Dear St Anne's Community,

Welcome back!

It was nice to see students return to school on Tuesday and to see them engage with their learning straight away. 

New Students

A very warm welcome to David in Yr 8 and Tom and Kamryn in Yr 10. It is great to have you with us and we look forward to your positive contributions here at St Anne's. 

Enrolments

If you have a child that is starting with us next year and you are yet to fill in the enrolment form, please action this one as soon as possible. Additionally, if you know that your child is leaving at the end of the year, please let the school know as well. Students often tell their friends in class, but we need to know for official purposes. 

Primary Curriculum Coordinator

Mrs Kellye-Anne Coleman is on leave for the first 3 weeks of this term. While Mrs Coleman is on leave, her position as Primary Curriculum Coordinator will be filled by Miss Bridgitt Ryan. I welcome Miss Ryan to the leadership team for this period of time. 

Staff Leave

Mr and Mrs Gaynor are on leave for the first 2 weeks of this term. Mrs Gaynor is replaced by Mrs Miller. Mr Gaynor is replaced by Mr Inch and Mr Bailey Robinson. Mr Inch will be taking two weeks leave in Weeks 3&4. He will be replaced by Mr Gaynor and Mr Bailey Robinson. 

Community Council Meeting

The next Community Council meeting is on Tuesday 1st August at 7pm. Please do not hesitate to contact members of the council, if you wish for anything to be raised at this meeting. 

Spelling Mastery

Students in Years 3-8 started the Spelling Mastery program this week. Spelling Mastery teaches students dependable spelling skills by blending the phonemic, whole-word, and morphemic approaches. Spelling Mastery interweaves these 3 approaches according to students' skill development and provides straightforward lessons for teachers to deliver efficient and effective spelling skills that students need to become proficient writers. This is an evidence-based approach to teaching spelling.

This term we will hold our annual showcase event. I look forward to seeing the great performances in Week 10.

Take care,

Grant Haigh

Principal

Over the term break, I had the privilege of attending a Science of Learning Tour of England. July 5th - 12th, 2023

It was an incredible experience and I was able to learn so much from my time visiting schools, education conferences and various professionals in the field of evidence-based teaching and learning practices. 

Summary
Tour Goals

1. To learn from England’s experience implementing:
  a. Evidence-based reading instruction, phonics programs and national phonics check
  b. Evidence-based teaching and learning in schools
  c. School and system improvement (eg Ambition Institute, Academy schools StepLab) based on the above
  d. Effective models of teacher professional learning for early career and/or experienced teachers and pre-service teachers

2. To share with English colleagues and partners the work that is being done in Australia (eg Catalyst program)

3. To build the bridge between Science of Learning informed education reformers in England and Australia as an accelerator for both countries - to share knowledge and practice, learn from each others successes and mistakes.

Overview
Knowledge Society hosted 16 Australian educators in England for a study tour. Why was England chosen for a study tour? Not only has England moved to fourth in the world, and even performed ahead of Finland in PIRLS reading, but it's in the grip of a major national effort to improve the coherence and ambition of curriculum in schools. There is so much to learn from the thought leaders here.
Activities:
 ● Festival of Education, including sessions from Daisy Christodoulou, Tom Rees and Ben Newark, Paul A. Kirschner and many more
 ● Meeting with Amanda Spielman, Head of Ofsted
 ● Day with Ambition Institute on Professional Learning reform and design and StepLab on Instructional Coaching
 ● Attended researchED Cheshire hearing from Mary Myatt on curriculum, Alex Quigley on Writing, and Simon Day on Oracy, among others.
 ● Meetings with Minister of State Nick Gibb, Daisy Christodoulou, Tom Rees, Leora Cruddas who have led the reform movement in the past decade.
 ● School visits - Ark Soane Academy and Michaela Community School

Key Take Aways

• It was an incredibly affirming trip for me as a school leader. Our school and system are on the right path with our approach to teaching and learning. Our students are receiving high-quality evidence-based instruction that the UK have been implementing for the past 10 years. This implementation has seen the UK climb to number 4 in the world in reading.
• We are extremely lucky to have the teachers we do, in front of our students. They are engaging in high impact teaching practices and they provide genuine care for their students.
• There is a lot to be said for effective Oracy. Oracy is the ability to express oneself fluently and grammatically in speech. I witnessed two schools that instil this in their students at a high level. Students were able to stand in front of their peers without hesitation and deliver impromptu speeches that were both engaging and precise.
• Routines are key to creating an environment that reduces the cognitive load of our students. With consistent whole school routines in place, students can enter classrooms in an optimal state, ready for the next learning experience. 

The future in education is exciting and our school enthusiastically embraces the challenges that lie ahead. Our learning programs provide a range of educational experiences that will challenge, motivate and encourage teachers and students to reach their full potential. Our aspiration is to ensure students and teachers are provided with the very best opportunities to learn and thrive in a positive, safe, and supportive environment.

Our learning goals are to ensure:
-Every student is a competent reader
-High Impact Teaching Practice is visible in every classroom

Teaching and Learning 

On the first day of Term 1 this year, our teachers and support staff, joined with all schools across our Archdiocese, to engage in a full day of learning with key presenters about CATALYST. This day provided further key information and concepts from the foundational research that underpins our teaching approach and supports the Science of Learning.

Our K-2 teachers are already engaged in teaching the best practice reading program, known as InitiaLit. In the Year 3-6 space we have utilised Reading Tutor, MiniLit Sage, MacLit literacy programs as well as having introduced The Writing Revolution. This year we are introducing Spelling Mastery from Years 3-8. All these programs support evidence based instruction. Our teachers are training in a program called High Impact Teaching Practice (HITP). The program provides them with key skills and resources they can use to deliver effective lessons and maximise student progress. 

Our teaching approach

St Anne's has a practical and evidence based approach to teaching and learning, which ensures we provide the education that our students and families deserve. We are committed to continuously investing in the delivery of excellent teaching and learning experiences. We will do this by focusing on three key areas:

• Improving the quality of curriculum resources available to teachers
• Delivering high quality professional learning for all teachers
• Implement evidence based teaching approaches

Learn more about our evidence based teaching approach at Catalyst.

Week 9

Kinder: Jackson Bourke, Austin Oliver, Khaleesie Wiencke

Year 1: Hunter Chown, Evie Smith, Wilson Lim

Year 2: Chad O'Connor, Ella Hartwig, Aiden Roberts

Year 3: Matthew O'Connor,  Avery Evola, Archie Block

Year 4: Noah Swanston, Rosie Maurer

Year 5: Eliana Adeyemi, Charles Minchin, Hannah Pham

Year 6: Livvy Blackwell, Liam Oliver, Meg Ruskin

Week 10

Kinder: Ellie Fisher, William George, Charlotte Williams

Year 1: Zoe Sinclair, Connor Jones, Peyton Derrick 

Year 2: Tom Harris, Evelyn Tait, Flynn Gilchrist

Year 3: Quinn Crawford, Mack Oliver, Alice Reid

Year 4: Madison McCormack, Rosie Maurer, Edie Bett

Year 5: Mailee Reid, Kayde Brace, Lilah Caldwell

Year 6: Livvy Blackwell, Serenity Bron, Georgia Gibbs

Week 9

Year 7: Regan Blachut: An outstanding effort in her French speaking task, Marley Block: Improved fluency in her French speaking task, Macey Coddington: An outstanding effort in her French speaking task, Lenny Guymer: Improved fluency in his French speaking task

Year 11: Bea Balon:  Great organisation of her secondary research, Evie Gidley: Creating well worded interview questions.

Week 10

Year 8: Ethan Bett: For greater focus in his Religion classes, Bradley Daly: For consistently applying himself to his learning in Maths, Isabel Fairman: For having an excellent attitude in Religion classes, Lachlan Foster: For improvement and greater focus in Religion classes, Morgan George: For thoughtful consideration towards her classmates,  Carus Gray: For excellent application to Maths tasks, Leonard Lancaster: For excellent application to Maths tasks, Lachlan Smith: For making great growth in his last Maths cycle. For greater focus in  his Religion classes. Bethany Wiencke: For improved application to Maths tasks.

Year 10: Josie Crawford: For having a great attitude to welding in Metal work, Rachael Thompson: for having a great attitude in Metal work, Evie West: For excellent welding skills.

Congratulations to our Secondary award winners for Excellence in Behaviour, Attitude and Studies -  Addison Matthews, Rahni Coleman, Isabel Fairman, Robert Bett, Matilda Reardon, Rommy Wilesmith, Sharn Ferguson and Bea Balon.

Netball

The NSW Cup netball team that was defeated in their final in Wagga last term, have been invited to compete in the next phase after another team withdrew. Team members will be contacted via Compass. The final is in Albury on Monday 31^st July and we wish the team well.

Cricket

NSW Cricket and the Sydney Thunder will be visiting St Anne's on Wednesday 23^rd August. At this stage we don't know who is coming but the visit will involve a talk by some players, Q & A and signing stuff.

Boorowa Touch/Netball Carnival

A reminder for Year 2-6 parents to give consent for their children to attend the Boorowa Touch/netball carnival, 20^th October, in term 4. The cut off for consent is week 6 this term and all students are expected to attend unless sick or absent. In weeks 9 and 10 this term, and week 1 in term 4, Primary sport will change to Friday so Boorowa touch/netball teams can train with their secondary coaches/mentors.

K-6 Library Days

Tuesday - Year 3, Year 4 & Year 5

Wednesday - Kinder, Year 1 & Year 2

Thursday - Year 6

Scholastic Book Fair

Our Library will be hosting its annual Scholastic Book Fair starting on Wednesday 26^th July and will run until 10am on Thursday 3^rd August 2023. This week K-6 students have brought home a flyer with some information bout the Book Fair and how to order books.

 Students will visit the Book Fair during their Library lessons where they will create a 'Wishlist'. Students will then bring their Wishlist home to discuss/negotiate with their parents/carers. Please highlight items your child is allowed to purchase from their Wishlist and place your order online. Once an order the been placed online, please record the receipt number on the back and return the Wishlist to school. Books will then be distributed. 

If there is a high demand for certain books, these books will be ordered and distributed to students as soon as they arrive at school.

The Book Fair will be open on Grandparents Day and all are welcome to visit the Library on this day. Eftpos facilities will be available on Grandparents Day to purchase books.

Supporting the Book Fair supports our school with purchasing new books and equipment for our Library.

Book Week Parade

K-6 students are invited to come to school dressed up as their favourite book character on Wednesday 23^rd August. More details about the parade will be sent home in the near future.

Jump Rope for Heart kicks off this term at St Anne’s!

Jump Rope for Heart is the Heart Foundation’s primary school skipping challenge that helps kids move more, have fun and raise funds for lifesaving research and programs.

This year we’ve got an audacious goal to see our student Heart Heroes at St Anne’s to log 40 hours of skipping throughout the program!

Register your child online, so they can receive the full benefits of the program and participate in online fundraising, simply follow the link below to get started. www.jumprope.org.au/parents

Students will be skipping throughout the term in PE lessons & during lunch breaks. During this time you can share their online fundraising page with family and friends to help raise money for this great cause.

We will hold our school Jump Off Day on Friday 25^th August 2023. This will mark the end of the program and is a chance for everyone to come together to skip and show off their newly learned skills.

Thank you for supporting the Jump Rope for Heart program!