Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to supervise a Re-Creation group with Year 10-12 students (Year 9’s were at camp).  Re-Creation is 80 minutes timetabled each week on a Wednesday afternoon, for students in Year 9-12, with the goal of allowing students an opportunity to energise their spiritual potential through utilising their passions, gifts and talents for the betterment of the community.  The group I accompanied have chosen Bootcamp at Physical Gym for this term’s activity.  They walk to the gym, work with trainers at the gym to “workout” to get physical and concentrate on their physical and mental health each week.  It was hot, it was a tough session and they had fun!  It is great to be able to work with Physical Fix to offer this opportunity to our students.  The options change each term and students can choose which activity they take part in for the term. Other activities this term include Rugby League and Rugby Union skills, cooking, meditation, arts and crafts, Basketball.  As adults we know the importance of taking time to do the things we enjoy to re-energise, that life can not just be all work. It is great to allow our Senior students time in their week to realise the benefits of such time.  

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.  The test window for NAPLAN is 15-27 March 2023.  Our practice sessions went extremely well with IT working successfully and our students in Year 3, 5, 7, 9 embracing the opportunity to engage with the platform under test conditions. 

I encourage parents to explore the NAP website especially the area called Public Demonstration Site that outlines the online test environment and allows both students and parents to explore the functionality of online testing and the example questions.  https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site.  Another helpful section on this website is information for Parents and Carers https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers. This page outlines why tests are conducted, what to expect and how test results are reported and used.  If you would like to discuss your child’s participation in NAPLAN please contact your child’s class teacher, Kristen Bennie or Cate Brennan.

Season of Lent

This week Lent commenced with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which was February 22 this year.  On this special day of reflection, our students and staff received ashes on the forehead.  The ashes are a tangible symbol of our repentance, they show that we are willing to change, to turn our hearts toward God.  The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday.  Traditionally during Lent, Christians would give up rich, tasty food such as butter, eggs, sugar and fat.  Shrove Tuesday was the last chance to eat them – hence the tradition of pancakes!  Lent is a time for us to pray, fast and give of ourselves to others, almsgiving not just a time to “give something up”.  In each classroom, the office and at the tuckshop throughout Lent we have Project Compassion donation boxes, any spare change dropped in these boxes during Lent will be donated to the amazing work of Caritas, Project Compassion.  

Confirmation and Communion – St Joseph’s Parish

St Joseph’s Parish is now taking enrolments for the Sacraments of Confirmation & Holy Communion.  To be eligible to enrol in these sacraments, young people must have been baptised and received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation.  Bishop Robert McGuckin will hold Confirmation on Thursday, 20 April at 7pm and Holy Communion will be the following Sunday, 23 April at 9am.  To enrol or find out more about these sacraments, please contact St Joseph’s directly on 0746624011 or email dalbyparish@twb.catholic.edu.au. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education