Newsletter Week 10 Term 3 2024

Hi Everyone, 

Faith in Fcous

As we head towards October, it’s Mission Month in our Church! We’ll be talking with students about what it means to be Missionary Disciples—sharing love, kindness and resources with everyone.

This year, the theme for World Mission Day is “Go and invite everyone to the banquet!”

Our Service and Social Leaders will work with Mrs. Castles next term to plan Mission Day. It’s a special day for raising money and helping others through Catholic Mission. This year, we’ll focus on the people of Mongolia. During this time, we teach students about answering Jesus’ call to be caring and share with those who might not have as much as we do.

Staffing News

Following her reduction of her teaching load and sick leave this year, Mrs Jeanette Chapman has made the decision to retire. Jeanette has been dedicated to ensuring all students at Corpus Christi have opportunities to learn and perform, bringing music, dance, and drama to life. Her passion for the arts and ensuring a fun learning environment has made Wednesdays our favourite day at Corpus Christi. We have been lucky to have someone with Jeanette's expertise and experience, and thanks to her efforts, our musicals and performances are the highlights of our school year.

Social Justice at Corpus Christi

At Corpus Christi, we believe it is important to provide many opportunities for students to grow their sense of social justice. An education at Corpus Christi should not only engage children academically, but should also form their character, attitudes and values. Corpus Christi aims to nurture a sense of compassion for those in need and an attitude of service to others based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Corpus Christi offers students outreach opportunities, connecting with the local and global community to raise awareness and then acting on behalf of people who are vulnerable or in need. Take some time to read through some examples of how an understanding of social justice is nurtured at CCW.

Launch of World Mission Month

Last week, our Senior Service and Social Leaders attended the Catholic Mission 'Socktober' Launch at MacDonald Jones Stadium. Representatives from all the schools across the diocese were present to raise awareness and promote justice and equality for people living in poor communities worldwide. We thank our Student Leaders Emmett, Amelia, Archie, Phoebe and Elsie for supporting this important event.

This celebration of World Mission Month combines education, formation and fundraising to encourage students to support families and communities in need. 

Our Leaders will be reporting back to the school community at this week's assembly to educate other classes on how we can all contribute to Catholic Mission Month.
Corpus Christi will hold our annual Catholic Mission Day in Week 2 of Term 4. More details will be provided at the start of Term 4.

Mini Vinnies Makes a Difference

Our Mini Vinnies team members continue to make visits to St Martin De Porre Aged Care Home. Our latest visit took place on Tuesday with students giving their time and their positive attitudes to make a difference in someone's day. 

Year 2 Learns What it means to be a Good Samaritan in a Caring Community

Throughout Term 3, Year 2 have been investigating what is means to follow Jesus' commandment, "Love your neighbour as you love yourself". Students have engaged in dialogue about who are our neighbours? who does Jesus say we should share with and what is fair sharing.

Year 2 also discussed the scripture story of the 'Good Samaritan'. Students took on the perspective of the Good Samaritan in the story and wrote letters to convince the other characters to show justice and fairness. Read some examples below.

Sacrament of Reconciliation Parent Meeting

The Parent Information Meeting for enrollment in the 2024/25 Sacramental Program will be Wednesday 16th October at 6p.m in the Corpus Christi school library. Please call the school or email Mrs Castles katrina.castles@mn.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions about the Sacraments.

As we start Term 4, we’d like to remind you that school fees are due by November 30. This CSO Fiance Department established this timeline at the end of last year, and we are closely monitoring fee collection to ensure we meet our budget commitments and continue providing essential resources.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a payment plan, please don’t hesitate to contact the office or schedule a meeting with the principal.

Corpus Christi believes that Reinforcing and Rewarding Positive Behaviour is vital to creating a safe and supportive environment for all students.  

Staff at CCW are committed to the following:

• Regularly reviewing expectations for positive behaviour, reteaching and allowing students to practice.

• Provide frequent and timely feedback to students on their behaviour

so they know if and how they are meeting the school's expectations.

• Acknowledge students for demonstrating positive behaviour, especially when it is a new behaviour for that student.

CCW uses a Positive Reward System called 'GOTCHAS'.

A Gotcha is earned when students demonstrate our school rules, expectations and values BE HONEST, BE RESPECTFUL and BE A LEARNER. The name implies we 'catch' students doing making positive choices, this provides positive reinforcement and a moment of celebration for students' positive choices. Teachers keep a tally of every student's Gotchas throughout the year, and earned rewards are negotiable with class teachers. Our whole school also publicly recognises students when they reach a milestone number of Gotchas to reinforce and celebrate safe and respectful behaviour.

• Whole School Recognition is presented at school Friday assemblies.
• PBL Class of the Week- Whole class award for the class that exhibits behaviours that meet PBL expectations. A special reward for classes that reach 5 'Class of the Week' awards in one year!
• Corpus Christi Primary School Merit Awards – awarded at Friday assemblies for various learning achievements, learning dispositions and contributions to school life at teacher discretion.
• Corpus Christi Veritas Values Awards – awarded at regular assembly for specifically following the PBL school focus of that week/fortnight
• Recognition of Individual Gotcha Milestones. Children will receive formal recognition at assembly when their Gotcha tally reaches 50 and 100. One or more students from each class will be presented PBL medals at the end of the year for being the PBL champion of their class.
• Principal's Award - for exceptional acts of positive behaviour at the principal's discretion.

In the spirit of our current Veritas Value; I will celebrate and encourage others, teachers have recently crunched some numbers on our class Gotcha totals so far this year. Staff reported to the student community at last week's Monday assembly the total number of Gotchas earned so far by the whole school. 

An outstanding 14 387 Gotchas have been earned by students in Kinder to Year 6 so far, and we still have one term to go! That is on average 2000 Gotchas per class and an average of 95 Gotchas given out per day!

Now that is a reason to celebrate!

                                Now that is reason to celebrate!

This edition of School TV is packed with resources to support parents with the job of helping children to grow positive relationships with others.

                                          Respectful Relationships

Fostering a nurturing environment of respectful relationships within your family holds the key to not only harmonious living, but also improved academic outcomes for your children. As parents and caregivers, embracing the art of teaching children about respect at a young age sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy interactions and empathetic understanding. It will help cultivate a positive environment where communication flourishes, conflicts are resolved constructively, and bonds are fortified.

Teaching children to respect themselves and others will open up avenues for both personal growth and academic achievement. Fostering an environment where respect is not just a word, but a practiced behaviour, will empower young people with essential life skills. Effective communication, active listening, and the art of compromise, will provide your child with a solid foundation that will transcend family interactions and help them collaborate effectively with peers, teachers and the broader community.

Equipping children with an understanding of healthy versus unhealthy relationships is an important aspect of their development. It will guide them to make informed choices, foster positive connections, and set boundaries that contribute to their emotional wellbeing. Understanding the nuances between healthy and unhealthy relationships provides children with the essential tools to navigate their social world, build self-esteem, and cultivate meaningful relationships.

In this edition of SchoolTV, learn how to empower young people in healthy interactions to embrace differences and forge connections that honour their self-worth.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Respectful Relationships edition of SchoolTV
https://waratah.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/respectful-relationships