Head of Primary P-6

In the quiet of Lent, let us listen more intently to God’s voice, reminding us that in the wilderness, we are not alone, for He walks beside us, guiding and renewing our spirit.

Welcome to Week 6 of Term 1 of the College newsletter! The last few weeks have been filled with exciting events within our school community. Teachers have engaged in invaluable professional development sessions, focusing on InitiaLit instructional strategies and pastoral care, to further enrich their teaching practices and support for our students. In our continuous effort to enhance communication with our families, we are pleased to announce the reworking and improvement of the Del Monte reporting format, ensuring clarity and comprehensive feedback on student progress. Reports will be released to parents at the end of Semester 1.

We’ve celebrated the commissioning of Del Monte and Gioia House student leaders through special liturgies, showcasing students’ commitment to serve and lead. Our Kindergarten students brought joy and energy to Dom’s Plot with their delightful dancing performance, as a long-standing college tradition. As part of their journey, boys will have the opportunity to dance on the Plot once again when they reach Year 4, symbolising their growth and readiness for the next stage of their education. The girls, on the other hand, will revisit this tradition on a very special day – their graduation from Santa Sabina in Year 12.

NAPLAN

Earlier this term Years 3 and 5 parents were sent the information about NAPLAN. The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point-in-time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life.

All students in Years 3 and 5 have been working on NAPLAN-like questions in Maths, focusing on one strand each week. The students have been exploring narrative and persuasive texts in English. Teachers used the NAPLAN public demonstration site to familiarise students with the types of questions and tools available in the NAPLAN Online tests. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended.

Intervention and differentiation

In our commitment to cater to each student’s unique needs, our teachers leverage assessment data, the latest research, and collaborate with Inclusive Education and Gifted coordinators to design tailored learning experiences. Our intervention programs in Literacy and Numeracy aim to strengthen foundational skills, employing proven methods like those from Macquarie University’s MultiLit and MacqLit Programs. These interventions focus on enhancing phonemic awareness, comprehension, and numerical understanding, fostering confidence and competence in these critical areas. Furthermore, our approach to differentiation within the classroom ensures personalised learning experiences that promote academic growth for all students, including the highly able and gifted. This strategy involves adjusting content, processes, products, and the learning environment to maximise individual engagement and ownership of learning.

To support your child’s learning at home you could

Encourage reading: share and discuss books to foster a love for reading.
Create a study space: set up a quiet, dedicated area for homework.
Establish a routine: regular study times can improve focus and discipline.
Build independence: foster a sense of ownership over their educational journey, gradually instilling the habit of independent learning.

2024 Leaders

Congratulations to 2024 student leaders and we wish them a great year ahead. Embrace every opportunity and enjoy your journey.

Del Monte Captains
Marie Metledge
Elijah Au

Gioia House Student Leadership Team
Valentina Dal Pra – Gioia House Captain
Jorja Matthews – Gioia House Captain
Chloe Charbel – Faith and Identity Leader
Amelia Rigon – Environment and Sustainability Leader
Mariam Fajloun – Social Justice Leader
Abigail Schutt – Sports Leader
Harriet Behan – Wellbeing Leader
Ellena Kapetanakis – Arts Leader

Gioia House Colour House Leaders
Charlie Jackson – Gunagulla
Evelyn Wei – Kurrawa
Inez Bolger – Mundawora
Mia Khoury – Teangi
Mariah Saade – Weelya
Evie Horwood – Yetinga

Parent – Teacher – Student Meeting

We look forward to meeting with you at our parent-teacher-student meeting to discuss your child’s progress on the days below. More information will be communicated in due course.

Del Monte: 14 and 16 May from 3:30pm to 7:15pm
Gioia House: 21 and 23 May from 3:45pm to 7:30pm

Gracious God, as we journey through this Lenten season, guide our hearts closer to You. Help us to embrace the quiet moments of reflection, to seek forgiveness where needed, and to offer kindness and love in abundance. May this time of Lent renew our spirits, deepen our faith, and inspire us to walk in Your ways with renewed purpose and hope. Amen.

Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6