Welcome to Term 3! I trust that everyone had an enjoyable and restful break (if you got one). We have a busy term ahead with many different learning opportunities.

School Fencing 

Starting next week, the school oval will be out of action. This means it will not be opened for drop off or pick ups (students/families will need to walk around to the front of school to enter/exit - sorry for the inconvenience). We will be removing the current bollards and replacing them with school fencing. The fencing will match the rest of the fencing around the school and follow our school boundary line where the bollards are currently. Over the last year, there has been strong feedback from our school community of the need to fence this area, especially with the road and footpaths right next to where students play. We will have a double gate (where current red gate is) and a single gate up in the back corner. I trust that the school community supports staff and community council with this decision. The fencing should be finished by Friday next week. 

Parent/Teacher Interviews  

Next week we will hold our mid semester Parent-Teacher Interviews. This is an opportunity to reflect on the last semester, and more importantly plan for the semester ahead. To book, please follow the link to SchoolZine https://stmichaelskaleen.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/2

Please note, that there will not be interviews for 5/6B with Mrs Blakey on Long Service Leave. Parents/Carers can connect with her upon her return. Catherine Beckett who is taking 5/6B for the majority of this term is more than happy to meet with parents to discuss Term 3 and goals for students. She can be contacted via her email catherine.beckett@cg.catholic.edu.au should you wish. 

NAIDOC Week

This week we celebrate NAIDOC Week. NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself. 

On Tuesday, each class learnt about and created a Yarning Circle. In line with this year's theme of Voice, Treaty, Truth - yarning circles provide a central focus to celebrate this. The use of a yarning circle (or dialogue circle) is an important process within Aboriginal culture and Torres Strait Islander culture. It has been used by Indigenous peoples from around the world for centuries to learn from a collective group, build respectful relationships, and to preserve and pass on cultural knowledge.

A yarning circle is a harmonious, creative and collaborative way of communicating to: encourage responsible, respectful and honest interactions between participants, building trusting relationships, foster accountability and provide a safe place to be heard and to respond, promote student–student interactions and student–school–community connectedness, enrich learning experiences for students.

In some instances, the ‘no language’ method can be applied to the yarning circle. This method originated from watching elders. Very few questions are asked; the primary method of learning is through observation.

Peer Support Program

Tomorrow, our Year 5/6 students will spend the day training to begin leading the rest of the school through the Peer Support Program. This program encourages peer connections throughout the school and assists students in developing practical skills to enhance social and emotional wellbeing. The Peer Support Program assists schools in achieving and maintaining a positive school culture. Every student will participate in Peer Support as part of their Health Curriculum this term with students in Year 5/6 jointly leading a small group each.

Just Like You Workshops 

Coming up in Week 3 and Week 4 this term, students in Year 1-6 will participate in the 'Just Like You' workshops (two lessons over two weeks). Variety – the Children’s Charity is proud to deliver the “Just Like You” disability education and awareness program. For the past ten years, the “Just Like You” program was delivered by Cerebral Palsy Alliance, educating primary school students on the acceptance and inclusion of people living with a disability. The program helps them learn that people living with a disability are the same as everyone else – they are “Just Like You”. From October 2016, the Just Like You program is proudly delivered by Variety – the Children’s Charity. Variety – the Children’s Charity is dedicated to empowering Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to live, laugh and learn. They believe, as do we, that all children deserve the same opportunities in life regardless of ability or background.

Variety’s Just Like You program will deliver lively, interactive and compelling workshops, where our students are engaged to reflect on their own roles and actions as a citizen in their school and community. We look forward to students participating in this program.

Kulture Break Performance and Workshop

Next Thursday (1 August) students will have the opportunity to witness Kulture Break. This year Kulture Break is bringing a message of hope to ACT schools with a tour that will feature international guests ‘The Nubian Gents and Feminine Fire’ from New York City, led by prominent school teacher Lamont O’Neil. Accompanying Mr O’Neil will be seven of his past and present students that have been transformed by his philosophy of overcoming adversity through skill, and developing character through self-expression.

The Hope Tour school presentation will be a highly engaging and interactive dance and music display mixed with powerful words of inspiration and empowerment that will leave students feeling encouraged and hopeful.

Francis Owusu, CEO and founder of Kulture Break, believes creating environments that encourage positive self-expression is a powerful way to empower and transforms individuals.

Students will witness their performance and then participate in a half hour dance worskhop. 

ANNUAL SATISFACTION SURVEY

An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Diocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified. 

The surveys will be launched via email on 29 July and close on 9 August 2019 using the email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey, please email the school to obtain. 

Thank you in advance for your honest and constructive feedback. 

Enjoy the week ahead. 

Regards,

Pat Ellis

Principal