Term 2 Week 10
15 June 2016
From the Principal
Dear Parents
Despite the changing weather I hope you enjoyed the long weekend afforded us with the
Nambour Show holiday last Friday. These last two weeks of school are set to be full of activity
with all classes continuing with their learning programme for term two and many classes
looking forward to some special activities. The children in our instrumental programme have,
in recent weeks, enjoyed different opportunities to showcase what they have learned and
how their skills are developing. Congratulations to all these students, Todd Wynyard and our
music tutors who enthuse and inspire their students with a love of music, playing and
performing.
Last Thursday we hosted a group of visiting Principals from Singapore. We received very
positive feedback from our visitors and they particularly enjoyed their visit to the sustainable
garden. Our year six environment leaders did a wonderful job, not just showing off the
garden, bees, worms and more but sharing their expansive knowledge. Congratulations also
to Peter Curtis who devotes a great deal of time and energy into the garden area, creating
multiple learning opportunities for the students.
Term Three
Next term we have some temporary staff changes. Jacqui Winmill will be working out of the
North Lakes Centre (BCE) for the duration of term three, assisting schools with Religious
Education Programme Validation. This is positive recognition of the breadth of skills and
knowledge Jacqui possesses. In Jacqui’s absence Elaine Sauvage will take on the role of Acting
APRE and Colleen Tonkes will replace her in the library.
We also have a number of staff taking some well deserved long service leave. Arrangements
have been made to replace staff in their absence. Juanita Sanders will be on leave next week
and the first week of term 3. We wish Juanita a safe and happy break along with Jenelle
Clough, Dave O’Keefe and Chris Linthorne as they prepare to take leave for varying lengths of
time at the beginning of term 3.
Being Present to God in Every Day Life
Recently, I have had opportunities to participate in spiritual and faith development retreat
experiences. One of the sessions I attended focused on seeing God present in everything we
experience. We all too often tend to separate God from our daily work and activities but ‘if
we cannot see God in the ordinary events of life then we cannot normally expect to suddenly
experience God when we gather to pray or worship’. Karl Rahner
Ronald Rolheiser writes:
Too often we are not present to the beauty, love and grace
That brims within the ordinary moments of our lives
Our lives come laden with riches but we are not sufficiently present to what is there.
Loving God,
We know that you are always with us.
Guide our school community to be a place where we,
Love to learn
and learn to love.
May we carry the light of Christ
In our head, heart and hands
As we follow the example of St Catherine of Siena………. (Siena school prayer)
Peace and Blessings
Helen Mackay
Siena
Catholic Primary School
58 Sippy Downs Drive
Sippy Downs QLD 4556
[email protected]
www.sienaprimary.qld.edu.au
Phone: 07 5445 3399
Fax: 07 5445 3790
Absentee Line: 07 5450 1703
Uniform Shop: 5456 4397
OSHC: 0487 002 228
[email protected]
WEEK 11 ACTIVITIES
Tue 21
School Banking
8.00am Trek to School
Under 8’s Day
12.00pm Year 6 Art Showcase
6.00pm Parent Rep Meeting
7.00pm P & F Meeting
Wed 22 Reports Posted
St Vincent de Paul Winter
Appeal
Band at St Josephs Nambour
2.00pm Assembly - 1L
Thu 23 Nude Food Day
Fri 24
Prep - Year 3 Athletics Carnival
Last Day of Term 2
Your ordinary acts of love
and hope point to the
extraordinary promise that
every human life is of
inestimable value.
Desmond Tutu
From the APRE
St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
Please remember our 2016 St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal is on Wednesday 22 June organised by our Year 6 Outreach
committee. We are asking for the following donations:
New

Warm socks, beanies, scarves and gloves
Pre-loved
nd
 Blankets, coats and sleeping bags. Please ensure all 2 hand items are clean and in good condition.
GRANDPARENTS DAY - Memorial Books
This year we will again be celebrating Grandparents Day on July 29. We recognise that for some students whose
Grandparents have passed this can be a difficult time. We would like to provide an opportunity to celebrate and honour
these significant people. If your family has lost a grandparent during 2015 - 2016, you are asked to complete the flyer
attached to todays newsletter. Your child/ren will then select a book from our collection. Each book will have a small
certificate inside the front cover indicating that it has been donated in memory of a specific person. The books will be
blessed during the Grandparent’s Day Celebration being held this year on Friday 29 July, and then placed in the library
for students of Siena to borrow. If you would like your child/ren to choose a book to be placed in the Library, please
complete the form attached to todays newsletter, please ensure it is received by the school office before Tuesday 21
June. I would like to thank the P & F for their generous support of purchasing these books.
Blessings for your week, Jacqui Winmill
VIP Carpark Raffle
Would you like to be the lucky winner of the Parent VIP Carpark in Term 3 or Term 4 this year?
Raffle tickets are now on sale in the office for $5.00 each. This specially marked carpark space
(closest to the pedestrian crossing) is for the exclusive use only of the Term 3 raffle winner in Term
3 and the Term 4 raffle winner in Term 4.
This is a prize that money just can’t buy so be sure to purchase your tickets!
The raffle will be drawn on Friday 24 June. All proceeds will support Kokoda Youth Foundation.
From the AP
Between the Flags – Siena Star Awards
This year we will be presenting Siena Star Awards at the end of each Semester. These awards are linked to your child’s
Semester Report and focus on their attitude and behaviour, not their academic ability. (Our Prep students will receive
these awards in Semester Two as their Semester One report is a different format to the rest of the school.) If your child
receives one of these awards it will come home in the same envelope as their Report each Semester.
Awards are to be earnt, not just given out, so not all students will necessarily receive one this semester. Class teachers will
use their professional judgment to decide who should receive each type of award. This decision is made during the many
hours that each and every one of our dedicated teachers applies to the creation of a comprehensive report for every
student in their class.
There is not a set number of report card effort boxes to be achieved for each award level; in this award process the effort
boxes are meant to act as a guide for teachers, not determine which award a student must receive. A class teacher’s
professional judgement is the main criteria for our Siena Star Awards for this year as they are the ones best placed to make
decisions regarding a student’s attitude and approach to learning.
If your child receives an award, please take the time to discuss it with your child. Congratulate them on receiving an award,
as all awards need to be earnt, but also have a discussion about why they think they received the award they did. This
could involve reading your child’s report with them and discussing how they feel their attitude and approach to learning
has been this semester. A very similar conversation could be had if your child does not receive an award. What do they
need to do differently next semester to receive one?
Siena Star Awards 2016
Level
Gold Award
Silver Award
Bronze Award
Award Description
A student whose attitude to learning and
behaviour are a positive example to their
peers. They participate fully in all aspects
of school life while consistently emonstrating respect for all members of the
school community.
A student who usually takes responsibility
for their own behaviour and learning. They
do this by participating positively in school
life, demonstrating respect for all members
of the school community.
Selection Guide
These students are exemplary in their
attitude and behaviour. Most relevant
effort boxes (at least 90%) on their report
would be ‘Consistently’.
A student who generally participates positively in school life, demonstrating respect
for all members of the school community
on most occasions. They may have required some support to take responsibility
for their own behaviour and learning
These students demonstrate a willingness
to improve their attitude and behaviour.
Effort boxes on their report would mostly
be ‘Generally.’
These students demonstrate the right
attitude and appropriate behaviour most
of the time. Effort boxes on their report
could be a mixture of ‘Consistently’ and
‘Generally.’
These awards are about a student’s attitude and behaviour – not academic ability.
They are to be assigned at the end of each Semester by class teachers using their own professional judgement and the effort boxes on a
student’s report card relating to Curriculum and Personal and Social Development.
Tricky Questions for The Family
Q: If you had only one match and entered a dark room containing an oil lamp, a newspaper and some kindling wood,
what would you light first?
A: The match!
Q: Take 2 apples from 5 apples. How many do you have?
A: 2!
Q: Some months have 30 days. Some have 31 days. How many have 28 days?
A: All of them!
All the best for the week ahead. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you feel I can support you or your children to more fully
access the opportunities we provide here at Siena.
Eric Ellems
From the Guidance Counsellor
Handheld Devices Part 2
More research from the American Academy of Paediatrics and the Canadian Society of Paediatrics:
5. Mental Illness
Technology overuse is implicated as a causal factor in rising rates of child depression, anxiety, attachment disorder,
attention deficit, autism, bipolar disorder and problematic child behavior.
6. Aggression
Violent media content can cause child aggression. Young children are increasingly exposed to rising incidence of physical
and sexual violence in today's media. "Grand Theft Auto V" portrays explicit sex, murder, rape, torture and mutilation, as
do many movies and TV shows. The U.S. has categorised media violence as a Public Health Risk due to causal impact on
child aggression.
7. Digital dementia
High speed media content can contribute to attention deficit, as well as decreased concentration and memory, due to the
brain pruning neuronal tracks to the frontal cortex. Children who can't pay attention can't learn.
8. Addictions
As parents attach more and more to technology, they are detaching from their children. In the absence of parental
attachment, detached children can attach to devices, which can result in addiction. One in 11 children aged 8-18 years are
addicted to technology.
Machelle Flowers-Smith
From the Instrumental Music Coordinator
“Music is the art of the prophets and the gift of God.” Martin Luther
Tip of the week - Remember to always be on time for your lesson. Let your teacher know if you will be away and see
them immediately if you forget to attend. Maybe you need an alarm watch, which you can set in the morning to remind
you.
Congratulations to the following students and staff for their recent performances:
 Primary Choir, Mrs Khoury, Mrs Langford, Mrs Morris and Mrs Wordsworth for their wonderful performance at
Assembly today;
 Guitar students, Ms Worthington and Ms Blythe who presented a very polished recital last Wednesday;
 Flute students and Mrs Bodkin-Hunt for their recital.
Well done to all students who performed; fantastic commitment, confidence and courage.
Vacancies! There are limited places available for students in years 3-6 to begin tuition on the following instruments Trumpet, Euphonium, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone. Please contact Mr Wynyard if you are interested. Check
the Parent portal for enrolment information, fees and conditions.
Reports for Instrumental, Singing and Speech and Drama - Staff have completed reports for all students enrolled in the
program to provide parents with important feedback on student progress. The following areas are addressed in the
reports – music / speech literacy and technique, performance and participation, organisation, commitment, attendance
and respect. The report also provides a list of student achievements and performances during the semester. Unlike
previous years, a general comment is no longer included as the report provides a comprehensive profile of student
progress and tutors and parents have the opportunity to communicate additional positive and negative concerns via the
lesson progress sheets each week. These reports will be forwarded home to parents with the school report.
Coming soon
 Wednesday 15 June – Singing & Piano Recital in Benincasa (Siena College) from 5.30pm (students of Mrs Langford)
 Friday 17 June – String Workshop and Concert all day at Stella Maris (please return permission slip ASAP)
 Wednesday 22 June – Primary Concert Band (Thursday group) will perform at St Joseph’s in Nambour (permission
reply required via email)
Parent Portal - Please click HERE to view the following documents:
 2016 Siena Primary Calendar of Music Events
 Instrumental and Singing Tuition Timetables
 Instrumental Music Program Information and Enrolment Form
Contact - Remember, if you need to contact your child's tutor, details are shown on the top left corner of the lesson
timetable.
Enquiries - for all music related enquiries, please email us on [email protected]
Todd Wynyard
From the Physical Education Sports Coordinator
On Monday our Year 5 & 6 Rugby Team competed in the Sunshine Coast Rugby All Schools Carnival. The boys have been
training for the past month and did a terrific job against some very good opposition. Thanks to all the parents who came
and supported the boys throughout the day and congratulations to the team for their efforts and sportsmanship!
Will Brown competed at the Qld AFL Titles in Hervey Bay over the weekend representing the Sunshine Coast. The team
did a great job finishing 3rd overall, well done Will!'
Kris Mulheran

Grandparents Day - Friday 29 July 12.00pm

Siena Trivia Night - Saturday 30 July

Siena Ladies Lunch - Saturday 20 August
From Administration
Baby News
Congratulations to the Tucker family, Amy and Graeme on the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Mia. Zac
(PP) is very excited about his new sister.
Parent Volunteer Training Dates - Term 2
If you are able to contribute to the home/school partnership by volunteering your time to assist your child’s class for
activities such as reading or attending excursions, you must have completed a Parent Volunteer Training session this
year. Site Safety, Code of Conduct and Student Protection will be covered in this one-hour session facilitated by the
Assistant Principal, Eric Ellems, and the Guidance Counsellor, Machelle Flowers-Smith.
It is a BCE requirement that parents who wish to participate within the school as a volunteer complete this workshop
once only throughout their child/ren’s schooling. By completing one Parent Volunteer Training session, parents will be
able to support their child and the school in morning reading programs, in-class support, library, tuckshop, incursions/
excursions, sports carnivals etc. Parents who do not complete the Parent Volunteer Training will not be permitted to
volunteer at the school in any capacity; please be mindful of this in your decision making.
Next term the following Parent Volunteer Training Session will be held in the Library on Monday 25 July at 9.00am 10.00am. If you are interested in attending please email [email protected]
Support A Reader – Parent Training
On Monday 25 July at 10.00am - 11.00am there will be a session conducted in the school library to assist parents to
support their children’s reading. RSVP is essential. Please email [email protected] to take advantage of
this session.
Chicken Pox Alert
We wish to inform you that we have received notice of 2 unconfirmed cases of chickenpox (varicella) at school. The
families have followed the necessary guidelines below to prevent risk of infection to others.
Queensland Health advises that students with chickenpox are excluded until all blisters have dried. This is usually at
least five days after the rash first appeared in unimmunised people and less in immunised people. An infected person is
contagious for up to five days before the appearance of the rash, and until the blisters form scabs (usually around day
five of the illness). We ask that all families please closely monitor their children’s health.
Your diligence in monitoring your child’s health and visiting a doctor if you suspect your child has the infection is crucial
to limiting the spread of chickenpox in our Siena school community. Please contact the school and ensure you follow the
Queensland Health guidelines above if your child develops chickenpox.
School Reports - Parent Portal
This semester student reports will be available on the Parent Portal from Wednesday 22 June 2016.
If you have not yet accessed the parent portal click here and follow the instructions below.
Click on Forgotten Password /First Time Login Tab
Click on choose your own password online - use the email address you have received this correspondence to.
Enter your email address - Follow the instructions
TIP: It may be necessary to close down the log in page and re-launch to ensure success.
Tuesday, 21 June, 2016
9.00a.m.-11.15 a.m.
Prep to Year 2 children are invited to
respond by wearing sun safe play clothes.
Activities include: Oval games, martial
arts, disco, indoor/outdoor play
Please bring along a rug/towel to sit on for
Prep to Year 2 to have a picnic lunch
together.
Back Row L - R: Lucas Thomas, Sam Drane, Mia McNeill
Front Row L - R: Jake Thomas, Kolby Mills, Isaac Rafter
PP
Jasmine Browne
PC
Bear Henden
PL
Huey Gee
1S
Isaak Bennett
1P
Genevieve Durham
1C
Eli Mason
1L
Preslee Riccioni
2P
Kyla Shuttlewood
2C
Marley Driscoll-Scott
2L
Chelsea Baker
3P
Brendan Hambrook
3C
Jasmine Davis
3L
Chelsea McFadden
4P
Jessica Turner
4C
Oliver Bolderston
4L
Imogen Upton
5P
Aaden Staskiewicz 5C
Jack De Marco
5L
Aaron Bayne
6P
Rhiannon Marchbanks
6L
Kaitlyn Austin
6C Sara Wilson
Presented at Assembly on Wednesday 22 June
Items of Interest
Sensory Movie Day - for families with children with special needs
Special screening of ‘Angry Birds’ Sunday 19 June at 11.00am at Birch, Carroll and Coyle for families with children with
special needs. Children are free to roam around the cinema and be themselves. Tickets are $8 each.
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