St Anthony's School Term 2 Week 6 2023
Principal's Report
Welcome to our Week 6 newsletter!
This week, I have conducted the first round of our 2024 prep interviews. This is one of my favourite annual events, where I get to share with families a glimpse into life at St Anthony’s. One of our uniquely defining features is our inclusivity and diversity – both which we celebrate and emphasise as touch stones of our St Anthony’s Way. Here at St Anthony’s, we have staff invested in creating our school wide values and expectations, which are very much impacted and influenced by family values and while we don’t judge anyone’s family values, as a school it is our goal is to establish our St Anthony’s common values and expectations. Each student brings family values which play a significant role in shaping children's beliefs and attitudes.
Family values often provide a foundation for children's moral and ethical development. The values children learn at home, such as honesty, respect, empathy, and kindness, can influence their behaviour and decision-making at school. These values help shape their beliefs about what is right and wrong, and they carry these beliefs into their interactions with teachers, peers, and school staff.
Family values often encompass cultural and religious beliefs, which can significantly impact children's perspectives at school. The values and traditions associated with a particular culture or religion can shape a child's understanding of diversity, tolerance, and inclusivity. Children may bring these beliefs into the classroom, influencing their interactions with classmates from different backgrounds and their openness to diverse perspectives.
Family values also influence children's attitudes towards authority figures, including teachers and school administrators. Children who grow up in families that emphasize respect for authority are more likely to display respectful behaviour towards their teachers and follow school rules. Conversely, children whose families are more sceptical of authority may hold different beliefs and exhibit different behaviours at school.
Family values contribute to a child's socialization and interpersonal skills, which can impact their beliefs and behaviours in social settings, including school. For example, if a family values cooperation and collaboration, a child may be more inclined to work well with classmates and develop positive relationships. On the other hand, if a family prioritizes independence, a child may have different beliefs about teamwork and interaction in the school environment.
It's important to note that while family values have a significant influence, children are also exposed to various other influences at school, such as teachers, peers, and the overall school culture. These factors interact with family values to shape children's beliefs and attitudes in complex ways.
All catholic schools in our diocese celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of all students regardless of race, gender and religion and discrimination of any student in prohibited. Recently, I have been made aware of some incidents where students are being targeted, questioned and judged regarding their diversity. These prejudices are often reflective of conversations and beliefs at home that are then brought to school and have a significant impact on individuals.
Inclusivity and diversity in schools are crucial for creating a positive and enriching educational environment where every student feels valued, respected, and supported. It refers to recognizing, appreciating, and accommodating the diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, abilities, and perspectives of students, staff, and the wider school community.
Inclusive schools foster an atmosphere of respect, acceptance, and tolerance. They promote an understanding of different cultures, religions, languages, and backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging for all students.
By embracing diversity, schools ensure that every student has equal opportunities to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Inclusive practices aim to address and eliminate barriers that may hinder certain groups of students from fully participating in school activities.
A diverse school environment encourages students to learn from one another's perspectives and experiences. It broadens their horizons, enhances critical thinking, and promotes creativity by exposing them to different ideas, cultures, and ways of thinking.
Inclusive schools prioritize the social and emotional well-being of students. When students feel accepted and included, they are more likely to develop positive self-esteem, resilience, empathy, and interpersonal skills. By promoting inclusivity and diversity, schools can help reduce prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes. It fosters an environment where students learn to appreciate and value differences, thus preparing them to be more inclusive and respectful citizens in the future.
In today's interconnected world, promoting diversity and inclusivity in schools prepares students to engage with people from different backgrounds and cultures. It equips them with the skills necessary to thrive in diverse workplaces and contribute positively to a global society.
Inclusivity and diversity should be ongoing efforts that involve the entire school community. By embracing and celebrating differences, schools create an environment where all students feel valued and empowered to reach their full potential. The reality is that life involves changes in society that challenge our previously held values and beliefs. Society is dynamic, and it constantly evolves as new information, perspectives, and experiences emerge. When we keep an open mind, we become more empathetic and understanding of others' perspectives. This fosters social cohesion, reduces prejudice, and encourages respectful dialogue.
As a St Anthony’s community, following the St Anthony’s Way we are encouraging and teaching inclusivity through a common message of Being Kind. We ask families to be proactive in this space as well and mindful of not imparting our own prejudices and opinions on our children in this ever changing and diverse social environment.
Family Movie Night
Just a reminder that our Family Movie Night is on Friday, 2nd June commencing at 5.30pm for pizza and garlic bread and then the movie will commence at 6.30pm. This event will be in the Sports Centre. All pizza and garlic bread must be pre-ordered via the Microsoft Form sent recently via The Sentral Portal and paid for in the office before Tuesday 30 May. Drinks, popcorn and lollies will be available to purchase on the night also. Wear your warm pyjamas and bring your pillows and blankets.
At this stage, the numbers for this event are quite low. Please respond via the form so we can make a decision regarding whether this event will proceed.
We hope to see you all there!
Year 6 will be co-ordinating the sale of drinks, popcorn and lollies with proceeds going towards camp. We will be looking for Year 6 students and parents to co-ordinate the sale of these items on the night.
Please let us know if you can assist on the night with the distribution of pizzas and garlic bread!
Until next newsletter…..God Bless
Louise
The newsletter will be an e newsletter emailed to parents on a Thursday every fortnight. Community and parent notices can still be included in the newsletter by emailing the item to the school stanthonys@twb.catholic.edu.au.
Middle Leader/APRE
More than 20,000 Queenslanders and 116,000 Australians are homeless every night. Many people facing homelessness in Toowoomba have no shelter, no warm food, and no one to turn to during the cold Toowoomba winter. As a community that is guided by Catholic social teachings such as human dignity for all, the common good and preferential treatment of the poor, we strive to look not just within, but wider to see what impact we can make for others around us.
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
John 13:34
St Vincent DePaul Winter Appeal
Every year our school community generously supports this appeal. Living in a cold climate such as ours, when those bitter cold winds begin to blow, it is hard not to turn our minds to those who may not have what they need to keep warm and safe. The Mini Vinnies group are looking for donations of warm articles to donate to St Vincent DePaul. Jumpers, scarves, beanies, blankets, winter pajamas, slippers, socks, old sleeping bags are all items that would be kindly appreciated. Pre-loved garments are gratefully received, however please ensure they are clean and in good condition.
Winter Shelter Program
The Winter Shelter Toowoomba is a program supported by Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Qld Ltd and brings together seven local faith communities as well as numerous support services to provide assistance to Homeless people over the coldest months of the year. It will operate in close collaboration with seven local church groups during the months of June, July, and August, supporting up to 10 people per night for ninety-two nights. St Anthony’s Parish is not physically hosting the homeless in their church however the community will be joining in by assisting St Theresa’s Parish on 3 occasions, 19 June, 31 July and 21 August. As part of the larger St Anthony’s community, we are keen to do our bit to support this loving outreach to homeless people in our local community. We can assist by donating general breakfast foods and snack foods that can be used for breakfasts and after dinner snacks to the homeless participants. Examples of these include;
- individual boxes of cereal
- packets of chips
- bags of lollies
- packets of biscuits
We would also like to create some toiletry kits to give to the people who come to the Churches. Some examples the children thought of to donate when thinking about what a homeless person may need to keep healthy and clean included;
- toothpaste
- soap
- deodorant
- toothbrushes
- face washers
- comb
- shampoo and conditioner
- toiletry bag to hold all these possessions
When doing the grocery shopping, please consider if you could throw an extra item such as these into the trolley. It may seem small, however what may seem small to us, could mean the world to a person in need.
Sacramental Program
Please keep in your prayers the students preparing for Confirmation on June the 21st of May at 5.30pm followed by First Communion in the following weekends. These families have been working at home with their child assisted by a preparation book. They have also attended some lessons with Father Jamie and myself to assist in the process of learning about the sacraments and what that means for them as members of the Catholic church. Sacramental catch ups are scheduled every Wednesday from 3.30-4pm in the Parish office. Father Jamie also makes time after Sunday mass from 10-10.30.
Be Kind
Watching a favourite series of mine last week, Ted Lasso, I was reminded of the importance of teaching children how to offer kindness. Coach Roy was responding to questions from an assembled sports media scrum about an incident where one of his players responded with aggression, both physically and verbally to a member of the public in the stands. Coach Roy acknowledged that he did not condone or approve of what the player had chosen to do and believed that the consequence given by the referee were more than justified and appropriate. He then went to great lengths however to say that what caused the player to act that way was no one else’s business. All we could do was respond with kindness and love when someone makes a mistake, as no one knows what is going on in someone else’s life.
Even more important to remember in a primary school is that children are learning to navigate their social interactions. They have a reduced capacity to see other’s perspectives, control their impulses or problem solve in a stressful situation. This does not absolve them of their actions. How they respond has consequences – either positively or negatively. Responding with aggression will most certainly result in negative consequences. Responding with kindness will also have a consequence, more than likely that consequence will be positive. Our restorative approach to resolving conflicts reinforces this point. This process allows students to hear the perspectives of all involved, offer gestures to make up for the hurt and state clearly what they need or want to move their relationship further. Consequences are inevitable but building, supporting and maintaining relationships are the key to being an inclusive community.
Performing Arts
Prep White & Prep Blue
Welcome to Week 6!
This term is just flying by. Thank you to all who attended our Mother’s Day afternoon it was lovely to spend time celebrating our special grownups. We have been busy in Prep continuing to develop our knowledge and understanding of fiction and non-fiction texts on Australian animals including wombats, koalas, and kangaroos. In maths we are continuing to consolidate our knowledge of numbers and have begun exploring the concept of addition to 10.
In technology children have been experimenting with the app Chatterpix. Chatterpix is a free app available in the app store for both apple and android products. The app allows children to make photos appear to talk using their voiceover.
In science we have been continuing to develop our knowledge of what living things need, we examined the needs of plants and conducted an experiment to grow beans.
Yr 1 Blue
This week we are very busy completing assessment and finalising our learning ready for report cards. I am so excited with everyone's progress in reading and you will notice new levels for home readers starting to go home.
This week we are also completing a maths investigation with the students and give them the opportunity to show their maths learning in an "outside the box" way of thinking.
A busy few weeks ahead for us!
We have some lost property in our classroom. They belong to students from our classroom but they are not re- named. If you feel your child is missing a jumper or scarf please come and have a look. If you could check that uniforms are re - named so they can be returned to the rightful owner that is very helpful.
Have a great week, Emma and Jo
Year 1 White
Well, we’re half way through the term. Time is getting away on us so quickly.
Lately in class we have been exploring ‘counting on’ in Maths with the students adding on to a specific number up to 10. We have used different resources to support this learning.
In English, we have been referring to the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when, why) when doing our weekend recount. This supports us by helping us to be more specific with our weekend recount.
In Religion, we have continued to explore the Sacraments of the church, looking into Baptism and currently, the Eucharist.
In Science, we are seeing if light can shine through different materials, as well as what kinds of ‘light’ is in our world, whether it is man made or natural.
HASS has been of interest to the students as they have continued to show curiosity with past and present toys as well as what technological items were available in times gone by. If anyone has any materials/toys from times gone by, I’m sure the students would be interested in them.
Please remember to return library materials on a Thursday, ready for borrowing on a Friday.
Till next time
Miss Houghton
Yr 2 White
Welcome to week 6! I cannot believe we are on the downhill slope for Term Two. The class has been working very hard to become persistent learners and I am proud to say we are seeing less giving up when things get a bit tricky!!
In English, we are finishing off our amazing fairy tale stories, they have been great to read! Our science unit is well underway, and we are learning all about the precious resources that Earth gives us and how we can look after them for future generations.
Maths has seen Year Two counting in 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s and saw us becoming number detectives when trying to find missing numbers. We are now investigating shapes and really enjoying learning about the different properties. In History, we are thinking about how technology has changed and trying to convince Miss Hooper and myself why certain things are better than they used to be! In sad news, we will farewell Miss Hooper next week. She has been a great help to our class and I’m sure the class will miss having her around.
Take care.
Nicole
Yr 2/3 Blue
Welcome to another wonderful week in 2/3 Blue
Congratulations to Steven and Luca on their awards for last week at the assembly.
Next week our class will be presenting the Assembly and all parents and carers are welcome to attend – in fact we would love it if you could make it!!
We have been working on Non-fiction texts in the last few weeks and gradually preparing to do our own individual Non-fiction texts. It is getting easier with practise to write sentences to match the topic and we are improving each day. It will be exciting to see the final product. The work will all be done at school and the finished product will be placed into their folio.
We are looking forward to next week’s assembly - hope to see you then – God Bless!!
Kathy Spencer
Yr 3 Gold
In English we have been writing persuasive paragraphs. We have learnt a variety of styles to do this with and are now experimenting to find our personal preference.
In Maths we have continued working with fractions - finding the fraction of a group, ordering fractions on a number line, reading and writing fractions. We have particularly struggled with knowing that "fourths" are actually called "quarters".
In Religion we are learning about the sacraments of initiation, starting with Baptism.
Yr 4/5 White
Yr 4/5 Blue
Last week I completed our termly reading test data. I have to say I am very pleased with the improvements and growth the students demonstrated. There have been improvements in comprehension, fluency, and general reading aloud. I encourage all students to continue reading each night and to often read out loud to someone else. A goal moving forward for several students is to read with the use of punctuation. Often, we can lose meaning of a text if we are not using punctuation correctly.
The students are working on several pieces of assessment now, it has been wonderful to see how as a class they have been stepping up to time management, organisation (not losing them) and seeking support when needed. For many of our classmates this is the first time they have had to juggle a number of large assessment pieces and I have to say I am very impressed.
Please note on your calendars that 4/5 Blue will be leading the prayer assembly in Week 9 (Friday 16th June).
Until next time, keep warm.
Mrs Terri-An Nolan
Yr 6 Blue
Week 6 - in Year 6! And, what a week it has been. We are over halfway and we are starting to get into assessment so please be mindful that attendance is extremely important.
We hope our mothers and special women in our lives had a wonderful Mother’s Day last fortnight. We had a fantastic, noisy, and creative time making your gifts. Be sure to take a look at some of our images below. Our Visual Art Lessons have seen us continuing to explore the elements of art. We had lots of fun working with clay and texture recently.
Maths has been fun! We have worked hard to understand the place value system in regard to decimal numbers. We have enjoyed learning to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimal numbers. I have been very proud of all the reading improvements I have witnessed over the last few weeks; all Year 6 students should be very proud of their efforts.
Student Shout out this Fortnight!
On Wednesday morning, we hold our weekly Breakfast Club. Some of our keen Mini Vinnies Members, helped with serving this week! Thank you, Vann, Puondak & Lauren.
Until next time, Mrs Kingsford and Year 6.
HPE
G'day St A's,
Our athletics carnival is just around the corner. Please note the change of dates! The upper years carnival (3-6) will be held on Wednesday the 7th of June at O'Quinn Street Oval.
The junior years carnival (P-2) will be held at school on Thursday the 22nd of June. Details will be sent out on the portal by weeks end.
Until next time,
Cheers,
Mr Ory Tattam
Learning Support
Problems with Writing
The number of students experiencing difficulties with writing are increasing. These problems could be related to motor or literacy problems. The below article explains the difficulties involved with writing which is currently referred to as a specific learning difficulty in writing and previously referred to as dysgraphia.
A writing problem is the condition of impaired letter writing by hand, that is, disabled handwriting. Impaired handwriting can interfere with learning to spell words in writing and the speed of writing text. Children with writing problems may have only impaired handwriting, only impaired spelling (without reading problems), or both impaired handwriting and impaired spelling.
St Anthony’s School provides adjustments in testing and teaching for students with writing difficulties, but these students also need ongoing, explicit instruction in handwriting, spelling, and composition. In composition the student could have difficulty generating an idea and putting this on paper, organising the writing, paragraphing and editing. It is also important to determine if a child with dysgraphia may also have dyslexia and require special help with reading and help with oral as well as written language.
What kinds of instructional activities improve the handwriting of children with dysgraphia?
Initially, children with impaired handwriting benefit from activities that support learning to form letters:
- playing with clay to strengthen hand muscles;
- keeping lines within mazes to develop motor control;
- connecting dots or dashes to create complete letter forms;
- tracing letters with index finger or eraser end of pencil;
- imitating the teacher modelling sequential strokes in letter formation; and
- copying letters from models.
Subsequently, once children learn to form legible letters, they benefit from instruction that helps them develop automatic letter writing, using the following steps to practice each of the 26 letters of the alphabet in a different order daily:
- studying numbered arrow cues that provide a consistent plan for letter formation
- covering the letter with a 3 x 5 card and imaging the letter in the mind’s eye
- writing the letter from memory after interval that increases in duration over the handwriting lessons
- writing letters from dictation (spoken name to letter form).
St Anthony’s School has developed a kinaesthetic program to support students with spelling. The school aides spent hours making letter cards that are backed with metallic tape so that they attach onto a small whiteboard.
The main problems with spelling are the student’s ability to stretch out the words to be spelt and the ability to remember the letters that match the sounds in words. Children who find spelling difficult use small whiteboards where all the letters for the taught words are available . This process allows children to use the cards and create the spelling words. Once this sequence has been completed the students write the words. Finally, the teacher provides a dictation to ascertain if the strategy has been generalised.
Have a wonderful week,
The Learning Support Team
St Mary’s College is hosting a movie night for all students in Years 4, 5 and 6 at Toowoomba Catholic Primary Schools.
Parenting Support
Parentline
Parenting can be tough. But you don’t have to do it alone. When things
become challenging, it’s important to know that you can always talk to
someone about what’s going on.
If you’re a parent, carer or family member living in Queensland or the Northern
Territory, you can call Parentline from 8am – 10pm seven days a week, for the
cost of a local phone call.
St Anthony's Outside School Hours Care
Our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services provide the opportunity for children to grow and develop their social skills in a leisure based environment nurtured by our Catholic ethos.
The services offer a combination of before school, after school, Pupil Free days and vacation care led by a team of qualified educators. Our educators work with all children to create fun and recreational experiences so that a child’s wellbeing, learning and personal development are a priority. The services provide a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to support the diverse interests of all children.
St Anthony's OSHC Toowoomba
Phone: 0458 937 154 or 0458 897 293
Email: ANTcare@tckc.qld.edu.au
