Primary Update – Term 3 Week 8

Jenni Vile on 06/09/2024

Father’s Day

Last week’s Father’s Day events were a wonderful celebration of the father and father figures in our community. Lavalla’s Thursday Mass and Friday’s Marian Liturgy were both wonderful ways to honour the fathers in our community. A huge thank you to the Year 2 classes for running the Liturgy at Marian Campus, and to Mrs Jane Short for her coordination and planning of these events. I hope all fathers had a wonderful weekend.

Athletics Carnival

Today’s Athletics Carnival was a sensational day of athleticism and sportsmanship. All of our Pre-Primary-Year 6 students tried their hardest and it was a joy to see so many of them do their best, reach personal bests and break records! All students are to be congratulated on they way they gave their all during the day. Big thanks to all of the primary staff who made the day a huge success, with particular thanks to Tash Richards and Lara Vlahov for their outstanding preparation, organisation, and running of the day.

Languages Week Activities

Over the past 2 weeks the Primary have celebrated Languages Week with a range of wonderful activities, including immersive hands-on experiences, drumming incursions and gelato vans. A huge thanks to Sensei O’Keefe and Signora Lynch for their organisation of these meaningful experiences for our Primary students.

Newman Norms / Medals of Marcellin

Our new Newman Norms are now on our website and I encourage you to have a look at these expectations for our Primary students – Newman Norms – Newman College. Each week our staff and students will focus on 1 Norm, to discuss and unpack what that norm means for our students in their day-to-day school life.

Recently Cailin & Fox (Marian) and Miles & Bradley (Lavalla) were drawn out of the raffle for demonstrating our Newman Norms. Congratulations to all students who received a raffle ticket in the past fortnight. We are over halfway through our term and the competition between factions is very close!

URSTRONG – Lesson 8 Upcoming

Lesson 8 (our final lesson) will be rolled out across the Primary next week. The areas of focus for this upcoming lesson are:

Pk-2: The final session ties it all together, reviewing the key concepts, and students share their culminating project, “Put Yourself in a Friend’s Shoes,” designed to strengthen empathy.

Yr 3 & 4: The final session ties it all together, reviewing the key concepts, and students share their culminating project, “Looking into Your Sole,” designed to strengthen empathy.

Yr 5 & 6: The final session ties it all together, reviewing the key concepts, and students share their culminating project, “Walk a Mile in My Shoes,” designed to strengthen empathy.

A reminder parents have access to a FREE URSTRONG parent membership. We hope that as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.

Promoting Safe and Responsible Online Behaviour

As we continue to navigate the digital age, it’s more important than ever to ensure our children are using technology in a safe and responsible manner. Recently, we have become aware of instances where some students have been using social media and group messaging inappropriately. This is a concern for us all, as it can have lasting impacts on both their wellbeing and their interactions with others.

We understand that managing your child’s online activity can be challenging, but it is essential to monitor their use of electronic devices. Children often lack the maturity to fully understand the consequences of their actions online, making parental guidance crucial. 

To support you in this role, we strongly encourage you to visit the eSafety Commissioner’s website at www.esafety.gov.au This site offers a wealth of resources designed to help parents foster healthy online habits in their children. You’ll find practical advice on setting up parental controls, managing screen time, and understanding the risks associated with social media use.

Here are a few tips to help you support your child’s online safety:

  • Regularly Discuss Online Behaviour: Have open conversations with your child about their online interactions and the importance of kindness and respect in digital communication.
  • Set Boundaries: Establish clear rules around screen time and the types of content your child can access. The eSafety website offers guidelines on how to set these boundaries effectively.
  • Supervise and Monitor: Be aware of the apps and websites your child is using. Monitoring their activity can help you identify any potential issues early on.
  • Educate About Privacy: Teach your child about the importance of keeping personal information private and the dangers of sharing too much online.

We are committed to working together to ensure our students are safe and responsible online. If you have any concerns or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or explore the resources provided by the eSafety Commissioner.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation.

Justin Kirry

Leader of Wellbeing 3-6

Dogs on School Grounds

A reminder that due to allergies and some anxieties, dogs are not permitted on school grounds. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding to ensure the safety of all members of our school community.

Primary Disco

Ryan von Bergheim

HEAD OF PRIMARY