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Science Week
Over the course of the week, our students will engage in many science based lessons and activities, including our whole school incursion to Twisted Science. Today as I visited classrooms, students were engrossed in multi aged rotational science lessons. The activities provide students with opportunities to develop science inquiry skills, such as: sharing, representing and communicating observations and ideas along with using scientific language to hypothesise and problem solve.
Throughout the term, students have been exploring science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills through our whole school STEM challenges.
Feast of the Assumption
Our students will attend the parish mass tomorrow (Tuesday 15 August) to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. On this day we acknowledge that upon Mary’s death her body was “assumed” into heaven and reunited with her soul. We pray for Mary for her constant dedication to God and her role as the mother of Jesus. Families are welcome to join us at 10:00am tomorrow in our parish church.
Book Week 21-25 August
It is great to see many families sending in their Book Week family activity canvas. Please return these by 24 August. We warmly invite families and friends to join us on Monday 21 August at 9:00am for our Book Week parade and/or our Book Week assembly at 2:45pm on Friday 25 August. Thank you to the many families who have donated books for the Indigenous Book Swap. We are still accepting book donations this week.
First Eucharist (Year 4 Students)
Eucharist Presentation Mass- Sunday 6th August
Last Sunday the Eucharist candidates were presented at the Parish Mass. The children were presented with a white candle which they decorated with their families during the Eucharist Family Workshop last Wednesday. They will use this candle when they receive the Eucharist for the first time on Sunday, 20th August.
Eucharist Reflection Day- Wednesday 9th August
All the Year 4 students spent the day together last Wednesday.
The students participated in the following activities:
- Learnt about the parts of the mass (Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Concluding Rites)
- Attended 10am Parish Mass
- Learnt how to receive the Eucharist and the responses
- Made a momento art piece which will be displayed in the church
Eucharist Family Workshop- Wednesday 9th August
The Eucharist candidates and their families attended a family workshop. During the workshop the students and their families continued to learn about the Eucharist. They also decorated their white candle which they received at the Presentation Mass and added a Eucharist symbol to their Sacramental Stole.
Year 4 Group Celebrating Eucharist- St Catherine’s Church- Sunday 20th August- 10.30am Parish Mass
St Catherine's families are invited to attend to support the students and their families.
Year 1/2 Family Faith Workshop
Monday 21st August- Friday 25th August
Planning is underway for Book Week celebrations in August (Week7).
We have activities planned each day. Parents are welcome to attend the Book Week parade on Monday & the Book Week assembly on Friday afternoon. Parents are also welcome to participate in the Indigenous Book Swap before and after school Tuesday 22nd - Thursday 25th August.
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Monday 21st August |
9.00 Book Week Parade- Families Welcome 11.40-12.30 Book Week Rotation 1- Multiage in classrooms 12.30-1.20 Book Week Rotation 2- Multiage in classrooms 2.15-3.00 Book Week Rotation 3- Multiage in classrooms |
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Tuesday 22nd August |
11.00-11.30 Library Open at Recess- Reading & activities Year Level Colouring Competition- classrooms Indigenous Book Swap - Before and after school (8.45-9.00 & 3.20-3.35) |
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Wednesday 23rd August |
11.00-11.30 Library Open at Recess- Reading & activities Year Level Colouring Competition- classrooms Indigenous Book Swap - Before and after school (8.45-9.00 & 3.20-3.35) |
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Thursday 24th August |
11.00-11.30 Library Open at Recess- Reading & activities Indigenous Book Swap - Before and after school (8.45-9.00 & 3.20-3.35) |
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Friday 25th August |
2.45-3.15 Book Week Assembly- Families Welcome (Run by Learning Hub Leaders) |
Book Week Parade- 9am Monday 21st August
- Children may come to school dressed as their favourite book character. It would be great if they could also bring along the book related to their character to share with class
Book Week Family Activity
- We invite families to select one of their favourite picture story books, novel or series of books.
- Create a drawing, painting, collage related to this book on the canvas supplied (Family name on the back please)
- Family canvases were sent home on Friday, 4th August.
- Return the canvas to the school office before or by Thursday 24th, August for display in the Learning Hub
- There will be prizes available for creative and unique entries
- The Learning & Faith Leaders will be the judges
- Winners will be announced at the Book Week Assembly in the Learning Hub at 2.45pm on Friday, 25th August (Families Welcome)
Book Week Colouring Competition
- This will be completed at school
- Entries will be displayed in the Learning Hub
- The Learning Hub School Leaders will be the judges
- Winners will be announced at the Book Week Assembly in the Learning Hub at 2.45pm on Friday, 25th August (Families Welcome)
Rebecca, Ben & Cristina- Learning & Faith Leaders
Kath Barca - Learning Hub
Carmel Donlon- Assistant Principal
It was fun learning about all of our muscles and making a paper replica to show us exactly how our hand works.
Benjamin C, Year 4
I loved learning about the physics behind making butter. We didn’t get to eat it because the room temperature was not right and the cream didn’t become hard.
Medina, Year 4
Have you ever wondered how a ship made of steel can float? If you drop a steel bolt in a bucket of water, the bolt quickly sinks to the bottom. Then how can a steel ship float? And better yet, how can a steel ship carry a heavy load without sinking?
The students of St Cath’s today ventured out to explore these questions armed with aluminium foil. After multiple builds and many trials, they soon began to realise it had to do with density, or the mass per volume of the ship (and its cargo) compared to the density of water.
Although the water was freezing, we had a great time working out how to balance weight in our tin foil boats. I learnt that foil boats can’t hold that much weight unless the design is well built.
Dom F, Year 3
STEM CHALLENGE
WEEK 2
How and who can build the tallest snowball structure - were the instructions given to all students at St Cath’s for our second STEM challenge for the term. We had some amazing engineers yet again master up designs that would withstand a blizzard on the coldest Arctic day.
Our winners for this round were -
Year 5/6 - Cristina and Daania
Year 3/4 - Medina and Lucy
Year 1/2 - Oliver and Xander
Foundation - Drake and Saul
How did we win?
In order for us to win we had to design a way that our structure would be stable and tall. In class we discussed what shapes were strong and decided to use a hexagon and columns for the most structural integrity. We used lots of teamwork by one person holding the marshmallow structure and the other person carefully placing the marshmallows and toothpicks on. Since our design was a success we repeated the same thing on top, building it up even higher.
How did we decide what shape our structure would be?
We were thinking about how we were going to do this. So we got out a piece of paper and sketched out what we were going to do. We experimented with both options and in the end we chose the hexagon over the square. It was more stable and steady, the square was very wobbly and needed a lot of stability. In the end our structure still wasn't the tallest, but we had one idea left. We stuck the last of our toothpicks at the top causing us to win, leading us to our VICTORY.
Cristina and Daania, Year 6
Lucy and I started with mini blocks and kept adding, making sure that it was stable along the way. We worked well as a team because while one held it, the other added sticks and marshmallows. We knew our structure was good and could be held without falling.
Medina and Lucy Year 3/4
We enjoyed putting all the marshmallows and sticks together. It looked easy at the start but once we started, it was harder than we thought. We each made our own builds. First they fell over. We broke up the builds, thought more about it and worked on a new build that we thought would work. We did. It won!
Ollie and Xander, Years 1/2
We made triangles to make it even bigger. I liked building the tower. I liked glueing the marshmallows and making the triangle high because it was fun.
Saul and Drake, Prep
As part of the school mural project, the P & F is excited to be at the stage where we are interviewing artists and beginning to put together working groups to explore the theme 'the many faces of belonging'. If you are interested in being on the panel to interview the potential artists please contact Suzanne Currie at suzannekcurrie@gmail.com - you need to be available on the morning of Thursday, August 17 and for a brief phone call beforehand to outline the project. If you haven't volunteered before or have ideas about how the mural could look I would love to hear from you. Please RSVP by tomorrow, Tuesday 15th of August. 
