Welcome to Term 4! I hope that you and your families have had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break. I definitely feel recharged and ready to go.

It’s just nine weeks until the school year ends and there is still a lot to learn. I have planned an exciting but challenging learning program for your child to engage with this term.

As we are entering the warmer months it is imperative that all students wear a school hat during outdoor activities. As the weather forecast can be unpredictable there is a two-week period to make the transition from winter to summer uniform.

I would like to remind you to check that your child has all the necessary materials/stationary required for their learning to avoid the need for borrowing.

I wish all students involved in the School Summer Sports Program and the Music Recitals an enjoyable and successful time.

See you soon!

Rob Maio

Key Events This Term

• School Resumes – 16 October (Mon, Week 1)
• School Assemblies

– 31 October  (Tues 2.15, Week 3)

–  4 November (Tues 2.15, Week 5)

–  28 November (Tues 2.15, Week 7)

• Swimming Week at the Payneham Pool – 13 – 27 November (Mon – Fri Week 5)
• Walk to School Day – 24 November (Fri, Week 6)
• Christmas Celebration – 6 December (Wed, Week 8)
• End of Year Mass of Thanksgiving – 13 December (Wed, Week 9)
• Final School Day (Rec-Year 6) – 14 December (Thurs, Week 9)

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Welcome to Term 3! I am really looking forward to returning after an extended break. I hope you have appreciated spending some quality time with your children during the holidays. Students will once again need to be prepared for an eventful and challenging term of learning ahead.

Now is an ideal time to review your child’s school report and reflect upon the strengths and areas for improvement and set in place goals and future action plans for this Semester. At this level of schooling I really encourage students to reflect on their learning challenges and to take ownership of their goals for improvement. I encourage your partnership in this discussion.

This term Year 3/4 students are participating in Badminton clinics on Thursdays beginning in Week 2.  Therefore, students will need to wear their sports uniform on Thursdays as of Week 2.

I would also like to remind you to check that your child has all the necessary materials/stationary required for their learning to avoid the need to borrow from others.

Looking forward to continue working with you and your child in partnership this term.

Rob Maio

Key Events This Term

Term 3 Begins – 24 July (Mon, Week 1)

School Photo Day – 9 Aug (Wed, Week 3)

Science Week – 14 -18 Aug (Week 4)

Book Week Parade – 25 Aug (Fri, Week 5)

PJ Day/Disco Fundraiser – 7 Sept (Thurs, Week 7)

Year 3/4 Unit Mass – 21 Sept (Thurs, Week 9)

Italian Day – 22 Sept (Fri, Week 9)

Excursion to Migration Museum/Botanical Gardens 25 Sept (Mon, Week 10)

Show Your True Colours Day – 29 Sept (Fri, Week 10)

Next week, (Tues, Wed & Thurs) Year 3 students will be participating with the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.

It is important to remember that NAPLAN tests are not pass/fail tests. At the classroom level it is one of a number of tools used by teachers to measure student progress.

As this is the first time Year 3 students are undertaking NAPLAN I encourage you to visit the link NAPLAN under Parent Links to help support your child with these assessments.

Rob Maio

Remember this is just another form of assessment students undertake which provides a snapshot of student learning.

Hi All,

Just some reminders about Sports Day which is happening tomorrow (Thursday 4 May) at SANTOS Stadium.

1. Ensure that your child arrives at school on time as busses begin departing at 8.45.
2. Children are to wear sports attire including sneakers.
3. Sunscreen is to be applied before school and I encourage you to pack sunscreen in your child’s bag for further application during the day.
4. Children will need to bring their hat, drink bottle, brain food, recess and lunch in their bag.
5. Canteen will be open for food and drink purchases.
6. Coloured hairspray and Zinc cream is NOT to be worn on the bus or at the Stadium. Children are encouraged to support their team colours through their clothing, wigs, etc
7. At the end of the day you will be able to collect your child from me. Please do not take your child without notifying me.
8. Busses will Depart SANTOS Stadium at 2.10 with children who have booked a place on the returning bus.

We are all looking forward to a wonderful Sports Day.

Rob Maio

Welcome back to Term 2. It will be great to see everyone back at school safe and sound after a well-deserved break.

I trust that your holiday break was productive and restful. I am looking forward to the exciting events and learning opportunities planned for your child this term.

Now is an ideal time to revisit discussions made during Parent/Student/Teacher conversations and reflect upon the strengths and areas for improvement.

I would like students to concentrate on learning times tables properly this term. I encourage students to use the ‘Learn Your Times Tables’ link located under Numeracy Links on our Class Blog page to assist with their learning. This is an important skill to have, to be able to advance successfully through the Mathematics curriculum.

Students are still expected to maintain their reading daily and record their reading in their school diary. Premiers Reading Challenge continues this term. Please sign off books on the Premier’s Reading Challenge sheet as students have read them.

I would also like to remind you to check that your child has all the necessary materials/stationary required for their learning as some students borrowed regularly during Term 1. Rulers were an item that many students needed to replace.

I look forward to continue working with you and your child in partnership this term.

Rob Maio

Key Events This Term

Term 2 Begins – 2 May (Tues, Week 1)

Sports Day (SANTOS Stadium) – 4 May (Thurs, Week 1)

Year 3 NAPLAN Assessment – 9 -11 May (Tues, Wed & Thurs, Week 2)

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May – 3 June (Week 5)

School Assembly 26 May & 30 June (Fri, Week 4 & 9)

Radiance Art Exhibition – 8 June (Thurs, Week 6)

Life Education Van (Week 7)

Every Monday we attend the MacKillop/Woods Resource Centre to encourage students to borrow books which then become their readers.

As most of the students are now independent readers it is important that students develop the skill of choosing texts which are suitable to their reading ability (‘Good Fit’ books).

Below you will find a poster which we use that supports students with selecting suitable texts and photos of students learning in the Resource Centre.

[embeddoc url=”https://rmaio.edublogs.org/files/2016/05/I-Pick-Just-Right-Books-Poster-18c1bnx.pdf” viewer=”google”]

I would just like to thank all the parents, grandparents and carers who made the effort to attend the recent ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening. It was great to see so many attend. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to have a quick chat with many of you after the formal presentation.

I was able to provide you with information about your child’s learning this year which I hope  you found useful. Being able to guide you on how to navigate our class blog was also beneficial. I’m sure you will find our blog to be a valuable source of information and an excellent means of communication throughout the year.

Feel free to email or post any questions you still may have and I will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.

Thanks again.
Rob Maio

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

It is with a great deal of excitement that I have become your child’s teacher in 2017.

Your child is in 3/4RM and our class is located in Room 7.

It would be great if you could clearly label all of your child’s books and stationery items during the holidays.

Please write your child’s
– First and last name
– Year level: 3/4RM
– Teacher: Mr Maio

Headphones need to have your child’s name on them and preferably placed in a zip lock bag for safe keeping.

In the first week of Term 1 I will be organising book covers at school with the students.

Certain items will be collected and stored in the classroom for your child until they are needed.

Also have your child bring only one pencil case to school which will remain on their table throughout the year. In recent years students have been bringing far too much stationery which clutters their table
and reduces the amount of learning space for them to use.

I look forward to getting to know you and your child in 2017.

Remember that working in partnership with parents and caregivers definitely promotes and supports your child’s learning.

See you all on Monday 30th January, 2017.

Kind Regards

Rob Maio

rmaio@stjotran.catholic.edu.au