Term 1 Week 5 of 10
Friday, 28th February 2025
Message from the Principal
What a wonderful Mass and celebration we had on Sunday for the
beginning of our school year. We especially welcomed our new 2025 Preps and had a special commissioning Mass for our staff. Thanks to all our staff for participating in this. I hope you all enjoyed the sausages cooked by our school staff and parishioners. This was a wonderful example of the strong bond between our school and parish. We look forward to other special Mass days we have on Sundays and having all of our families there.
Best wishes,
Deputy Principal: Learning & Organisation
Professional Learning for our staff
On Monday 24th February, we had a school closure day where our staff had an opportunity to come together to continue our learning journey on the Science of Learning, leading into a continued focus on the Science of Reading.
On this day we explored the learning process, cognitive load and how much information we can move from our working memory into our long term memory which is the ultimate goal of learning.
Learning is a change in long term memory!
We explored strategies that support this process and discussed the importance of reviewing material, skills and content in order to retain information and to develop knowledge and understanding. This is something that is very important when planning our teaching and learning programs!
Week 6: Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
A reminder that this upcoming week we will be acknowledging Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday 4th March with pancakes and discussions in classrooms about the significance of the day. An Operoo form has gone out to all families and if children have received permission, they will be receiving a pancake on this day.
On Wednesday 5th March, we will have a Whole School Mass at 9:30am in the Church where we will mark the beginning of our Lenten season. Families are welcome to attend the mass.
Step 6: Turn on notifications by clicking the ‘bell’ button and ensure that it looks like the images below.
We often hold polls on the different types of posts or stories you might like to see! Don’t forget to check us out!
Wellbeing, Child Safety & Community Leader
Routines are important ….
Our lives are so busy and hectic at times that it’s important to create a sense of predictability and a feeling of being organised.
There is so much change in a child’s life that having some kind of daily structure can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Starting off the day knowing exactly what needs to be done versus running around the house like your hair's on fire or you’re being chased by an angry monkey (you pick!) can set the tone for a much calmer and more productive day for you and your kids. And it feels good!
The Brain Benefits of Routines:
Our brains become happier by increasing certainty. | Whenever people face uncertainty, the amygdala (the responsible party for fight, flight or freeze) is engaged. Routines help us know what to expect keeping our bodies calm and more alert.
We can think more clearly. |The prefrontal cortex (the thinker brain) houses executive functions which allow people to organize, plan, self-regulate, and get tasks done. This part of the brain tends to tire more easily if used a lot. Establishing routines helps our brain store those tasks in our basal ganglia, where our habits are stored, freeing up space in our prefrontal cortex and allowing us to have a clear mind so we can do new tasks and be creative in other areas.
Our energy levels won’t be depleted as easily. | The Ego-Depletion effect is that feeling you get after completing tasks all day long. After a long hard day, you get the feeling of wanting to curl up on the couch and watch Netflix because you use up all your limited willpower (and self-control). Having routines can conserve our self-control and energy.
We can lose fewer things. I love organization and to be organized because I can better keep track of things by putting simple routines into place. For example, hanging up my keys in the same place every day as soon as I walk into the house, having a special place to put things etc Your kids need to know where to put their belongings. When they get home… where do they put their bag etc
Types of routines
Routines for Daily Living
• Getting ready in the morning.
• Going to bed at night.
• Eating meals.
• Hygiene and health. For example, brushing teeth and washing hands.
• Tidying up.
• Chores. For example, Caring for pets. setting the dinner table and packing away.
• Home work
Learning Diversity Leader
At Resurrection Primary School, we are fortunate to have a speech pathologist
(Imogen) who collaborates with our teachers and supports students with
communication and language challenges. A speech pathologists’ role in schools
differs from private speech pathology practice, as they work within the classroom
setting to provide targeted strategies and guidance rather than conducting ongoing,
individual therapy sessions.
We are very excited to begin a weekly newsletter piece dedicated to the important world of Cyber Safety. Cyber safety information is crucial at school to help students understand the risks of online behavior and protect their privacy in the digital world. By working together, schools and families can ensure students are equipped with the knowledge and support needed to make safe, responsible decisions online
App of the Week: Snapchat
Snapchat is a popular social media app where users can send pictures or short videos, called "Snaps," to friends. These messages disappear after being viewed, but users can also save them. Snapchat allows people to share moments, chat, and even create short stories that last 24 hours. It’s mainly used by teens and young adults, with an age requirement of 13 or older to create an account.
However, there are risks for kids using Snapchat. One concern is the potential for inappropriate content, as photos or videos can be shared quickly and disappear, making it harder to monitor. It can also expose children to online bullying, or make them vulnerable to strangers trying to interact with them. As a parent, it’s important to have conversations about online safety and monitor your child's activity on the app.
SOMETHING EXCITING IS COMING!
In the classroom, teachers have access to a program called Classwize. Class Wise is an app designed to help teachers monitor their students' laptop screens during class. It allows teachers to view what each student is doing on their device in real time, ensuring they stay focused on the lesson. Teachers can also send messages, lock screens, or guide students if they're off-task. This tool helps improve classroom management and keeps students engaged, while giving teachers a way to quickly address any distractions or issues.
In the coming months, we will be setting up Linewize to allow parents to monitor their child’s screen time at home! This app is called Linewize. In the coming weeks, we will be giving you information about what this application means for you at home and how you will be able to use it. This application will be a fantastic tool to assist with monitoring your child’s device usage, and give you an idea of what they are doing on their devices at home.
Exciting times ahead!
UKULELE FUN!
In Performing Arts lessons this term, Years 3-6 students are learning how to play the ukulele. Students are learning how to hold the instrument correctly, play with a plectrum, play individual strings, strum a variety of rhythmic patterns and even learn some basic chords! It has been wonderful to see how our students are playing their instruments with such musicality, developing many skills that a musician requires when playing in a music ensemble. It has been particularly exciting to see some of our students accompany themselves by playing ukulele chords when singing songs they have learnt! Keep up the fabulous music-making, everyone!
Sacramental Launch
A friendly reminder that if your child is in grade 4 or 6
and you would like them to make their sacrament this
year it is compulsory that you attend the sacramental
launch this weekend Saturday1st March 6pm &
Sunday 2nd March 10.30am!
SUNDAY GOSPEL
This Sunday’s reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 6:39-45
A person speaks from what is in his heart.
Jesus told a parable to his disciples, ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.
‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.’
Gospel Reflection
In our post-modern world, the lesson of the hypocrite seeking to remove the speck from their neighbour’s eye before removing the log from their own has at times been taken too far and too literally. We are often confronted with a minimalist notion that nobody can be corrected or criticised because one person’s opinion is just as good as the next person’s. In this view, there is no room for universal truths; no room for authority; no room for an over-arching view of the world or a meta-narrative – an underlying ‘big picture’ story for life.
On the surface, the idea that one person’s opinion is as valid as any other’s seems very democratic and sociable. However, it is fundamentally not true. Someone who has spent a lifetime studying and practising in a particular field of endeavour cannot be lightly dismissed as ‘that’s just your opinion’. Yet, all too often, such learned knowledge and experience is given the same weight as ill-informed and sometimes mischievous opinion – frequently in the name of ‘balanced’ discussion.
For some people immersed in the post-modern culture this wash of opinion dressed up as fact is not only confusing but sometimes dangerous. Social norms and even laws can be seen as just another opinion that differs from my own. The opinions of friends and complete strangers on the internet or social networks are held with the same level of legitimacy as established sources of social, moral, legal and religious authority. Whilst it is proper to question established authority and require accountability and justification, the absence of universal truths and meta-narratives lead us back to the proverb that begins today’s gospel: the blind leading the blind.
Gospel Focus - Good from Good
The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good.’ What makes a person good? Is it that they have had good things happen in their life? There are plenty of people who have had good things in their life but they remain cynical and spiteful people. Similarly there are plenty who have had the hardest of circumstances yet goodness constantly flows from them. It’s not the external influences but what we do with them that determines whether we are nurturing ‘good treasure’ or harbouring ‘evil treasure’. This is not just sugary sweetness but a deliberate decision to be a person of hope.
Scriptural context - Three texts; one lesson
Today’s gospel is made up of three separate teachings of Jesus that have been put together by the gospel writer to convey a particular message. When taken together, the three teachings all shed light on the way believers influence one another in community. It is a call to witness to one another through actions as well as words. Before we seek to teach another we must ensure we have adequately learned the lesson ourselves. We must be self-appraising before we critique another. Finally, our actions towards one another are a reflection of our intentions; good actions come from goodness of the heart.
Living the Gospel - You Hypocrite
It is often argued that it is hypocrisy to attend Mass on Sundays and be ‘holy’ in that circumstance but to then be less than perfect during the rest of the week. This is often rolled out as a convenient excuse for not attending Mass at all: everyone who goes to Mass is a hypocrite. Of course, attending Mass does not imply perfection. It is in fact a recognition of imperfection and the need to come together as a community and to seek God’s help to have another go at trying to get it a bit more right in the coming week.
Sacramental Launch
It was lovely to see so many families join us at Mass last weekend for the sacramental launch. We look forward to welcoming you all on your child’s sacramental journey. Remember for the children in Grade 4 & 6 you still have this weekend to attend. A friendly reminder, that it is compulsory to attend the launch if you wish for your child to make their sacrament this year. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the parish office.
St Vincent de Paul
As we approach Easter, we ask again for your kindness by asking for shopping bags to be filled with non-perishable items to distribute to the families in our area.
These bags will be available from the Church on Ash Wednesday onwards and we ask for you to return them to the office or at the Holy Thursday Mass.
Please take home a Project Compassion box to support Caritas Australia this Lenten season and help support vulnerable people around the world, now and For All Future Generations.
TERM 0NE DATES 2025
Week 7
Monday -10/3
School Closure: Labour Day Public Holiday
Tuesday - 11/3
Wednesday - 12/3
First Wednesday for Prep students
School Advisory Council (SAC) at 7pm
Thursday - 13/3
Year 5 interrelate program session 1 of 3
Friday - 14/3
Junior school Year Level Mass 9am
Saturday - 15/3
Sunday - 16/3
Second Sunday in Lent
Week 9
Monday - 24/3
Prep - Year 2 Assembly at 2.30pm
Tuesday - 25/3
Wednesday - 26/3
Thursday - 27/3
Year 5 Interrelate program session 3 of 3
Friday - 28/3
Middle School Year Level Mass 9am (Reconciliation focus) Reconciliation Grade 4
Saturday - 29/3
Sunday - 30/3
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Week 6
Monday -3/3
Prep - Year 2 Assembly - student of the week awards begin
Tuesday - 4/3
Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday - 5/3
Prep Day Off - Scheduled testing of Prep students
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Ash Wednesday (Whole School Mass at 9am)
Thursday - 6/3
Friday - 7/3
Saturday - 8/3
Sunday - 9/3
First Sunday in Lent
Week 8
Monday - 17/3
Years 3-6 Assembly at 2:30pm
Tuesday - 18/3
Wednesday - 19/3
Year 6 Camp to Campaspe Downs
Thursday - 20/3
Year 6 Camp to Campaspe Downs
Year 5 Interrelate program session 2 of 3
Year Prep Level Mass 9am
Friday - 21/3
Year 6 Camp to Campaspe Downs
Saturday - 22/3
Sunday - 23/3
Third Sunday in Lent
Week 10
Monday - 31/3
Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival - Parents Welcome
No Assembly today due to the Athletics Carnival
Tuesday - 1/4
Wednesday - 2/4
Thursday - 3/4
Whole School: Stations of the Cross run by Year 5. Parents Welcome
Friday - 4/4
End of Term Whole School Mass at 9am
Last Day of Term 1 - Students finish at 3.15pm
Saturday - 5/4
Sunday - 6/4
Fith Sunday in Lent
