Guardian Angels' Newsletter - Term 3 | Week 9

Coming up @ GA

Week 10

Monday 11 September
Uniform Shop open 7:30am-10:30am

Tuesday 12 September
P&F Meeting - MC Campus Staffroom - 6:30pm

Wednesday 13 September
Tuckshop (orders must be in by 7:45am)
AFL Auskick - Bay Terrace Oval - 7:20am

Thursday 14 September
Tuckshop (orders must be in by 7:45am)
Uniform Shop open 1:00pm-4:00pm
RUOK Day

Friday 15 September
LAST DAY OF TERM 3

TERM 4 COMMENCES TUESDAY 3 OCTOBER

Week 1 - Term 4

Monday 2 October
King's Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 3 October
FIRST DAY OF TERM 4

Wednesday 4 October
Tuckshop (orders must be in by 7:45am)
St Francis of Assisi Day
Instrumental Music Program - brass and wind only (Creative Kidz)
P-6 Assembly (led by 2 Red and 2 Yellow) - MC Shed - 1:50pm

Thursday 5 October
Tuckshop (orders must be in by 7:45am)
Uniform Shop open 1:00pm-4:00pm
Year 1-6 Instrumental Music Program (Creative Kidz)
GA Day
St Francis of Assisi Litury - MC Shed - 9:00am

Friday 6 October
3-6 Swimming Carnival (Manly Pool)

Sunday 8 October
Class Led Parish Mass - Prep - GA Church - 5:00pm

From the Principal

National Child Protection Week

Earlier this week, Bravehearts visited our school and presented the ‘Ditto’ Show to our students from Prep–Year 2. Bravehearts provide a program that supports children with basic principles of personal safety, by providing them with some strategies or ‘tools’ to stay safe.

This performance aligns with our school’s planned National Child Protection Week activities and is a time when we revisit important safety messages with all our students.

During Child Protection Week, our students engage with activities that provide important reminders that every student has the right to feel safe, all the time; at home and at school. Also, activities provide opportunities for students to revisit the actions that they can take if they are feeling unsafe or need support. One of these is to identify who the trusted adults are in their lives that they can go to if they need some support. Our Guidance Counsellor, Renae Haggitt, will be sharing with our students some important reminders around feeling safe and trusted adults to speak with, including those in our school.

We all have a role to play in creating safe and nurturing environments for our children.  Building stronger community awareness is a powerful way of working together to create safer environments for children, and to protect children from harm.

Student protection and wellbeing are paramount in our Catholic Schools. Our commitment to the protection of students is based in our belief that each person is made in the image of God, and our ethos is to provide a safe and supportive environment for all.

I refer you to our School website, where you can find further information in relation to Brisbane Catholic Education policy, processes and resources that are implemented by the school:

• BCE Policies - Student Protection
• GA Student Protection

Should you have any queries or concerns, the Guardian Angels’ Student Protection Contact Officers are noted below and can be contacted via the school office:

• Mrs Veronica Tomerini-Smith (Principal)
• Mrs Nicole Waller (APA)
• Mrs Renae Haggitt (Guidance Counsellor)

Blessings for the week ahead
Veronica Tomerini-Smith

Assistant Principal - Administration

Good afternoon lovely families

Dance Concert (Years 3-6)

Finally, the Years 3-6 Dance Extravaganza is upon us.

Following their hard work with our dancing friends from SUPERSTARS throughout Term 3, we welcome you to join us in the Shed tomorrow (Friday 8 September) as we enjoy the dancing prowess of our Years 3-6 students.

The dance concert begins promptly at 2:15pm. We will open the Pine Street gate at 2:00pm. We ask that parents and friends enter the school via the Pine Street entrance only please.

While you are welcome to sit along the grass tiered steps,we recommend that you bring along your own chair/seating please. Parent seating will begin towards the back of the Shed to allow for our students.

VERY IMPORTANT:

• We have timed the concert so that it should finish at around 2:45/2:50pm.
• To avoid any chaos in the reception areas, ALL STUDENTS (Prep-Year 6) will return to their classrooms at the conclusion of the concert to prepare for the conclusion of school at 3:00pm. 
• Students may not be taken from the school directly from the Shed at the conclusion of the concert.

WHEN:  Friday 8 September

WHERE:  MC Campus (Shed)

TIME: 2:15pm (gate will open at 2:00pm)

ENTRY: Please enter the school from 2:00pm at the Pine Street gate entrance 

OPTIMINDS

On Saturday 26 August, 27 of our Year 4-6 students gathered at Griffith University to participate in the OPTIMINDS CHALLENGE for 2023.

These students have been working very hard (in their own time) since the beginning of this term to prepare for this challenge day. They have gathered after school every Monday, during their lunch time every Thursday, and they even spent almost five hours here at school on a Sunday! They showed such great commitment and enthusiasm. Mrs Thatcher (PLL) and I are so very proud of them all.

The OptiMinds (creative and sustainability) Challenge is a team challenge that encourages and empowers students to THINK, CREATE and COMMUNICATE. This challenge is a wonderful opportunity to participate in open-ended, creative problem-solving events, with exciting challenges that require collaboration, cooperation, experimentation, divergent thinking and creativity.

Guardian Angels’ was able to enter five teams in the OptiMinds challenge this year. That’s a lot of teams for a school of our size. Our students participated in two categories: Language Literature and Social Sciences. These teams were assessed on their problem-solving ability, use of sustainable practices, teamwork and creative thinking skills.

Our teams were made up of the following students who all represented Guardian Angels’ beautifully:

Language Literature 1: Roarke, Josh, Tess and Emily
Language Literature 2: Arvin, Hayley, Ella, Madeleine and Erin
Social Sciences 3: Zali, Emma, Sienna, Isabella and Cadence
Social Sciences 4: Aaliyah, Cloe, Lily, Daisy and Lauren
Social Sciences 5: Jack, Ruben, Fern, Arya, Archer and Lachlan

As a judge for OptiMinds, I can safely say that the standards were exceptionally high this year. While all of our teams showcased their hard work and dedication, two teams came away with Second Place (Honours) this year. Language Literature 1 (Roarke, Josh, Tess and Emily), and Social Sciences 4 (Aaliyah, Cloe, Lily, Daisy and Lauren) both received Second Place Honours in this year’s challenge. Well done to all students.

Along with the placing, OptiMinds also recognises teams with a very special award: THE SPIRIT OF OPTIMINDS. This is a very prestigious award in the OptiMinds circle as it acknowledges teams that conduct themselves in the ‘Spirit of OptiMinds’ at all times. To be nominated for a ‘Spirit’ award teams must:

• Celebrate excellence (their own and others)
• Work consciously and with integrity
• Apply sustainable thinking and practice
• Work together as a team showing effective communication, collaboration and compassion
• Celebrate the different strengths of team members
• Overcome obstacles by being flexible and adapting to change

The ‘Spirit of OptiMinds’ award is not easy to achieve. It is judged on the challenge day, by the panel of judges following the challenges and discussions with team members. All teams can be nominated but the teams with the highest nomination points go on to win this special award.

I am so proud to say that one of our teams did receive the SPIRIT OF OPTIMINDS award. Congratulations to Social Sciences 4 (Aaliya, Cloe, Lily, Daisy and Lauren) who brought this award back to Guardian Angels’ this year.

My genuine thanks to the wonderful parents of all of these special OptiMinds participants. Your support in this space was so appreciated. And special thanks to Mrs Elisha Thatcher (PLL) who worked alongside me throughout this term to support, encourage and guide our OptiMinds superstars.

Blessings to you all for the coming weeks,
Nicole Waller

Assistant Principal - Religious Education

Father’s Day

God, our Father
Bless these men,
that they may find strength as fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honour them always
with a spirit of profound respect.

- Author Unknown

Last weekend we celebrate all the fathers and special men in our lives. Thank you to our P&F who organised a wonderful event to celebrate all the fathers in our community. Thank you also to the P&F for a wonderful Father’s Day Stall. We hope that all the fathers and father figures in our community had a wonderful and special Father’s Day.

Live the GA Way

This term we have continued our implementation of LIVE the GA Way. Our staff collaboratively planned a learning and teaching sequence to help build our student’s awareness and understanding of LIVE the GA Way. The learning and teaching sequence provides learning moments for each of the LIVE the GA Ways to be unpacked and connected to our Franciscan Charism through keys words of wisdom shared by St Francis. The learning and teaching sequence will be used at key times throughout the year to help our students embed LIVE the GA Way in all they do and say. This term we have had a fortnightly focus for classroom and whole school activities. Our learning will continue in Term 4 with a day full of fun activities to help us LIVE the GA Way on Guardian Angels’ Day on the Thursday 5 October.

Class Mass Timetable – Term 4

Next term we will continue our class masses. We will be combining our class masses with sacred singing and over the remainder of the year and all classes will have a chance to host Mass in our beautiful church.

Below are the dates, time of mass and hosting classes, we hope to see you there.

Year Level Parish Mass

Next term we have our Prep leading a mass within our Parish. We invite our families to join us for 5:00pm Parish Mass on 8 October. We look forward to seeing you.

At the end of this school term, we give thanks to God:

Let us pray…
For all the teaching and learning that have taken place in our school, both in and out of the classroom,
For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced
For the burdens that have been lifted and the hurts that have been healed
For the respect and care that have been given.
We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown.
For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles,
For the hope that has lifted our hearts on the dark days
And for the love that has kept us going.
We give thanks for the community that we are and we ask you Lord -
bless our students: may your Spirit inspire them with confidence and calmness
bless our families as we take our holidays, may our time together leave us with memories to cherish.
Pour out your love on us that we may return renewed and refreshed to continue our journey together.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

I wish you a safe and happy holiday and I look forward to seeing you for the last term of the year!

God bless and take care,
Rhiannon Cameron

Primary Learning Leader

At our pupil free day last week our teachers had the opportunity to come together to look towards 2024 and work in year level teams to create yearly overviews. Creating these overviews using the Australian Curriculum not only ensures consistency throughout, but also ensures we are teaching with purpose and clarity to deliver the curriculum as it is intended to be delivered. This was a lengthy process for our teachers, but one of great value to ensure best teaching practice for our students.

During this week’s MMAs (Measure Monitor Act) it has been exciting to see the progress that our students are making with their reading. The professional and positive dialogue our teachers are sharing during these sessions indicates how hard the children have been trying to work on their reading goals to move their own learning forward. 

Code Camp - Term 4

As a result of the number of families expressing interest in the Code Camp after-school program, Code Camp will be offering an 8-week program commencing in Week 2 of Term 4. These sessions will run on Tuesday afternoons on both the Guardian Angels’ and Mt Carmel Campus. These sessions will run for 75 mins.

The first session will commence on Tuesday 10 October at 3:05pm - 4:20pm. Little Coders is for students in P-2 on the Guardian Angels’ Campus, and Coding is for students in Years 3-6 on the Mt Carmel Campus. All students from Years 3-6 need to bring their school iPads.

If you are interested in your child participating in this program, please follow the link below for details and payment. There is a $15 Early-Bird saving for families who enrol by 25 September using the discount code when booking on the website:

www.codecamp.com.au/wynnum

Early Bird Discount Code: AST4EB

Please find attached further information regarding the program.

When signing your child up for this program please understand:

• this is not a school coordinated program – Code Camp are using our facilities to run their coding program after school from 3:05pm - 4:20pm
• there will be no supervision of children, by school staff, at Code Camp
• if your child is enrolled and attending OSH after school but you would also like your child to attend the Code Camp program you will need to communicate with OSH coordinators separately to arrange this, and
• any concerns or questions about the program should be communicated directly to Code Camp or the Code Camp instructor – there will be no intervention from the school. Contact details are available on the attached flyer.

Further details regarding where the Code Camp staff will meet the students and arrangements for pick up etc will be sent home closer to the date.

We look forward to working with Code Camp as our learners discover the exciting world of coding through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths).

Elisha Thatcher
Primary Learning Leader (Acting)

Reconciliation Action Plan

Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has been published.

This document is updated annually and helps us to action our vision (please see below) for reconciliation at Guardian Angels’.

VISION FOR RECONCILIATION

On this Jara (Land) of the Quandamooka People, under the Biram (sky) and by the Yarabin (sea), our vision is to create and nurture our place of learning. May we deepen our knowledge, understanding and respect for the diversity and value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identities, cultures, and histories.​

Guided by our Franciscan and Mercy traditions, Guardian Angels' School seeks to build a community that celebrates:​

Belonging & Respect – We are committed to building authentic relationships with the Nunagal (Noo-Na-Gal), Goenpal (Ke-wan-pal) and NGUGI (Noo-gi) clans of Quandamooka Country. We are building a community which embraces diversity, promotes inclusion, and recognises and acknowledges the unique contribution of each person.​

Excellence – We acknowledge the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events, histories and cultures through the curriculum, prayer, symbols, language, and liturgies.​

Hope & Courage – We are people of faith and spirit, who believe in a united Australia. We courageously advocate for true reconciliation now and into the future.

We look forward to living our Vision for Reconciliation through our RAP, with the Guardian Angels’ community.

From the Year 6 Stewardship Committee

In other news...

Too sick for school?

Drop off and pick up zone volunteers

We would love parent helpers in pick up zones this year. Pick up zones operate from 8:00am – 8:25am in the morning and from 2:55pm – 3:20pm in the afternoons. It's an easy 25 mins, opening car doors, helping little people in and out of cars.

If you can spare 20-30 minutes once or twice a week please email Jenny Druce at jdruce@bne.catholic.edu.au with your preferred day, time and campus.

I have had a few parents contact me about shifts and I will update the roster and publish in next Thursday's bulletin. If I have nominated you for a shift, and it’s not suitable, please let me know. 

A friendly reminder, before commencing your role as a volunteer or other personnel at our school, you are required to complete the online volunteer training. This training needs to be renewed annually and can be found here: https://www.bne.catholic.edu.au/students-parents/student-protection/Pages/Student-Protection-and-Code-of-Conduct-Training-for-Volunteers-and-Other-Personnel.aspx

You will need to download, print and complete your registration form, which is contained within your online training. Return it to the School Office prior to commencing your role.

Second-hand Uniform Shop

The second hand uniform shop is open on the first Monday of the month with the next open day on Monday 9 October. The shop will open between 7:45am and 8:20am on the GA campus.

Each item is $5. Cash only sales.

Need items outside of shop open times? Please email pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au with what you need and one of our amazing parent volunteers will fill this order for you.

Awards

Congratulations to the following students, who received a LIVE the GA Way Award at assembly. These students demonstrate they LIVE the GA Way in all they do and say: 

Reece L, Lyla S, Mason R, Grace H, Roarke K, Willow B, Ryan V, Eloise A, Emma F, Isaac S, Lincoln O, Milena B, Henry W, Eimear J, Angus G, Adelaide W, Eddie V, Joe G, Levi M, Pedro R, Paddy O, Juliet R, Chanel S, Claudia T, Imogen A, Jack L, Hugo D, Maezie E, Bella B, Nico C, Thomas C, Nathan M, Samuel R

From the Tuckshop

Tuckshop Volunteer Roster

Week 10
Wednesday 13 September - HELPER NEEDED
Thursday 14 September - Kendell Trevisan
Friday 15 September - Karen Slater

Week 1 | T4
Wednesday 4 October - HELPER NEEDED
Thursday 5 October - HELPER NEEDED
Friday 6 October - Shelley Walters

Please contact Annalise Olm - aolm@bne.catholic.edu.au - if you are able to volunteer your time in the canteen in 2023.

Before commencing your role as a volunteer or other personnel at our school, you are required to complete the annual online volunteer training. This training needs to be renewed annually and  can be found here: https://www.bne.catholic.edu.au/students-parents/student-protection/Pages/Student-Protection-and-Code-of-Conduct-Training-for-Volunteers-and-Other-Personnel.aspx

You will need to download, print and complete your registration form, which is contained within your online training. Return it to the School Office prior to commencing your role.

From the P&F

Please join us, in person or online via TEAMS, at the next P&F Meeting on Tuesday 12 September.

Link to Teams Meeting: P&F Meeting 12 Sep

Enrolments

At Guardian Angels' we place particular importance in acknowledging the various gifts and talents each community member is blessed with, as we strive to unite under the theme, ‘We Are One’.

Existing Guardian Angels' Families - sibling Prep 2025 enrolments

Calling all current Guardian Angels' families with sibling enrolments for Prep 2025. Please submit your applications and supporting documentation now.

Join us on our final Principal's Tour in 2023 on 24 October. 

We are currently full across all year levels and maintaining a waitlist for Prep 2024.

Applications for Prep 2025 will close 1 April 2024. We are now accepting enrolments for Prep in 2025 and 2026. For further information or interest in upcoming tours please contact Jenny Druce on 3396 4486 (ext 4) | or by email at pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au

From the Community

Industrie 1 will be offering a Term 4 program (6 weeks only) starting in Week 3.

Prep students are welcome (girls & boys) to come along and try Sport Aerobics before committing to teams next year.

This is also good ‘off season’ training for all current team members. There will be a focus on strength, flexibility, new skills and technique.

Register via this link: https://form.jotform.com/Industrie_Sport/term-4

Contact Us

Guardian Angels offers a broad-based inclusive curriculum with a range of opportunities and experiences that foster the growth of the whole student. We pride ourselves on the spirit that can be found in our students, staff and parents.

Visit us on the web at www.guardianangelswynnum.qld.edu.au

Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaswynnum 

For all enquiries please email us at pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au

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