March Newsletter

This year, our school has embraced the five key values we established in 2024:

S - Service 

T - Together

A - Aspire 

R - Respect

R - Resilience 

These values form the acronym S.T.A.R.R., which has become a familiar and meaningful part of student life, shaping both our expectations and reward system. Our students are engaging with these values, and over time, they will explore them in greater depth. This term, our focus is on Service.

S - SERVICE

In a Catholic school, Service means putting kindness, generosity, and care into action. This idea is deeply connected to the teachings of Jesus, who encouraged his followers to care for those in need. It is also at the heart of the work of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint and the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph who established our school. She lived by the motto, "Never see a need without doing something about it."  Her example reminds us that small acts of service can have a lasting impact.

During Lent, which started this week on Ash Wednesday, we are called to reflect on how we can give to others. At school, students are encouraged to serve in many ways—by helping their classmates, assisting teachers, and showing kindness in their words and actions. 

By learning about Service and putting it into action, they develop a deeper understanding of compassion, responsibility, and the importance of making a positive difference in the world.

Thank you for supporting our students in embracing these values. We look forward to continuing this journey together and seeing the positive impact these values have on our students and community.

Insight Project

All staff across the Catholic Education Tasmania participated in a Science of Learning Insight All System Day: Term One on the 4th February 2025.  The All System Day is an ‘in house’ professional learning day and an opportunity for us all to learn how to embed evidence-informed pedagogies into our daily teaching and learning practices. During the collaborative learning day staff heard from peers, leaders and industry experts about the Science of Learning, engaged in professional conversations, unpacked key concepts and theories, networked and connected with our colleagues and engaged with resources to enhance planning and instruction.  

Along with our mentoring throughout the year, our staff continue to be inspired and empowered to further implement high impact teaching and learning strategies.

In addition our teachers prepared welcoming classrooms for 2025. They arranged student desks in rows from Prep to Grade 6 to help students learn best. This setup:

• Gives students a clear view of the teacher and materials.
• Encourages active participation in lessons.
• Allows teachers to give individual feedback.
• Helps teachers move around to support students.
• Provides a structured and consistent learning environment.

Sound Scouts Hearing Screener

Hearing is a crucial part of our children’s development, impacting everything from speech and language skills to social interactions and learning, making early detection so vital.

• Speech and Language Skills: Children rely on hearing to learn and develop their speaking and listening abilities.
• Learning and Attention: Hearing difficulties can affect a child’s ability to follow instructions or engage in classroom activities.
• Social Interactions: Children with hearing challenges may struggle to engage in conversations with their peers, affecting their social development.

Sound Scouts is a fun, interactive hearing test designed for children aged 4 and up. It combines gameplay with sound tests to assess a child’s ability to hear and process different frequencies. The app was created by experts in audiology to make the hearing screening process more accessible and child-friendly. Unlike traditional tests, it doesn’t require a clinic visit, and children can complete it on their own using a school iPad and headphones.

Sound Scouts uses engaging visuals and simple tasks to test hearing ability. The test takes about 10 minutes and is conducted through a series of games that involve identifying sounds. The app tests both the left and right ear at different pitches and volumes, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the child’s hearing ability.

Once the test is complete, you'll receive a report on your child’s hearing health. If the results indicate that there may be a hearing issue, Sound Scouts provides recommendations for further steps, including repeating to ensure consistency in results and/ or visiting a healthcare professional for a more thorough examination.

For any further information, please visit: https://www.soundscouts.com/au/

Brooke Lardner

Student Support Coordinator

Program Spotlight - InitiaLit

InitiaLit follows on from PreLit, and begins in Prep. It’s an evidence-based whole-class literacy program providing all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. InitiaLit is a three-year program, covering the first three years of school (Prep to Year 2). In Prep and Year 1, the program looks at two main components: explicitly teaching phonics and how they are applied to reading and spelling, and then looks at vocabulary, oral language and listening comprehension through children’s literature. In Year 2, the program branches out to cover four components: spelling, reading comprehension and fluency, grammar and vocabulary, including oral language and comprehension through children’s literature. The home readers are also mapped to this program to keep learning consistent.

Soon we will be sending home digital readers that accompany this program as a part of the homework program (for Prep, Year 1 and some Year 2 students). More information about this will come home shortly. 

If you ever have any questions about any of the Literacy and Numeracy programs we run, please do not hesitate to call or email me.

Laura Korpershoek

Literacy and Numeracy Leader

Congratulations to the following students who have gone above and beyond the SPC values:

20th February - Lucas Schuuring - SPC Way Service Award

6th March - Casey Rutter - SPC Way Together Award

Congratulations to the following students on receiving an Aiming High Award:

20th February

Kinder - Nelson Jago & Leo Duffy

Prep - Prince Dela Cruz & Lucas Barker

Year 1 - Archer Armstrong & Jax Hardy

Year 2 - Henry Dabner & Claire Wells

Year 3 - Levi House & Rylan Nichols

Year 4 - Lucas Schuuring & Rachel Talamaivao

Year 5 - Olivia Doel & Hudson Medwin

Year 6 - Amilia Quarrell & Nina Franks

6th March

Kinder - Caliyah Dela Cruz & John Lillico

Prep - Dottie Fraser & Ollie Cooper

Year 1 - Tobias Horton & Ella Burley

Year 2 - Kolt Fraser & Quinn Saward

Year 3 - Piper Hall & Mac Fraser

Year 4 - Logan Rutter & Millah Fraser

Year 5 - Darcy Jolly & Brady Robinson

Year 6 - Airelle Dela Cruz & Taite Walsh

Thank you to all who have supplied baked goods. Your support and generosity does not go unnoticed. All money raised from the SPC Bake Raffle will go towards upgrade of our current playground. 

Congratulations Ivie and Ms Monson on your winnings. 

The much-anticipated annual Swimming Carnival for Year 3-6 students was a huge success, bringing excitement, fun, and a wonderful display of sportsmanship! Students dived into the day’s events with enthusiasm, competing in a variety of races and relays, all while cheering on their peers and showing team spirit.

The carnival wasn’t just about winning; it was about coming together as a school community to celebrate the joy of sport. Whether they were swimming their fastest lap or supporting friends from the sidelines, every student displayed impressive sportsmanship, encouraging each other every step of the way.

From the splash of the start to the final stroke of the day, the swimming carnival was filled with laughter, friendly competition, and unforgettable moments. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves, build confidence, and, most importantly, have fun!

A big thank you to all the students for their participation, the teachers for their support, and the families for cheering on the swimmers. We can’t wait for next year’s carnival to create even more memories in the pool!

Congratulations to Hanlon, the winning house of the day! 

This year the Year 6 students have an extra leadership role at lunch play times, called Playground Patrollers. Playground Patrollers are students who are assigned the responsibility of promoting positive behavior during lunch playtimes at school. Their roles include monitoring students while they play, resolving minor conflicts, helping younger children, and ensuring everyone is following the SPC Way. Playground patrollers act as role models for their peers by encouraging fair play, kindness, and respect. They help create a safe and enjoyable environment by reporting any unsafe situations to teachers or staff. This program fosters leadership skills, responsibility and a sense of community among students, while also contributing to a positive school atmosphere.

School Improvement Surveys

Insight SRC is conducting this survey on behalf of St Peter Chanel Catholic School and Catholic Education Tasmania. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents' perceptions of their children’s experience of school. 

The results will benefit everyone within the school by providing valuable information about the ways in which the school can use staff, student and parent input to plan programs and activities to improve your child's experience at school.

While your participation is voluntary, it is important to remember that the success of this important project is dependent on the involvement of all parents.

The online survey can be accessed from Monday 24 March to Friday 4 April 2025. It will be sent to families of students in Year 1, 3 & 5.

Select link below to register your attendance.

https://tinyurl.com/4xeknfty

Unlocking Curiosity: The Magic of Children’s University

At Children’s University, we believe that learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. With the world around us brimming with endless possibilities, our mission is to ignite a sense of adventure and curiosity in children by offering engaging and enriching out-of-school learning experiences. Whether it’s exploring nature, diving into history, or discovering the wonders of science, Children’s University provides a unique platform for children to expand their horizons beyond the traditional school day.

What is Children’s University?

Children’s University is an inspiring initiative designed to support and celebrate the learning journeys of young people. It encourages children to engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities, from arts and crafts to coding and environmental projects. The program works with local partners, organizations, and educational establishments to offer a variety of learning opportunities that spark excitement, deepen knowledge, and foster a love for lifelong learning.

How Does it Work?

Children’s University operates on a simple yet powerful concept: children, In Year 2-6, collect stamps for participating in extracurricular activities outside the school curriculum. These stamps are recorded in a Learning Passport, which acts as a personal record of achievement. The more activities children participate in, the more stamps they collect, eventually leading to exciting recognition awards, such as certificates and graduations. All graduating students will travel to Burnie at the end of the year to join in a Children's University Graduation Ceremony.

Parents and teachers are integral to the success of Children’s University. By encouraging children to take part in a variety of learning experiences, they help open doors to new skills, interests, and passions. Whether it’s completing a science workshop at a local museum or attending an after-school club, the opportunities are endless.

The Benefits of Children’s University

1. Promotes Lifelong Learning: By encouraging children to participate in learning outside of school, Children’s University helps build a mindset that values continuous learning and exploration.

2. Fosters Confidence and Independence: Children are motivated to take ownership of their learning, setting goals and celebrating their achievements, which boosts their self-esteem.

3. Broadens Horizons: Exposure to a wide range of activities helps children discover new talents, interests, and areas they may not have encountered in the classroom.

4. Builds Stronger Communities: Through collaboration with local organizations and businesses, Children’s University strengthens ties between children, families, schools, and communities.

5. Supports Personal Growth: As children engage with different challenges, they develop critical skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, and communication.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Children’s University

As Children’s University continues to expand, its impact on children’s education grows stronger. In the coming years, the initiative plans to introduce more innovative programs that make learning even more accessible and enjoyable. With a growing network of partners and supporters, there’s no limit to the exciting experiences awaiting children on their educational journeys.

Get Involved Today!

Contact Brooke Lardner or Kylie Monson today for you child to join. Students continuing from last year will need to also complete a 2025 consent form. Scan QR code for consent form.

Shrove Tuesday is a special day that happens right before Lent begins. It's also called "Pancake Day" in many places. On Tuesday, we celebtrate by eating yummy pancakes.