13 September 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, everywhere, even the stars.

Robin Williams

Dear Parents/Guardians

Jon Madin

If anyone ever doubted the value of music in the broader curriculum you should have been at St Cuthbert’s Catholic School last Wednesday when we were lucky enough to enjoy a visit from Jon Madin. Jon is an international music teacher and inventor of wonderful and whacky musical instruments.

Jon worked with students from Grades 3-6 throughout the day before presenting a concert in the afternoon to the entire school.

The concert involved every student playing a variety of different instruments and performing pieces learned during the day. The final result was a spectacular display of talent, joy and enthusiasm!

We thank Ms. Freeman for organising such a wonderful incursion.

Tournament of Minds

St Cuthbert's Catholic School was well represented by: Sumanth Karunakara, Madeline Burnett, Tom Marr, Georgia Malone, Loralei Nesbitt, Lachlan Pickersgill and Kaleb Gard-Spaulding at this year's Tournament of the Minds, held at Ogilvie High on Saturday the 9th of September 2017. The students claimed 'Honours' (2nd place in the State) in their chosen category of Social Sciences for the Long Term Challenge. Their production saw two countries (Bolivia and Estonia) amalgamated to become 'Bostonia' in a fictional scenario. It was well received by the Judges and the audience alike. The School is justifiably proud of their hard work and achievements. Well done. We would especially like to thank Mr. Sandy Clark for preparing our team so well.

First Eucharist

We congratulate the following students who made their First Eucharist at The Church of the Incarnation and Corpus Christi over the weekend:

Isabelle Potter, Lucinda Coutts, Charlotte Coutts, Keeley Tanner, Lachlan Fitzgerald. On behalf of the St Cuthbert’s Catholic School community we would like to thank Father Peter for celebrating this important occasion with our students. Thanks also to Mr. Lachlan Marsh and members of the Sacramental team for ensuring that our students were so well prepared.

Food Festival

A reminder to parents and guardians to keep Friday, November 3 at 4.00pm free for the St Cuthbert’s Catholic School Food Festival. On behalf of our Parents and Friends I strongly encourage as many people as possible to support this event.

Events like this present a great opportunity for us to come together as a community and get to know each other a little better. We’d love to see you there.

Marcus Donnelly
PRINCIPAL
St Cuthbert’s Catholic School

Principal Awards

Congratulations

Congratulations to Niamh Kelly Anderson (centre) and Bridget Potter (right), both from Grade 2, who recently participated in the Irish Dance Championships in Melbourne. They are both now State Champions.

Fire Safety

Firefighter Todd from the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) is visiting our school this week to present a Home Fire Safety Program to our Prep to Grade 6 students.

The age appropriate program is designed to raise fire awareness in children and includes fun in class activities, videos, activity books, website and giveaways.

Parents and other family members are also encouraged to participate by reading the information and assisting your child with the after school activities.

The TFS aims to deliver appropriate fire safety education to every primary school child in Tasmania and is part of the TFS’s ongoing commitment to create a fire safe Tasmania.

Key Fire Safety Messages include,

Wake up - Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom

Plan and practice a home fire escape plan with the whole family

In a fire get down low and go, go, go to the nearest exit

In an emergency call triple zero

Keep flammable material at least two metres from the heater

If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, rock and roll

Keep matches and lighters away from children

Cooking - Turn it off before you turn away

Cool a burn under cold water for at least 20 minutes

Most house fires can be avoided. Make your home fire safe

EARLY CHILDHOOD

TFS receives regular requests from kindergartens, preschools and child care centres asking for firefighters to visit and teach children about home fire safety.

TFS does not deliver structured fire safety programs to children below primary school age. This decision was made based on research carried out by the Mental Health Services of the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in Melbourne. This research indicated that:

Children under the age of five had low retention of the information they had learned; and

In some children, the information had actually stimulated their curiosity about fire and they had begun to play with fire.

TFS believes that parents and caregivers are the best people to make sure that very young children are safe from fire. To help with this, TFS has a fire safety website for parents, carers, teachers and students

TFS has also developed resources for young children that introduce them to the friendly firefighter characters that they will meet when they receive the School Fire Education Program including a colouring book, a money box shaped like a fire truck, and stickers with home fire safety messages for the whole family.

Free giveaways for your kindergarten, preschool or child care centre are available at the link below.

Important Dates

Catholic Care Children’s Services

Parentech

APC would like to invite you to have a look at what is on offer in September with the Parentech campaign. The Digital Detox starts on the 11th September and Dr Kirsty Goodwin’s e-book is soon to be released. Please click on the link below for more information.

Host an International Exchange Student

BRING HOME A BIG BROTHER OR SISTER AND BRING FRENCH, ITALIAN OR SPANISH CULTURE TO LIFE!

Why not volunteer to host an international student from France, Italy or Spain next year? We have a small group of delightful students coming to Australia for 11 weeks to immerse in local Australian culture, experience our High schools, sports, environment and lifestyle. All these international students are around 15 or 16 years old, speak excellent English, have their own spending money, cover all school expenses, and we arrange all aspects of their program. They are looking forward to joining an Australian family for a short term cultural immersion stay. It’s fun and interesting to help these young people achieve their Australian dream. If you would like to know more, please email your interest to ICM on info@icm-education.com.au or call Georgie or Anja on 1800 500 501, or visit our website www.icm-education.com.