TWCS Newsletter Term 2 Week 8 2023

Thank you to all those families who were able to help with covering of new books for the library space. We greatly appreciate the help. The students love our Beehive space and the new books to read.

Insect Week runs from 20th June until 26th June. Insect week acknowledges the importance and uniqueness of all insects. To celebrate we have lots of displays and activities in our Beehive space for the students to explore their curiosity.

Did you know? Grasshoppers existed before dinosaurs!
Did you know? A single honeybee colony can produce around 100kg of honey each year!

Term 2 is flying by here at Tension Woods Catholic School.

As a Catholic Church we have moved from the Season of Easter into Ordinary Time. The phrase Ordinary Time has always held interest for me. Ordinary often has a negative connotation in our world; that food tasted ordinary, what an ordinary football game…. But for the Catholic Church ordinary time is anything but ordinary! Ordinary time tells the story of Jesus’ ministry; it is the time when the Gospels are focused on parables, miracles, Jesus calling the twelve and speaking his famous sermons. Green is the colour associated with ordinary time symbolising the growth the Church experiences during Ordinary Time; so how do we grow through the ordinary in our lives? 

The students here at Tension Woods have had many opportunities to grow this term; in their faith, their awareness and their knowledge. 

Class Masses have been a highlight for me this term. Listening to God’s word and experiencing the Eucharist is such a special way for the students at Tension Woods to learn more about following in Jesus’ footsteps. It was beautiful to hear a member of the 2 Green class tell me how excited she was before going to Mass, and watching the Reception students engage in the singing and actions brought tears to the eyes of some of the parishioners. Please watch out for the invitations coming home with your children as Class Masses continue next term. All Mass dates will be listed in the first newsletter next term and on Audiri. You are most welcome to come to our Whole School Liturgy tomorrow at 9am to celebrate the Feast of St Aloysius Gonzaga, the Patron of the Church here at Richmond. 

I would like to acknowledge the students who have commenced in the Parish Sacramental Program this year and who completed their Sacrament of Reconciliation last week. This was a big moment for them and their families as they take this next step in their personal faith journeys. They will continue this journey next term as they celebrate their Confirmation and First Communion. If this is something your child is interested in undertaking in the future, keep an eye out towards the end of the year for information about joining the program in 2024. 

Wellbeing Day this term took on the focus of Reconciliation Week and the students were involved in rotations where they were exposed to a range of different elements of Aboriginal culture. With the theme being “Be a Voice for Generations,” our liturgy focused on Love for one another, and acceptance of all. In week 10 we will hold the first ever Tension Woods Cultural Day, where we will have the opportunity to recognise the diversity of cultures in our school. I look forward to seeing students in different cultural dress, bringing in different foods and being open to the knowledge they will gain through the activities that staff have planned for them.

There is nothing Ordinary about Ordinary Time!

Katrina Kreis
Acting APRIM

Tenison Woods Catholic School Wellbeing Approach

At Tenison Woods Catholic School we are working towards becoming a Positive Education School. All of our staff have been involved in training in Positive Education and we have a consistent language with our staff, students and community around Wellbeing and mental health. At the heart of Positive Education is ‘engaging wholeheartedly with pro-active practices which strengthen our wellbeing’. Positive Education is based around Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology and applies the acronym PERMAH in our teaching, learning and life. Along with this we teach the students about the VIA 24 character strengths. Character Strengths are the positive parts of your personality that impact how you think, feel and behave. Scientists have identified 24 character strengths that you have the capacity to express. (VIA Institute on Character). Further information can be found at the below website: www.viacharacter.org

At Tenison Woods we are extremely fortunate to have across our school Wellbeing at 3 working levels.

Tier 1 – whole school/community approach

Tier 2 – small group approach

Tier 3 – 1:1 approach

Tier 1

This year we have continued with the social and emotional learning program Grow Your Mind. In consultation with our staff a Grow Your Mind scope and sequence for our school has been developed. This supports the classes in their learning and implementation of the program. If you get the opportunity to pop in to your child’s classroom or converse with your child about the Grow Your Mind program you will see and hear evidence of this program in practice.

Tier 2

This term our Tier 2 approach has taken on two new programs. These programs are orienteering and cooking. These programs have been written by our highly motivated and qualified ESO’s Ethan and Monique with the support of Courtney and Claire. These programs see the children engaging in new activities in a small group of 4-6 students. Students’ complete tasks and learn about working in a group, building relationships and connections. The programs have been extremely successful, and students and families are seeing the benefits of this opportunity for the children to participate in.

Tier 3

Through the Partner’s in Practice initiative our school is involved in, we are fortunate enough to have access to 2 qualified allied health workers. Gaby, who has a degree in Psychology and Karlee a Developmental Educator and teacher work with individual students supporting them in their social and emotional learning.

In week 6, the four Partners in Practice schools along with 13 other schools (160 Educators altogether) engaged in a Professional Development entitled “Wellbeing for All- All the time”.  This professional development was facilitated by David Bott, from the Wellbeing Distillery, a highly recognised professional organisation that specialises in the science of wellbeing and implementation of Wellbeing in Education. The day was engaging, thought provoking and at times challenging. It was a day full of energy, learning and appreciation for our educators and all they do for our schools. This learning can be applied to our own lives and to support our children within our school.

I am here at TWCS on a part-time basis but my door is always open to support your child and your family as we navigate the remainder of the year together. Your first port of call obviously in terms of your child’s Well-being is the classroom teacher, but please also know that if you are in need of further support,  feel free to email me or come and see me on my day at school.

Courtney Quigley