Head of Gioia House
Gioia House update
Congratulations to our remarkable Year 5 students for their outstanding display of a growth mindset during the outdoor activities at Tallong last week. Their enthusiasm, courage, resilience, and kindness toward one another were truly commendable. We are immensely proud of their achievements and the positive attitudes they exhibited throughout the experience.
I would also like to express my utmost appreciation to our talented dancers for their captivating performances during the extraordinary show on Tuesday night. Their dedication, dazzling costumes, and infectious energy held us spellbound, leaving a memorable impression. We extend our gratitude to Miss Williams, the coaches and, of course, the dancers themselves for their commitment and incredible talents.
Thank you to all our talented musicians for their commitment to rehearsals. Their dedication and hard work are truly commendable. We are eagerly looking forward to witnessing their exceptional performances at the upcoming Gala Concert in Town Hall.
To our student-athletes, well done on your dedication and sportsmanship. Your commitment to your chosen sport is a testament to your character and resilience. We wish you all the very best for the upcoming games.
Meeting students at their starting point
At Gioia House, our commitment to meeting the diverse needs of all students is at the forefront of our teaching and learning approach. We strive to provide engaging and targeted experiences that support the development of every student. To address the needs of those requiring additional support, we have implemented two intervention programs focused on building foundational skills in Literacy and Numeracy.
Our Literacy targeted intervention program is designed to assist students in applying phonemic awareness and comprehension strategies. We have integrated the highly regarded Macquarie University MacqLit Program, which is supported by a range of other resources grounded in current educational research. By implementing this program, we aim to empower students to become confident and proficient readers and communicators.
The primary aim of the Numeracy program is to enhance students’ understanding of number concepts while fostering their confidence in Mathematics.
In addition to our targeted intervention programs, we believe in providing an inclusive and enriching learning environment for all students. Our in-class enrichment program serves to extend the knowledge and skills of every student, regardless of their starting point. By employing differentiation strategies, our teachers ensure that every student is challenged and supported to reach their potential. This approach benefits students across the learning continuum, including highly able and gifted students, who are provided with opportunities for further growth and development.
We are committed to continuous improvement and consistently seek ways to modify and refine our classroom environment and teaching strategies to meet the evolving needs of our students. The Gioia House teachers continue to engage in various professional learning and this term all teachers participated in the Words Their Way Spelling program to ensure an effective implementation of the program across all grades. The teachers are also involved in a range of action research projects, collaborating with staff across the College to drive improvement in key areas. The projects focus on student wellbeing and resilience, improvement in students’ reading comprehension and reading stamina and differentiation in Mathematics. We are committed to professional learning and action research to stay up to date with the latest teaching practices and to ensure that we are providing our students with the best possible education.
Parent-Student-Teacher Meetings: 14-15 June
The interviews will be online via MSTeams between 3:45pm – 7:45pm on both days. The interview time with your daughter’s CORE teacher is 13 minutes. The conversation will focus on areas of strength and those needing further development. Next week you will receive a separate letter with a link and instructions on how to book your interview time. We look forward to meeting with you at our parent-students-teacher interviews on either 14 or 15 June to discuss your daughters’ progress so far this year.
Semester 1 Reports
The academic reports will be available to parents in Week 9 this semester. A huge amount of time goes into preparing and marking assessment tasks and writing each student report. I thank each teacher for the considerable out of hours time put into these reports. Our commitment to your child’s learning goes beyond the academic reports. Our teachers will continue to reach out to you directly if there are any concerns or updates regarding your child’s progress in the classroom.
As we reflect upon the recent celebration of Pentecost and look forward to embracing the significance of Reconciliation Week, we are being reminded of the power of the Holy Spirit to heal and reconcile. Our students celebrated Pentecost with a Liturgy and learnt about Reconciliation at the College Assembly. We continue to focus on creating an environment where forgiveness, compassion and unity flourish. May this week be a time of deep reflection, prayer, and action as we wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of reconciliation. Let us allow the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to heal and unite us, creating a more harmonious and compassionate world.
We have fun while learning
- 1 June – K-6 Athletics Carnival
- 14-15 June – Parent-Teacher-Student Online Interviews
- 19 June – Gala Concert
- 25 August STEM Gala Day
- 13-15 September – Year 6 Outdoor Education Experience at Tallong
Stella Azizian
Head of Gioia House