Term 2 Week 6 2025 Newsletter

From the Principal

It is hard to believe we are already past the halfway point of the term! Looking back at all we have accomplished in such a short time, it is truly remarkable. As the saying goes, “Time flies when you are having fun!”, and that certainly feels true this term!

Navigating social media as a parent

Parenting in the digital age can be incredibly challenging. With the rapid growth of technology and social media, the pressure from our children to join various platforms can feel overwhelming — especially when they say things like:

“Everyone else is on it” or
“I don’t want to be the only one without it.”

It is easy to give in, especially when we want our children to feel included, however, many of these platforms have age restrictions for a reason, and allowing underage access can expose them to risks we might not fully consider.

While it is not my place to tell families how to parent, I do want to gently remind you of the potential consequences of children using social media platforms that are not age appropriate. It can also make it harder for schools to support families when issues arise on these platforms.

Here is a link to some helpful information from the Carly Ryan Foundation.

https://www.carlyryanfoundation.com/resources/fact-sheets

I encourage you to take a moment to review it, check which platforms your child is using, and — if they are underage — consider removing their access until they are old enough.

Year 5/6 camp reflection

I had the absolute privilege of attending the Year 5/6 Camp at Glenhaven Park. This camp offers students the chance to take safe risks, challenge themselves, support one another, and experience being away from home, often for the first time.

Thank you for the trust you place in us to care for your children during this time. It was truly rewarding to witness their growth and success throughout the camp.

A huge thank you to class teachers Tom Atyeo, Billy Creeper, and Sue Hackett for their dedication and collaboration with Glenhaven Park to ensure a positive experience for every student. We are also grateful to Madison Scott, Ben Drogemuller, and Michelle Pritchard for their invaluable support and volunteering.

On a personal note, I thoroughly enjoy these opportunities to connect with students in different settings. I also took on the role of camp chef, something that often surprises people. The reasons are simple: it helps keep camp costs down, allows me to cater to students’ dietary needs, and most importantly, it gives me the chance to share meals with our school community. Personally, cooking for students makes those moments even more special.

As a leadership team, Adriana Pilla, Marissa Redden, and I, wholeheartedly share this view. Both Adriana and Marissa joined the camp on Wednesday night and also took on the role of chefs, contributing to the warm and supportive atmosphere.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a dedicated leadership team, to work alongside an exceptional staff, and to belong to one of the most vibrant and caring school communities.

Student free day – Tuesday 10 June 2025

A reminder that Tuesday 10 June 2025 is a student free day. On this day, our staff will be focusing on:

Inclusive practices;
Catering to the diverse needs of our students;
The Zones of Regulation framework;

As a school, we have been working towards greater consistency in our approaches. Consistency helps us create the best possible environment for learning and ensures every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable extra long weekend!

Lee Abela
Principal

From the Assistant Principal Learning, Engagement & Teaching

Teach Well: Professional learning on High Impact Teaching

In 2025, Catholic Education South Australia is partnering with Teach Well to deliver a five day masterclass series in High Impact Instruction. At Our Lady Queen of Peace School, Natalie Urdanoff and I have participated in two sessions in this exciting professional learning opportunity, and will be supported with ongoing coaching provided by Teach Well and support from our Systems Coach, Rosa Angelino.

This nine month course is designed to equip teachers and school leaders with evidence based, high impact teaching strategies that immediately strengthen classroom instruction. A core focus of the program is understanding The Model of Cognition and the use of full participation tactics practical, inclusive approaches that ensure all students are actively engaged in the learning process.

Key strategies include:

Attention signals: Clear, consistent cues used to quickly gain students’ focus and maintain momentum.
Obligatory engagement: Techniques that require participation from all students, not just volunteers. For example, using non-volunteers through pop sticks with students' names ensures everyone is equally accountable and engaged.
Active tracking: Encouraging students to follow along with the teacher, text, or speaker using their eyes, fingers, or rulers to maintain attention and deepen comprehension.
Choral responses: Students respond in unison to questions or prompts, providing immediate feedback and reinforcing key learning.
Whiteboards and response cards: Simple yet powerful tools that allow all students to show their thinking simultaneously, giving the teacher a quick way to assess understanding and adjust instruction.

As part of the Catholic North Western Cluster, we will also take a leadership role, alongside other school representatives, in facilitating professional development across our region to all teaching staff, promoting a consistent and research informed approach to high impact teaching.

This professional learning aligns with our school's commitment to fostering engaging, and effective classroom practices that enhance outcomes for all learners.

Supporting our youngest readers: Reception information session success

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming our Reception families to a special information session focused on how we can work together to help children learn to read. The evening was a great success, with strong attendance and wonderful engagement.

During the session, parents were introduced to the Science of Reading a large body of research that explains how children best learn to read and what methods are most effective. Reading is not a skill we naturally pick up; it needs to be explicitly taught in a structured and systematic way.

Our Reception teachers, Diem Savy and Bianca Holler, shared how our school’s use of the InitiaLit program supports this approach. InitiaLit is a research based, whole class literacy program that provides students with the essential foundations in reading. It ensures every student builds strong early reading skills.

We also explored the role of decodable readers, which are specially designed books that align with what students are learning in class. These books allow students to apply their knowledge of letters and sounds, helping them build fluency and confidence without guessing or memorising.

Finally, our teachers offered some practical tips for families to support reading at home:

Read with your child daily and talk about the story.
Use sound out strategies when your child is stuck on a word.
Enjoy books together to reinforce classroom learning.

We thank our staff and families for an informative and engaging session. Together, through shared understanding and consistent strategies, we are giving our students the best possible start on their reading journey.

Adriana Pilla
Assistant Principal
Learning, Engagement and Teaching