Guardian Angels' Newsletter Term1 Week 9 2024
Coming up @ GA
Year 4 Excursion - Ngutana - Lui | 25 March
Cross Country | 27 March
Term 1 Concludes | 28 March
Week 10
Monday 25 March
Uniform Shop open 7:30am - 10:30am
Yr 1 - Yr 6 Singing Program (Creative Kidz)
Year 4 Excursion - Ngutana - Lui
Tuesday 26 March
Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)
Wednesday 27 March
Tuckshop - NO ORDERS TODAY
Sports Aerobics - Hall - 7:30am
Choir - Music Room - 7:45am
P - 6 Cross Country
P - 6 Assembly - Cross Country Presentation - 1:50pm MC Shed (all welcome)
Roar Active After School Program - 3.15pm - 4.15pm - Bay Tce Oval
Thursday 28 March
Last Day of Term 1
Tuckshop (Orders must be in by 7:30am)
Uniform Shop open 1:00pm - 4pm
Yr 1 - Yr 6 Instrumental Music Program (Creative Kidz)
Friday 29 March
Good Friday
From the Principal
As we move towards the end of Term 1 and the Easter vacation, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past term, and express my gratitude to all for your efforts, dedication, and commitment to our school community.
We have had a wonderful term. The students have proudly strived to ‘LIVE the GA Way’, inside and outside the classroom, contributing to a strong sense of community spirit.
During a recent Principal’s Tour, I was asked what made our school different from other schools. I was quick to respond with ‘our fantastic community spirit, our beautiful children and families, our amazing staff who work relentlessly to provide quality learning and teaching for every child in their care, and the way that we bring our faith to life’.
Sharing in the success of the LIVE the GA Way achievements with our students at assembly celebrated the great strength of spirit in our Guardian Angels’ School community. It shines through in our ability to work in partnership with a genuine care and thoughtfulness for each other.
I extend thanks to the GA staff for their commitment and professionalism towards their work, that places the students in their care at the heart of all that they do. The parent teacher meetings over the past week have showcased their dedication, and the learning partnership with our families that is deeply valued.
As we welcome the vacation at the end of next week, the Easter celebrations and activities enable a sharing of the Easter Story in our families and friends. The Easter Story enables us to follow the last days of Jesus’ life before his resurrection. It is an important time in the Christian calendar and reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made.
During Holy Week, our focus is on God’s love for all and what it means to be people who are full of hope. This same message, being ‘people of hope’, has been shared often by Pope Francis to us over the Lenten Season, and is one that continues to inspire us. We are reminded that all the symbols of Easter, the chocolate eggs and rabbits, are signs of new life and connect us to the underlying meaning of Easter, in the rising of Jesus to new life.
Easter is a time for reflection, renewal, and hope. I wish you all a very happy and holy Easter Season, and an enjoyable vacation period.
I look forward to welcoming you all to Term 2 on Monday 15 April 2024.
From the Assistant Principal - Administration
Good afternoon loveliest of families …
We have only a little over a week until a most deserved holiday break for all of our angels and staff. This term has been so busy … and hot. I think sometimes, the hot weather has contributed to the tiredness I sense our students are all feeling. I hope they are all able to enjoy some rest and recuperation in the coming weeks.
Parent Teacher Interviews
This week, our classroom teachers have enjoyed opportunities to sit and chat with you about the progress and wonderful achievements of our students over the past nine weeks. Thank you all for engaging so thoughtfully and respectfully in the Parent Teacher Interviews. I know that at the time of publication, they aren’t quite finished yet, however this week is always a fabulous time to spend a little bit of time with your child/ren’s teacher/s. Thank you all for continuing to work in partnership with us; it’s a really privileged and lovely way for us all to support our students.
Remember 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)
NAPLAN
Well … the 'official' NAPLAN schedule is OVER at GA for another year, although the NAPLAN window will remain open until Monday 25 March.
I still have a few Catch Up tests to run, however the large group tests (Writing, Reading. Conventions of Language and Numeracy) for Years 3 & 5 are all done.
I am immensely proud of our Year 3 and 5 students who have handled NAPLAN with grace and as much confidence as they could muster. They all were wonderful ... right throughout the process.
I must also thank our incredible teachers.
Firstly:
Mrs Loren Cahill
Mrs Jo Summerville
Mrs Alison Hackett
Mr Will Erwin
Mrs Fiona James
Mrs Jayne Murphy
Ms Suz Faulkner
Mr Warren Kay
Mrs Alana Prasnikar
Mrs Melinda Paljakka
Mrs Elisha Thatcher
These professionals were truly amazing.
They made this whole process incredibly seamless, and they supported our students just beautifully.
My thanks in this space extends beyond the actual NAPLAN testing. While the Year 3 and Year 5/6 teachers’ work IN THE
LEAD UP to NAPLAN also ...it's not just about the actual RUNNING of the tests of course, but the educational preparation that occurs in the teaching and learning context of any school.
In addition to that though, to EVERY teacher who has taught these students in the years before/between NAPLAN ... The work they ALL do with our students contributes to their confidence and competence across any educational context.
And finally … to YOU also. I know that, if a student is feeling anxious around times such as this, it’s most often communicated at home in their safest of spaces. Thank you for always being the most wonderful advocates and support for your beautiful children.
As we approach the Easter break, I wish you all blessings of peace and safe travels (if you are heading away) over the Easter holiday. Remember … Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all your eggs into one basket (haha).
But what is it truly … of course, Easter is the ultimate symbol of hope, renewal, love and new life. Being able to spend time with those who are precious to us is another special gift of Easter, and one where we can also remember and celebrate the gift of Jesus.
“Let everything you do, be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
Nicole Waller
From the Assistant Principal - Religious Education
Term 1 has certainly gone by quickly and what a fantastic term we have had! A lot has been achieved! By building strong relationships that encompass how we LIVE the GA Way, we have come together to finish another successful term at Guardian Angels’!
Holy Week
Next week we mark Holy Week. We will be have a whole school liturgy to reflect on the significant days leading to the Resurrection of Jesus. During this liturgy we remember the betrayal that Jesus felt during his last week of his life. As he broke bread with his disciples, he uttered the words “do this in memory of me”. He knew that his life was drawing to a close but he remained full of faith. I encourage you to take the time over the Easter weekend to reflect on the events of Jesus’ life.
We will acknowledge the Season of Easter, with a whole school Easter Liturgy on Thursday the 28th of March, at 9am in the Shed, all are welcome.
Project Compassion
Every year during Lent, Caritas Australia launch their Project Compassion appeal. This year, the theme For All Future Generations is inspired by the story of the burning bush in the book of Exodus (Exodus 3:1–20).
God said,
'This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come.'
Exodus 3:15
In this story, God tells Moses that he has heard the cry of the people. God responds to things not being fair and chooses Moses to speak to Pharaoh.
Though Moses is afraid, God promises to be with him.
As God called Moses, so now God calls us to work 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 when graced with the kindness of people like you, extraordinary things can happen.
This year, Project Compassion brings you the stories of three resilient women from three different corners of the world. They are facing vastly different challenges, but are all united by one dream: to create a better tomorrow for all future generations.
Ronita from the Philippines. Ronita is a mother of two young boys living in a slum in Quezon City. She went back to school to finish her education so that she could earn income to support her children.
Leaia from Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water was very difficult for Leaia and her family. But, with the support of Caritas Australia, a water tank was installed at their home, improving their health and living conditions.
Memory from Malawi. Memory, the eldest daughter from a rural Malawian family, trained to become a carpenter and is now a trailblazer for future generations of women in her village.
Your support this year has ensured Ronita, Leaia and Memory and many more, have a path to a brighter future for all generations.
LIVE the GA Way
This year we continue to strengthen our LIVE the GA Way. At Guardian Angels’ we foster a community that believes in developing the whole child - academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. We understand we are a teaching and learning environment, and it is important we focus on a holistic approach for our children, so they have the opportunity to develop into happy, productive and successful members of society - 'To Achieve Life’
We embed through all we do and say, the GA Way:
Students have been working hard to earn tokens to go towards a whole school reward. To get yourself a token means you have shown that you are living the GA Way. This term our goal was to fill one tower and if we did we would earn 15mins of extra play!
From the Primary Learning Leader
Last week our teachers came together as a staff to participate in our Moderation process where teachers brought their English Unit and student’s writing samples to share. The teachers worked collaboratively within their year level teams to establish a shared understanding of expected levels of student progress and achievement at this time. The teachers used the Achievement Standard from the Australian Curriculum to determine where students are at with their learning. They then engaged in professional dialogues to establish their next teaching responses to move students forward with their learning.
For effective moderation to take place teachers need to engage in conversations several times with their year level team to ensure consistency and a thorough understanding of what is being assessed within the Achievement Standard.
During these conversations, it was exciting to hear how confidently and positively the students have been utilising the Third Teacher (learning walls and exemplars) in their learning spaces to assist them in moving their own learning forward.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend
Elisha Thatcher
In other news ........
Too sick for school?
Please keep your child at home if they are experiencing any COVID-19, cold or flu-like symptoms, however mild.
If your child vomits or has diarrhoea at home we ask for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea before your child returns to school.
If we contact you because your child is unwell, please collect your child as soon as possible. This will help us to reduce the risk of spreading infections in our school.
Thank you for your support and understanding in keeping our school community well.
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:
Georgia L, Juliette M, Olivia H, Emma G, Ella B, Eddie V, Julia M, Emma L, Amelia L, Millar H, Thomas H, Brooks T, Emerson O, Quinton S, Spencer S, Killian S, Zy, E, Reece L, Arianna M, Amelia J, Ruby M, Lincoln O, Beau C, Marli G, Aaron N, Alexander S, Dakota A, Georgi G, Zoe G, Jesse J, Erina M, Charlotte T, Riley D
From the Tuckshop
Tuesday 26 March - Help Needed
Thursday 28 March - Help Needed
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
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