March 28th, Term 1, Week 8

Principal's Reflection

Dear Families,

This week is Holy Week. Holy Week leads us to the most important feast in the Church's year - the Easter celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Throughout the week we reflect on the events of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday up to the resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is a vital time for us to reflect on our lives. At line up with students we continually discuss what impact our actions are having on others. Are we following the example set by Jesus to help those in need? This question can guide our reflections over the coming days as we enter the final days of Lent.

At our Holy Week liturgy on Wednesday I asked students what they are grateful for. I asked them to reflect as to whether they have said thank you to someone who has done something for them recently. It could be a parent taking them to piano lessons or a teacher giving support. It is vital that our children have an attitude of gratitude and show an appreciation for all the good things around them.

I hope that you all have a safe and restful Easter break. We look forward to welcoming families back to SBW on Wednesday the 3rd of April.

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Nic Saltmarsh

Religious Education

This Holy Week, we came together as a school on Holy Wednesday. We reflected on the Gospel reading of Matthew 26:14-25 and Judas' betrayal of Jesus. We followed a digital moving image re-enactment of The Last Supper, created by Grade 2. Please see the below. 

Holy Week continued to be one of great reflection on Holy Thursday, with a strong focus on how we can be like Jesus. We had Marty Ogle deliver Make Jesus Real/Spirit of Jesus sessions with students from Grades 4-6. St Peter Chanel Catholic School Smithton's Grade 6 students joined us in working with Marty. The MJR/SOJ sessions with Marty are focussed on helping students deepen their awareness of Jesus in their lives. These sessions are interactive, engaging and connect with real life. The Grade 6 students were encouraged to reflect on how we make choices in life, and as our senior students prepare for secondary school, it is important for them to be able to realise the choices they make affect not just themselves, but also others. 

This Easter, may Christ be with you!

Andrea Jaffray Morf

Deputy Principal

Teaching and Learning

Our teaching staff have been working dilligently over the past few weeks to reflect on their daily review practices in their teaching of Mathematics. A daily review is a teaching strategy that involves regularly revisiting previously taught material to reinforce learning and improve retention of concepts. It is a structured process where students review key concepts, skills, or content that they have covered in class. It is an effective way to counter the forgetting curve, which demonstrates that memories tend to fade without regular reinforcement. A daily review typically goes for 10-15 mins. Teachers will reflect on their practices at a staff meeting in week 10. We do ask that you consistently ask your child about their daily reviews and what they are covering during this lesson. 

Earlier this week Miss Pegg, Miss Reynolds, Mrs Smith and Mrs Robotham attended the Teaching Matters PL in Hobart. The presenters at this PL spoke about evidence informed best practice teaching strategies and how these can be implemented within a school. Professor Pamela Snow's keynote was titled 'Transforming Reading Instruction in Schools, a Public Health Imperative', reiterating the critical need for all students to be successful readers and to aspire to have a truly literate community. Dr Jenny Donovan, from the Australian Education Research Organisation, reiterated that direct instruction consistently delivers successful learning and that there is 'no excuse for ineffective practices in schools because we know how to do it better now'.  Leading researcher, Dr Jan Hasbrouck from the United States, keynote was titled "Reading Fluency - Essential for Comprehension (and Motivation)". Jan stepped delegates through the very detailed process of defining, assessing and teaching reading fluency.  This most informative keynote stressed the importance of screening students, which leads to skills diagnostics which then informs instruction and intervention.  We now have access to research backed tools, which allow educators to competently review data and make necessary teaching adjustments for each individual student. Brendan Lee, an education consultant and host of Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, spoke with a maths lens and asked delegates to think about "the last time that you tried to learn something complex and you gave up?".  He spoke about the importance for educators to break down learning into chunks.  Encouraging all educators to use worked examples, think alouds, examples and non-examples, giving immediate corrective feedback, using prompts and scaffolds followed by guided practice.  

"Education isn't natural. That's why it's hard" - David Didau

NW Swimming Carnival

On Tuesday the 12th of March 31 Grade 3-6 students travelled to the Burnie Aquatic Centre for the Northwest Catholic School Swimming Carnival.

It was a sunny, busy, and successful day for our school. All students represented our school with pride and consistently demonstrated our values. The sportsmanship shown by our team was admirable.
There were plenty of smiles seen, ribbons won and cheers heard.

I would like to give a special shout-out to all students who placed in their heats and those who stepped up on the day to swim in some challenging 50m events. A special mention to the Grade 6 students who modelled top-tier leadership and sportsmanship.

Thanks to the staff who assisted throughout the day.

HPE TEACHER
Hannah Chatwin

Anzac Day

Students interested in joining our SRC members for the ANZAC Day march and service on Thursday, 25th April 2024, are asked to meet Miss Amanda Reynolds near the wooden benches at the top of Gutteridge Gardens (bottom round-a-bout) at 10:30am.  Students need to be in full winter uniform. 

 We ask parents to pick up their child promptly at the conclusion of the service at the cenotaph. 

Spotlight on Grade 5

In Grade Five, we have been delving into poetry. Our poem of focus is called ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll. 
Lewis Carroll’s real name is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He was born on the 27th of January in 1832, and died on the 14th of January in 1898. Lewis Carroll studied Classics, Mathematics and Art at Oxford University. He was an English logician, mathematician, photographer, and novelist. 
Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, The Hunting of the Snark, and he wrote the famous poem the Jabberwocky. He had a family of 7 sisters and 4 boys. Lewis Carroll suffered from serious headaches, epilepsy, partial deafness, and ADHD. 
The Jabberwocky contains many words that we know as ‘nonsense words’. Nonsense words are made up words that do not have a meaning or make sense.
A portmanteau word forms by merging two or more words or word parts to convey a blend of their meanings. Examples in English include:

• chortle (from chuckle and snort)
• smog (from smoke and fog)
• brunch (from breakfast and lunch)
• hangry (from hungry and angry)
• spork (from spoon and fork).
  

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Lewis Carroll was the first to create portmanteau words. He introduced portmanteau words it in his book 'Through the Looking Glass' while referring to the nonsensical poem 'The Jabberwocky'.

Jabberwocky
BY LEWIS CARROLL

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;
  Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood
 The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
 Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
 And the mome raths outgrabe.

Visualisation occurs when readers generate mental images in their minds relating to the text. Visualisation is a reading technique aiding readers to establish a connection with the text, leading to enhanced comprehension. 

We have sketched visualisations depicting our favourite section of the Jabberwocky.

Kinder 2025

Please note that we have had considerable interest in Kindergarten enrolments at St Brigid's for 2025. 

Kindergarten enrolment packs have been sent out to all families who have expressed interest in enrolling their child in 2025.  We encourage families to return the necessary forms before the 30th June 2024.  The Kindergarten Information Night will be held on the 13th June 2024.

All families with young children are encouraged to attend and participate in our early learning program ‘SetUp for Success’, held every Thursday during Term in our Kindergarten classroom 9-10:30am.

SBW Advisory Board

Vacancies exist on the SBW Advisory Board. Responsibilities of the SBW Advisory Board include supporting the Principal in the leadership of the school and assisting in partnership building across the community.   The commitment is for 6 meetings per year and meetings are held on Thursday evenings from 6.00pm. If you would like to know more about this role, please speak to Mr Saltmarsh. If you feel you could contribute to the school in this way and have the time available, please email nicholas.saltmarsh@catholic.tas.edu.au with an expression of interest that covers the following information:

- A brief letter outlining the motivation for joining the school board

- Attach a brief CV outlining background

ICT

Online Safety Basics 

Online Safety knowledge is key for both parents and children to remain safe and aware when accessing online material. Supporting and guiding your child through their technology use can give children the confidence to make informed decisions online. 

The eSafety Commissioner outlines Three Key Strategies and advice for parents of children aged 5-12. 

1. Be engaged, open, and supportive: 

• Supervise and check in with your child when they are viewing content online. 
• Stay engaged and up to date with what they are using online. 
• Explore their online platforms with them. 
• Think about social media readiness. Are they old enough? 
• Talk about what to do when something they see worries them. 
• Build good habits.
  

1. Set some rules: 

• Be clear about how much time they can spend online, the apps they use, and what they can see, share, or post online. 
• Consider making a family tech agreement. 
• Discuss the accountability of following rules around devices and online access and any consequences. 
  

1. Use technology and get information: 

• Get to know the devices you and your child use. 
• Set up privacy access, parental control, and screen time access based on your child's age. 
• Choose apps and games carefully.
  

Online Safety Basics - eSafety Commissioner

Capital Works

The removal of the pump track, which is the beginning step in the installation of new playground equipment, will occur in early April. This is in alignment with planning that has been developed. Following the removal of the pump track, landscaping and installation of play equipment (once delivered) will occur. 

CET Student Testing Policy

Formal testing gives staff significant insight and data to ascertain where students are at in their learning. CET have developed an official student testing policy (below). This will be further supported by internal testing that occurs at SBW.

Upcoming Events

Child Safety

Catholic Education Tasmania have updated several Child Safety policies. These policies along with other CET policies can be accessed at https://catholic.tas.edu.au/policies