Middle School Humble Rice Lunch

  Middle School Humble Rice Lunch

Last Wednesday March 26th the middle school staff and students had a bowl of plain cooked rice for lunch. This was in recognition of those numerous children around the world who are less fortunate than us, and who only have one bowl of rice per day to eat. We asked for a gold coin donation from families to raise money for church organisations that aid the needy in the poorest countries.

When you are hungry a plain bowl of rice is actually delicious.

 Children were allowed more than one bowl if they were still hungry, but we just asked them to remember that the poor children from needy countries don't have this option.

We got great help from the teacher aides and some parents who prepared the rice and served it.

Poppy as enthusiastic as ever about everything.

Assembly at St Mary's

 Assembly - Friday afternoon 2:05 - after 'Golden Time'

St Mary's has assembly every week on Friday after Golden Time, except when there is a mass on Friday mornings. Room 6 will be running assembly in week 9, so we will be working out this week who is going to read and participate, and what we will do as an item. Below are pictures from the special leader's assembly held earlier in the year, when the new year 5 and 6 leaders were sworn in and received their badges. If your child is a year 5 next year they may want to start thinking about whether they will take on any leadership responsibilities. If they do not really want to go in the formal leadership program, there are other options like First Aid, Playground Angel's and Young Vinnie's Groups. 

St Mary's Swimming Sports 2014

 Swimming Sports 2014

The swimming sports were a huge success last Thursday with the day proving quite mild early on for swimming and generally not too hot. The children were well behaved and in good voice for most of the day. Thursday eventually heated up to be a bit of a scorcher. Only a few minor injuries were to be reported by Mr. Bach the First Aid Monitor. Thanks to Mrs Gaston and all the other teachers and parents who helped make this a fantastic swimming day. Have a look below at a selection of the photos that Mr. Bach took throughout the day.

Modeling Books

 Modeling Books

This year Mr. Bach is conducting a trial with his modeling books to see if the learning of new strategies is increased by using large portable flipchart type modeling books. To the left and below are 3 examples for how they can be used to model maths strategies and concepts and for reading/writing for character descriptions. Hopefully a group of children will be able to take the books away, after a lesson on the mat, and use the charts as they complete book work at their tables. Modeling books can also be referred back to at any time for past learning and for examples to help new learning. The sheer size  of the books(covering the whole whiteboard on the work table) and completely flat nature of the books has proved very beneficial so far with group work, and the children's ability to understand new ideas and strategies.