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Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Unbelievably, last Sunday was the final week of Ordinary time in the Year A Liturgical Calendar. The readings over the last few weeks have alluded to the idea that we should not play it safe when new realities are on the horizon. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we cannot always fall back on what has always worked in the past.
As we prepare for unknown future changes, Jesus encourages us, as he did to his followers, to consider that everything could be on the line and that old ways may not be enough. Without some risk there cannot be any reward. Times of change call us to be creative, energised and take full advantage of every opportunity to draw closer to God.
In the coming weeks we will prepare to farewell our current leaders, our Year 6 students, and begin the process of selecting our new School Leaders for 2021, with our current Year 5 students. This process will involve the students carefully thinking through exactly what it means to be a leader, what a leadership role demands and what contributions they could make to our school community. The students must consider the risk and challenge involved in nominating for a formal leadership role.
I have found through experience that the essence of leadership is very simple: it is about having influence to support the needs of others. Hence, the most important attribute of leadership lies in enabling – enabling people to do things better, enabling others to make a difference.
As members of the Mary ImmaculateCcommunity we know the values which are at the heart of our school and the importance that we place on treating all within our community with respect, justice, care and compassion. Naturally, we expect our leaders to act consistently with these values in mind and to model the behaviours that we would wish to see from all.
Leadership is not salesmanship; leadership is striving to consistently act with integrity.
As I have emphasised many times with the students, leadership does not, and should not, simply reside with those who are in formal roles of leadership at our school. Everyone in the school is capable of leading. All are capable of serving. All, no matter what grade, what age, what position they hold in the school, have the capacity to act as leaders. All have the capacity to work to ensure that others’ lives are made better and those in need are supported.
I encourage everyone in our community to be responsive to opportunities to be leaders and to contribute to making Mary Immaculate an even better community. I am reminded of a prayer attributed to St. Augustine who died in the year 430. He was a Christian who took great risks to reap the reward of God’s grace in his life. This was his advice; it can be ours too:
"Pray as though everything depends upon God. Work as though everything depends on you."
Lord give me the grace I need this week to do what it takes to remain faithful to you and to serve you with an open and willing heart as I strive to make Christ my Way and Life.
Tina Murray
Principal
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT PARENT SURVEY
Welcoming our new students and their families during the last two weeks is certainly an exciting time at Mary Immaculate. It is also a reminder that sadly, this year is quickly slipping away before us. At the moment, although we are very much in the midst of continuing with our ‘business as usual,’ we are also very much immersed in planning for the directions our school will take in 2021.
We are currently involved in attempting to finalize enrolments and undertaking recruitment and placement of staff for 2021. All parents are invited to contribute to an annual survey that will assist in the completion of our Annual School Report. Thank you to the parents who have already provided input. If you have not yet contributed I encourage you to provide your very valued input that will assist us in discerning and planning for improvements and initiatives for 2021.
The survey can be accessed by pasting the URL listed below into your web browser.
https://forms.gle/P2SA8KWTKEhrH1PL7
Alternatively, parents who prefer to complete this survey as a hard copy can collect the survey from the Office.
Rationale for the Semester 2 Report, 2020
Information For Parents
Due to COVID-19, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has permitted schools to select the content that will form the basis of educational programs for Kindergarten to Year 10 students during 2020. As a result, not all syllabus content will be reported upon in Semester 2.
Semester 2 Student Reports will be distributed in Week 9 to all families via Compass. Please ensure contact details are current to streamline this process.
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Features of the Semester 2 Report: Why |
Features of the Semester 2 Report: Why |
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Omission of an overall grade for each Key Learning Area (KLA) |
In line with the flexible curriculum requirements as outlined by NESA, schools addressed all Key Learning Areas, however, not all outcomes and content were taught, assessed and reported upon. Therefore, the overall grades in each KLA have been omitted from this Semester 2 Report for 2020. |
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5 Point scale for Effort Descriptors |
Previous Academic Reports contained Commitment to Learning Descriptors, these have been replaced with a 5-point scale outlining the effort demonstrated by the student during learning activities. |
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Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) Description |
The format used to report on PB4L has been modified to reflect a more comprehensive range of students’ social skills and behaviours. |
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Inclusion of descriptions for each Key Learning Area (KLA) and Content Strands |
Additional detail has been added to describe the knowledge and skills taught in each KLA. The purpose of this information is to provide parents with a clearer understanding of the teaching and learning taking place. |
Tina Murray
PRINCIPAL
SCHOOL BANKING
NEXT
School Banking Day
Wednesday 25 November 2020.
Happy Birthday to the following children who will be celebrating their birthday this week:
Congratulations to 4 Blue and 5 Green, the two classes to earn a Gold Star last week. What an amazing effort, well done! Again, well done to all the students who remembered to return their books and bring their Library bags. Please try again this week – as we are nearing the end of the year we need to return all outstanding loans. THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK OF BORROWING, we still have over 300 outstanding loans from students. Please search your rooms, book shelves etc to see where they are hiding! While searching, please also look out for all those Library bags we have lent to students. Thank you.
Chess: Our Chess tournament is moving along, Years 5 and 6 are up to the play-offs, and Year 4 are starting this week. There have already been some outstanding matches, congratulations to all participants.
Scholastic Book Club: The brochures for the last campaign for 2020 have gone home, you may be able to do some Christmas shopping! Thank you for supporting this project, which earns commission for the school, enabling us to acquire resources, which can then be used by your children. The orders will close next Thursday 26 November. Thank you
It is a very busy time of year but please try to take time to read with your children every day:
"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."
Albert Einstein
Happy reading!
Mrs Sue Bryant
Teacher-Librarian
Upcoming events:
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Tuesday 8 December 2020
- ACTIVATE Fire Retreat Day - School: Wednesday 9 December 2020
- Year 6 Farewell Liturgy and luncheon: Tuesday 15 December 2020
- End of Year Mass: Wednesday 16 December 2020
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - This year we will be celebrating our Feast Day very differently. We will be having a school celebration due to COVID-19 restrictions. Students will be invited to wear mufti on this day with a blue and white theme for Mary. Additionally, our P&F will be holding a sausage sizzle with a popper for all the students.
Most importantly, we will be holding a very special prayer for our Feast Day in the hall with activities to follow.
ACTIVATE Fire Retreat Day - The Wollongong Diocese Catholic Youth Ministry Team has launched an online version of the spirituality program designed for all Year 6 students across the Diocese. This year our students will be participating in a Spiritual Retreat Day at school. We will be running the online version of this program and providing lunch for the students.
Year 6 Farewell Liturgy - Our ‘Year 6 Farewell Liturgy’ will be held during the day on Tuesday 15 December 2020. This event will be recorded as the current COVID restriction for our Church continues to be 91 people. Students will participate in a special luncheon in the hall afterward, with a sharing of memories. This will be uploaded on Google Classroom for parents and children to share the event together. Further details will be forthcoming via a letter to all students.
End of Year Mass - Our ‘End of Year Mass’ will be available for viewing on Wednesday 16 December 2020. This mass will be attended by the Year 6 cohort and relevant Year 5 students and recorded for all students to view. Students will gather after Lunch 1 on the final day to officially farewell those leaving our school and forming our traditional ‘Guard of Honour’. Parents are unfortunately unable to attend or enter the school grounds on this day.
Mrs Kirsty Simpson
Religious Education Co-Ordinator
A few weeks ago, our new Mini Vinnies team for 2021 was inducted. This team is full of enthusiastic students who are leaders already. They lead through their positive actions.
We would like to acknowledge the New Mini Vinnies Leadership Team for 2021 who have been voted into their positions by their peers:
- President- Abigail S
- Vice President- Jack B
- Secretary- Caitlin R
- Treasurer- Janet L
- Prayer Leaders- Stella S and Sophie C
Congratulations to each of these students.
Mrs Biviano
Kindergarten Green Teacher
Dear Families,
On Wednesday 2 December the P&F will hold a Hot Dog Day fundraising event at Lunch 2. The cost will be $2 per hot dog.
Please Fill out and return the order form by Thursday 26 November.
P&F Association