Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers
NAPLAN is upon us again, and it’s at this time that parents often purchase practice tests and are keen to know how they can help their children. Dr Justin Coulston from Parenting Ideas has some insights.
Helping Children Thrive at School
The following factors generally matter most when it comes to your child doing well at school:
- Reading. If there is only one thing that you do with your children for their education, read to them. This should start as young as possible and continue through toddler years, preschool years, and into big school. Read to them – and have them read to you – as they go through their early primary years. And keep books around right through high school. Reading is one of the best predictors of children’s academic success, and it is associated with increased resilience, particularly for kids from challenged or traumatic backgrounds.
- Be involved. Research shows that parents who ask about school, check in on what students are learning, talk with the school teacher from time to time, and continue to monitor and stay up to date on what is happening at school have children who do better academically when compared with students whose parents are uninvolved. Getting involved shows you care.
- Relationships with peers. Children who enjoy a sense of school belonging, according to Dr Kelly Allen at Monash University, do better at school. They also have higher levels of life satisfaction.
- A sense of progress and purpose. These are two separate things, but I’m including them together because they often follow one another. When our children make progress, they feel competent and capable. This increases their motivation, and makes school feel purposeful. If parents can work to help children see the progress they’re making, it will boost desire for more progress, and the work becomes easier and more enjoyable.
- People who love them. There is no way of getting around this fact: kids do well for those they love. When a student loves his science teacher, science becomes the best subject ever and he tries hard as a result. Same goes with PE, English, or any other subject. Helping children feel like they are known, numbered, and missed combined with teachers who are enthusiastic about their topics, helps kids do better at school.
Often people will say, “But what about my child?” So many parents are dealing with ADHD, autism, ODD, sensory issues, depression, or other additional health or developmental needs. My response is always the same: those points above become even more vital. Read, be involved, help them make friends, challenge them to progress and find purpose, and make sure someone loves them.
Your child may (or may not) be about to sit the NAPLAN test any day now. Let them know that it’s not about them. It’s for the school only. Don’t make a deal about their results when they show up. It’s old news by then. And when it’s done, give them a hug, share a milkshake, and ask them about their friends, their teacher, or their favourite book to read… because those things will matter more for their education than their performance on a test.
OPEN DAYS
St Clare’s will be having Open Days and Tours on:
Saturday 21 May: 10:00 – 12:00
Wednesday 1 June: 3:45 – 5:00
If parents are yet to enrol their child for Foundation for 2023
please do so immediately so that numbers can be confirmed.
MONEY RAISED
CARITAS – Congratulations to all for the money raised for Caritas at the end of last term. Over $1200 will now be available to help national and international projects including work in Ukraine.
FUN RUN – Well done everyone for the outstanding effort on Monday. Over $15 000 was raised by our students while also having a great deal of fun.
UNIFORM
Winter uniform is now compulsory. Please ensure that the uniform is worn perfectly and proudly. For girls, this means grey tights (not socks or leggings) and the crossover tie. For the boys, the winter uniform includes the tie.
Students are to wear black leather-type footwear. The sporting-type shoes are only for sport days.
Noone has informed us that the girls’ pants are no in stock yet.
Whole School Assemblies
Given the size of the school and our limited space now, whole school assemblies will be held for special events. For Term 2, these will begin at 2:40pm in the modular on the following dates:
- Friday 3 June – Catholic Education Week – (lead by Year 3 students)
- Friday 24 June – End of Term Assembly (lead by Year 2 students)
Parents are welcome to attend these assemblies.
Each level will also have assemblies on a regular basis where student achievements are acknowledged.
School Fun Run
We only have a couple of days left to get those donations in. Below is some important information regarding the prize ordering process.
All money (online and cash) is due by 16th May with prizes to be ordered between the 16th and 23rd May. Simply visit schoolfundraising.com.au to create / log into your Profile Page, click on the ‘CLAIM YOUR PRIZE’ button and follow the prompts. If you have any questions, please contact the School Fun-Run team on 1800 FUN RUN and they will gladly assist.
If you are collecting cash and do not wish to create a profile for your child/children:
- Complete the Fun Run booklet correctly ensuring ALL the information is correct (child’s name, class and total collected) and the prizes have been selected. Prize total MUST tally with the money raised.
- Return the booklet and correct cash to the office NO LATER than Monday 16th (This process must be followed for each individual child.)
We have had a phenomenal response from our students and families so far and we cannot thank you all enough.
Tuesday 10 to Wednesday 18 May |
Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN |
Tuesday 10 May Wednesday 11 May Thursday 12 May |
Year 2 Swimming |
Friday 13 May |
Year 3 Swimming |
Tuesday 17 May Wednesday 18 May Thursday 19 May |
Year 2 Swimming |
Friday 20 May |
District Cross Country (selected students) |
Saturday 21 May |
Open Day 10am to 12pm |
Wednesday 1 June |
Open Day 3.45pm to 5pm |
Friday 10 June |
Staff PD, NO SCHOOL for students |
COVID update
Primary School aged students are asked to continue testing twice weekly for COVID during term 2. We encourage families to continue testing, unless you are exempt due to having tested positive to COVID in the previous 12 weeks.
If you child or anyone within the family tests positive to COVID please let the school know immediately by email admin@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or phone 03 5940 6777.
Current restrictions require anyone who tests positive to isolate for 7 days. Household members do not need to isolate but they must have a negative RAT result, being showing no symptoms and are required to wear a mask if they attend school.
SCHOOL FEES
Term 2 fees are now payable. Please contact the school to arrange payment. If you have a direct debit set up there is nothing you need to do, this will continue to process as per the agreement. If you would like to set up a direct debit please email finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au to request a direct debit form.
For those families who have a Pension or Health Care Card plesae ensure the school has been provided with a copy of your new card when it is received. This will ensure we can apply for the funding to help reduce your school fees.
If your circumstances have changed and you now have a Pension or Health Care Card please ensure you let the office know. We can then send you the relevant forms for completion so funding can be applied for.
Here is the link for the St Clare's Parent Access Module (PAM)
You username is the email address that you have registered with the school. The first time you log in we ask that you use the forgotten password feature to set your own password.
ALL parents must access PAM to receive up to date information and grant necessary permissions. Students will miss out on events if permission is not granted.
REPORTING AN ABSENCE
To report your child's absence plesae do so via PAM, email absent@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or call 5940 6777
A position has become available based at the St Patrick’s parish office, Pakenham. The primary purpose of the role is to provide secretarial, administrative support to the Parish Priest and bookkeeping for the parish. Hours of work: 30 hours per week, 9.00 am to 3.00 pm Monday to Friday. Applications are to be addressed to the Parish Priest and emailed to parishoffice@stpatrickspakenham.com.au by Friday 20th May 2022. For a copy of the job description, please contact the parish office via email or directly on 03 5941 7315.