ST ALOYSIUS CATHOLIC COLLEGE KINGSTON CAMPUS PARENT INFORMATION BOOKLET 2016 GRADE 3 Grade 3OF ~ Mrs Julie Osborne Ms Georgie Fleming Grade 3F ~ Mr Ben Fasnacht Grade 3G ~ Mr Matt Gardiner
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION St Aloysius Catholic College is first and foremost a Catholic school and aims to provide a caring and supportive environment where students are encouraged to grow in faith within a Catholic community and develop their potential. At the Kingston Campus Religious Education plays an important role in the daily life of our students and the Religious Education program is central to our ethos as a faith community. The program is based on the Archdiocesan Curriculum Good News for Living that focuses on students growth in knowledge, skills and attitudes. Throughout the year we celebrate the Eucharist at our Parish Church, Christ the Priest Church. We celebrate special days such as feast days, Mothers and Fathers Day, Grandparents Day and a special Mass on our College feast day. These liturgical celebrations are an opportunity for children to deepen their understanding of God and to appreciate the significance of Christ in their lives. These opportunities build on the faith life fostered in families. At the Kingston Campus, a climate of prayer is encouraged and the symbols of prayer form a focal point in all classrooms. Students use a variety of prayer forms at the commencement and conclusion of the school day as well as at meal breaks. Traditional prayers are learnt and used as well as opportunities for children to create spontaneous prayers for special occasions and needs. Students also have the opportunity to participate in Christian Meditation under the guidance of their classroom teacher. The school recognises parents as the first educators in faith. Children wishing to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation are enrolled by their family in the Parish Sacramental Program. The school supports this program by focusing on religious knowledge of the Sacraments at a time when the Parish program is in progress. Initial preparation for the Sacraments is conducted in small groups led by parents and members of the Parish. These groups are conducted outside of school time. Through the experiences we offer, we aim to provide a Christ-centered community, a role model of Christian behaviour, attitudes and values and a high quality balanced education.
Positive Behaviour Support At St Aloysius Catholic College - Kingston Campus we actively teach and reinforce desired behaviour. We have four main expectations of behaviour: Be a Learner Be Safe Be Fair Be Respectful The 4 B s are consistently reinforced throughout the Campus and we have a very special mascot - Betta-Bee who assists with reinforcing these expectations. During the first weeks of school each class will be working with their teachers to develop an understanding of what the 4 B s look like in different ways at our campus. Two years ago, we introduced Betta-Bee cards as part of our positive behaviour support program. This was a very successful initiative. Class teachers and specialist staff will be handing out Betta-Bee cards to students exhibiting desired 4 B s behaviour. The table below clearly explains to staff, students and parents the current reward system at the Kingston Campus. Students carry their Betta-Bee tallies from one year to the next. What happens if I make a good choice? Betta-Bee Card Reward Five Cards Ten Cards (Fifteen Total) Fifteen Cards (Thirty Total) Five Cards (Thirty-Five Total) Ten Cards (Forty-Five Total) Fifteen Cards (Sixty Total) Five Cards (Sixty-Five Total) Ten Cards (Seventy-Five Total) Fifteen Cards (Ninety Total) Fifty Cards (One Hundred and Forty Total) Bronze Badge Silver Badge Gold Badge The Betta Bee Wall of Fame - The Honeycomb
What happens if I make a bad choice? LEARNING AND TEACHING Religion Living and Growing in Lent We Prepare for Easter Prayer Creation The Sacrament of Reconciliation (in support of parish program) Advent and Christmas Australian Curriculum The Australian Curriculum website now provides information for parents and carers including an overview about the Australian Curriculum and information pages relevant to your child s specific grade level. This information can be found on our College website or accessed from the following web addresses: http://www.acara.edu.au/verve/_resources/the_australian_curriculum_an_overvi ew_for_parents.pdf http://www.acara.edu.au/verve/_resources/information_for_parents_years_3_- _4.pdf
HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences: History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship) The historical focus throughout Grade Three is about Community and Remembrance. Units covered this year are: How and why do people choose to remember significant events of the past? What symbols and emblems are used by people, and what are their significance and origins? (Australia Day, Anzac Day) Who were the first inhabitants of Tasmania? How have things in our local area remained the same over time and in what ways have they changed? The geographical focus throughout Grade Three is Australian geography and our near neighbours. Units covered this year: States and territories of Australia Aboriginal perspectives World climate types Australia s neighbouring countries The Civics and Citizenship focus introduces the role of democracy, rules and consequences within the community and how individuals participate in and contribute to their community. Science Units covered this year are: Biological Science: Living and Non Living Things Earth and Space Sciences: Night and Day Physical Sciences: Heat Chemical Sciences: Solids and Liquids Literacy Intervention At St Aloysius Catholic College, we are committed to providing a three-tiered approach to the early identification and support of students with learning and behaviour needs. Students are provided with interventions at increasing levels of intensity to accelerate their rate of learning. The first tier of intervention involves high quality instruction, screening and assessment and differentiated instruction within the classroom environment e.g. Daily 5 Literacy Block (Grades Prep-4), Letters and Sounds (Grades K-2) and Sound Waves (Gr 2-4). The second tier involves more intense targeted Intervention in small group settings e.g. Literacy Intervention Program (Grades 1-4). The third tier focuses upon individualised and extensive intervention for those students who are eligible for funding through our Special Learning Needs Program. Enrichment Opportunities are provided to students in our College for General Enrichment and Maths Enrichment sessions. Students are referred to Maths Enrichment classes by their classroom teachers and are involved in weekly lessons that encourage thinking, problem solving and reasoning. General Enrichment classes are held weekly and students are included in the classes based on specific assessment
criteria. If you have any queries concerning your child in regard to Enrichment please contact your child s teacher. ADMINISTRATION Teaching days in 3F are Monday to Friday - Mr Ben Fasnacht Teaching days in 30F: Mrs Julie Osborne - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Ms Georgie Fleming Friday Teaching days in 3G: Mr Matt Gardiner - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday after recess Ms Marla Leitch Friday morning until recess Timetable Whole school assemblies advised through the weekly Newsletter Newsletters Wednesday (electronic) Banking TBA Canteen Wednesday and Friday 3 OF 3 F 3 G Phys Ed Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Music Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday French Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Communication As teachers rarely access emails during teaching hours, it is necessary to phone the school regarding any immediate matters or changes to arrangements for your child. Please feel free to speak to us in person about anything as well. College notices are accessed through the School Stream application. More information on School Stream can be found on the College website. See Saw is being used this year as an electronic learning journal. This will be a great way for you to keep in touch with what your child is learning throughout the year. Appointments If you would like to speak with us, let us know so we can make a time that is mutually suitable. After school is more appropriate if we need to speak at length. Absences/Illnesses If you know your child will be absent from school or your child is ill, please inform the office staff. If you need to pick up your child throughout the school day, please fill in a form at the office before collecting your child. Homework In Grade 3, homework should take no longer than 20 minutes each evening. Bags containing homework, including home reading books, are to be taken home and returned daily.
The main purpose of homework is to develop independent working skills and foster links between the classroom and home environment. It is expected that children will read for 10 minutes four times a week. Students are asked to learn their Spelling words at home to reinforce what is happening during the school day. We ask that Monday - Thursday children Look at their word, Say their word, Cover their word, Write their word, then Check whether the word is correct. This is referred to as Look Say Cover Write Check (LSCWCh). Their LSCWCh is recorded in their Spelling Homework Booklets. This process should take no more than a few minutes. Mathletics will be utilised as a class and homework teaching tool. Long Day Excursions Grade 3 will be involved in two extended day excursions this year. The first will be a trip to Mount Field National Park in Term 1 and the second will be a trip to Bruny Island during Term 4. These begin at approximately 8:30am and conclude at 5:30pm. General If your child experiences any problems or difficulties socially or academically, they will be encouraged to speak to us in an endeavour to resolve the issue within the classroom. We strongly encourage our students to be totally independent in all aspects of school life. Children are not to bring toys or other personal items to school. Could we please ask that students bring appropriate pencil cases containing only essential items (no electric pencil sharpeners or erasers)? Hats are to be worn in Terms 1 and 4. Please ensure that all your children s items including hats, jumpers, water bottles and lunch boxes are clearly labelled. Due to safety, only silver or gold stud or sleeper earrings can be worn at school. Students are encouraged to keep drink containers in the classroom. These must contain water only. As part of our Eat Well, Move Well program, children are encouraged to bring fruit or vegetables to eat during a food break we have of a morning. Thursday Options: Each Thursday morning, Grade 3 students have the choice of participating in two out of the following options: Dance, Drama, Art, Band and Choir, Outward Bound and STEM. Outward Bound involves exploring the local environment and completing some relevant literacy activities. STEM will involve coding, robotics and engineering learning opportunities. Thursday Options have been created to help our students excel in areas that they are especially engaged in. Making Jesus Real: Each Friday students in Grade 3 will take part in the Making Jesus Real program. This program, which is also known as MJR, helps students to think positively, reflect on their own behavior, have a great attitude, and live Christian values in their daily lives.