Assistant Principal News
Science provides a way of inquiring about the world around us. It explores evidence and investigates ways to discover, develop and produce solutions to real world problems. The inquiry and skill-based nature of science opens doors to ideas and discoveries.At St Mary’s we use Good to Great Schools Australia’s Oz-e-Science program, Australia’s only science curriculum featuring explicit instruction. Through these units of work, students develop skills in conducting scientific investigations and design, and produce solutions whilst learning about the Living World, Material World, Physical World, Earth and Space, and Digital Technologies. Our students are always engaged in learning new concepts and making new discoveries in their weekly science lessons.
This week schools across Australia have been celebrating National Science Week. The theme for National Science Week in 2024 is Species Survival - More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world. These are some of the things we have been up to at St Mary’s to celebrate Science Week…
Indigenous Science
Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have worked scientifically for millennia and continue to contribute to contemporary science. This year our whole school cultural goal has been for our students to be able to describe how Aboriginal people use scientific knowledge of plants, sea, sky and land to ensure Country is able to survive and thrive.
On Tuesday we were thrilled to have Lachie Eveston, Teaching & Learning Officer - Aboriginal Education visit us at St Mary’s and share with our students how Aboriginal people used tools and managed resources for over 65,000 years to ensure that these resources were sustained for future use. Lachie showed the students some tools from Gamilaroi country and shared how people from this nation used these tools. We also learnt that animals were used in their entirety - the meat was a food source, the fur and skin became clothing and bones were used to make tools. Nothing was wasted. One of our favourite items was the emu caller. We learnt how this tool was used to distract the male emu who sits on the eggs. When the male emu hears the emu call, he leaves the nest to investigate and the hunter and gatherers are able to steal an egg or two…never taking more than they need for food…and ensuring that the species is able to survive and thrive.
Science & STEM Rockets
3... 2... 1... 0— blastoff! This week some of our Year 6 students who have been attending Carroll College for Science and STEM lessons launched their rockets! Each group of students have had to research the science behind what makes a good bottle rocket and then design and decorate their bottle rocket launcher ready for launch day! The goal is to see whose rocket can travel the longest distance and students make observations about which designs are most successful. This week it was Aria’s rocket that travelled the furthest as well as rating highly for its aesthetic quality! Well done Aria!
Our students work alongside their peers from St Bernard’s with Carroll College Science teachers coordinating the lessons. Our students have really embraced and enjoyed the opportunity of this extension Science program. Mr Harpley is planning a possible relaunch day for all our rockets later in the year!
This week schools across Australia have been celebrating National Science Week. The theme for National Science Week in 2024 is Species Survival - More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world. These are some of the things we have been up to at St Mary’s to celebrate Science Week…
Indigenous Science
Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have worked scientifically for millennia and continue to contribute to contemporary science. This year our whole school cultural goal has been for our students to be able to describe how Aboriginal people use scientific knowledge of plants, sea, sky and land to ensure Country is able to survive and thrive.
On Tuesday we were thrilled to have Lachie Eveston, Teaching & Learning Officer - Aboriginal Education visit us at St Mary’s and share with our students how Aboriginal people used tools and managed resources for over 65,000 years to ensure that these resources were sustained for future use. Lachie showed the students some tools from Gamilaroi country and shared how people from this nation used these tools. We also learnt that animals were used in their entirety - the meat was a food source, the fur and skin became clothing and bones were used to make tools. Nothing was wasted. One of our favourite items was the emu caller. We learnt how this tool was used to distract the male emu who sits on the eggs. When the male emu hears the emu call, he leaves the nest to investigate and the hunter and gatherers are able to steal an egg or two…never taking more than they need for food…and ensuring that the species is able to survive and thrive.
Science & STEM Rockets
3... 2... 1... 0— blastoff! This week some of our Year 6 students who have been attending Carroll College for Science and STEM lessons launched their rockets! Each group of students have had to research the science behind what makes a good bottle rocket and then design and decorate their bottle rocket launcher ready for launch day! The goal is to see whose rocket can travel the longest distance and students make observations about which designs are most successful. This week it was Aria’s rocket that travelled the furthest as well as rating highly for its aesthetic quality! Well done Aria!
Our students work alongside their peers from St Bernard’s with Carroll College Science teachers coordinating the lessons. Our students have really embraced and enjoyed the opportunity of this extension Science program. Mr Harpley is planning a possible relaunch day for all our rockets later in the year!
UOW Science DayToday our Year 5 students travelled to Batemans Bay to participate in a Science day coordinated by the University of Wollongong. Opportunities such as these expose our students to a range of experiences in Science, develop students’ future aspirations and expand their understanding of future careers and job possibilities. Today they were able to learn about they types of things nurses do, how people help wildlife and what physics is!
SolarBuddy Program
Our Year 3 and Year 4 students shone a little brighter this week as they participated in the SolarBuddy Program. The activity is part of a renewable energy education effort, dedicated to minimising our environmental footprint and maximising our positive impact on communities and the planet. Our students got the chance to build upon their knowledge of alternative energy sources and take useful steps to combat global energy poverty.
So just what did they get up to? Use the QR code below to see video of our students talking about their part in the SolarBuddy Program.
What an incredible gift to the children of PNG! Well done, Stage 2, and thank you to SolarBuddy and Mary Dullard from Origin Energy for making it all possible.
It has been a super week of Science at St Mary’s and a great way to bring this year’s Science Week theme, Species Survival - More than just sustainability, to life for our students in a real and practical way!
Indigenous Reading Project
Over the past two years we have had seven students participate in the Indigenous Reading Project and this year three more of our students have also been given a place in this unique program: Emerson, Jake and Delilah.
This program works to improve the reading ability of Indigenous kids in Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. Students from Year 3-6 who meet the criteria for selection into the program are nominated by their class teachers. If successful, the students are loaned a tablet and given access to e-books that are interesting to them. Clear goals are set and students reading behaviour and achievement are measured before they enter the program and again after 12 weeks. Students who make good progress on the program are then able to keep the tablet.
All of our previous recipients have met their goals and have been able to keep their tablets. They have also now been invited to be part of the organisation's Reading For Life program. The Reading for Life (RFL) is a selective program offered to students who have made significant improvements in their reading ability through the E-reading program. The program provides reading resources for participating students for their entire school life. This is a great achievement for these students and a testament to their commitment to improve their reading skills! Well done everyone!
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a short statewide assessment that tells teachers how your child is progressing in phonics.
What is phonics?
Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds and is vital in learning to read. Some children struggle with learning to read so it is important that these children are identified quickly so teachers can plan for any specific support they may need.
What is the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check?
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a short, quick assessment where your child sits with their class teacher and is asked to read 40 words aloud. These words include 20 real words and 20 nonsense words. The test normally takes a few minutes.
More information
Information about the check can be found in the link below. If you have any further questions, please talk to your child’s class teacher.
Gurumbangamba Mentoring Program
Next week our Stage 3 Aboriginal students will attend the third day of the Gurumbangamba mentoring program. The theme of the day is ‘Respecting yourself and others’ and their Carroll College mentors have prepared a range of activities with this theme in mind. We are looking forward to our last session and sharing the day with our St Bernard’s friends and Carroll College mentors.
God bless and take care,
Mrs Sue Heffernan
Assistant Principal