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T2 | MAY 2022

Lord our heavenly Father,

We pray for those who are homeless.

May they be helped to find a place where they are safe,

A roof over their head,

A companion to help them emotionally, and good health.

A satisfying meal and something to drink and keep warm during winter.

This winter, let us extend our hand of love to those most in need.

Amen

'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

Matthew 25:35-36

A message from emily.

St Alipius Principal | Emily Clarke

Welcome to Winter!

Winter has well and truly arrived this term and we're certainly feeling it out in the yard. We encourage students to bring their jumpers (and coats!) to fight the chill as they brave the cold days outside. As the air turns icy I am wondering why on earth I decided to take on the Big Freeze challenge! However it's brought some excited anticipation and a great focus to the issue of MND and finding a cure, so I am sure it will be worth it!

It's been a lovely return to Term 2 and it's hard to believe as I am writing this that we are already half way through. We have already packed some fantastic learning experiences into the term, including our 5/6 camp to Cave Hill Creek. Our senior community were blessed with beautiful weather to enjoy the many experiences this camp has to offer. I want to congratulate the 5/6 students on the exceptional way they approached and engaged in the camp experiences. They showed courage, collaboration and persistence in taking on some of the challenging activities. I also want to thank our wonderful staff for their dedication and commitment. Our staff leave their own families at home to give our students this experience and I am so grateful for their passion and love for their profession.

Last week we celebrated Catholic Education Week. The focus this year was on Mark's gospel; "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all of creation". This message forms an invitation for us to share the good news with all in our community. This might look like sitting with someone who is lonely, sharing something with someone who has less, reaching out to an old friend to say hi, providing hope for someone who is feeling lost. In times of stress and anxiety we are called to share the good news, spreading love, light and hope for those that need it. I see this every day in my work and love being a part of a community that always sees the light.

As we head into the second half of term two we look forward to many more opportunities to share the good news in our community. We have another camp coming up for our 3/4 community and our much loved NAIDOC week celebration to finish the term.

Take care,

Emily

“Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life its deepest significance.”

― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

News from our learning communities.

EXCELLENCE | EQUITY | EMPOWERMENT.

The Story Dog mission

To make reading fun for children, so they become confident lifelong readers.

When children read to a dog, the outcomes are amazing! It is a non-judgemental setting, the children's focus improves, their literacy skills increase and their confidence soars. The accepting, loving nature of dogs gives this program its magic and helps children relax, open up, try harder and have fun while reading to a friendly, calm dog. Woof!

Here are some photos from our first two Story Dog visits!

MUSIC in The Foundation LC

In Semester One, the foundation students explored the songs and musical instruments we use at St Alipius and played percussion while singing with the class. We use fruit and animal words to learn simple rhythms and read basic formal rhythmic notation. We began to classify our school musical instruments in basic terms and used them to perform our own rhythmic ostinato to the class.

We can:

repeat rhythms and play instruments in turn with the class
write a short rhythmic ostinato with fruit and animals with additional correct formal notation
perform original short rhythmic ostinatos to the class in time and on the beat.

School-WIDE CULTURE

We love a sing-a-long at SAPS!

Celebrating Catholic Education week with a good old fashioned school sing-a-long!! 🎶

Some of our favourite songs include:

Ubuntu, St Alipius You Are Gold, Faith in the Future, and Hearts on Fire.

As part of Catholic Education Week our Foundation students made microphones. The theme of the year has been ‘share the good news’ and as part of this we spoke about speaking loud and proud.

Foundation LC

During Maths we looked at maths through storytelling. We listened to a story and pulled out the different numbers and identified these as different parts. Our tasks required us to put two parts together and record them as a number sentence.

Year One / Two LC

We celebrated Catholic Education Week. This year’s theme is ‘Share the good news'.

“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15

Year Three / Four LC

We are learning different strategies for addition. This is the split strategy and algorithm.

PHYS. EDU in The YR. 1/2 LC

This semester students further developed their understanding of the importance of correct techniques for activities such as running, throwing, dodging, hitting and kicking. Students practised and applied these techniques in modified team games such as AFL, lacrosse, softball and netball. Games are specifically chosen to use a combination of gross and fine motor skills, teach rules and help children to develop learning dispositions of collaboration, persistence and being reflective.

In Physical Education we can:

talk about the changes that happen to our body when I exercise,
apply basic motor skills in sport-specific settings,
name ways in which we can show fair play,
use equipment and space safely.

Year One / Two LC

As part of our learning this year, we are experiencing and learning about various art forms and art skill sets.

In Year 1/2 this has involved learning to weave.

This week we are going on an excursion to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne!

Year Three / Four LC

We have been learning about the states and territories of Australia.

Our success criteria for our geography unit were:

- I can research a state or territory of Australia

- I can create a presentation such as slides or a poster about the state or territory

- I can present my research to the class

- I can project my voice and use expression.

- I can be a good audience member by listening respectfully to others.

Catholic education in all things | School Camp

Maths Night | t2, 2022.

Thank you to our families who joined with our learning communities to create a night of maths fun! It was wonderful to welcome everyone back into our learning spaces after a long period of restrictions.

Year Five LC

We are learning to interpret and generate maps. These maps depict climate zones, we know that the world consists of different climate zones that include warm zones that are humid or desert-like and are close to the equator in addition to temperate zones that are located in regions or climates characterised by mild temperatures. We can locate many of the human-made wonders of the world, such as the Great Wall of China and Christ the Redeemer. We are familiar with some of the world's major rivers and mountain ranges. We have also explored population density and why people choose to live where they live. We are building such a broad understanding of our world!!

Year Six LC

Understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning are integral parts of mathematics.

We are learning how to use measurement skills in a real-life setting.

We are learning how to develop a budget.

In Year 6, we aim to connect our previous learning with everyday situations that enable us to transfer these skills and incorporate maths successfully into our lives.

PHYS. EDU in The YR 3/4 LC

This Semester, students focused on refining fundamental movement skills and developing tactics and strategies to participate in games such as softball, lacrosse and netball. Students also focused on working cooperatively and making rules that show fair play. Students developed skills in being reflective by naming, refining and evaluating techniques and by giving feedback to others.

In Physical Education we can:

demonstrate a variety of basic motor skills and apply them to sport-specific situations
use basic game tactics and work with others to achieve goals in both cooperative and competitive settings
demonstrate teamwork and fair play by joining in games and interacting positively with others
evaluate the performance of a partner and provide feedback.

UPCOMING DATES.

TERM 2 | 2022

07/06 - 1/2 Excursion to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
08/06 - AFL clinics
09/06 - Year 5 'Express Yourself' Hip-hop music writing workshop
10/06 - Fight MND Fundraiser
13/06 - Queen's Birthday long weekend (no school)
15/06 - Sacrament of Confirmation at St Alipius Parish Church
16/06 - Des Hudson visiting Year 5 & 6 - Police in Schools program
17-06 to 23/06 - Foundation to Year 2 Swimming program
20/06 - NAIDOC Week commences
20/06 & 21/06 - Year 3/4 Camp
21/06 - Staff CPR training
22/06 - NAIDOC Celebration & Assembly
23/06 (Thursday) - End of Term 2 | LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS
24/06 - School closure | Religious Education professional learning

COMMUNITY NEWS & INFORMATION.

Ballarat East & beyond.

KELLY SPORTS WINTER HOLIDAY PROGRAM

MON 27th JUNE TO FRI 8th JULY

Location: Eastwood Leisure Centre

Times: 8am to 5pm

Ages: Kinder to Grade 6, boys & girls

Activities: Full day of fun sports games & activities

What to bring: Warm clothes, plenty of food & a large refillable drink bottle

Cost: $55 per child per day ($250 for a full week)

Enrol: Online at www.kellysports.com.au/greater-ballarat

LUNCH ORDERS

We are proud to be partnering with S&P Catering to bring lunch orders back to St Alipius.

They will take place every Wednesday starting 8th June.

Ordering will require families to register with another online system but we are assured it is easy to navigate and will be more than happy to assist with the initial set up.

Orders will close at 8.15am every Wednesday for that days lunch, however, please be aware that the menu may change due to the availability of items, ordering further in advance will ensure your preferred items are available. There is a notes section where you may wish to specify child allergies/dietary requirements and you can ask for variations this way also eg. 'no cheese'.

Thank you to families who recently informed us of your availability to assist with lunch orders, we will hold onto this data and contact you if there is anything else you can help us with on your available days in the future.

See attached flyer, menu and registration instructions. Please have a look at this over the next few days to ensure you are ready to order for next Wednesday as there will be no late orders accepted.