Head of Gioia House

Gioia House update

As we dive into Term 3, it’s wonderful to see our community shine with a renewed sense of joy, embracing the spirit of Dominican heritage. In Gioia House, we began the term by reflecting on the profound impact of Dominic’s story and the establishment of the Dominican Order. The students’ enthusiasm, participation and generous contributions during the Santa Fest activities exemplified our values of community and service. The Gioia students took centre stage during St Dom’s Day last Friday. Their singing, liturgical dancing and reverence instilled a sense of unity and respect for our sacred traditions.

We continue to gather every Monday during Homeroom time to set a tone for the week and introduce our theme for the week. We discuss how we can embody these values in our daily lives. Over the past few weeks, our focus has been on the theme of ‘Integrity’. Our students are encouraged to uphold honesty, demonstrate strong moral principles, and strive for consistency in their words and actions. As we explore these ideas within our school community, we also encourage our families to continue these conversations at home, nurturing a culture of integrity in our students.

Gioia House and St Patrick’s collaboration

As we prepare and look forward to the upcoming Gioia House STEM Gala Day on 25 August, which we are thrilled to be hosting at Santa Sabina College. We will be welcoming 213 Year 6 students from St Pat’s for a day with the aim of fostering a sense of friendship and providing an enriching learning experience.

Another enriching educational experience for our students we are excited about is the Gioia House and St Pat’s InterSchool Public Speaking Competition this term. 

We recognise that the power of effective communication and mastering public speaking skills can truly set our students apart. During English classes, all our students have begun learning to articulate their thoughts, express their ideas, and command an audience through effective speech writing and delivery. They have been encouraged to select one of the provided topics and develop a speech around it. This approach ensures our students engage with topics that truly resonate with them, fostering a greater sense of ownership and authenticity in their presentations. Please note, all speeches are to be written in class, allowing teachers to guide and support the students throughout the creative process. Therefore, we request students to fully utilise their class time for the preparation of their speeches. All students will present their speeches to their class, with the class teacher acting as an adjudicator. The top two students from each class will represent Gioia House at the grand final to be held at St Patrick’s College on 7 September. We believe this experience will enhance the students’ confidence, articulation and collaborative skills, fostering a spirit of friendly competition and building connections.

NAPLAN

The Year 5 NAPLAN results have now been sent home in the post. Please reach out if you have not received the results in a week’s time. Please do not hesitate to be in touch should you have concerns. 

As we progress through Term 3, let us continue to uphold the spirit of our Dominican heritage, foster a culture of integrity, and cherish the strength of our community. This term promises to be yet another exciting and productive term.

CALENDAR DATES

  • 10 August – Year 6 Excursion to NSW Parliament House
  • 21 August – IPSHA Performing Art
  • 25 August STEM Gala Day
  • 29 August – Stage 3 Netball Gala Day 
  • 7 September – Public Speaking Finals
  • 13-15 September – Year 6 Outdoor Education Experience at Tallong

We have fun while learning.

Stella Azizian
Head of Gioia House