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MACSSIS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SURVEY
Each year our school participates in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings students, families and staff have about how their school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
One of the main goals of the family survey is to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in our school. MACSSIS data benefits everyone within our school and provides valuable community insights on areas that each school can focus on. Our school believes it is important to encourage families to have a voice and contribute to shaping the ongoing improvement of the school.
Tomorrow a hard copy letter will be sent home with the eldest in the family. The letter contains the link to the survey and a family pin. An Operoo containing this information will also be sent home tomorrow.
BOOK WEEK
Last week we celebrated a fabulous week of reading, dressing up, competitions and fun. Thanks to all our families that joined in on the celebrations, whether you attended our book parade, school assembly or entered the family activity.
FATHER’S DAY
Our Father’s day stall will take place on Thursday 1 September. Please return form and money to the school office.
Wishing all our dad’s, grandfathers and special friends a very happy Father’s Day on Sunday 4 September.
COVID-19-Household contacts
Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. It is required that household contacts undertake daily rapid antigen testing five times within the 7 days of exposure.
Students from Grade 3 and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school. This does not apply to students who have a valid exemption.
If your child returns a positive RAT result during this period, they must stay home for 7 days, and then only leave home once they feel well.
Note: If your child tests positive with a RAT but does not have symptoms and you don’t believe they have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19, it is recommended getting a PCR test within the first 48 hours of testing positive and stay isolated at all times until they receive their result.
If your child’s subsequent PCR test is negative, they will be able to leave isolation and return to school. If the PCR test result is positive, they must follow the steps above.
Australians are working together to keep children safe and well. Individuals, organisations and governments across areas as diverse as early childhood education and care, health, mental health, disability, alcohol and other drug treatment and prevention, domestic and family violence, justice, housing and employment.
To help facilitate a big conversation about how to create a supportive environment for every child, we are taking inspiration from the ARACY Nest domains. These domains help us to think about the many things that every child and young person needs in order to grow up safe and well. They include:
feeling loved and safe
having a positive sense of identity and culture
having material basics
being healthy
learning
participating
https://www.napcan.org.au/ncpw-theme/
In our school and all Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic schools, policies and procedures have been developed to meet the new Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359. Our staff value building trusting and caring relationships with students and families. Our curriculum provides learning opportunities for students' individual learning, physical, mental, and emotional health needs. We encourage a culture of participation, student voice, where young people feel that they are being listened to. Our school supports students’ spiritual development and cultural connectedness.
Analia Carapeto
I was so excited to do my Holy Communion. My Mum and I prepared early and we got my dress made and we decorated my shoes. I wanted to wear my mum's tiara from her wedding. I was nervous about doing a reading as there were a lot of people at the church. The communion bread didn’t taste like I expected. The teachers did a very good job with all the organising. After church my family came with me for a very yummy lunch and a delicious cake. I had such a good day. I felt really special and very pretty and I just loved my beautiful dress.
Daraius Mendonca
I was very excited to be wearing my new suit for my First Holy Communion. I couldn't wait to receive the bread. In the morning, I got up and swiftly dressed in my suit. After everyone got ready, we drove to the church. At the church, I received my stole and candle from my teachers. My classmates were also receiving Communion along with me. It was a big day and a celebration for all of us.
When we entered the church, our teachers lit all our candles for us to procession to the altar as a group. I found the pew my family was allocated. When I sat on the bench, I saw my prayer book in front of me which had my name on it. I felt very special. After a few minutes the Mass began. Father John O'Reilly started the Mass with a greeting to everyone. Father also welcomed us individually and greeted us with a handshake. He gave us blessings and said " Jesus welcomes you Daraius".
When it was time for the first reading, I got up and walked up to the altar and did the reading which made me a part of the Eucharist.
After mass ended, the teachers gave us our certificates, candles and Eucharist canvas’. We took photos with our teachers, families and friends. After mass, we went to celebrate this very special day of mine with my family and friends.
National Science Week Australia 2022 is the annual celebration of all things science and technology. It’s recognised every year in August. This year we celebrated in week 7, the 13th-21st August.
St Catherine’s celebrated the week with interactive and inspiring activities to get our students excited about science. General wonderment, asking questions, talking about things we don’t know the answers to - these are all ways to get enraptured about a subject and maybe even ignite the scientists of tomorrow.
Chemical Science with Ms Geheran and Mrs Moore
SLIME = AWESOME SCIENCE!
Chemistry is all about states of matter including liquids, solids, and gasses. It is all about the way different materials are put together, and how they are made up including atoms and molecules. Chemistry is how materials act under different conditions and/or form new substances.
This is why slime is an excellent chemistry demonstration and kids love it too! Mixtures, substances, polymers, cross-linking, states of matter, elasticity and viscosity are just a few of the science concepts that can be explored when making slime!
WHY DOES STICK MAN FLOAT?
Have you ever wished your drawings would come alive? Well, it is not as impossible as it sounds. In this activity, children’s drawings moved around because of the chemistry of dry-erase markers. A must in every classroom, turns out they are also perfect for doing science because the contain a special ingredient to make this possible!
FMH Science Week Review
During Science Week the Foundation students loved mixing with all of the students in the school. They were so excited to share what they had done when they returned back to the classroom each afternoon.
Below are some of the comments the students wanted to share about their experiences.
Science week was infinity out of infinity because I love science. Tex
We made an amazing lava lamp. I liked watching the bubbles explode. Harvey
Making the slime was amazing. It was so slimy and we had to add more activator to stop it being so sticky. Georgia
I thought the elephant toothpaste was incredible because it exploded when we put 2 ingredients together. Xander
When we put some Mentos into the bottle of coke, it exploded out of the top. Liam
I loved every activity, they were all 1000 out of 1000. Sebastien
We did an experiment called “rising water''. When the cup was put over the candle and the flame went out, the water rose into the cup. Mitchell
Dreaming with Eyes Open...
On the first day of Book Week, Elizabeth Semmel came to St. Catherine’s to run an interactive drama session with the students in each class. The session began with a miming activity. The students really enjoyed joining in and contributing to this performance.
The theme for book week was, ‘Dreaming With Eyes Open’. Students were given the chance to act out what they wanted to be in the future. The other students in the class had to then guess their dreams. To end the season, students then wrote their dreams and hopes for the future on stars. Overall the students had a great time!
R U OK?Day is Thursday 8 September 2022.
It’s our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life. This year’s theme is “Ask R U OK? No qualifications needed.” Remember a conversation asking R U OK? could change a life.
Research completed by the R U OK team has found four in ten Australians feel asking someone “are you OK?” is a conversation better had with an expert.
However, R U OK? want you to know you don’t need qualifications to have an R U OK? conversation. The work of health professionals is vital, and their value cannot be underestimated; however we can all play a role in supporting the people in our world. You don’t need to be an expert to have an R U OK? conversation. Listening and giving someone your time might be just what they need to help them through.
As a school we will recognise the importance of asking our friends and those around us if they are okay with some lessons throughout the week. The following link is a great way to support students with 4 steps to check in with a friend.
Congratulations to the following students from 5/6AT who achieved their Shiroi Obi (White Belt) in reading and writing the first 10 Hiragana characters in a systematic order:
Nathan Anesidis, Cristina Chiodo, Alexandra Danaher, Eva Sulpecki and
Mia Wang
With summer fast approaching, the Omega Cricket Club would like invite anyone interested in playing cricket this upcoming season to come and join the club. We are looking for girls and boys to join the junior program which starts at the junior blasters through to the Under 14 side. For more information visit http://omegacc.vic.cricket.