Dear Families

It's been a productive and long term.  We have just finished up our Interest Based Learning (IBL) program for term 2.  The activities being offered included: cooking, lego construction, digital technology, geography, art, sport and visiting the kinder.  I went with the group who visited the kinder and it was very enjoyable.  Our senior students were confident working with the young kinder students.  The kinder staff were very impressed with our students and presented us with a thankyou poster at our last session. 

We celebrate NAIDOC Week in the school holidays, between 7-14 July 2024.  NAIDOC Week  highlights and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.

The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Maybe your family might be able to join in some of our community's local celebrations.

Prayer of the Aboriginal People

Father of all, you gave us the Dreaming
You have spoken to us through our beliefs
You then made your love clear to us in the person of Jesus
We thank you for your care
You own us
You are our hope
Make us strong as we face the problems of change
We ask you to help people of Australia to listen to us and respect our culture
Make the knowledge of you grow strong in all people
So that you can be at home in us and we can make a home for everyone in our land.
Amen.

(prayer composed for the meeting between Pope John Paul 11 and the Aboriginal Peoples)

SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of Indigenous communities.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.

NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities and is a great opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.

This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://trafalgar.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-celebrating-naidoc-week

During this term we are promoting the Lions Club Public Speaking Competition. Students from grades 3,4,5 & 6 are encouraged to write a speech on a particular topic and present this speech to the school at the start of term 3. The topic for Gr 3 & 4 is  ‘My Favourite Book Character or Fairytale Character’, this will be a 3-minute speech. Students from grades 5 and 6, have the topic ‘Who is the most influential person in my life?’, this requires the students to choose someone they know who they can interview and present their speech based on these interviews, this will be a 4-minute speech. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students if they would like to participate, however it is not compulsory. The students will write their speeches at home with assistance from parents, and school staff will check in regularly with the students who are participating.

Written School Reports are now available on PAM.  Hard copy reports are available on request.

Gr 3/4 reports have been written by Michele Midgley and myself, with extra information supplied by Janet Poelsma and Wendy Oates, it has been a real team effort. 

Parent/teacher interviews will be held in week 6 next term, on Wed Aug 21st. Of course, if you would like to see your child's class teacher before then you are welcome to arrange an appointment anytime.

November

Tues 19                       2. Interest Based Learning

Wed 20                        Father's Group Parish Centre 5.30 to 6.30pm

Tues 26                       3. Interest Based Learning

                                  First Orientation Session for Foundation 2025 

Fri 29                          Gr 3/4 full day at Mill Valley Camp

December

Mon 2 to Fri 6              SWIMMING program

Tues 3                         Second Orientation Session for Foundation 2025

Fri 6                            3pm Advent Assembly and sending off Gr 6s

Tues 10                       Third Orientation Session for Foundation 2025

Thurs 12                    End of Year & Graduation Mass 2.15pm

                                 Gr 6 Graduation

Fri 13                         Gr 5 & 6 Fun Day

                                 School Reports go out

Tues 17                      Last day of school 1pm dismissal

Wed 18 to Fri 20         Planning days for 2025

2025

January

Tues 28                     First day of school for teachers

Wed 29 & Thurs 30    Individual Testing Days

Fri 31                        First day of school for all students

February

March

Fri 3                         Student Free day (Staff Professional Learning in RE)