Dear families,
Thank you all so very much for the positive messages you have sent through over the past week. Just as our teachers are working hard to keep spirits high with their students, a small message of gratitude achieves so much.
We continue to tweak our offerings for parents who are requesting extra assistance with helping their child in the remote learning environment. I continue to encourage you to do what’s right for your family. We acknowledge and understand that there will be some days when our children are just not up for the tasks at hand. Give yourselves (and your children) permission to relax every now and then.
The publishing of this year’s NAPLAN results have hopefully shown that even amidst this current situation, learning gains can still be made. I think we often underestimate how much our children can learn by simply playing or engaging in activities with family. While St Mary’s results are yet to be made available to us, it is a hopeful sign to learn that Victorian students, who spent the most time in lockdown over the last 12 months, have topped the state charts in NAPLAN.
This week we celebrated a subdued Book Week. This year’s theme, Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds highlights the powerful ability of books to transport us into places never seen. As an educator, I cannot stress the importance of reading with and to your children. And it’s never too late.
As the child of immigrants, who to this day, speak little English, my mother somehow understood this message. I remember when, as a preschooler, she would let me pick out a Golden Book each week during our trip to the supermarket. Each night, she would ‘read’ me the book at bedtime. At the time, I didn’t know she was making up the words, but it didn’t matter. The physical act of sitting together and reading had a profound effect on me.
I have now passed this onto my son. Before he could read, I read books to him that we had selected together. As he got older and began to read, he’d read to me and I’d then read him a book that was beyond his capability, and so it continued.
Please take us up on the offer to collate some books for you from our library. Email Milly (library@smaltona.catholic.edu.au) with some titles or types of books your child is interested in and we will let you know when they’re ready for collection.
Finally, I ask that you keep Nancy Leone and Alessandra Sottile in your prayers. Nancy’s father, Alessandra’s grandfather, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening. His funeral will be held this coming Monday.
Keep on keeping safe, especially when Altona and its surrounds are featuring prominently on the exposure site listings.
Sonia
Take a look at this week’s Community News!
We have our Annual Report, some key enrolment dates for Year 5 Students in 2022 starting in year 7 in 2024, as well as our Church Bulletin and news from our local secondary schools; Emmanuel College and Mount St. Josephs.
Emmanuel College News
Mount St. Josephs' Latest Newsletter
Now We're Talking - On site tutoring available
Social Skills Group Program
Altona Jnr. Cricket Club Registration info
Key enrolment dates for Year 5 students in 2022 starting in Year 7 in 2024
Hosted by Dr Anthea Rhodes (Paediatrician) with special guests Dr Ric Haslam (Director, Mental Health), Dr Alice Morgan (Clinical Psychologist) and Prof Harriet Hiscock (Paediatrician) they brought lots of practical advice.
You can watch the replay here.
You can also access a fact sheet by clicking here.