From the Assistant Principal
In this edition of SchoolTV - Cyber Safety
Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world where technology is part of their everyday lives –– for learning, socialising, and entertainment. While the digital world offers enormous benefits, it also comes with serious risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to inappropriate content and screen time concerns, navigating the online environment can be challenging for young people and their families.
Cybersafety is not just about blocking access –– it's about empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognising scams, and developing healthy digital habits. At the same time, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed, have open and judgement-free conversations with their children, and lead by example through positive online behaviour.
In today's digital age, safeguarding a child's wellbeing must also include protecting their online life. This edition of SchoolTV will help you better understand the digital landscape your child is navigating and offer practical strategies to help them stay safe, confident and in control online.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV.
Here is the link to the Cyber Safety edition of SchoolTV
https://kotarasouth.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/cybersafety-au
ICAS
We know our students are amazing, so we’re giving them the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition this year.
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies.
Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.
To learn more about this year’s exciting ICAS competition, visit: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)
How to participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please go to the Parent Portal to sign up to your chosen subject areas using the link and code below.
Registration for all subject areas closes on Monday 28 July at 11:59pm.
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Sign up here |
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Access code |
VSP042 |
This year, our students can elect to sit the following assessments:
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Subject |
Sitting Date |
Cost (AU$) |
Exam dates are subject to change |
|
Digital Technologies |
4-8 Aug |
$20.95 |
7th August |
|
Writing |
4-8 Aug |
$24.95 |
6th August |
|
English |
11-15 Aug |
$20.95 |
14th August |
|
Science |
18-22 Aug |
$20.95 |
20th August |
|
Spelling Bee |
18-22 Aug |
$20.95 |
21St August |
|
Mathematics |
25-29Aug |
$20.95 |
27th or 28th August |
Please note, we cannot facilitate refunds or make alterations as all money is paid directly to ICAS Assessments.
Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf). Please see further information regarding ICAS given as an attachment below.
Staff Professional Learning Day-Monday31st March
On Monday, 31st March, the staff at St James' Primary School had the privilege of engaging in a Professional Learning Day with Mr. Rob Vingerhoets, a renowned education consultant specialising in Mathematics. The day was dedicated to enhancing our teaching strategies through the exploration of open-ended tasks designed to elevate the skillsets and abilities of all our students.
Mr. Vingerhoets guided us through a series of interactive and thought-provoking activities, demonstrating the power of open-ended tasks in fostering fluency, understanding, reasoning and problem-solving skills. Our staff found the sessions incredibly valuable and enjoyed the opportunity to learn with and from Rob again.
As a result of this enriching experience, we are excited to incorporate more open-ended tasks into our daily mathematics lessons. We believe this approach will not only make learning more engaging for our students but also help them develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.
We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these new strategies in our classrooms and are committed to continuing our professional growth to provide the best education for our students.
Happy Holidays and Easter
As this is the final newsletter of the term and before we break for holidays, I wanted to wish all our families a safe and blessed break. Enjoy some down time. My hope is that everyone gets to go a little slower and has the time and energy to appreciate the small things that makes us happy. Happy Easter everyone!
All the best,Mrs Debra Petersen
Assistant Principal