1 May 2025

ML Curriculum News

What Makes a Fluent Reader?

Fluency is not simply about reading quickly without mistakes, as commonly believed. Instead, research defines fluent reading as "reasonably accurate reading, at an appropriate rate, with suitable expression, that leads to accurate and deep comprehension and motivation to read" (Hasbrouck and Glaser, 2012). The three key elements of fluent reading are accuracy, rate, and expression.

Accuracy is the foremost component of fluency, as automatic and accurate word identification and meaning are essential. Rate refers to reading speed but faster is not necessarily better - speed alone does not ensure comprehension, and overly fast readers may sacrifice accuracy. Expression encompasses elements like pitch, tone, volume, emphasis, and rhythm, and needs to be explicitly taught and modelled.

As a parent, you can help your child become a fluent reader by strongly encouraging repeated reading. When your child finishes a book, you could say "That's great. Let's keep reading it so you can become more fluent." Consistent practice, persistence, and patience are vital for developing fluent and skilled reading.

Annette Colley 
(Middle Leader Curriculum)

NEWS FLASH!

Click on the link provided https://www.stgeorge.catholic.edu.au/

PARENT PORTAL

Download & Use the App Now!

St Patrick’s Parent Portal is the new platform for a more streamlined communication with parents. The transition took place on Monday 5^th February, so if you haven’t already, make sure you follow the instructions below on how to register. If you are having issues registering, please contact the school office so we can help with the process.

Warm Regards,
Jim Wren

TUCKSHOP

Please click the links below for our 2025 uniform price list and tuckshop menu. When ordering food on the Flexischools app please be mindful that the cutoff time is exactly 8:00am on Monday mornings (at 8:01am your order will not be accepted).

Regards
Hannah Gunn
(Tuckshop Convenor)

OUR PRAYERS…

Let us support each other in Prayer, especially for the Sick and the Deceased and those who are suffering Hardships, in our Parish and School.

MASS TIMES

St George-Dirranbandi Parish

Priest Fr John Fowles Email: balonneparish@bigpond.com

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Students of the Week 

Health & Music

Health

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday and is looking forward to a great Term 2. This term in Health, the focus will be on our emotions, personal qualities, and identity/change. The students will continue to contribute to building a positive school environment by utilizing the Zones of Regulation program. This will help foster self-regulation and emotional control, which will enhance positive behaviours and relationships.

Lower School

Prep
Personal qualities and Identity.

The students will engage in discussions and activities to investigate their personal identity and place in the world. They will explore various identities, cultures, and what it means to feel included and a sense of belonging at school. Additionally, they will learn about diverse family structures and cultures, reflecting on their own families and what makes them special. Students will continue developing their understanding of emotions, empathy, and respect for others, participating in important discussions about inclusion. They will be encouraged to share their own experiences to reflect on who they are and the people in their lives who help shape their identity.

Years 1 & 2
Personal qualities and Identity.

The students will learn to describe their own and others' personal qualities and explain how these qualities contribute to developing identities. They will investigate how health can impact their lives, and strengthen their dispositions for learning, including curiosity, confidence, cooperation, investigation, and transfer. Additionally, they will learn how personal qualities contribute to identities and describe how emotional responses affect their own and others' feelings. Finally, they will demonstrate skills and describe strategies required to build and develop respectful relationships.

Middle School

Year 3 & 4
Identity

The students will explore concepts of identity, change, success, challenge, setbacks, and failure, and investigate how these factors can strengthen resilience and shape identities across various contexts.

Building on strategies learned in Term 1, the students will continue developing skills to cope with the emotions, changes, and transitions they may experience in their relationships, while maintaining respect and empathy.

Additionally, the students will investigate and describe how stereotypes can influence choices and actions.

Upper School

Year 5 & 6
Identity

The students will explore the concepts of identity, explaining how identities can be influenced by people and places, and how to cultivate positive self-identities. They will build on their work from Term 1, investigating resources and strategies to manage changes and transitions within their relationships, while continuing to practice kindness, empathy, and respect. Additionally, they will examine how societal roles and responsibilities can be shaped by stereotypes.

Music

This term, we will continue our Aural and Sing & Play units from the Funmusic Program for each grade level. The Aural component focuses on experiencing musical concepts like beat and melody, which can only be truly mastered through repetition. Each unit contains a variety of songs carefully selected to meet the needs of the curriculum while also being enjoyable and engaging for the students.

The upper-level students will continue practicing their keyboard skills while also learning Marimba Band songs for their assessment task.

The songs for Weeks 1-6 are set, but the Aural Training and connecting sections of the program will change week-to-week.

Term 2

Prep

• Aural Training -Beat introduction
• Song- Wee Hee Nah
• Untuned percussion instruments- Djembe and Tambour

Year 1 & 1/2

• Aural Training – Echo rhythm- Triple time
• Song- Botany Bay
• Untuned Percussion instruments- Triangles

Year 2

• Aural Training – listening
• Song- La Cucarach
• Untuned Percussion instruments- Shakers and Wood blocks
• Monkey Sounds introduction

Year 3

• Aural Training -Star Breathing
• Song- Tideo
• Untuned percussion instruments – Castanets, Tambourines, Cymbals.
• Afro American Symphony

Year 4

• Aural Training - Breathing control
• Song- Aququa Dula Oma
• untuned percussion instruments – Bongo drums, Tambourines and Clave
• Element of music- Pitch introduction

Year 5

Completing from Term 1

• Aural – Pitch Story
• Marimba Band- Calypso Dreaming – Practicing the Bass and Harmony
• Learning/practicing the Melody section - Keyboard Xylophone
• Ensemble

Year 6

Completing from Term 1

• Marimba Bank – Juggling – Practicing the Bass and Harmony sections. Learning/practicing the Melody section - Keyboard Xylophone
• Ensemble

Student of the Week

Congratulations to the students of the week who have demonstrated good work ethic, understanding of emotions and showed respect towards others during Music and Drama.

Enjoy your day! Keep Smiling! 
Mrs Jane Webster

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Library & Sports

SPORT NEWS

Welcome back to Term 2. Today, several students travelled to Hebel to participate in the Balonne District Cross Country trials.

Next Friday are the Balonne District Soccer trials. Notes regarding this were sent out earlier this week, and are due back next Wednesday.

Congratulations to Max Luck, who was selected for the South West boys Rugby side, and to Geoffrey Easterbrook, who was selected as a shadow. The boys will compete in several games over a week, from Thursday, June 26 to Tuesday, July 1, at Alec Inch Oval, Thomson Road, Healy, Queensland. Good luck, boys!

This term, our teaching and learning focus is on athletics, in preparation for the athletics carnival on Friday, June 13. More information on the event schedule will follow.

Procedures for Trial Forms:

Balonne district trial forms should be handed back to the front office, so the school can organise nomination and distribution to the trial convener.
South West trial forms need to be sighted and signed by the school, then returned to the student to take to the team manager of the sport, they were selected for.

LIBRARY NEWS 

In week 4, students in grades 4-6 will participate in an online author session. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn about the process of publishing a book. Notes about this will be sent home early next week.

On Wednesday, May 21st, the school will celebrate National Simultaneous Story Time. This year's featured book is 'The Truck Cat'. More details about how the school will mark the occasion will be shared through various communication channels.

“Reading is Power and Knowledge”

Happy borrowing and reading,
St Patrick’s Library Staff