Dear Parents and Carers,

Now that we have entered the month of May we are reminded that it is traditionally the month associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus. As such, it is a very appropriate month for celebrating the great gift of all mothers, grandmothers and significant women in our lives. On behalf of the students and staff, I would like to wish all the mothers in the Our Lady Help of Christians community a very happy Mothers’ Day for last Sunday. The special love that only a mother can give is always appreciated, but not always acknowledged. To all our mothers, we hope that you were able to relax on Sunday and allow your family to show their love and appreciation of the invaluable role you play in their lives. Our students had the opportunity to purchase fabulous gifts for mum at our annual Mothers’ Day Stall last week. Gratitude is extended to all the parents who were able to help to prepare the gifts and also those who will assist in selling them.

A PRAYER FOR OUR MOTHERS

Lord, thank you for all mothers. 

For the new ones, who endure sleepless nights with infants in their arms.

For the busy ones, who juggle the pressures of home and family life.

For the steadfast ones, who nurture and care for our special vulnerable children.

For the patient ones, who always seek to forgive and engage with their pre-teens.

For the persistent ones, who cleverly find new ways to connect with their mini-adults.

For the mother aunts, who step in to cradle and care for nieces and nephews.

For all grandmas, who love and support their precious grandchildren.

For the foster mums that are called to gather and cover the fragile ones.

For the Sunday mums who care for our children and lead them in faith.

For the mums who give far beyond their own resources, who overcome disability to cherish and love.

Thank you Lord for all our beautiful mothers. Help us to support them and keep them in our prayers. May you bless them now on this special day.

We particularly remember and pray for those of us whose mother is now enjoying her heavenly reward. May they continue to watch over, protect and guide us. We pray through the intercession of Mary our spiritual mother.

Amen.

NAPLAN 2022

Over the next two weeks, the children in Years 3 and 5 will all sit the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). NAPLAN is the measure through which governments, education authorities, schools, teachers and parents can determine whether or not young Australians are meeting important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy. The assessments provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. They also provide schools, states and territories with information about how education programs are working and which areas need to be prioritised for improvement.

Although it is an important testing period and provides both the school and parents with a snapshot of achievement, it must be kept in mind that the NAPLAN assessments are just one aspect of the school’s assessment and reporting process, and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments undertaken by teachers about each student’s performance. Along with other valuable information gathered on a regular basis teachers are able to formulate and communicate to parents a more rounded view of the holistic development of each student.

The teachers have assisted the students to prepare for the NAPLAN testing by familiarising them with the format of the tests and the structure of the week. Parents are able to assist their child/ren during the testing time, as they do every day, by ensuring that your child/ren have plenty of sleep during the week, providing a hearty breakfast of ‘brainfood’ and ensuring students arrive at school before the morning bell. This will give them the best possible conditions in which to sit the assessments.

It is important to remember that NAPLAN is one day in the life of these students and is not the complete measure of their worth or that of our schools. The input of schools into a student's life cannot be measured as a result of a short test on one day of the year. Much of what schools do on a daily basis - pastoral care, the extension of life opportunities through co-curricular, sporting and creative programs, the formation of values and the creation of community - cannot be quantified.

Once results have been provided to the school, these will be shared with parents.

Please do not hesitate to speak with your child’s teacher if you would like any further information about these assessments.

Jane Webb 

PRINCIPAL