Siena Catholic Primary School

Siena Staff dig deep with ‘colours for Caritas’

Teachers and staff from Siena Catholic Primary donned their best and brightest colours for ‘Colours for Caritas’ Day last Wednesday, a day staff chose to show their support for Caritas’ annual Project Compassion appeal and Laps for Life and Laundry.  The staff raised more than $300 to support the poorest of poor in our world and local community through the fundraising effort. This fundraising effort will be combined with the donations brought in by the students for participating in Laps for Life and Laundry on Friday 31 March. The school community will walk for an hour for the disadvantaged in our world.

Stella Maris Primary School 

There’s a buzz around Stella Maris Catholic Primary as parents and teachers meet for end-of-term interviews to discuss student progress, achievements and learning goals.

Assistant Principal of Religious Education, Jennifer Davissen, says that teachers review data, share stories from different perspectives, look at student work samples and enlighten each other about a child’s learning journey so far this year.

“Genuine partnerships between home and school have been proven to have a positive impact on student engagement and we really appreciate the effort everyone puts in to help every child to flourish,” Ms Davissen says.

In Religious Education lessons, the children have been investigating what life must have been like for Jesus, growing up in a Jewish family.

Prep students have been comparing their own families, clothes, games, homes and celebrations with those of Jesus’ time.

“They had lots of fun working with their Year 6 buddies to design and create replicas of homes in Nazareth, two thousand years ago.  They are now learning about the story of Holy Week and the first Easter Sunday by collecting symbols to help them retell the story.  No wonder their smiles are so big!” she added.

Siena Catholic College  

Catharine Hannan, Assistant Principal of Mission & Identity at Siena Catholic College Sippy Downs says that it’s been a busy term, with Week 7 rounded out with a group of Year 12s again volunteering at the Friday Night Community Meal at Stella Maris; the Open Rugby boys participating in a pre -season weekend training camp; and a group of students, teachers and parents staffing one of the drink stations at the Mooloolaba Triathlon.

“We have just completed Week 8 and it was another busy one! Our Year 7 and 9 students engaged with the two-day NAPLAN testing, which is designed to show how, at this point-in-time, they are progressing in Literacy and Numeracy,” she said.  “In addition, our Year 10s had the opportunity to participate in the St Catherine’s Mass on Wednesday. In his homily, Fr Will reflected on the rules which guide us, and challenged the students to ‘find who they are in Christ’. Thursday was Close the Gap Day, and all members of the community were encouraged to consider what actions need to be taken to raise the standard of living for Indigenous people – so that we can close the gap in healthcare and access to health resources.”