Newsletter - Friday, 15th August, 2025
Prayer - Feast of the Assumption of Mary
This Friday, 15th August is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. The Feast of the Assumption (or simply, “The Assumption)” is widely celebrated. This
Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen of Heaven and earth. We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we honor you.
From the Principals
Dear Families,
We would like to thank all of our families for the wonderful support you give your children with their reading at home. Your encouragement and time make such a difference to their confidence and progress.
A friendly reminder that reading comes in many forms, it doesn’t always have to be their school reader! Listening to an older sibling read, following a recipe and baking it, completing a word search, reading the Edenhope Echo, or enjoying a library book together all count as valuable reading experiences. Every minute spent reading helps build vocabulary, understanding and a love of books so thank you for making it a part of your family’s routine.
The School Improvement Survey (SRC insights survey) closes on the 15th of August. We kindly ask any parents who haven't already completed this to do so. Your feedback is valuable and may help benefit the school. The login information was sent home with students in their bags previously.
We are all looking forward to Book Week next week and seeing all of the wonderful characters and books students dress up as for the parade on Friday morning. We will have our class parades first thing Friday 22nd and families are welcome to stay around to watch.
- Gorgia + Sherryn
Round the rooms
Foundation - Mrs. Craig
In Writing, we have been making sentences that have a what, what doing and where in them.
Jasper - A cassowary is flying in the sky.
Dakotah - The bunny is dancing in Ballarat.
Melody - The fairy is flying in the forest.
Evie - The frog is eating in the forest.
Charlotte - The frog is hopping in the Daintree Rainforest.
Nelly - A butterfly is flying to the park.
Rosie - The dog is eating some grass in the Daintree Rainforest.
(Fred was absent)
Year 1/2 - Mrs. Stringer
We’ve had a fantastic two weeks in Year 1/2! In Literacy, we enjoyed reading George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl. The students particularly loved the grouchy grandma and all the wacky things that happened to the animals – there was no shortage of giggles during our reading time! In Numeracy, we’ve been working on Mental Math strategies to help with addition and subtraction. It’s been wonderful to see big improvements in students’ quick adding abilities and growing confidence with number facts. Our writing focus has been on editing grammar and punctuation. While there’s still a little way to go, we are seeing great improvements in students spotting and fixing their own mistakes. Reading has been a real highlight, with the majority of students reading every night and earning house points for completing a full week’s reading and having their diary signed – keep up the great work at home! Finally, some students have requested homework booklets to do in their own time. These have been provided, but there is no requirement for them to be completed – they are purely optional for extra practice and fun.
Year 3/4 - Mrs. Robinson
This week in Year 3 & 4, we have been learning about landmarks around Australia. We have finished our posters of our landmarks. We have been reading some of Roland Harvey's books - At the Beach: Postcards from Crabby Spit and The Top End: Our Trip Across Australia. Matthew liked the unusual illustrations in the book and how you had to look for things. In Maths, we have been learning about multiplication and division. We have been using MAB to multiply bigger numbers by one digit numbers. In Inquiry, we are learning about Australian Legends such as the The Black Pumas of the Grampians – Is it fact or legend?
- Written by Grade 3/4
Year 5/6 - Ms. Simpson
Students have been immersed in poetry, from classic like Clancy of the Overflow and The Highwayman, to some lighter poetry about chocolate cake or car trips. We have used these poems to construct our own brilliant versions. In Maths, we have been learning different methods of solving multiplication problems and have started tackling division. In Religious studies, we have been learning about the quest for the Holy Grail and in Inquiry, have been experience banking, saving, applying for jobs and interest on loans.
Sacraments
Last Sunday, St. Malachy's Church was filled with family and friends as we celebrated the 13 students receiving their Sacraments.
From the Sports Desk - help wanted :)
We're still searching for a few more helpers to please give us a hand on Wednesday, 27th August with the Kowree Athletics Carnival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Many hands make light work and these sports days are big days where we appreciate lots of hands to lighten the load.
Thank you to those who have offered to help already. If you're able to help, please let Sherryn know as soon as possible.
Book Week
On Friday, 22nd August, students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite character from a book, or their favourite book.
We will have a parade at 9 a.m. to check out our costumes and during the day will have some fun activities prepared by the Year 5/6 students.
Parents, family and friends are welcome to come and watch.
From Carine - Mental Health & Wellbeing
To pay or not to pay?
Whether you pay your children to do chores or not, is every family’s own prerogative and the decisions are normally made with a number of reasons in mind. However, I came across this interesting reflection and thought to share it with you.
The author’s parents never paid her or her brother to do chores or for achieving certain results in class or on the sport field. Doing homework, emptying the dishwasher and good grades were expected – it was just being part of being in the family, of learning to contribute, of building life skills. Money could be earned however, by choosing jobs from a ‘menu’ that were above and beyond everyday responsibilities. These jobs included things like washing the car, cleaning and organising the shed, and pulling weeds in the garden. The lessons learned were:
- Not to expect money out of nowhere - money comes when you bring value;
- To contribute to the community you live in – keeping your house clean and organised was an expectation, now helping out in the community feels like second nature, not because you are getting something in return, but because you live there;
- You don’t ask: “What can I get?”, you learned to ask: “What value can I create for someone else? What do people need? How can I help? Where can I make something easier, better, more effective?”
The author believed this kind of mindset shaped her work, creativity and how to show up in the world.
(credit: BigLifeJournal)
What are your thoughts about this?
We would like to invite parents, carers, and grandparents to attend an exclusive webinar supporting primary and secondary students.
This exclusive, one-off event is fast approaching and we’d love to see your families benefit from the insights of two of Australia’s leading experts, Susan McLean and Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg. They will share invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.
WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part III)
DATE: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
TIME: 7:30 pm
Topics in this webinar include:
- New Social Media Regulations
- Digital Footprint and Reputation
- Screen Time and Brain Development
- Parental Controls
**** IMPORTANT ****
This webinar will not be available to replay later, so we encourage you register in time by following this link:
http://smedenhope.catholic.schooltv.me/webinar/east-coast-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-III
or scan the QR code on the poster.
http://smedenhope.catholic.schooltv.me/webinar/east-coast-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-III
Bullying No Way Week - 11th-15th August
Bullying No Way Week is Australia's key bullying prevention initiative for schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to create a shared understanding about bullying behaviours and share their bullying prevention policies and strategies.
The national week of action unites government, Catholic and independent schools and their communities across the country. Together, we can foster practical approaches to prevent bullying in Australian schools.
2025 theme
The theme for 2025 is 'Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.'
It takes courage to spark change.
Bullying is everyone's responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.
Students can be bold, kind and take a stand to support others being bullied. While parents and teachers are there to support children and young people learn how to behave in a positive way.
In our community and in our school, we want a place where everyone can belong, a place that celebrates everyone, and where bullying is never accepted.
This Bullying No Way Week, we're asking students, schools, families and communities to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone, and be proud to take a stand against bullying.
Check out the website where you'll find lots of resources and information - https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
Child safety
What's coming up this Term?
- Friday, 22nd August - Book Week parade
- Wednesday, 27th August - Kowree Athletics (Year F to 6) @ Edenhope
- Friday, 5th September - Fathers' Day celebration
- Wednesday, 10th September - Little Desert Athletics @ Stawell (Years 3-6 qualifying students only)
- Thursday, 18th September - Footy Colours Day
- Thursday, 18th September - Last day of term for students
- Friday, 19th September - Staff P.D. Structured Literacy - PUPIL FREE DAY
St. Malachy's Mass times are:
1st Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
2nd Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
3rd Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
4th Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
5th Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
St. Malachy's welcomes everyone to join us.