Term 2 Week 8 (20/6/2025)
What is On?
Tuesday 24th June- ES1 & S1 Mass / S1 class visit with Fr Roland, 10:15am – 12:15pm
Thursday 26th June - Maclean Eisteddfod(choir)
Wednesday 2nd July - Zone Athletics Carnival- Coffs Harbour
Thursday 3rd July - Last Day Term 2 for Students
Friday 4th July - Staff Professional Learning Day - Foundation Day- Pupil Free Day
Term 3 2025
Monday 21st July - First Day Term 3 for Students and Staff
Friday 25th July- Foundation Day - Feast of Saint James
Tuesday 29th July - Reconciliation - St James Church, Yamba
Saturday 30th August - First Holy Communion-St James Church, Yamba
Friday 5th September - Father's Day Breakfast 7am -9am (more details to come)
Thursday 25th September - Last Day Term 3 for Students
Friday 26th September - Staff Professional Learning Day - Curriculum - Pupil Free Day
Term 4 2025
Monday 13th October - First Day Term 4 for Students and Staff
Monday 3rd – Friday 7th November - Stage 3 Camp- Canberra
End of Year Final Awards Assembly - Thursday 11th December - Yamba Bowling Club 10:00 – 11:00am
Wednesday 17th December - Last Day Term 4 for Students and Staff
Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you to all who got involved today at the carnival. A big day was had by all and as we grow the day seems to stretch on with so many keen kids to compete.
Well done to all. Turners were today's winners and from this there is a big team to go off to the Zone Carnival on Wednesday July 2nd in Coffs Harbour.
Next week all students will receive their school reports for parents and these should go live on Friday. There is an information section below from Mrs Cason below which will give you some detail on how to read the reports. There are some changes across the diocese with Engagement in Learning as an element which has now been included. The information below will help this make sense.
I have been asked by Council to remind families that the survey link from last week is still live and they would like your feedback on the crossings and accesses. Link to Yamba School Survey
Hope the weekend is relaxing and I know all staff are ready to sit down after their efforts today. Thank you all for your work.
Ann
RE News
Sacrament Dates
Reconciliation- Tuesday 29th July, 6pm at St James Church, Yamba
Parent information evening at school- Tuesday 12th August, 5:30pm pizza dinner, 6-7pm meeting.
First Holy Communion- Saturday 30th August, St James Church, Yamba
The order of Sacraments in the Lismore Diocese is:
Baptism, Confirmation (Year 3), Reconciliation (Year 4), First Eucharist (Year 4)
If you need more information about Baptism for your child, please contact the Parish Office in Maclean at 6645 1188 (open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm).
For any other Sacraments, please reach out to Mrs Howland at school. Please note that your child must be Baptised before receiving any other Sacraments.
If your child was Confirmed last year, they will be invited to receive Reconciliation and First Communion this year. To arrange this, please email yamp@lism.catholic.edu.au.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at school.
Renee Howland
Assistant Principal - Mission
Winter Appeal
Learning and Teaching News
Reports
As reports are due to be uploaded to Compass at the end of next week, it is important for all parents and caregivers to be aware of both the Achievement Grades and Engagement in Learning criteria.
In ES1 the Achievement Grades are identified on a three-point scale using the following descriptors; Working Beyond, Working At and Working Towards. These marks are placed against outcomes in all Key Learning Areas which include; Religion, English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, History/Geography, Creative Arts and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.
In Stages 1-3 the grading system broadens to 5 grades including; Extensive, Thorough, Sound, Basic and Elementary. A Sound grade signifies that the child has an adequate understanding of the main areas of content within an outcome. Further explanation of the five grades can be found within the report card itself.
The Engagement in Learning criteria is marked under 3 sections Commendable, Consistent and Needs Support. This is not what we have previously reported as an Effort grade. This measure focuses on the level of support your child requires to engage effectively with learning in the classroom. For a child to be Commendable, students demonstrate commendable dedication, involvement and contribution to the subject area. Examples would be; setting goals for learning, seeking feedback to improve or seeking challenges. A Consistent grade is the ability to be on task and complete tasks, being attentive, working with others, responding to questions, following shared interests and directions. A Needs Support grade highlights that this child requires assistance to; remain on task, complete work or interact and engage within group tasks.
If you have any additional questions about the reporting process, please contact the school directly, and I will follow up to discuss this further with you.
Stage 3 News
Exploring History Through English
In English, students have been deepening their understanding of the Wave Hill Walk-Off by researching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals who have made a significant impact on Australian history. Some of the inspiring figures explored include Cathy Freeman, Adam Goodes, Eddie Mabo, Albert Namatjira, and Linda Burney.
After conducting thorough research, students created informative historical reports and are now bringing their learning to life by designing hybrid texts using digital tools such as Book Creator and Canva Animation. This meaningful project has allowed students to combine literacy skills with creativity while celebrating the contributions of First Nations Australians.
Floating Gardens and Fields in Science
This term in Science, students have been exploring the fascinating world of materials and their properties. They discovered how different materials can be classified based on physical characteristics such as absorbency, strength, flexibility, transparency, density, and more.
To put their learning into action, students were presented with a real-world challenge: What if a garden or sports field was designed to float during a flood? Would it still grow or function as intended?
Using creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, students designed their own floating garden or sports field. They began by sketching their ideas and then brought them to life using the 3D design program Tinkercad. It was a wonderful opportunity to apply scientific understanding in an imaginative and meaningful way!
Big Numbers in Mathematics
In Mathematics, students have been exploring the big idea that our number system extends infinitely—reaching both very large and very small numbers. They have been learning to read, rename, represent and order numbers up to and including the millions.
Students have also been developing their understanding of decimals, using place value knowledge to compare, order and represent them with confidence. These skills are being applied to solve addition and subtraction problems, helping students strengthen their number sense and mathematical reasoning.
Religion- "Sacrament Stations"
This term in Religious Education, Stage 3 students have been working collaboratively on an exciting group project titled “Sacrament Stations – Journey Through Grace.” The goal of the project was to deepen students’ understanding of the Seven Sacraments by creating interactive learning stations that explore their meaning, signs, scripture, and grace.
Each group was assigned one Sacrament and tasked with designing a creative and engaging station. These included visual displays, key information, hands-on activities, prayer spaces, and interactive elements such as games, quizzes, role-plays and re-enactments.
The project culminated in our very own "Sacrament Fair," where students showcased their stations and led their peers through the learning experiences they had designed. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to grow in their faith, build teamwork skills, and share their knowledge in fun and meaningful ways. Well done, Stage 3!
Attendance
