5 July 2018

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Learning is a complicated process and is rarely linear in nature. More often when we learn things it takes a somewhat haphazard winding path where we discover new information and integrate it with existing knowledge to form new and updated concepts. It can be interminably slow at times and at others we make intuitive leaps and grasp new things in moments. Despite this, learning can be planned for and strategised – this is in fact the vast majority of teachers’ work. It is crucial that learners also make plans for their own learning. Having a solid understanding of where they are now and where they can go next with their learning is a crucial part of a learner’s journey. Feedback plays an important part in this process. By taking on board comments and direction regarding their progress, learners can assess their own performance and make and implement plans for their next learning.

Teacher feedback from assessments, semester reports and parent teacher Learning Conferences are all critical parts of the feedback process for students. As the reports come home this early in Term Three, I encourage all our students and parents to read over them with a view to learning what has occurred and where the learning needs to go next. The reports are good information for shaping the Learning Conference and discussing in more detail how learning can progress.

At this half way point in the year may I take this opportunity to congratulate all on their learning progress thus far and encourage them to set new, improved and well informed goals for the rest of the year.

Staff Changes
Last week the College farewelled Mrs Carolyn Whitehouse who has been a staff member at our College for the last 20 years. Carolyn has held different roles at the College, most recently as LOTE teacher.  On behalf of the College, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Carolyn and thank her for her many contributions. We wish her all the best for the future. 

The College is also farewelling Mrs Lucinda Hall at the end of Term Two who has been working on Mondays in Year 5 this Semester. Thank you Lucinda for all your contributions to our College. Replacing Mrs Hall in Year 5 will be Mrs Cassie Williams who is returning from maternity leave. 
Mid Year Reporting

This year, the College mid-year report timeline has changed. Reports will be issued to families on Monday 23 July 2018 (first day of Term 3). Learning Conferences will be held in Week 2 on Tuesday 31 July / Wednesday 1 August 2018 from 3:30pm-5:30pm. Each conference is scheduled for 15 minutes, so if you could stick to this time it would be greatly appreciated. If you need more time, teachers will be happy to make follow up appointments. This process is a positive way of building relationships and ensuring commitment to the individualised learning outcomes your son or daughter requires.

Appointments can be made ONLINE or by contacting the College office. The online booking process is done through a system called Session Keeper. To book click on the link below or contact the College office via phone: (03) 62951 541 or email: stjames@catholic.tas.edu.au

God Bless,
Allan Clark
Principal

General Notices

Student Free Day – Friday 6 July 2018

SMS Absence Notification

The College accepts SMS absentee notifications. Please SMS: 0488 863 246 with your child's name, grade and absent reason. Please save this number in your phone for future reference.

School Fees

Thank you to those families who have made fee payment arrangements and/or paid upfront for 2018. Fees are now due and if you do not have a payment arrangement in place you are required to contact the College Business Manager Kelly Du Bois for a confidential discussion.

Student Medical Detail Update

Please consider if your child's medical information has changed. If you haven't yet advised the school office, please do so. If you have previously supplied an epi-pen or other medication which may have since expired, please organise a replacement.

Little Lights – Birth to Four Program

Kindergarten Enrolments for 2019

May Ball Photos

This year, May Ball photos can be viewed online and ordered through the College Office. For instructions and a copy of the order form, click the link below. Alternatively, hard copy order forms are available from the office

GYC Year 11/12 Information 2019

Please see below links to the 2019 course handbook and a PDF version of the PowerPoint presentation used at this last week’s Year 10 parent information evenings.

2019 Handbook

College Facebook page

Join our College Facebook page just type in: @StJamesCatholicCollege in the Facebook search bar.

We are fundraising- A Call for Volunteers!

With our St James Catholic College School Tour to New Zealand leaving in September we are putting out the call for volunteers to help us with fundraising on upcoming events with all money raised to help subsidise the cost of the trip.

Request for donation of items for Groceries Raffle

We are requesting the donation of items to go in a Groceries Raffle. If you would like to contribute any items please leave at the College office.

Request for volunteers for 3 upcoming sausage sizzles at Huonville Mitre 10

We have been able to secure 3 future dates to hold sausage sizzles at the Huonville Mitre 10. If you are able to volunteer a couple of hours between 10am-2pm on the dates below, it would be greatly appreciated. Students attending the NZ trip are encouraged to help out.

Our Huonville Mitre 10 sausage sizzle dates are:

• Saturday 7th July
• Sunday 5th August
• Sunday 2nd September

Please contact the College if you are interested in volunteering or donating. Over the coming weeks we will be pursuing additional fund raising activities, so stay tuned!

Kingston Bus

A message from the Kingston Bus owner:

If travelling beyond Nicholls Rivulet students must have a ticket, bus pass or $1.70 to travel on the bus. Students who are travelling to Kingston Sports Centre must sit on the left-hand side of the bus and remind the bus driver at Margate that they are going to the Sports Centre.

Kingston Bus: Gets students to Kingston Pool, Kingston Sports Centre and Metro Kingston to Hobart connections. Arrives in Kingston approx 3.55pm most days.

Slab Road/Gardners Bay Bus: Gets students to Kettering for Bruny Island connection.

Thank you - John Smith, owner.

Happening at SJCC

Congratulations

Hadley Shepheard has been very involved with college life and saw the rewards of his efforts at the primary assembly last week. Hadley was the highest fundraiser in the College for the recent fun run. He got to select a range of prizes from the CUA School Fun Run and received a special certificate and a medal.

In addition, the Premier's Reading Challenge recently ended and we had some bonus prizes to give out. These were drawn and awarded to eligible students. Eligibility was based on the following criteria: the student had participated in the PRC, they had returned their log book and they had returned the prize preference note. Hadley was eligible and was randomly drawn as the first prize winner.

1st prize: Hadley Shepheard (Year 1) Hawks junior membership and general admission ticket
2nd prize: Myfanwy Kemmis-Cole (Year 2) Hawks junior membership
3rd prize & 4th prize: Blake Jones & Ruby Wilcox (Prep) A book voucher each

It was wonderful to see all students receiving awards and prizes for their enthusiastic involvement in school events.

AVAST YE LANDLUBBERS

Yesterday the Pirates came to Kindergarten. We have had such a fantastic time in Kinder with our Year 6 buddies, and this week we all hoisted a sail and navigated the seven seas together. Mr Wigan and the Year 6 students planned activities, and a treasure hunt for the Kinders, and we all worked together on tasks. We have learnt Pirate language, we walked the plank, and we even made our own parrots that could talk to us. We had the added bonus of raising money for Children's Brain Cancer.

Well done to all the Pirate folk!

Kinder/Prep/Year 1 and 2 visit the Museum

Last Friday, the Prep, One and Two classes went on an exciting excursion to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. After a chilly morning tea, we explored the Lola Greeno exhibition and marvelled at her iridescent patterned jewellery made from delicate stands of shells from local coastlines. After that we investigated plants and animals within the permanent Earth and Life exhibition and were particularly excited about the chance to examine huntsman spiders up close (the adults were not as keen). A highlight was the Islands to Ice exhibition, through which we were guided by museum curator Richard. We discovered that Antarctica was once connected to Australia and that is inching further away each year. We touched freezing ice and imagined what it must be like for Emperor penguins to stand on it without any slippers. There were many giggles as our friend was dressed up as an Emperor penguin, and gasps as we saw how large an albatross' wingspan truly is. Touching real penguin skin was interesting, although it did leave our guide trying to explain that, no, he wasn’t the one who had killed the penguin. The weather cleared up for lunch and a fun play at Princes Park in Battery Point before we piled back onto the bus only slightly more quietly than on the way there. Thank you to our adult helpers, we certainly couldn’t have done it without you!

Puppets

The Year 6 students have been making puppets and last week they performed puppet shows for the Kindergarten students!

Year 8 HASS & Mathematics Pop Up Shop

Last Wednesday 27 June the playground at the College was abuzz with the sound of students eating beautiful, hand-made products. The Year 8 students, as part of a HASS & Mathematics collaboration put together their own Pop Up businesses at lunchtime. The students were responsible for every aspect of running their stall from marketing, production, costing and sales to produce food items to sell. Wow, did these students impress. As teachers, we were absolutely blown away by the professional approach the students gave to the project. Their independence, initiative and dedication are to be applauded. We definitely have some budding entrepreneurs in the making. All profits made on the day will be donated to St Vincent de Paul. Congratulations to our Year 8 students.

From the Sports Desk

Primary State Cross Country

Secondary State Cross Country

On Tuesday 3 July, the College Secondary Cross Country team participated in the State Cross Country event held at Symmons Plains. Well done to our students for their participation!

Community Notices