Newman News Term 1 Week 2: From the Leader of Primary
After last week’s ‘false start’ to begin the year, it has been wonderful to welcome all of our students and families back to school, especially those who are new to our community. I am very pleased with the start students have made in their classrooms, and already we are seeing some fine examples of student excellence, both in work habits, and in how students are conducting themselves in the playground.
If I could sum up my hopes and aspirations for our campus in one word for 2021 it would be community. The Marist theme for 2021, ‘Breathe: The Spirit of Life (Rm 8:2) encourages us to pause after what has been an eventful twelve months and take stock of that which is most important in our lives. This year, I hope students come to appreciate the wonderful people in their lives; their friends, their teachers, and most importantly, their families. I hope that they can see the wonderful community that they are a part of, and the role they have to play in contributing to this. Each day, students at the Lavalla campus will gather as a community. It is our chance to set the tone for the day, encourage a reflective thought, or acknowledge the many examples of excellence we see in our community each day. I hope this year that all students can come to understand what it means to be a student at Newman College. I hope that they are able to see that they are an important and valuable member of our community, and that they have an important role to play in the success of our campus. We look forward to supporting and celebrating our students in their journey this year.
Year 6 Student Leaders
On Wednesday at the High Achievers Assembly this week, we commissioned our new student leaders for 2021. The standard of applications to the leadership program for this year was very high, and we are delighted to acknowledge those students who were successfully nominated by their peers to take on this responsibility. One of the many nuances of leadership students have come to understand though, is that leadership is not about wearing a badge; it is about setting a good example for others and doing the small things well. We look forward to the journey ahead of us with our new student leaders at the helm.
Congratulations to Isabella Crisona, Michael Ng, Brayden Lim, Anabel Raguseo, Tahlia Thayer, Xavier Dunstan, Nikita Aylmore, Benji Thompson, Jaspar Martin-Booth, Benji Davies, Aaron Stannard, and Madelyn Bertolini. You can watch the commissioning of our 2021 student leaders here.
Parking
As many families can appreciate, our carpark is always a very busy and hectic place, especially at the beginning of the year as new families and students get used to the drop-off and pick-up procedures. Parents are reminded to take it easy in the carpark, and be considerate of those around us. Students should only be entering vehicles at the designated areas, and only ever cross as the designated crossings. Parents are also reminded that there are teachers on duty until 3.30pm each afternoon, so if you want to miss the traffic and collect your child at 3.25pm you are more than welcome.
Homework Club & Coder Dojo
Homework will commence next week Monday 15 February. Homework Club takes place each Monday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm in the library. This is a great opportunity for students to get a head start on their homework for the week under the supervision and assistance of some of our teachers.
Coder Dojo will also recommence this term, though it will start on Tuesday 23 February. Coder Dojo occurs every Tuesday afternoon and is an opportunity for students to be involved in computer coding, and take part in other IT related activities. Students need to bring their iPad, and will be under the direction of staff at all times.
Both the Homework Club and Coder Dojo are open to all of our students. If you wish to attend, you just need to let your child’s teacher know.
Term 1 Swimming
Swimming for Term One has commenced, with our Year 4 students hitting the pool for the first time this week during Phys Ed. All students will be taking part in the Swimming Trials next Thursday 18 February in preparation for the Swimming Carnival which is on Friday 26 February.
More information around the requirements for swimming will be shared by Mrs Richards via the class SeeSaw pages, but generally, students will need to remember to bring bathers, rashie, towel, and goggles to take part. If you have any questions about the swimming program for this term, please see your class teacher.
Learning Hub Tour
Earlier this week, our Year 6 students took a tour of the new Saint John Henry Newman Learning Hub. The Hub is available to use for all students across Year 3-6, and families will have the opportunity to inspect the space on the same evening as the Parent Teacher Information sessions. It is an incredible learning space that really needs to be seen in person to be appreciated. Our students certainly thought so too.
“It was so big and fancy, but it also felt very calming and inspiring. The library was amazing and there were so many books. We are looking forward to going again.”- Fletcher Bell (6 Blue)
Food Allergy Reminder
The beginning of the school year is always a good time to remind families that there are a number of students at our school who have food allergies, some of which are life threatening. We please ask families to consider the foods their child brings to school, and to avoid nut products in lunchboxes. It is our job as a community to support all of our students and to keep them safe. If you have any questions about how student allergies are managed in the school please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.