Guardian Angels' Newsletter Term1 Week 7 2024

Coming up @ GA

Week 8

Monday 11 March

Uniform Shop open 7:30am - 10:30am

Yr 1 - Yr 6 Singing Program (Creative Kidz)

Tuesday 12 March

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

Wednesday 13 March

Sports Aerobics - Hall - 7:30am

Choir - Music Room - 7:45am

Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)

Naplan (Year 3 and Year 5 - Writing)

Roar Active After School Program - 3.15pm - 4.15pm - Bay Tce Oval

Thursday 14 March

 Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)

Naplan (Year 3 and Year 5 - catch up sessions)

Uniform Shop open 1:00pm - 4pm

Yr 1 - Yr 6 Instrumental Music Program (Creative Kidz)

Friday 15 March

Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)

Naplan (Year 3 - Reading)

Week 9

Monday 18 March

Uniform Shop open 7:30am - 10:30am

Naplan (Year 3 - Conventions of Language Year 5 - Reading)

Yr 1 - Yr 6 Singing Program (Creative Kidz)

Parent Teacher Interviews

Tuesday 19 March

Parent Teacher Interviews 

Prep 2025 Interviews for current families

Naplan (Year 3 Numeracy and Year 5 - Conventions of Language)

Wednesday 20 March

Sports Aerobics - Hall - 7:30am

Choir - Music Room - 7:45am

Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)

Naplan (Year 3 Catch Up and Year 5 - Numeracy)

Parent Teacher Interviews 

Prep 2025 Interviews for current families

Roar Active After School Program - 3.15pm - 4.15pm - Bay Tce Oval

Thursday 21 March

 Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)

Uniform Shop open 1:00pm - 4pm

Naplan (Year 3 & 5 Catch up)

Yr 1 - Yr 6 Instrumental Music Program (Creative Kidz)

Parent Teacher Interviews 

Prep 2025 Interviews for current families

Friday 22 March

Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)

Naplan (Year 3 & 5 Catch up)

Parent Teacher Interviews 

Prep 2025 Interviews for current families

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends

Nominations for membership to the Guardian Angels’ School Board are invited from our parent community.  

You are invited to read the information provided and consider if you, or a GA parent known to you, is interested in nominating as a Board member. 

The Guardian Angels’ School Board is a wonderful group of representatives from our community who make a unique and valued contribution to our school. 

Each Board member brings knowledge and experience to a process of discernment and decision making that serves the school community.  The Board demonstrates Brisbane Catholic Education’s commitment to good governance, and the importance of parent and community partnerships.   

 What is the purpose of the School Board?

The Guardian Angels’ School Board is a pastoral body, with consultative responsibilities, and is advisory in nature. 

The School Board follows Brisbane Catholic Education’s model and School Board Constitution (attached).

The Board operates under the ‘shared wisdom’ or ‘shared decision making’ model that is designed to enhance the inclusive Catholic community of Guardian Angels’ School.

• School Pastoral Boards are established by Brisbane Catholic Education as a key expression of the importance of partnerships, in particular parent participation within Catholic school communities, and provide invaluable support to principals in administration, policy issues and management of educational change.

Who are the representatives on the School Board?

• Under its constitution, the Board comprises of representatives from across the school and parish community. They include the parish priest, the school principal, teaching staff representatives, parish members and school parent representatives. 
• Only two executive positions are appointed, chairperson and secretary, and both are elected at the annual general meeting.

What are the member requirements? 

Nominees must meet the following requirements: 

• demonstrate a commitment to the Catholic ethos and to the particular religious identity/charism of the School 
• complete a prescribed formation program and commit to ongoing formation 
• offer in the spirit of collaborative ministry a set of skills, talents, personal attributes, interests, and faith development that will contribute to the needs of the school board in meeting its objectives
• have the formalised endorsement of the School Board 
• commit to attending meetings (with a minimum of four meetings scheduled each school year)
• before the first meeting as a Board member, if over the age of 18 years, have a current suitability (blue) card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYP and CG). 

How do I nominate for membership to the GA School Board?

Persons exploring suitability for membership of the school board are required to undertake a period of discernment, which can involve: 

attendance at a formation program 

discussion and dialogue with the Principal 

attendance as an observer at a meeting of the school board. 

• The School Board, discern the suitability of applicants and formalise appointments. There is no provision for appeal.

• Members of the Board are appointed for three year terms, for a maximum of two terms. 

How do I find out further information about Board membership?

If you are interested in nominating, you are invited to:

Read in detail the attached School Board Membership Form and School Board Constitution

Complete the nomination form and return via email to:  vtomerini-smith@bne.catholic.edu.au

From the Assistant Principal - Administration

Good afternoon lovely families … I hope you are all travelling well. With only just over three weeks left until the end of this term, I am sure you, and your little ones, are all feeling tired. I’m sure they will be more than ready for a little break in a few weeks’ time. Until then, there is still so much going on here at school so we will wrap our arms around them and make sure they feel supported and loved here at school.

NAPLAN (Years 3 & 5)

As previously communicated, the testing of NAPLAN for our students in Years 3 and 5 begins on Wednesday 13 March and will continue for over a week beyond this date. NAPLAN is a national assessment program and the protocols around the testing procedures and timing is strictly facilitated by QCAA (Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority).

We will begin the testing window with the WRITING test on Wednesday 13 March for all students in Years 3 and 5.

It is of utmost importance that our students arrive at school on time; especially on those days on which NAPLAN is scheduled. We have spoken to the students about the importance of good rest, great breakfasts and being organised so that they are able to arrive at school on time (by 8:25am).

The students will need working headphones or earphones. No air pods or connectivity-enable devices are allowed. Students should NOT be wearing any kind of ‘smart’ watch; which shouldn’t be a problem as they are not allowed to wear these to school anyway.

All 1:1 iPad devices (including chargers) in Years 3 and 5 will remain at school throughout the NAPLAN testing period (Wednesday 13 – Monday 25 March).

Students from Years 3 and 5 who are absent for any of the school-scheduled NAPLAN tests will participate in Catch Up testing sessions. These Catch Up testing sessions can be run until the end of the NAPLAN testing window (Monday 25 March) and students will participate in any relevant catch up test up until Monday 25 March.

Absence on the day of the school-scheduled NAPLAN does not allow that student to simply miss that test. They will be expected to participate in any/all catch up testing sessions up until Monday 25th March.

NO NAPLAN testing can occur past Monday 25 March. As with the previous newsletter, the Guardian Angels’ NAPLAN Timetable is attached to this newsletter.

The tests have been carefully scheduled so that your child/ren doesn’t lose other important educational experiences such as their Drama, Music, Sport and Literacy lessons.

The NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site is a really wonderful place for parents, students and teachers to experience NAPLAN in an online environment. I strongly encourage you to visit the site, along with your child/ren, and have a play with the demonstration tests. They have been doing this at school with their teacher/s however it is always great for our parents to experience it too so that you know what kinds of questions your child will experience in Naplan.

You can find the site here: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

To further prepare our students, we have been supporting them through a series of practice tests. The students have engaged so well with these practice experiences and we have been very proud of the way they have asked relevant questions and followed NAPLAN protocols as a practice experience. I am also so grateful to the Years 3 and 5 teachers, along with Jayne Murphy (Student Support). These professionals have undertaken Test Administration training with me, and worked to ensure their students have been supported during these practices opportunities. I am so confident that our students will be wonderfully supported during the NAPLAN testing schedule.

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

In the second last week of this term (Week 9), we will be offering formal Parent Teacher Interview opportunities.

These interviews are wonderful opportunities for parents to catch up with their child/ren’s teacher/s and celebrate the students’ successes and achievements. They also allow for important discussion regarding ways that we, as a team, can

support our students in areas of strength, challenge and with relationships with others. The Parent Teacher Interviews will be held in Week 9 (Monday 18 – Friday 22 March). Whilst each interview last for only ten minutes, it is really valuable time and we strongly encourage every family to take the opportunity to meet with your child/ren’s class teacher.

It is really important that we adhere to our interview time; particularly as there will probably be other families waiting.

Parent Teacher Interviews are easily booked through the PTO (Parent Teacher Online) link in the Parent Portal. Parents are now able to book a Parent Teacher Interview through the PTO app. You will have until Wednesday 13 March to book an interview time.

A reminder that our formal reporting process consists of the following:

· Term One: Parent Teacher Interviews (scheduled)

· Term Two: Summary of Achievement: Semester One (report)

· Term Three: Parent Teacher Interviews (scheduled)

· Term Four: Summary of Achievement: Semester Two (report)

Our teachers are wonderful professionals who are always working to support our students, so if you ever need to meet with them outside of the formal Parent Teacher Interview window, please contact them to arrange a time.

Blessings of peace to you all for the coming week

Nicole Waller

From the Assistant Principal - Religious Education

Good afternoon families.

Season of Lent

As we continue to journey through the season of Lent we are reminded about the journey that Jesus took during this time. He ventured through the desert for 40 days, contemplating and reflecting on what was about to happen. We can use this time to reflect about how we can be better people. Lent is often a time for us to sacrifice something, usually chocolate. I encourage you also, to think about what you can do better the life of someone else.

During this time you might also like to turn to prayer. Prayer can take many forms. Below is a Lenten Prayer you may wish to share with your family.

Let us pray…..

God of our ancestors you call us forth in faith to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Be our strength on the journey when we are weary. Give us courage when we are tested. Renew in us the commitment to live our baptism so that our lives and our world may be transfigured in your love.

Amen.

Project Compassion

Every year during Lent, Caritas Australia launch their Project Compassion appeal. This year the theme is “For all Future Generations”. The Project Compassion appeal helps to raise money and awareness for less fortunate people throughout our world. It helps them to gain access to education, something which they may not have received previously, which in turn helps them to create an income for their own families and communities. Each week students will hear a story of how people in our world, who are fighting the odds are graced with the kindness of people like you, extraordinary things can happen. You can learn more about the amazing work of Caritas at https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/community/

Feast Days

In the upcoming weeks we celebrate 2 important feast days in our faith calendar.

On the 17th of March we celebrate the feast of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St Patrick was actually an Englishman who was kidnapped by Irish pirates when he was 16 years old. Six years after his capture he escaped and returned to England where he joined the clergy. Patrick then returned to Ireland where he is known to have used the shamrock to teach the Trinity.

On March the 19th we celebrate the feast of St Joseph. As we know, Joseph is known as the earthly father of Jesus. At the time of Jesus’ conception to Mary by the Holy Spirit, Mary and Joseph were not married. Knowing that he would be judged by his community, Joseph was reluctant to take on this role, however, he was visited by God, having a strong belief he accepted what was put before him.

Important Dates:

• Tuesday 21st March – Harmony Day – Class Liturgy

• Thursday 28th March – Easter Liturgy – Whole School – Shed – 9am

I hope you have a wonderful week.

God Bless and take care,

Rhiannon

From the Primary Learning Leader

Gallery Walk

Each term one staff meeting is dedicated to a Gallery Walk. The purpose of a Gallery Walk is for teachers to visit each other’s learning spaces and to share and celebrate the wonderful work happening in their classrooms. It gives our staff an opportunity to engage in professional dialogue around our agreed ‘look fors’ in practice.

Our Agreed ‘Look Fors’ include:

- Dedicated spaces for reading and writing

- Our Learning Loop

- Learning Intentions & Success Criteria unpacked for students

- Differentiated success criteria (to cater for all learning needs)

- Feedback

- Third Teacher – Learning Walls including ‘Bump It Up’ walls/ Word Walls/Anchor Charts/Exemplars.

Participating in a Gallery Walk is not only a valuable opportunity for teachers to share ideas and gather feedback from their colleagues, but also ensures consistency in our practices across all our learning spaces.

Elisha Thatcher

Primary Learning Leader

My New Gallery

School Fees - Reminder

School fees for Term 1 2024 were issued on 8 February and were due for payment by 22 February. Thank you to those families who have already made payments or who have arrangements in place.

If you have not paid your school fees, we ask that you do so as soon as possible or contact the Finance Office to make payment arrangements.

If you have not received a copy of your statement, please check your junk/spam email folder. If you require another copy of your statement, please request by emailing pwynfinance@bne.catholic.edu.au.

The Fee Calculation Worksheet is available on the School Website to assist families with calculating their term school fees.  

Link to School Website – School Fees https://www.guardianangelswynnum.qld.edu.au/enrolments/Pages/School-Fees.aspx

Our preferred method of payment is by Direct Debit. Direct debit forms are available on the School website or please email me at pwynfinance@bne.catholic.edu.au to request a copy.

Other payment options are:

• BPAY using the reference details on your statement.
• Online Payment: https://www.bpoint.com.au/payments/guardianangelsschoolwynnum?BillerCode=1747880 
• EFTPOS via the School Offices.​

Please always feel free to contact the Finance Office should you ever have any questions.

Kind regards

Amy Hardisty – Finance Officer

In other news ........

District Rugby League Team

Congratulations to Lockie in Yr4 who has made the Lytton District Rugby League Team.

We wish him all the best and can't wait to hear how the next phase goes!!

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:

Mae D, William M, Evie W, Hunter C, Evelyn B, Xavier A, Matia C, Jasmine C, Harper W, Stephanie F, Darcey J, Addison R, Claire W, Olive B, Ethan G, Elodie C, Christian C, Madelyn C, Killian N, Hugo R, Zara C, Eamon B, Abi A, Kit P, Amulya I, Patrick O and Charlie L

Enrolments

Existing Guardian Angels' Families - Sibling Prep 2025 Enrolments

Invitations to interview for Prep in 2025 will be sent to all current families who have completed an online enrolment. Interviews for siblings will take place between 19 March and 22 March 2024.

Arrangements for booking your interview day/time will be outlined in your invitation.

Any existing families with children eligible for Prep in 2025, if you haven't already done so, are strongly encouraged to submit their application and supporting documents now. This will ensure that we can include you in the first round of interviews.

All enrolment applications are submitted online via our website: https://www.guardianangelswynnum.qld.edu.au/enrolments/Pages/Enrolment-Information.aspx 

For further information or interest in upcoming tours please contact Fiona Vella on 3396 4486 | pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au

From the Tuckshop

Wednesday 13 March - Helper Needed

Thursday 14 March - Kirsty Johnston

Friday 15 March - Karen Slater 

Wednesday 20 March - Help Needed

Thursday 21 March - Kylie Culwick

Friday 22 March - Gabrielle Soler

Please contact Fiona Vella - fvella@bne.catholic.edu.au - if you are able to volunteer your time in the canteen in 2024.

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

From the Church

From the P & F

From the Community