|
|
|
WORKER OF THE WEEK
CURRICULUM NEWS
This term is always very busy with many occasions and events. Below is a list of what will be occurring over the next few weeks:
Week 2: PAT M testing
Week 3: PAT R testing
Weeks 3-6: Prep to Year 1 Orientation mornings
Week 6: 2021 Prep Orientation mornings
Week 8: Yr 5 & 6 Academic Awards
During Week 2 and 3 of this term, our students will be completing online diagnostic tests for Mathematics and Reading called PAT M (Mathematics) and PAT R (Reading). PAT stands for Progressive Achievement Tests. All schools in the Diocese will be completing these tests.
What are Progressive Achievement Tests?
Progressive Achievement Tests are a series of tests designed to provide objective, norm-referenced information to teachers about their students’ skills and understandings in a range of key areas.
What are Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics?
Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics provide information about the level of achievement of students from Year 2 to Year 6. The tests assess students’ skill and understanding in multiple-choice format in the six strands of:
Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability
The assessments also address the mathematical processes of understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning. The skills assessed by each question are mapped against the Australian National Curriculum for Mathematics.
What are Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading?
Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading assess students’ reading comprehension skills, vocabulary knowledge and spelling.
Comprehension assesses retrieving directly stated information, interpreting explicit information, interpreting implied information and reflecting on texts in multiple-choice format. These skills reflect comprehension skills described in the Australian National Curriculum for English.
Vocabulary assesses word knowledge through synonyms. The questions are all multiple-choice.
Why do schools use PAT tests?
The inclusion of a diagnostic test for Mathematics and Reading will be used to inform and guide teacher’s planning. At St Patrick’s, we are committed to providing evidence-based teaching practices across the school. Discussions about data and the use of quality data will be addressed at our staff meetings.
Week 2: PAT M testing
Week 3: PAT R testing
Weeks 3-6: Prep to Year 1 Orientation mornings
Week 6: 2021 Prep Orientation mornings
Week 8: Yr 5 & 6 Academic Awards
During Week 2 and 3 of this term, our students will be completing online diagnostic tests for Mathematics and Reading called PAT M (Mathematics) and PAT R (Reading). PAT stands for Progressive Achievement Tests. All schools in the Diocese will be completing these tests.
What are Progressive Achievement Tests?
Progressive Achievement Tests are a series of tests designed to provide objective, norm-referenced information to teachers about their students’ skills and understandings in a range of key areas.
What are Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics?
Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics provide information about the level of achievement of students from Year 2 to Year 6. The tests assess students’ skill and understanding in multiple-choice format in the six strands of:
Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability
The assessments also address the mathematical processes of understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning. The skills assessed by each question are mapped against the Australian National Curriculum for Mathematics.
What are Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading?
Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading assess students’ reading comprehension skills, vocabulary knowledge and spelling.
Comprehension assesses retrieving directly stated information, interpreting explicit information, interpreting implied information and reflecting on texts in multiple-choice format. These skills reflect comprehension skills described in the Australian National Curriculum for English.
Vocabulary assesses word knowledge through synonyms. The questions are all multiple-choice.
Why do schools use PAT tests?
- They provide a measure of student achievement in each learning area.
- There is a common achievement scale for all tests within a learning area (PAT scale scores allow teachers to compare achievement on the tests within each learning area regardless of year level and the specific test completed and to monitor progress over time).
- They are mapped to the Australian Curriculum.
- They provide overall descriptions of the types of skills mastered and those still to be developed based on test performance.
- Individual and group reports have automatically calculated scores and sorting functions that allow comparison of scores across students, strands, etc.
- They can be used to inform teaching and learning and to assist in planning effective and targeted learning programs.
The inclusion of a diagnostic test for Mathematics and Reading will be used to inform and guide teacher’s planning. At St Patrick’s, we are committed to providing evidence-based teaching practices across the school. Discussions about data and the use of quality data will be addressed at our staff meetings.
DAY FOR DANIEL FUNRAISER
We are pleased to announce that we will be participating in the Day for Daniel FUNraiser on Friday 30th October. The funds raised will be donated to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Bruce and Denise Morcombe established the foundation in May 2005 in loving memory of their son Daniel. Since its inception, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation has worked tirelessly to educate communities on child safety strategies and support victims of crime involving children. The safety of the children in our community is paramount and we are proud to support the Daniel Morcombe Foundation continue its mission of keeping children safe.
Your child should have brought home an information brochure. This is an online fundraiser, so once you’ve received your materials from your child, jump online at d4dFUNraiser.com.au and create their personalised student profile page. Take your time to familiarise yourself with the page by watching the video, creating your avatar and most importantly sharing your link!
UPDATE…
So far, St Patrick’s School has raised over $15000. What a massive achievement and we still have 2 weeks until our Day for Daniel Fun Run. Thank you so much for everyone who has donated so far. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation are incredibly grateful.
While it’s important to remember that we are holding this fundraiser to support the work of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, all students that raise over $10 will receive a prize. These students will also enter the draw to win a $20,000 Webjet Ultimate Family Experience! Finally, every donation is tax deductable so please share far, wide and often. If you have any questions about the event or need help setting up your child’s profile, please contact the office.
Your child should have brought home an information brochure. This is an online fundraiser, so once you’ve received your materials from your child, jump online at d4dFUNraiser.com.au and create their personalised student profile page. Take your time to familiarise yourself with the page by watching the video, creating your avatar and most importantly sharing your link!
UPDATE…
So far, St Patrick’s School has raised over $15000. What a massive achievement and we still have 2 weeks until our Day for Daniel Fun Run. Thank you so much for everyone who has donated so far. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation are incredibly grateful.
While it’s important to remember that we are holding this fundraiser to support the work of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, all students that raise over $10 will receive a prize. These students will also enter the draw to win a $20,000 Webjet Ultimate Family Experience! Finally, every donation is tax deductable so please share far, wide and often. If you have any questions about the event or need help setting up your child’s profile, please contact the office.
DANIEL MORCOMBE CHILD SAFETY CURRICULUM
Throughout this term, our school will be implementing the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum with students from Prep to Year 6. The curriculum is based on principles of best practice in child safety education and centres around three key messages: Recognise, React and Report. Through a series of lessons, students will learn how to recognise, react and report when they are unsafe or find themselves in situations that can have a significant detrimental effect on their physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing. Information about the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum can be found at https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculums/school-curriculum/pages/danielmorcombe.aspx
This Friday, we will begin activities. The first key safety message of the curriculum is recognise. Recognise is about being aware of your environment. Children, young people and adults can all learn to take notice of what is happening around them to help keep themselves safe. Everyone can use clues, such as the things we see, hear, smell or feel to help protect us from harm and keep ourselves safe. Clues can be simple things that warn us about a danger, e.g. hearing a fire alarm or seeing smoke, that prompt us to react. We can also use clues to prepare for potentially unsafe situations, e.g. if we are walking alone at night, then we try to use a well-lit route and avoid secluded lanes or parks.
When we recognise that there might be a safety problem we can take steps to move away or reduce the risk or develop strategies that can help keep us safe. For instance, if you are in a busy environment such as the Emerald Show or a local event where there are big crowds, you might consider what you and your child could do if you became separated. Strategies could include: going to a highly visible pre-determined meeting spot; writing your phone number on a card and placing it in your child’s pocket; identifying who your child could approach if they become lost, e.g. police, staff at a booth.
This Friday, we will begin activities. The first key safety message of the curriculum is recognise. Recognise is about being aware of your environment. Children, young people and adults can all learn to take notice of what is happening around them to help keep themselves safe. Everyone can use clues, such as the things we see, hear, smell or feel to help protect us from harm and keep ourselves safe. Clues can be simple things that warn us about a danger, e.g. hearing a fire alarm or seeing smoke, that prompt us to react. We can also use clues to prepare for potentially unsafe situations, e.g. if we are walking alone at night, then we try to use a well-lit route and avoid secluded lanes or parks.
When we recognise that there might be a safety problem we can take steps to move away or reduce the risk or develop strategies that can help keep us safe. For instance, if you are in a busy environment such as the Emerald Show or a local event where there are big crowds, you might consider what you and your child could do if you became separated. Strategies could include: going to a highly visible pre-determined meeting spot; writing your phone number on a card and placing it in your child’s pocket; identifying who your child could approach if they become lost, e.g. police, staff at a booth.
YEAR 6 CAMP
Last week our Year 6 students attend a camp to the Capricornia Caves. The three day camp gave our students an opportunity to experience adventure caving, fossil exploring, wall climbing and a variety of problem solving and team building experiences. The students also had the opportunity to view the Cathedral Cave and attend Keppel Island for the day. The students thoroughly enjoyed this experience and we are very thankful that they were able to attend a camp with their peers. Thank you to Miss Courtney, Miss Murphy, Mrs Smale, Mr Smale and Mr Ferguson for attending this camp with our students.
PREP VISION SCREENING |
WESTERN 7s RUGBY COMPETITION |
CODE CLUB |
|
The Prep Vision Screening has been rescheduled to 17th November. The forms that were returned at the beginning of the year will be used for this rescheduled date. If families have not completed a Prep Vision Screening form and would like to have their child undertake a vision screening please contact the school office.
|
Tomorrow, two teams in the Under 10 and Under 12 age groups will be competing in the annual Western 7's competition. All of the students have been training for this competition on our Wednesday afternoon sessions and are ready and excited to be competing in this sporting event. The competition is on Friday 16th October at the McIndoe football grounds. All the best to our students competing.
|
Last term our Coding Club students created a dodgeball game, a memory game, a boat race game, a paint box and a rock band game. This term we are hoping to design and create our own games using all the skills we have acquired over the past few months. Our Code Club will continue to be held on Friday mornings 8:00 – 9:00am.
|
INDIGENIOUS ARTIST VISIT
Arthur Conlon visited our school this week to guide the students through the creation of indigenous drawings. The students love this experience and we were very excited to welcome Arthur back to our school.
NEWS FROM OUR ST PATRICK’S PARISH
PARISH WEEKDAY MASSES
Parishioners are welcome to attend our St Patrick’s Parish Weekday Masses:
Monday NO MASS
Tuesday 12 noon
Wednesday 7:00am
Thursday 8:00am
Friday 9:00am
ST PATRICK’S YOUTH
I invite the young people of our parish and community to be part of the St Patrick’s Youth Group. The target age group is high school to 20 years of age. St Patrick’s Youth Group will be providing an energizing and enthusiastic opportunity to come together as Youth and to be part of our bigger family, the St Patrick’s parish community. For more information on St Patrick’s Youth Group please contact: Fr Yon 0405 191 438 or stpatsem@bigpond.com
NEWS FOR YOUTH
The annual youth ‘Ignite Conference’, held in September in Brisbane, like many events, has adapted to Covid-19 from being an in-person event, to streaming live their 2-hour rally called ‘One Night’. Saturday the 26th of September at 6.30-9pm. Please join online https://igniteyouth.com/one-night. Fr Yon, SVD
Parishioners are welcome to attend our St Patrick’s Parish Weekday Masses:
Monday NO MASS
Tuesday 12 noon
Wednesday 7:00am
Thursday 8:00am
Friday 9:00am
ST PATRICK’S YOUTH
I invite the young people of our parish and community to be part of the St Patrick’s Youth Group. The target age group is high school to 20 years of age. St Patrick’s Youth Group will be providing an energizing and enthusiastic opportunity to come together as Youth and to be part of our bigger family, the St Patrick’s parish community. For more information on St Patrick’s Youth Group please contact: Fr Yon 0405 191 438 or stpatsem@bigpond.com
NEWS FOR YOUTH
The annual youth ‘Ignite Conference’, held in September in Brisbane, like many events, has adapted to Covid-19 from being an in-person event, to streaming live their 2-hour rally called ‘One Night’. Saturday the 26th of September at 6.30-9pm. Please join online https://igniteyouth.com/one-night. Fr Yon, SVD
COVID RESTRICTIONS
As a school we continue to endeavour to provide as many opportunities as we can to engage our families in our school activities. Due to COVID regulations we are required to put into place measures to ensure that we are meeting the requirements of the number of adults within our school and also ensure social distancing when adults are present. We thank families for their continued support in regard to our restrictions.
PARENTS AT ASSEMBLY
We are thankful to welcome our parents back to our school assemblies. In accordance with our COVID regulations of restricting the number of adults in our school grounds we ask that only one adult from each family attends the school assembly to view their child receiving a Worker of the Week award and only one adult from each family watch their child presenting at the class prayer assembly. If your child is not receiving an award or presenting at the prayer assembly, we ask that you do not attend assembly for the week. We would like to thank all of our families for their continued support.
PLAYGROUNDS
All of the school playgrounds are closed before and after school. We ask that no children play on the playgrounds after school as this is a time when the playgrounds are cleaned.
We also ask that families do not arrive at school before 8am in the morning for drop off and leave the school grounds as soon as they have collected their children at 3pm.
We thank all of our families for their continued support.
PARENTS AT ASSEMBLY
We are thankful to welcome our parents back to our school assemblies. In accordance with our COVID regulations of restricting the number of adults in our school grounds we ask that only one adult from each family attends the school assembly to view their child receiving a Worker of the Week award and only one adult from each family watch their child presenting at the class prayer assembly. If your child is not receiving an award or presenting at the prayer assembly, we ask that you do not attend assembly for the week. We would like to thank all of our families for their continued support.
PLAYGROUNDS
All of the school playgrounds are closed before and after school. We ask that no children play on the playgrounds after school as this is a time when the playgrounds are cleaned.
We also ask that families do not arrive at school before 8am in the morning for drop off and leave the school grounds as soon as they have collected their children at 3pm.
We thank all of our families for their continued support.
SCHOOL UNIFORM UPDATE
Discussions and investigations into the updating of our school uniform are continuing. Our current uniform supplier Wearco have sent some samples of possible uniform options. When all of the sample uniform items arrive, we hope to provide a display for parents to view the new uniform options. A further survey will then be conducted to gain more information from our school community regarding our school uniforms.
FAITH FORMATION
This term we will begin our Friday Faith Formation. Our Faith Formation sessions are designed to provide our students will different opportunities to further deepen their faith and relationship with Jesus. This will take place every Friday 12:40 – 1:20. Faith Formation will either be a Class Liturgy at 12:30pm or whole-school MJR Groups. Weeks 1, 4, 7 and 10 are MJR Groups and Weeks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 are Class Liturgies. Please see our Liturgical Roster for a more detailed term timetable.
PRAYER ASSEMBLIES
We are allowed to gather as a whole school once more for assembly, however adults need to adhere to social distancing and we are limited to 100 adults in the under covered area, including staff. Therefore, only one parent for each of the children who are receiving Worker of the Week as well as one parent for each of the students of the presenting class are welcome to attend. This will ensure we meet requirements. We will record the presenting class and upload this part of the assembly to their Google classroom so that both parents then have the opportunity to view their child’s Prayer Assembly.
|
ST PATRICK’S PARISH MASS
Weekend Mass attendance numbers have now increased to 100. Frs Truc and Yon look forward to meeting you all in person. Please book online at: https://www.trybooking.com/BKHQZ or contact the Parish Office on: 0418 821 066 to register your attendance to weekend Masses. You are not required to bring the ticket. If you wish to watch a Mass online, you can join the community of St Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQeYD6B2cSvFb4zqStn_Brg |
|
CARITAS PROJECT COMPASSION
Thank you for supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Campaign. Your generosity will work for the freedom of those living in poverty, challenge unjust structures, and empower people to work for a sustainable way of life.
|
YEAR 7 MARIST COLLEGE ENROLMENTSThe 2021 Year 7 applications for Marist College have opened. Families wishing to enrol their children in Year 7 at Marist College in 2021 are asked to complete an application form. Application forms are available from the Marist College website www.maristcollegeemerald.com.au .
Important dates: Year 7 Orientation Day 1st December 2020 |
MAKING JESUS REAL
St Patrick’s School is an MJR school. MJR is a values education resource. MJR is centred on the belief that we are all God’s children and are called to try to be like Jesus Christ in the way we live. We are Jesus’ friends. He calls us into friendship with God and he calls us to imitate his way of living. MJR values include respect, honesty and trustworthiness, understanding, tolerance and inclusion. They focus on the Gospel values of compassion, justice, humility and forgiveness. These values also encourage students to do their best, treat others fairly, be responsible for their actions, follow principles of moral and ethical conduct and stand up for others against bullying. Our main aim in Catholic Education is to invite students, parents and teachers to be aware of and grateful for God’s loving presence in their daily lives. MJR’s main aim is to get us ‘switched on to God’s presence’ by reflecting on our lives each day to see where God has been in our experiences.
Another focus is not to leave Jesus as merely a person in history, but to emphasise that Jesus Christ is a mystery with us now. We live ‘in the now’ and we will always have ‘the now’. MJR demonstrates a strong connection to many Catholic spiritualties, such as the Ignatian and Franciscan traditions, particularly with aspects such as the imitation of Christ, respect for others and for creation, and reviewing the events in our lives. The Sacrament of the Present Moment is a central theme. Through emphasis on simple and memorable prompts such as WESTIE (Welcoming, Encouraging, say Sorry, say Thank you, Inclusive and Enthusiastic), MJR inspires positivity and gratitude. I encourage you to have talk to your child about how they can Make Jesus Real.
St Patrick’s School is an MJR school. MJR is a values education resource. MJR is centred on the belief that we are all God’s children and are called to try to be like Jesus Christ in the way we live. We are Jesus’ friends. He calls us into friendship with God and he calls us to imitate his way of living. MJR values include respect, honesty and trustworthiness, understanding, tolerance and inclusion. They focus on the Gospel values of compassion, justice, humility and forgiveness. These values also encourage students to do their best, treat others fairly, be responsible for their actions, follow principles of moral and ethical conduct and stand up for others against bullying. Our main aim in Catholic Education is to invite students, parents and teachers to be aware of and grateful for God’s loving presence in their daily lives. MJR’s main aim is to get us ‘switched on to God’s presence’ by reflecting on our lives each day to see where God has been in our experiences.
Another focus is not to leave Jesus as merely a person in history, but to emphasise that Jesus Christ is a mystery with us now. We live ‘in the now’ and we will always have ‘the now’. MJR demonstrates a strong connection to many Catholic spiritualties, such as the Ignatian and Franciscan traditions, particularly with aspects such as the imitation of Christ, respect for others and for creation, and reviewing the events in our lives. The Sacrament of the Present Moment is a central theme. Through emphasis on simple and memorable prompts such as WESTIE (Welcoming, Encouraging, say Sorry, say Thank you, Inclusive and Enthusiastic), MJR inspires positivity and gratitude. I encourage you to have talk to your child about how they can Make Jesus Real.
|
|
|
A TOUR OF OUR SCHOOL
|
Our school was originally established by the Presentation Sisters in 1902 to serve the catholic families of the Central Highlands area of which Emerald is the geographical hub. The Sisters ended their ties with the school in 1992 due to the decline in their numbers and a shift in their mode of service to people and especially children.
St Patrick’s School exists for the education of children from Prep age (Five) to Year Six and is a co-educational facility serving the township and surrounding districts of Emerald. At our school, we aim to develop within our students the ideals of academic excellence and personal growth which are centered around the deepening of our Christian faith. We strive to have these aims as the centre point of any relationships and curriculum which occur within our community. |
|
