Dear Parents and Carers

Last Friday, we celebrated World Teachers' Day. This year we were invited to take our "hats off" to acknowledge the outstanding work teachers do and the incredible resilience that teachers have needed to navigate the challenges of recent years.
When we think of teachers, we begin to think of those teachers that have had a particularly profound impact on us. The teacher that went above and beyond to make the learning experience more engaging; the teacher that noticed and helped you when you struggled with a concept; the teacher that opened your eyes to your own capability and potential.

Jesus was a great teacher and educator, and as we look back over his life, we can begin to see how he transformed the lives of so many. May we continue to emulate the example of Jesus as we continue to transform the hearts and minds of our students.

Jesus met people where they were at.
He didn't leave them where he found them.
He took them to a place where they couldn't have gone on their own.

As we celebrate and recognise the work of our teachers and support staff.
I want to thank them for their service, professionalism, and commitment to their work.

Thank you to our parents for the doughnuts, cake and chocolates. You are very thoughtful!

Mrs Vicky Davidson
PRINCIPAL

Quality Sleep

Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being. Our sleeping patterns can affect how well we feel throughout the day. This tip comes from headtohealth.gov.au.

If we have a quality sleep, we wake up feeling refreshed. As a result, we are better able to cope with challenges and come up with better ideas, and we get along better with the people around us. In contrast, when we don't get quality sleep, we can feel fuzzy and irritable, leading to increased anxiety and depression.

At different times in your life, you can experience changes in your sleep patterns, e.g. during adolescence and times of stress. You can do many things to improve the quality of your sleep, from changing the light in your room to keeping a sleep diary. 

How much sleep do we need?
There is no magic number for exactly how much sleep we need, but the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep (ACES) suggests the following as a guide:

You might like to ask people you know if they have trouble sleeping. They may have some good tips to share. You'll also find many online resources like forums, apps, and chat rooms where you can pick up ideas and share your story. We have some resources below to help you get started. 

So, how well are you sleeping?

Hats and Socks

Thank you to our students who have been wearing their school hats to and from school and during breaks. Thank you also for remembering to wear the correct socks!

Bring A Drink Bottle to School
Don't forget to bring a drink bottle to school every day. A filling station is available for the children to refill drink bottles during the day. Please also check to see if your name is on your drink bottle. Thank you!

Mr Rod Green
Assistant Principal

Term 4 Sporting Events

History ~ 'My Story, Your Story, Our Story'
Kindergarten enjoyed making damper as part of our Integrated Unit 'My Story, Your Story, Our Story,' which is a History unit that incorporates stories and traditions from our own families, other families and from families of Aboriginal culture. We have been reading Tom Tom, a story about a young Aboriginal boy and his extended family and their day to day routines in outback Australia. Tom Tom liked to make damper, and so did we! Not only did the children enjoy making the damper, but they also enjoyed eating it! 

Year 3 and 4 Excursion
Last Friday, our Year 3 and 4 students travelled to Bicentennial Park. The students loved discovering the unique animals and living things in the wetlands. They used binoculars to closely observe the diverse species of waterbirds within the park and enjoyed learning how to weave their own Aboriginal bracelet using traditional Aboriginal weaving techniques. Thank you to the students for your exemplary behaviour and to Mrs Matos, Mrs Briscoe, Mrs Adams and Mrs Kinnas for accompanying the students on the excursion. Thank you for a wonderful day, everyone!

Last week, our Year 6 students started their first session of the Transition to High School program. This six-week program supports and prepares the students for their new adventure to high school. During the program, the students will have a chance to talk about high school, share any concerns and what they looking forward to. In addition, they will be learning organisation skills, discussing choices, how to sustain friendships, and how to build new friendships. During our first session, the students made a piñata filled with their thoughts for their upcoming journey to high school. It was a little messy; however, the students loved the challenge.

Cecilia Welch
CatholicCare Pastoral Support Worker

Dear Year 6 Parents
We advise the Compass account for Year 6 students will automatically close at the end of the school year.  Please remember to log in and download your child's school reports for your own records before Friday 16 December 2022.

Following a change to COVID-19 rules on Friday 14 October 2022, it is no longer mandatory for people who test positive to COVID-19 to self-isolate at home.

A reminder to keep students home if they are unwell and check with RAT or PCR test, and advise the school.  Students can return to school when they are well and symptom free. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school. Let's keep everyone safe.

* Reminder texts are automatically be issued *
* Weekly BPay Payments are Required *

PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT 2023
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly.  Please check that you have setup your payments to continue for 2023.

FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
Fee accounts are due by 28 February annually unless a Payment Instalment form is completed and weekly payments setup. If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2023 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form below.  On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit to the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2023 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.