Week 1 Term 2 2022

Dear Parents and Friends,

Welcome back! It was wonderful to welcome so many of you at the gates this morning and afternoon.

I hope this finds you well and that you’ve had the chance to share some relaxed times with your child/ren over the last two weeks. It’s great to be back and see all staff and children happily settling into the term. They all look so happy to be back at school:

IHM Election Polling Centre - Saturday May  21st 8am-6pm

This is a a great opportunity to show case our school and raise some funds towards a new playground. Please consider donating goods or helping with the democracy sausage sizzle for an hour or so on the day. Many hands make light work! A note will be sent home this week and there is more information in the P&F section. I hope to see you on the day!

COVID Settings update

I am happy to let you know that this term parents, grandparents and visitors are permitted to come into the school grounds. At this stage, parents are not to enter the classrooms unless you have previously arranged to do so with the class teacher.  

Masks in Schools

On Tuesday 26^th April 2022, the Premier of South Australia confirmed that masks will continue to be required to be worn by staff and adults in schools as well as by secondary students for the first four weeks of Term 2.

Masks are also strongly encouraged for Years 3 - 6 students

• Please note that masks must be worn by all adults indoors when they are attending school sites.
• We are continuing to ensure that our school is a safe environment with appropriate physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning measures in place.
• We will continue to maximise opportunities to increase ventilation wherever this can reasonably occur by opening windows and doors and/or using air-conditioning set to fresh air intake.
• Whole school assemblies/liturgies and the like are not yet permitted but we hope that these will resume in Week 3.  

Close Contact Settings – quarantine will not apply if asymptomatic

A reminder about recent changes to close contact settings. From Saturday 30^th April 2022, asymptomatic close contacts are no longer be required to quarantine. They will instead be required to take five Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) over seven days and wear a mask when leaving home.

This means staff and students who are asymptomatic close contacts may continue to attend school, though anyone over the age of 12 is required to wear a mask.

To access free RATs, close contacts must register at:

https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/testing+and+tracing/rapid+antigen+testing+rat+for+covid-19

and nominate on the form the collection point from which they will collect a free pack of RATs.

Close contacts who develop symptoms are still required to get a PCR test and isolate until a negative result is received.

Class Newsletters/Overviews of Learning

This week every parent will receive a class newsletter/overview of what learning outcomes and topics will be covered throughout the term. We hope this informs you of what curriculum is being covered and also allows you to have discussions with your child about their learning so that you can support them. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email or call your child’s teacher or one of the leadership team (Annette Diassinas, Mary Sapio or myself).

Catholic Education Week 2022 – May 9-15

Next week is an opportunity to celebrate the excellent teaching and learning that happens in Catholic schools every day, and to give thanks to the people that make our schools special and work so hard to raise hearts and minds.

This year – they’re keeping it simple – and asking you to join with them to say “Thank you”.  

Staff Professional Learning

I am delighted to inform you that an inclusive education grant application has been successful and we will be partnering with St Joseph's Hindmarsh and Our Lady Queen of Peace Schools in a joint two year project, called Project Regulation.  This will focus on supporting all students with self-regulation to strengthen their cognitive, social and emotional development. 

We will be supported with expert advice and training from an Occupational Therapy provider – “Motivate Kids.” Stage 1 of the project involves two professional learning days for teachers and classroom education support staff - one of which we participated in on Monday and the
next will be on Friday 10^th June.

It was fabulous for us all to learn more about the neuro science involved in human behaviour which will obviously help in supporting every child in our community.

The Occupation Therapist, Jordan Liseno, will be working at each of the schools providing expert advice and strategies. Parent Workshops will also be organised as part of this project as it unfolds. I will keep you posted.

Gratitude for Mothers

Usually, the staff would be hosting a Mother’s day breakfast and liturgy for our mums and grandmas. Unfortunately this year once again with COVID restrictions we cannot do that. However, we will still be honouring the crucial role of motherhood through prayer, liturgies and special activities with our classes.

To all our dear mums, grandmothers, step mums, aunties and those who are like mums - thank you for all you do. I hope you know how very special and important you are and the nurturing, care and constant love that you give is treasured and irreplaceable.
I wish you all a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Warmest wishes,

Pauline Kinsman
PRINCIPAL

Dear Families and Friends, 

Welcome back to our students and their families for Term 2.  I hope you all had a relaxing break and were able to enjoy the sun and find some joy over the break with your family. 

PTP Alliance Painted Poles Workshop

Last term our students participated in workshops organised by PTP Alliance.  The workshops were run by Tjimarri and Iteka from Kumarninthi, who led the students through a program of family story drawing, painting re-purposed timber logs and storytelling.

Below is a link to an article for the PTP Alliance news:

https://ptpa.com.au/resources/news/painting-repurposed-timber-logs

Family Cyber Safety

Technology has provided us with huge benefits. However, there are risks involved with all devices connected to the internet.  Parents need to help their children make good decisions when working, playing and communicating online.  The eSafety Commissioner website recommends some key strategies.  Below are some helpful tips. 

A great resources for parents is the following website: 

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Mother’s Day

‘God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers’ -  Jewish Proverb.

This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day. A special day to highlight the central roles our Mothers play in our lives. We also celebrate all the other women in our lives such as grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts, cousins, teachers and special friends who have helped to shape and form us into the person we are today.

May Mother Mary bless you all, inspiring and energising you by her gentle example of love and perseverance. May she guide you each day as you care and guide your child/ren to grow and flourish.

Lord, Thank you for all mothers.
For the new ones, who endure sleepless nights with infants in arms.
For the busy ones, who juggle the pressures of home and family life.
For the steadfast ones, who nurture and care for our special vulnerable children.
For the patient ones, who always seek to forgive and engage with their pre-teens.
For the persistent ones, who cleverly find new ways to connect with their mini-adults.
For the aunts, who step in to cradle and care for nieces and nephews.
For all grandmas, who love and support their precious grandchildren.
For the foster mums that are called to gather and cover the fragile ones.
For women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with
motherly care and compassion.
We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers who are no longer with us
but who live forever etched in our memory, with love.
Thank you Lord for all our beautiful mothers.
Help us to support them and keep them in our prayers.
May you bless them now on this their special day.
Amen.

Annette Diassinas
APRIM

Discover the World of Reading

Our school has had a longstanding commitment to the Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC). As in previous years at IHM, we integrate the PRC into the class literature and literacy focus. The class teachers manage students’ participation and reading activity. We encourage families to continue their support and involvement through the school and our magnificent community libraries. Additional Student Reading Records can be accessed via IHM or the PRC website.

Key Information about the Premier’s Reading Challenge

What is the Challenge?

It is an annual Reading Challenge open to all students in South Australia. The Challenge is currently in its 19^th year. Its primary focus is to promote reading for enjoyment as well as develop general literacy skills through the world of books. At IHM, we strongly promote and support participation in the Challenge at all year levels.

How does it operate?

Students are required to read 12 books. Eight of these books need to be from their appropriate year level book list (issued by the Challenge) and the remaining (4) can be of their own choosing (and should be of a similar standard to those on the list). There are three categories for book selections. These are dependent upon the year level of the student: R-2, 3-5, 6-9. The Challenge list books are available in our school library, Chevalier Centre, and colour coded to match each category (by a sticker on the spine of the book).

Students will each be receiving a Student Reading Record 2022. These will need to be completed by the students and signed by an adult (class teacher).

When does the Challenge end?     Specific reading for the Challenge ends on 9^th September.

Are the students acknowledged for their participation and completion of the challenge?

Students are rewarded for every year of participation. For students in the primary years of school the awards are:

• Certificate – first year
• Bronze medal – second year
• Silver medal – third year
• Gold medal – fourth year
• Champion medal – fifth year
• Legend medal – sixth year
• Hall of Fame medal - seventh year

Who can I ask for help should I need it?

If you have any questions about the Reading Challenge please ask your child’s teacher or myself, Mary Sapio. Public libraries also actively support the Challenge. Additional information for both adults and students can be located on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website:

http://www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au/PRC/

Enjoy the Challenge!

Mary Sapio 
LITERACY SUPPORT COORDINATOR

We hope everyone had a lovely Easter break and enjoyed time with loved ones.

Election Day Stalls at IHM

It is looking like a busy term and it all starts with IHM hosting a polling station on Saturday 21^st May.

This is always a fun day and we hope that you can get involved in some way, "many hands make light work". We will be providing a sausage sizzle and a cake stall to entice our local community and showcase the school. A note will be sent home Thursday, so that we can prepare a roster and plan for the day.

How can you help?

• volunteer some time on the day (BBQ or Cake stall)
• bake some goodies 
• come along on the day and bring family/friends to vote and support the school

Please remember if you are baking, could you please package and label your items with all ingredients, including any allergens. If items are to be sold individually, can you please provide a list of ingredients so we can pass on any information. All baked items can be delivered to the school office by Friday 20^th May.

Many thanks,

Nadia & Kate
P & F COMMITTEE

If your child or anyone you know has a child that turns 5 before 31st October they are eligible to commence school in Term 3 on 26th July 2022. If so, great news - fees for Terms 3 and 4 will be waived. For an Enrolment Form or more information please contact Julie.

Soccer Season

The 2022 soccer season starts next Saturday 14th May and this year we have 6 teams that will be representing IHM on Saturday mornings in the North West Junior Soccer Association (NWJSA) competition.

A big thank you to all the parents who have kindly volunteered to take on the role of Coach, Team Manager or Covid Marshall, without your help our teams would not be able to participate.

Coaches will contact families in relation to training sessions etc. If any families have not been contacted please ring the school office or email myself (cmurray@ihm.catholic.edu.au).

The cost per child to play is $60.00 - this fee includes player registration, end of year trophies, team equipment and hire of the school soccer top. The soccer fee can now be paid for and tops collected from the school Office.

From next week all games and fixtures can be found on the NWJSA website:

http://www.nwjsa.org.au/u6-u11-season-program/

Reminders

• Players wear the hired school soccer top with school shorts and navy socks.
• All players are required to wear shin pads.
• Hired soccer tops must be cleaned and returned to the Office at the end of the season.

Remember to have fun!

Che Murray
SPORTS CO-ORDINATOR