principal’s Award
- 4 Merit Awards (4 points) + 1 Core Value Award (2 points) = Principal’s Award
- 2 Core Value Awards (4 points) and 2 Merit Awards (2 points) = Principal’s Award
All other awards including Welcome Certificates, School Spirit Awards, Sport Awards etc do not contribute to receiving a Principal’s Award.
Our school photos will be held on Wednesday 17th November. School photo envelopes were distributed to all students on Friday 5th November 2021. These envelopes must be returned to school on 17th November and given to the photographer on the day. It is important that all envelopes are returned even if payment is made online.
For any families wishing to purchase a sibling photo, please ask your child to collect a sibling envelope from the school office. These envelopes must be returned to school on 17th November and given to the photographer on the day. It is important that all envelopes are returned even if payment is made online.
Please ensure that if purchasing both an individual photo and sibling photo and paying cash, that the cash is enclosed in each envelope and not combined in one envelope, as the envelopes are kept separately.
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly, etc.
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2022 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available below or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2022 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
Due to remote learning, a number of Action Plans have lapsed.
If your child has an Asthma, Allergy or Anaphylaxis Action Plan please make sure that the school has an updated copy of their plan. Copies can be emailed through to the school at info@sjddow.catholic.edu.au.
