21 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the living bread from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
Alleluia!

Cf Jn 6:51-52

Dear Parents and Guardians

Literacy Program

We are really excited about the progress that we are making across the school with our Whole School Literacy program. Whenever I get the opportunity I try to make a point of walking around the classrooms during literacy block time. It is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job and I am very fortunate to witness some wonderful teaching and learning taking place.

This year our major focus in literacy is the development of reading, with particular reference to improving comprehension skills. In this day and age, being a competent reader is pivotal in enabling our students to access the broader curriculum.

Our teachers continue to work hard to develop and improve their own knowledge and understanding of the most effective strategies for explicitly teaching reading. I am pleased to report that these skills are on display in our classrooms on a daily basis and will go a long way to improving student outcomes.

At St Cuthbert’s we understand that the education of our students is based on a partnership between home and school. To maximize the progress we have made at school I have included some literacy strategies that you might like to consider implementing at home.

Developing positive literacy habits:

• Reading with children is as critical to their growth as food is to their physical development
• Model reading and writing – children imitate what they see
• Make sharing books with your child part of your daily routine
• Recognise online reading, writing and speaking opportunities
• Play word games and have fun with rhymes
• Encourage your child to talk in different situations
• Keep plenty of books and writing materials at home
• Talk regularly with children to increase vocabularies and influence their thinking
• Create reading and writing opportunities at home
• Celebrate your child’s literacy progress

Congratulations

Congratulations to Claire and Jorrick Chivers on the birth of Tadhg, a beautiful baby boy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this joyful time in your lives.

Southern Cross Country

Congratulations to all of our students who represented St Cuthbert’s Catholic School at the recent Southern Catholic Cross Country Carnival. I am delighted to report that our students were wonderful ambassadors for our school

The School Lift

I am delighted to inform our community that our school lift is finally operational. If there are any parents or elderly members of our community who need to use the lift, it will be open during school hours.

Marcus Donnelly
Principal

Principal Awards

STCPSSA Cross Country Carnival 2017

Well done to all the students who competed in the Cross Country Carnival. The sun shone and the wind was non-existent. For the first time in many years it didn't feel like we were in Antarctica - not a penguin in sight. It was a great day with many individual successes. The students supported each other as they ran in their races. Thank you to staff and parents who attended this fun day out.

Sandy Clark

Scholastic Book Club

LOOP SYSTEM TO ORDER AND PAY

Orders due today, Wednesday 21st June 2017

Please note - NO CASH. You order and pay using the scholastic on-line system 'LOOP". It is easy to use. When you go to 'parent payments' at the Scholastic website and choose 'St. Cuthberts', you will be directed into the LOOP system where you complete your order and payment via credit card on-line. There is no need to send any paper work to school. Your child will receive their order at school as usual.

Important Dates

Metro

Information for Metro school bus services on Monday 24 July, 2017

Support for families of Students With Difficulties

Dear Parents

Medicare rebates are available for a specified number of sessions with a private speech pathologist, occupational therapist and psychologist under the Chronic Disease Management Plan (up to 5 sessions per year).

The Mental Health Care Plan provides (up to 10 sessions with a psychologist per year) for selected conditions. Further information can be obtained from the family doctor (GP).

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a recent initiative that that aims to provide people, who have a permanent and significant disability, with individualised support. The NDIS provides links to services and activities, individualised plans where necessary and support over a lifetime.

The Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) Program provides information and support to families and carers of children with an autism spectrum disorder aged up to 7 years. This program aims to assist families and carers by providing financial assistance for up to 4 assessment sessions for children suspected of having/diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and up to 20 intervention sessions for children with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder. A paediatrician must develop a treatment plan for the child prior to age of 13 years, and refer to intervention with a psychologist, a speech pathologist and/or an occupational therapist. The child needs to be aged under 13 years for assessment services and under 15 years for intervention. Autism Tasmania assists families to utilise their HCWA package.

The family may be eligible for the Carer Allowance, which could be used to assist access to the necessary supports and interventions for the child. The Carer Allowance is a supplementary fortnightly payment from Centrelink for people who provide care for a child with a disability, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. For information or to make an application the family can visit their local Centrelink office.

Date Claimer for John Wallis Memorial Lecture 2017

“The Word of God in the life of the Church” given by Fr Frank Moloney SDB
Thursday, September 21st 2017, 7.00pm, GYC Hobart Campus
Book the date! Don’t miss out!

Mrs Michele Boucher, Office of the Archbishop, Archdiocese of Hobart
Telephone: (03) 6208 6225 | Fax: (03) 6208 6293
Email: michele.boucher@aohtas.org.au