Dear Families
This week we have welcomed Aiden (Year 6) and Airen (Year 3) and their family to our school. It is great to see them making friends with their new class members and being part of our community.
Reading and Math Workshops
If you would like to hear about ways that you can support your child with reading and math, we will be offering two parent workshops for families of R-2 students. Workshops will be held in the staff room.
Our Mathematic workshop will unpack how children learn to count, add, subtract, multiply, measure or what can you do at home to support your child with their numeracy.
This will be on Wednesday 14th August 9:00 – 10:00 am.
During the Reading workshop we will discuss strategies that are useful at home to support reading development. This will be on Wednesday 28th August 9:00-10:00am.
Please RSVP to info@nativity.catholic.edu.au if you can attend.
The Writing Revolution
Last week, we continued our work with literacy consultant Elena Lanzilli. Elena shared her knowledge of The Writing Revolution with staff and students. She led lessons in the 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6 classes. Teachers were released to observe Elena lead a Writing revolution session and then spend time planning with her after the lesson. Staff also had professional development and unpacked the next stage of The Writing Revolution and looked at using single paragraph outlines with their students.
It was a great opportunity for teachers to see what our students have learnt and how they have developed skills to improve their writing. Students across the school worked on expanding sentences by using question words to change a simple sentience into a detailed or complex sentence that POPS! Students were also using pronouns in their writing. Our Year 5/6 students were working with appositives. They learnt that an appositive is a second noun, or a phrase, that is placed beside another noun to explain it more fully.
Olympics
Whilst many athletes have been participating in the Olympic Games in Paris. Nativity have had our version of the Olympics with our students participating in their own sporting activities.
“I liked the Vortex, balancing on a beam and the triathlon that we did in our Mini Olympics” – Jordan Year 2
“I liked the running, races and all the events in our Mini Olympics. “- Sebastian Year 2
“We have been counting medals for Australia and Great Britan, we could in the medals that they win each day.” – Maddison H Reception
“We made Olympic medals and also the Olympic torch.” – Zachary Reception
“We have a Minecraft Project; we had to select a country and then create a mascot and an opening ceremony using Minecraft. We also have our 3/4 Mini Olympics. We have tried out our skills with Break dancing, Weightlifting (Pull ups), 100m running and long jump.” – Amity Year 3
“Our teachers select the events and they have made medals for the winners. The winners stand on a podium to collect their medals. “- Amelia T Year 3
“On a daily basis we put stars on our class medal tally, and we also have our own medal tallies in our book to record the medals that have been won.” Eli Year 4
Friday 10th August, students are invited to wear a touch of Yellow and Green as an accessory to their school uniform. This is to show our support for the Australian Athletes and the wonderful work that they have been doing.
Book Week
This year for Book week students will listen to and vote for their favourite short listed Picture book. Each day teachers will read one of the short-listed picture books to a different group and discuss the book.
We also have a live-in-school performance on Monday 19th August. Perform Education will present their show titled Maybe a Miracle. There will be 2 shows; Reception – Year 2 at 9:30 and Year 3-6 performance begins at 11:00am.
Today our classes celebrated the feast day of Saint Mary Mackillop with a school mass lead by Year 1/2 Drum. I wish you all a happy feast day for Australia’s first Saint and would like to leave you with a thought ….
“Find Happiness in making others happy.” Saint Mary MacKillop
Kind regards
Melinda James