Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome to Week 6!
BOOK WEEK
Last week we celebrated Book Week and what a great celebration it was. The classes participated in a number of fun activities and the week ended with our annual Book Week Parade, which was a great celebration of books. I was overwhelmed with the community support, and it was so lovely to see our Playgroup families join in the fun. This year’s theme is ‘Read, Grow and Inspire’, and from the array of costumes it was evident how books have inspired our students.
Reading is such an important skill, as books allow you to delve into imaginary worlds and into a different reality. I would encourage all families to spend time together as a family reading.
Thank you to the Book Week committee for organising the week and to our dedicated staff who absolutely enjoyed dressing up.
CHARTER FOR PARENTS
South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools endorsed the Charter for Parents and encourages use between schools, parents and carers. The charter was developed after lengthy consultation with stakeholders including parent bodies, leadership, principal associations and Catholic identity team.
It is important for parents and carers to feel empowered in their journey. This resource provides the guidelines for the partnership to use, follow and feel confident in the journey. View Charter here
WAY2GO BIKE AND SCOOTER SHELTER
At the beginning of the year Martina Kovacev submitted an application to Way2Go to upgrade our bike and scooter shelter and we were successful in obtaining a $10,000 grant.
The construction of the new shelter will be starting at the beginning of September (Week 7). As a result, scooters and bikes will be relocated to the side of the convent. Thank you to Martina Kovacev for submitting the grant and to our maintenance person John Bowler for his hard work in completing the work.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 2023
This year all our Year 3/4 students completed a Student Voice Postcard listing the things that are important to them and the things that matter to them most. This information is then collated as part of the commissioner’s ‘Things that matter’ report the following year. The following are some of our student’s responses:
I wish grownups would …... start letting children have a say about climate change.
I wish grownups would …... relax more and have a fun time and pick flowers.
I wish grownups would …... understand what kids go through.
I wish grownups would …... do kind things and be respectful. I wish they would get off their phones.
SA would be better for kids if …... there were more outdoor spaces.
SA would be better for kids if …... there was no fighting and the world was peaceful and nice to each other.
SA would be better for kids if ….. school, clothes and toys were not so expensive.
STAGE 2 REFURBISHMENT UPDATE
Work on the upstairs learning spaces will begin in the next 2 weeks. There will be some modifications made to the handball court area to allow for storage and a work area for the tradesman. The expected completion date is mid January and we are all very much looking forward to have new learning spaces that are reflective of the spaces downstairs. The upgrade to the façade of the school on Military Road is also part of the stage 2 development. This will reflect a more contemporary look for our school.
FATHER'S DAY
Sunday 3 September is Father’s Day and I remind all our dads and important male figures in the lives of our children, about our ‘Donuts for Dad’ morning on Friday 1 September. Please
see the flyer attached for further details. A sincere thanks goes to the Parents and Friends Committee for organising both the Father’s Day Stall this week and the breakfast.
I wish all our dad’s a special Father’s Day on Sunday!
Have a great week ahead.
With best wishes
Angela Scodella
PRINCIPAL
GRATITUDE FOR FATHERS
This Sunday we celebrate FATHER’S DAY. On this day we honour and give thanks for our dads, grandads and all the special male role models in our lives. We want all the dads at Dominican to know how important you are. Thank you for your constant love, care and nurture for your children. We pray to our loving God to bless, protect and strengthen you all.
Here are our new Receptions’ Reflections on what they LOVE about their Dads and significant males in their lives:
I love my Daddy because he is fun to play with. Henley
I love my Dad because he reads me books at night time. Harlow
I love my Daddy because he always lets me sit next to him on the couch. Rosie
I love my Dad because he plays soccer and football with me. Fynn
I love my Daddy because he is funny and cooks yummy sausages on the BBQ. Amelia
I love my Papou because he gives me BIG cuddles. Ollie
I love my Dad because we have so much fun on holidays and he is kind and caring. Lenny
I love my Daddy because he takes me to the ninja playground and pushes me on. SooHyeon
CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL
A little giving goes a long way… Charity is at the heart of living Catholic and each September we celebrate Catholic Charities month. Catholic Charities is our South Australian organisation that provides support to agencies making a difference to the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community, including Our Lady of La Vang and St Patrick’s Special Schools, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry SA, Centacare Catholic Family Services, and the Hutt Street Centre.
Our Justice Leaders will be raising awareness of Catholic Charities with all students at our R-6 Assembly this Friday and holding a FOOTY COLOURS & CUPCAKE DAY on Thursday September 28 to fundraise for the appeal. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
Alison Tanti-Clark
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL RELIGIOUS IDENTITY AND MISSION
Book Week was a magical time in 1/2D!
Students were introduced to the CBCA Book of the Year Shortlisted picture books in class and we enjoyed exploring stories such as Dirt By Sea, Jigsaw: A Puzzle By Post and Market Day where students were encouraged to make connections to what they have experienced in their lives. They spoke about places they have travelled, family traditions and fond memories with their loved ones.
On Friday an incredible range of characters walked through the classroom door, holding wands, swords and books that have been well loved. Reading can take you to places you have never been before, and 1/2D were able to use their creative imaginations to write books based on the character they dressed as. After learning about Narrative Structure in Term 2, students were able to create a mind map planning their characters, settings and events. They wrote about dinosaurs in space, Minecraft characters showing kindness, and a Mad Hatter that turned into a cat!
We hope that our students continue to read, grow and inspire as they show a deep love of reading.
Shenae Dougan
1/2D CLASSROOM TEACHER
SCHOOL FEES 2024
We are pleased to inform our school families that there will be no increase in school fees for the 2024 school year.
Catholic Education SA has announced it will freeze tuition fees at its 84 Diocesan schools for the 2024 school year.
“We recognise that cost-of-living increases are putting significant pressure on families,” says Dr Neil McGoran, Executive Director, Catholic Education SA.
“Growth in enrolments across the State in our 101 Catholic Schools, together with prudent financial management, puts us in a position where we are able to hold tuition fees at this year’s level.”
Dr McGoran said the fee-freeze will not impact the quality of education.
“We’re committed to keeping school fees as low as possible and ensuring a Catholic education is affordable and accessible to all.”
Since 2019, Catholic Education SA has been implementing the Making Catholic Education More Affordable Initiative to ensure Catholic schools are accessible to any family who wants their child to have a Catholic education.
In addition to the fee-freeze, further fee remissions are available to any family who is struggling to pay school fees due to financial difficulties. Families should contact Angela Scodella, Principal, or Jo Freer, Finance officer for more information.
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