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Term 3, Week 7
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MISSION STATEMENT
To work under God in partnership with parents to provide an inclusive, nurturing and high quality education for every student.
VIsion
Flourishing through faith, belonging and the pursuit of excellence.
From The Principal
NAPLAN news reports
Media is constantly with us. I recently began looking into the “CNN effect“, an now-studied idea that our media can have a causal impact on politics, the economy and way we think. This week I heard the news that 1/3 of students in NSW schools are not meeting the educational standard. I noticed a niggling CNN-effect thought – I asked myself, “Are we doing enough?”
Lutheran School data
I think that parents and educators continually ask the “Are we doing enough” question as part of our vocation of working with young people. In our partnership together, I aspire to initiate and continue supportive conversations, sharing information that can help us do our best for the young ones we serve.
Following up on the national news report, I checked our NAPLAN data. In every learning area, far more than 2/3 of our students met or exceeded standards. Of particular note: 94% of our Year 3 students met or exceeded standard in Writing. In Year 5, 96% of our students met or exceeded standard in Reading.
What do we do if students aren’t learning as they should?
The news reports correctly asked the questions about what schools do if students aren’t meeting or exceeding standard. For us, the question begins long before Year 3 NAPLAN. We begin monitoring students’ learning as early as Kindergarten.
Screening happens throughout the year every year
The picture below is an example of an Assessment Schedule, a timetable of assessments that all children will do throughout the year so that the school can monitor each child’s learning. There is no need for you to understand the ‘teacher speak’ names of the assessments. Simply note that the assessments are varied and ongoing. Like we say with NAPLAN, no one assessment tells the full story of a child’s learning.
Identifying students who are at risk (names hidden)
If we see that a student looks “at risk” on one assessment, we will cross-reference the data with a second assessment and with teacher observations. We also use this type of data to identify trends – areas where we need to re-teach or learn to teach better.
What YOU see
Teachers don’t want to overload you with data in all its forms. They keep you informed of progress through their use of rubrics.
In our partnership with you, we hope you will contact the teacher if information on the rubric surprises you. As a school, we commit to contacting you if we see a pattern of assessments (including the rubric) that indicate a child needs additional support with their learning. We will then make a plan with you for that additional support. More information on rubrics can be found in previous newsletters.
We appreciate our continued partnership in the academic growth of children as well as in the equally-important areas of growth and wellbeing.
Janet Moeller
Principal
From The DEPUTY Principal
Book Parade
Thank you to everyone involved in the Book Parade last Tuesday. It was such a good event, lots of families at the school and our students dressed in a range of book characters to celebrate book week.
SRC News – Mufti Day Tuesday 5 September
The SRC have met and have decided to raise money for a Kids Cancer charity.
The link is attached below. The day will be next Tuesday 5 September. The theme for the day will be to wear your favourite sporting colours for the day. This could include, soccer, rugby league and union, netball, hockey, and Aussie rules football. Please remember to make a gold coin donation towards the chosen charity.
Social and Emotional Learning – Ways schools can deal with student anxiety
From time to time some of our students will display signs of anxiety.
Below is an excellent article from the Collaborative for Academic and Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), which talks about ways schools can deal with students who are experiencing anxiety. It outlines 5 steps schools can take/need to recognize to support the student. It is a good read.
- Put effort into prevention
- Acknowledge the student’s reaction to the anxiety
- Teach coping skills
- Understand when a higher level of support is needed
- Celebrate the growth
5 ways schools can respond to student anxiety | K-12 Dive (k12dive.com)
Tournament of Minds (TOM)
Congratulations to all the students involved in TOM last Sunday at Sturt Public School. Both teams won their Regional finals and are now off to Sydney for the State finals. Congratulations to all students and a special thanks to Mrs Whatmuff for all of her work with the students.
Fathers Day stall
The children gathered with excitement to select something to give their father or special parent for Fathers day this weekend. This is always such fun for them and is really not about the gift itself, but the process and showing appreciation.
Thanks to Christina, Tori, Vera, Min and a few of the year 6s who helped make it a success.
Dylan Evans
Deputy Principal
Values Focus
During chapel we’ve been listening to some teaching of Jesus, what we commonly call “The Beatitudes,” or, what Dave Andrews calls the Be – Attitudes. At the core the Be – Attitudes call us to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
This week we wondered what it might mean to be people who hunger and thirst for justice.
I’ve a friend who reportedly eats 20 weetbix for breakfast… 20! I can’t imagine ever being that hungry.
I also have friends who work in areas of peacemaking, ending poverty and slavery, who’s energy and passion is inspiring. Much like my friend hungers for weetbix in the morning, their hunger for justice fuels them and gives them energy and hope.
Perhaps you can do some wondering together at home. What would our homes, school and communities look like if we become people who hunger and thirst for justice? What would our homes look like if that’s what we really hunger for?
Shalom
Darren Wright
Chaplain
Curriculum Matters
Tournament of Minds
The Tournament of Minds Competition was held on Sunday 27th August at Sturt Public School. Lutheran School entered two teams into this year’s competition. Thomas the Brain Engines – Sophia, Maisie, Kylie, Clyde, James, Olivia and Jessica competed in the Social Science Challenge, ‘Clash of the Ages’ and aTOMic TOMS – Eloise, Chloe, Archie, Callum, Jude, Viaga and Ella competed in The Language and Literature Challenge – ‘Set in Stone’.
Both teams presented their challenge in front of the official judges and audience. The teams were outstanding on the day. All students should be recognised for their spirit of inquiry, fantastic teamwork and love of learning.
After many hours of hard work in the lead up to the event, both teams came away with a win in their sections which is a fabulous achievement. We wish both teams the best of luck in the upcoming State finals in Sydney on Sunday 10th September.
Many thanks to Helen Whatmuff for the time and effort put into our TOM teams and thank you to all parents for coming along on Sunday and supporting your children.
Sydney, here we come!
Author Visit
Students in K-4 were lucky enough to have a visit from Julie Busuttil, local author and creator of Superconscious Dave.
Julie created Superconscious Dave (a fictional book character) in 2020 and published the first Superconscious Dave adventure book in 2021 called Superconscious Dave and the Purple Fandango.
Written in rhyming verse, Superconscious Dave’s second adventure was to ancient Egyptian times, and the time of Khepri, a giant Egyptian beetle, that closely resembles the Dung Beetle of today. Julie published Superconscious Dave and the Mysterious Poo Eater in 2022.
But Dave’s adventure doesn’t end there! Later in 2023, Superconscious Dave and the Collective Soup is due to hit online bookstores across the world!
Dave’s target audience is young children aged 5-8 years old and who like exploring, universe, adventure and perhaps in search of a comfort buddy.
“The idea of Dave came to me during the COVID lockdown in 2020. I have a curious mind, a thirst for fun and adventure and so Superconscious Dave was born. I had to learn a lot about not only rhyming, but book editing, publishing and promotion. Writing the story took 2 hours, everything else took around 12-18months! I look forward to being a guest speaker at Lutheran School during Book Week, where my boys go to School, and help children understand that all you need is an intention to write, your imagination and to just start writing!”.
Jane Antrim
Learning Innovation Coordinator
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P&F News
Cocktail party
It was fantastic to see LSWW parents gathering to enjoy good food, music and each other’s company at the MTC Champagne bar recently. It was a great opportunity for the school community to unite socially. Thanks to all who helped make the night a success.
From The Sports Desk
Snow Report
Last week, LSWW had three competitors represent our school at the State Snowsports Championships at Perisher. Euan Nicholas, Jack Nicholas and Cara Metcalfe all performed brilliantly in their respective events against the best our state has to offer. To compete at this level is a huge achievement for students from a regional area with the majority of competitors attending schools that practice skiing for their daily PE lessons!
From this meet, Jack Nicholas was successful in qualifying for the National Championships. These were due to be held at Mt Buller next week, however due to a forecast for some warm weather, the organisers have unfortunately cancelled the event. Whilst this is disappointing for Jack, we know that he and the rest of the LSWW snowsports team will be back bigger than ever next year!
Todd Woodbridge Cup
On Friday 25 August students in Year 5 and Year 6 participated in the Todd Woodbridge Cup. Our school entered three teams of 10 in this modified tennis event.
Our students played games of boys and girls doubles, followed by mixed doubles against Wagga Public School, Henschke and Wagga Wagga Christian College. Our teams performed extremely well placing first and second in both the competitive and non-competitive draws.
Team 1 – Rex Benecke, Max Pilkington, Jude Thompson, Ben Bull, Ryan Jose, Vaiga Boban, Amelia Bolton, Charlie Smith, Sophia Gooden and Pippen Cook were successful winning all of their games and advancing to the State Final. This event will be held in Sydney next term.
A big thank you to Miss Tilyard and Mrs McLachlan for assisting with the teams and Zac Burhop for coordinating this event. We wish our team all the best in Sydney.
NSW Schools Orienteering Championships
On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August Logan and Ryder Seaman competed at the NSW Schools Orienteering Championships in Sydney.
On Saturday they competed in the NSW Schools Sprint Champs held at the Kings School. After the two races Logan placed 3rd in the M9-10A class and Ryder placed 8th in M11-12A class.
On Sunday they competed in the NSW Schools Middle Champs held at Mulgoa. Both boys had a great run, Logan placed 1st in the M9-10A class and Ryder placed 7th in M11-12A class.
The boys will compete at the NSW Championships on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.
A big thank you to Briohny Seaman and family for supporting Logan and Ryder at this event. We wish the boys all the best at the NSW Championships.
Caroline Stewart
PE Teacher/Sports Coordinator
Other Information
Families leaving the school
Please note that one full term’s written notice is required if you are withdrawing your child from Lutheran School. We purchase learning materials based on projected enrolment numbers at least one term in advance. Hence, the enrolment contract you signed specifies that failure to provide a term’s notice will result in you being charged for the subsequent term.
Uniform Shop Orders
If you would like to purchase uniforms from the Uniform Shop, please email [email protected]
We will email you once the order is ready to be picked up from the office. Thank you.
