Term 4 Week 10 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Welcome to Week 10. Thank you for your patience over the last week as we have had to change plans for our End Of Year Celebration. We hope that our community members who could attend enjoyed the morning. Thanks to our students and teachers for organising the fun end of year event. We are looking forward to attending the movie day on Thursday.
It’s that time of the year when we need to farewell some staff members and welcome some others.
Katie Bicket will be finishing her time here at Calwell Primary at the end of this week. Katie will be moving to Gordon for 2024 and beyond. We would like to wish her all the best with her move. We will miss her calm and positive approach to working with her students, her commitment to quality teaching and her willingness to drive whole school events. Katie is a highly professional teacher and demonstrates a strong passion for helping students to learn. Thank you Katie, for all your work here at Calwell and for the positive relationships you have developed for so many of our kids. You will be missed.
Mel Anthes is also making a move to another school. Mel has been working at Calwell Primary and Preschool for two years. She has supported students learning across each unit and has established strong and trusting relationships with so many of our students. She is always willing to help when needed, is flexible and conscientious. We also wish Mel all the best for her move.
In 2024 we will be welcoming some new staff members to Calwell Primary School. Rachel Regan, Fiona Stevenson and Rachael Lee will be joining us in teaching positions for 2024. All are experienced teachers, and we are fortunate to have all of our positions filled for the start of the new year.
2024 Class Structure
Preschool | Veronica Rapp and Ellen Tyrell (Team Leader- Katie Brown) |
Kindergarten | Emma Peel and Carmel Pentland (Team Leader- Alyssa Owen) |
Year 1/2 | Jack Beattie, Liz Lozberis and Rachel Santos (Team Leader- Alyssa Owen) |
Year 3/4 | Mark Glover, Tamara Player and Fiona Stevenson (Team Leader- Emma Vince) |
Year 5/6 | Pat Delfs, Lauren Lutton and Rachel Regan (Team Leader- Emma Vince) |
Physical Education and Health | Vlado Susko |
Science and Art | Rachael Lee and Rhianna Lockett |
Relief support | Sara Otero |
Small Group | Annie Brill |
Learning Support Team
Preschool | Annette Mrdak, Jacqui Dickson and Laura Douch |
Primary School | Leanne Crampton, Jacqui Deacon, Chelsea Earnshaw, Kerry Macneil, Ryan Kennedy, Emily Bermingham, Jodie Temple-Clarke, Amanda Coleman |
Front Office | Jennifer Hartcher (Business Manager) Bel Haider Lizzie Armati |
Library / ICT support | Catherine Gilbert |
BSO | Kinley Wangchuk Chris Brownell |
Social Worker | Yvonne McLaughlan |
I would like to take this opportunity to again thank the Calwell kids, staff and parents for welcoming me into the community. I feel privileged to be leading a great school like Calwell.
On behalf of Calwell Primary School staff I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday break.
Kind Regards
Ben Roberts
Principal
CARES Awards
Gold Awards
2024 student-free days
Get planning for 2024 with upcoming student-free days
From 2024, there will be 4 student-free days for ACT public schools. These are the first day of each school term:
- Term 1, Monday 29 January 2024
- Term 2, Monday 29 April 2024
- Term 3, Monday 22 July 2024
- Term 4, Monday 14 October 2024.
We use student-free days for staff development, enabling us to plan in a student-free environment. Student-free planning days have been expanded from 1 to 4 days from 2024 as part of our new Teaching Staff Enterprise Agreement which prioritises better teacher workloads for educational leadership, teaching and learning.
For all school term dates, visit the Term Dates page: https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/term_dates_and_public_holidays
Notes Home/Due & Dates to Remember
A reminder for parent's to please download the SZapp to view our Newsletters and upcoming events. If you access the calendar and click on the date on an excursion/incursion permission notes are attached to re-print if needed.
- Thursday 14th December whole school movie day
- Friday 15th December last day of school
- Monday 29th January pupil free day
- Tuesday 30th January first day of school for Preschool and Kindy
- Wednesday 30th January first day of school for Years 1-6
Scrivener
This fortnight the kindergarten children have been counting down the days till the Christmas holidays with our advent Christmas book collection. Each day both classes come together and to unwrap a new book and share the story. We have been visited by Buddy the elf who has been playing tricks on us. The children have been recording his shenanigans in their Buddy journals. As we organise our belongings for the end of the year the children and teachers have been reflecting on our learning growth and sharing our achievements that they are most proud of.
Corin
Students in 1 /2 have been learning about the five food groups and making healthy food choices. We got to make wraps with ham, cheese, tomato and lettuce, and fruit skewers with a range of different fruits. Yummy! Students then identified what food group each ingredient fell into and discussed which food groups were missing in their meals. We also used Aldi catalogues to find, cut out and sort 'everyday' and 'sometimes' foods.
Googong
This term in Mathematics students have fully engaged in a student centred, project based learning approach of money, aiming to plan, design, and create products for sale. Students have taken the initiative to create products such as French knitting, paintings, ornaments, jewellery, and origami.
To earn money students must follow PBL classroom expectations enabling them to roll the dice and navigate a hand made money Monopoly board.
Incorporating digital technology students have utilised 'Canva' to craft compelling posters and ads showcasing their creativity in marketing the products they can create and sell. Empowered with their Monopoly money students eagerly anticipate visiting diverse 'shops' to make purchases. This practical and engaging approach not only fosters an understanding of giving and receiving change but also cultivates valuable money skills.
The excitement among both teachers and students sets the stage for the eagerly anticipated opening of shop stalls with more moments to be shared on Seesaw.
Bendora
Woohoo! Congrats Year 6 on your graduation from primary school. We had a fabulous time celebrating student achievements, fun memories and overall a great year. Congratulations to our special award winners George B, Isobel A, Karina L, Kasch S and Henry R for their efforts and achievements throughout their time at Calwell Primary. We wish Year 6 class of 2023 all the best in your future endeavours
