TWCS Newsletter Term 1 Week 2 2025

Welcome Back

At Tenison Woods Catholic school we are called to be….

Visionaries  Protectors  Innovators  Explorers  Connectors

Welcome back to Tenison Woods to start what I am sure will be a year full of fun, laughs, learning, challenges and special moments. It has been lovely to see everyone this past week as the children move from nervous energy to excitement and parents are able to move back in to those ‘routines’ that we so dearly need!

We start 2025 with an ever growing community, with 268 children starting the school year, giving us 11 classes across Reception to Year 6. In Term 3, we will be welcoming an additional 35 children making up 2 additional Mid Year Reception classes. Since 2022, we have also welcomed 50 children in Years 2-6. As we continue to provide an excellent educational setting and equally as important a community dedicated to the wellbeing of all, all the time.

This year at Tenison Woods school, we will have a whole school theme that will be referred to throughout the year.  The theme for 2025 is ‘Builders of Hope’.  Teachers will spend time with their students breaking open this theme and what it means. Some of the questions that will be explored may include;

• What does hope mean to me?
• Why is it important to have hope?
• How can we be ‘Builders of Hope’ this year? – for ourselves, for others, for our community, and for our world

We encourage you to talk to your students about this theme and make connections between home and school about how we can all be ‘Builders of Hope’ this year, and beyond.

We welcome all of our Reception children who have moved from our Little Wonders Transition program to BIG school. Along with our Receptions, we also have a number of new children and their families starting with us in other year levels. I would like to extend a warm TWCS welcome to:

Lewis Frost

Emma and Yani Kolonis

Eadie and Charlie March

Immanuel Matthew

Lilla Schumacher

Olivia Sparnon

Renee Stolz

Ivy Taylor

We have also been fortunate to welcome a number of new staff to the team. I would like to formally welcome the following staff:

Skye Llewellyn (Reception)
Corey Carlaw (Yr 1/2)
Sophie Hurley (Yr 5/6)
Sarah Watkins (Technologies)
Emma Freer (ESO)
Misty McGuire (Front Office Admin)

Our commitment to you and your family.

As we continue to ensure our facilities are maintained and meet the educational and wellbeing needs of all children in our community, it is exciting to say that our Building Project is now currently at tender with a builder soon to be appointed.

The building project will commence towards the end of Term 1, with the new Junior Primary building being the first stage to be completed. Once this has been completed, the builders will move their attention to creating a new Front Office entrance / welcome plaza along with a new administration block. To see more details regarding the design, head to our school website.

Things to keep an eye out for.

It is becoming something I feel like I am saying all the time, but we have a busy Term 1. I ask you to please check the school calendar on the Audiri App to make sure you have synced your calendars so you don’t miss anything. Here are just a few for the start of the term.

Week 3

Getting to know your child conversations
Wednesday evening – P&F Meeting – all welcomed

Week 4

Friday - Assembly
Friday evening - P&F Welcome event

Week 5

Wednesday – AGM

Week 6

Tuesday - Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday – Ash Wednesday
Friday – Pupil Free Day (OSHC available)

Week 7

Year 4 Camp
Wednesday - P&F Meeting
NAPLAN

Week 8

Friday – Assembly and Wellbeing Day

Drop Off and Pick up – Friendly Reminders

As we start a new year, I am just wanting to remind everyone of a few things in regards to Pick up and Drop offs. We have 2 collection points – The Main Carpark off Bickford Tce and the Rear Gate on Redin St. Gates do not open until 8:20am – Please ensure children are not left at the gate unsupervised. If you need to leave before the gate opens, OSHC is available from 7am.

The Carpark has a 2-min time limit when waiting for children. Staff will ask drivers to move on if their child is not ready.

Please DO NOT PARK ACROSS DRIVEWAYS. We have some wonderful neighbours who understand living near a school has its busy times. However, it is illegal to park across a driveway.

Council employees regularly attend our streets issuing fines for drivers who are not following the law.

Finally, on behalf of all the staff at TWCS, I thank you for your ongoing partnership with us in supporting your children and our community. If you have any questions that pop up throughout the year, my door is always open and I really appreciate the opportunity to connect with our families.

Go well and God Bless

Ben

Welcome to the 2025 school year. It has been great to hear all about holiday adventures from the students. I look forward to the year ahead and working in collaboration with families in the Tenison Woods Community.

Literacy and Numeracy

This year we have two main focuses regarding our teaching and learning, these are in the areas of literacy and numeracy. Our dedicated staff completed professional learning throughout the January school holidays.

Corey, Sophie, Sarah and Ethan completed a five day course by the Dyslexia Orton-Gillingham Institute, Basic Training Literacy. The course provided instruction on implementing a structure multisensory approach to reading. This is based on the understanding of the science of reading and the five key elements that are required to achieve this, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension.

Erin, Carisa, Gina, Rhys and Amelia completed a two day course by the Dyslexia Orton-Gillingham Institute, Multisensory Maths Training. The course provided instruction on implementing a structure multisensory approach to mathematics. This is based on the understanding of our number system is based on the number ten. It provides strategies for helping students with basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), problem solving, time/money and fractions. I am looking forward to this approach being used in the classroom and how it will support our students understanding in mathematics.

Congratulations to Erin, Carisa, Gina, Rhys, Amelia, Corey, Sophie, Sarah and Ethan on completing the training.

Personalised Plans for Learning (PPL’s) meetings

During week 5 and 6 we will hold Personalised Plans for Learning (PPL’s) meetings with families and teachers for students who required additional support for their learning. These meetings are always positive and relational, with both parents and staff working towards the best learning outcomes for your child. An email from Peta will be sent out to families to book in for meetings.

Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN

During Week 7 and 8 our year 3 and 5 students participated in NAPLAN. The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school. The annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. NAPLAN tests are one aspect of our schools assessment process. More information will be sent home to families in the following weeks.

Keeping safe Child Protection Curriculum

Our Term 1 Keeping safe Child Protection focus is ‘The right to be safe’. Throughout the term students will engage in age-appropriate lessons through the Health Curriculum to develop an understanding of this topic. A letter was sent home this week with further information.

Homework

At our school, we deeply value family time and recognise its essential role in the well-being of both students and their families. With this in mind, we strive to keep homework to a manageable amount, ensuring that students have ample opportunity to spend quality time together. In support of developing essential literacy and numeracy skills, we encourage engaging activities like board games and cooking. These enjoyable, hands-on experiences not only promote learning in a fun and interactive way but also offer valuable opportunities to practice important skills in everyday, real-world contexts. Homework is designed to complement the classroom learning. We strongly believe homework should not be stressful for the child if your child experiences any difficulties please contact their classroom teacher.

Homework guide

Reception: Sound practice and reading

Year 1 and year 2: Reading

Year 3: Reading, spelling, times tables and optional activities (up to 30 minutes)

Year 4: Reading, spelling, times tables and optional activities (30 minutes)

Year 5 and year 6: Reading, times tables and completing unfinished set tasks (30-40 minutes)

Throughout the year as we work in partnership to support the children to flourish and grow, please always know I am available for you to speak with.

Kind regards,

Claire Little

Assistant Principal: Teaching and Learning

2025 Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope

A Jubilee year is a special year that occurs in the Catholic Church every 25 years. It is a unique time where Catholics are given a special opportunity to get closer to God.

Pope Francis declared that 2025 is the ‘Jubilee Year of Hope’. This year we are invited into a deeper relationship with God, with each other and with the world around us.

The 2025 Jubilee Year is a time for renewal, reflection, and spiritual growth. It gives us a chance to rediscover God’s love, reconcile with others, and contribute to building a more just and merciful world.

Through pilgrimages, reconciliation, prayer, and acts of charity, the Jubilee invites us to grow spiritually and embrace our roles as peacemakers and witnesses to Christ’s love. 

Beginging of Year Mass

Last Friday we gathered as a whole school community in the St Aloysius Church for our Beginning of Year Mass. It was wonderful to be able to come together and welcome in a new year of learning and welcome all those who are new to our school.

There were many students involved in the mass in a variety of different ways including; helping to set up the prayer space, serving as altar servers, readers, and being a part of the Gospel and Offertory procession.

Father Long Hai praised the students for the reverence they showed during the Mass and for the wonderful way in which they joined in with the responses throughout the Mass. He also commented on their beautiful singing.

Sacramental Program 2025

A reminder that there will be a Sacramental Information Session at 6:30pm on Tuesday 18th February 2025 at St John Bosco Church Hall section “A”, 17 Lipsett Terrace, Brooklyn Park.

If your child is currently in Years 4, 5 or 6, has been baptised Catholic, and you would like them to continue their sacramental journey and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion this year, please come along to the information session to find out more.

A letter with additional information as well as the Sacramental Program registration form has been posted to Audiri.