Term 2, Week 7 - 1st June, 2023

From the Principal

Dear families,

Welcome to Week 7 and the second last newsletter for Term 2. We are currently very busy completing end of term assessment tasks to demonstrate what we have learnt this term. Teachers have started writing report cards, and these will be distributed to families in Week 10. 

Learning Dispositions at St Maria Goretti

One of our current strategic focuses for our school is to develop our students as expert learners and establish a common learning language across the school.

We are currently working as a team to develop 'SMG Learning Dispositions.' I aim to keep our school community updated on our journey, so that parents and carers can know and understand our common learning language at St Maria Goretti. 

What is a Learning Disposition? A learning disposition is a behaviour or way of being that contribute to people fulfilling their full potential.

Our team has identified that we want our students to be reflective, persistent, curious, collaborative and engaged learners in order for them to fulfill their full potentials. 

​Yesterday, we explored the first disposition as a staff - 'Reflective Roo'. We discussed what it meant to be a reflective learner, referred to curriculum documents to support our wording, and came up with the following - 

Moving forward, our plan in Term 3 is to begin introducing 'Reflective Roo' to our students by asking them the following - What does a reflective learner look like and sound like?

We will be focusing on feedback, goal setting, and exploring different teaching and learning styles/strategies with our students to help them develop this learning disposition.

Students who are consistently being a 'Reflective Roo', will receive acknowledgement in the newsletter and on school assemblies.

Thank you for joining us on our journey to establish a common learning language across our community!

Have you seen the beautiful canvas art in our office foyer? This artwork is by Peter Muraay Dieripi Mulcahy and was painted for our school a number of years ago. Please read his artist statement, below. 

Send forth the light is the first image depicted in this artwork for St Maria Goretti School. The circle image at the top is a symbol of the creator. (All within one/no start or end). We believe that all was made of and from the Creator, the Great Spirit.

The stars in the sky represent the camp fires in the Milky Way from where our Ancestors watch down on us. These stars also remind us of how important it is to hold strong, for each of us to be a light in the darkness.

The large circle is your school, your parish, your community. Around the circle is shown the parents, teachers, church leaders, and within stands their children/students.

The large carpet snake (YABBA) encircling the community is the symbol of spiritual power and strength. The strength is what binds a community together.

Outside of this we have other native Australian animals in the area. All these are meant to be teachings for our mind, body and soul. The kookaburra, the awakener is one who shares without first receiving, a giver of laughter and kind lessons. He is an example for us all and is an aspect of the great creator reminding us to be awakened to the spirit in all things. 

Keep our school community well

Over the past two weeks, there have been a number of illnesses in our school community. Parents, carers and students are encouraged to practice prevention measures, including:

• washing and sanitising hands regularly
• avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• staying home if unwell and consulting a general practitioner (GP)
• staying up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Staffing Update Semester 2, 2023

Mrs Zalae Smith, who has been assisting in the classroom at St Maria Goretti for an amazing 9.5 years has made the decision to resign from her position as School Officer at the end of this Term. The decision has come at a time where Zalae is pursuing other career opportunities. Fortunately for us, Zalae will still be working with us on Thursdays and Friday mornings as Library Assistant - as she is still passionate about the school and our beautiful school library.  

Students, staff and parents are incredibly fond of 'Mrs Smith 1'. She brings dedication, knowledge, organisation, creativity, and love to her role and she will be missed in the classroom. Zalae has not only been instrumental in helping our students learn and grow, but she has always been incredibly supportive of the school outside of school hours - even after her children have grown older and left St Maria Goretti. I know our community will join me in wishing Zalae all of the best. 

Miss Imogen Bankes will be taking on additional hours so that our students continue to be supported in the classroom. 

Mrs Olivia Osborne has recently made the decision to extend her parental leave until at least the end of the 2023 school year. We are looking forward to Mrs Osborne joining us as a relief teacher in Semester 2! 

Upcoming Term 2 dates

9th June - SMG Semester 1 Disco! (Retro themed dress)

14th June - School Officer day

14th June - Tuckshop lunch special

16th June - Small Schools athletics carnival (Goondiwindi)

21st June - PEN meeting

22nd June - TCS Arts Fest

23rd June - Last day of Term 2!

11th July - First day of Term 3!

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Yours in education,

Casey Robinson

Principal

"No matter how many or how great be your shortcomings, you shall certainly succeed in the end." (Mary MacKillop 1874)

Students of the Week - Week 7

Sight Word Certificates

Happy birthday!

Parent Engagement Network

Our Lady of the Southern Cross Parish - Mass Times

Sunday 4th June - 9am Lay Lead Liturgy

Saturday 10th June - 5:30pm Mass

Sunday 18th June - 9am Lay Lead Liturgy

Sunday 25th June - 9am Mass

Sunday 2nd July - 9am Lay Lead Liturgy

Notices