Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

The first four weeks of this term have already been filled with many significant events and some terrific learning experiences.

The recent Parent Teacher Interviews provided an opportunity for staff and parents to reflect on the start to 2022. The interviews are a great way to open the lines of communication and to create a strong bond between home and school. I encourage all parents to share any appropriate information with their sons to provide clear areas to focus on and to also celebrate any achievements from Term 1.  A reminder to parents that a full Academic Report will be issued at the end of this term.

Mother’s Day

Last week, we celebrated Mother’s Day in ERPAC. It was wonderful to see so many ladies attend the celebration. I hope all of the mums and other guests enjoyed the event and that the boys made Sunday a special day.  It was great to see the boys enjoying the special relationships they have with their mums. I also thank Toni-Ann Roehrig for her very generous contribution to the morning, supplying the beautiful decorations and photo back drop.

Public Speaking & Debating

The Public Speaking and Debating season started last week, with boys in Year 5 (Public Speaking) and two teams of Year 6’s (Debating) representing Lauries in these terrific

co-curricular opportunities.  One of the Year 6 debating teams won against Marist, with the

other narrowly going down.  All of the Year 5 speeches were very well presented. The next round will be on Tuesday evening, 24 May and we look forward to the boys developing their skills this season.

NAPLAN

This week, all of our Year 5 boys (as well as Year’s 7 & 9) completed the schedule of NAPLAN tests.  The boys were confident and relaxed and they did very well on the testing days.  We look forward to receiving the data later in the year to assist with future planning. I congratulate the Year 5 teachers for preparing the boys well, in both skills and confidence.  We thank the Year 12 Academic Committee, who made the boys bacon and egg muffins for breakfast before the first test on Tuesday.

  Co-Curricular

Term 2 sport commenced a couple of weeks ago, with large numbers of boys involved in either Rugby, Football or Chess. It is important for primary parents to assist at Runcorn in the canteen and on the BBQ for home games.  You are encouraged to sign up on the roster (on the College App each week) or just turn up and offer to help for an hour.

This term, boys can also be involved in AIC Chess. Chess has already commenced and runs each Friday afternoon with a huge number of boys representing Lauries. The results have been great so far and we wish all chess players the best this term.

Edmund Rice Feast Day and Mass

It was wonderful to join the rest of the College community to celebrate Edmund Rice Feast Day with Mass last Wednesday. The amazing generosity, vision, compassion and care displayed by Edmund in Waterford, all those years ago, has inspired thousands to make a difference in the world. Lauries is a thriving community of genuine care and compassion. Edmund would be proud of our College and we all need to ensure we respect his vision and charism each day to continue to keep his spirit alive.

Online Safety-Student Parent Workshop

On Wednesday, 25 May, Brett Lee from INESS (Internet Safety Education) will be presenting to all students at the College on safe behaviours in the online environment.  Brett will also present to parents. The parent presentation will be in a recorded /virtual format which will be made available for parents to view at a convenient time.  The details to access the presentation will be distributed closer to the date. Parents wishing to access the presentation must register via the link.

Please click on link HERE to access presentation.

In this Edition of the Primary Newsletter you can also read about Curriculum Updates, Music, Date Claimers -Upcoming Events, Lauries Journey Awards.

We appreciate your continued support of the boys and staff and look forward to all of the great learning and community opportunities coming up in the next fortnight.

Regards

Cameron Wigan
Dean of Primary

Lauries Primary Curriculum Update - Katie Jordan

Congratulations to our Year 5 boys for their efforts with their first experience of NAPLAN testing this week. The boys should be very proud of the way in which they conducted themselves during the testing. They Year 5 teaching staff have observed that the boys demonstrated excellent focus, organisation and effort over the testing period.

The teaching staff has also commented that they’ve observed higher engagement from the boys since NAPLAN testing moved to an online platform a couple of years ago. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) claim that NAPLAN Online provides a more accurate assessment of student learning and more precise results. NAPLAN Online is a tailored test that adapts to student responses, presenting students with questions that may be more or less difficult, depending on how they are tracking in the test. This in turn demonstrates what students can do, rather than what they cannot do.

The results of the NAPLAN testing will provide benefits “from the ground up” for students, families, schools and Australian education systems. It will enable our school to map cohort and student progress across time in each testing domain, identify strengths and areas of growth in teaching programs, and to set strategic goals for supporting the further improvement of teaching and learning. 

Paired with additional assessment data and evidence of student learning, the NAPLAN testing results also assist schools with making decisions around challenging high potential learners and identifying students who require additional support.

 I wish to extend a tremendous thanks to our Year 5 teaching team who have supported the boys tremendously throughout the NAPLAN testing period.

PRIMARY MUSIC- Ross Capern    

We have some exciting concerts coming up in the next couple of weeks!

Junior Ensembles Concert | 19 May | 6pm ERPAC

Ensembles Performing: Concert Band 3, Big Band 3, Percussion Ensemble 3, String Orchestra 3, Year 5 String Orchestra, Treblehood, ‘Reblehood and Year 5 Musicianship.

The Lauries Music Support Group (LMSG) are aiming to run their usual pre-concert BBQ with funds from these events going back to our diverse Music program. The LMSG are now calling for volunteers to assist with the BBQ on the night and are particularly interested in anyone available to assist with the BBQ set up and cooking from 4pm - 5pm. There is no experience necessary to volunteer. The only College requirement is that all volunteers can show proof of double COVID vaccination. If available to assist, please use the link below. https://volunteersignup.org/JBQ7R

Cabaret Concert Hits of Stage and Screen | Friday 3 June | 6:30pm ERPAC

This event promises to be a magical night of performances and costumes, as we step into the Hits of Stage and Screen. 

This would be a fantastic opportunity for our younger musicians to watch their senior peers perform and see what might be possible from their own musical journeys.

Featuring our more Senior Ensembles including Concert Band 1, Big Band 1, Brotherhood, Big Brotherhood, String Orchestra 1, Guitar Orchestra 1, Symphony Orchestra and Fellowship of the Strings. The concert will however also feature Treblehood with some of our younger Lauries gentlemen.

Laurie’s Music Support Group (LMSG) Donations

With the 2022 Music program now well underway, The Laurie’s Music Support group are calling for cartons of soft drink to be used for catering opportunities at our Concerts.

All donations will be gratefully received at the music department reception by Wednesday 18 May. Every carton of soft drink cans donated before 18 May, will put you into the draw to win a movie voucher.

Strike up the Band!

Ross Capern
Head of Instrumental Music

Photos - Week 4-5

• Year 6 Science Incursion

Mini Vinnies Annual Book Swap – Books needed!   Kate Flanagan

The Mini Vinnies crew in Primary are once again asking for donations of any books you may have at home to be donated to our annual book swap. We are looking for any picture, primary fiction or young adult novels to be brought into the Primary Office or 5MR. The book swap itself is run later in the term, and all money raised will go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Dust of your shelves and donate to this excellent cause!

Please see brochure below:-

TO DO LIST FOR WEEK 6-7

To help with your busy schedules please see To Do List for Week 6&7

1. Please notify Primary Office if your son has any changes to his Tuesday afternoon sport transport arrangements from Runcorn.  primary@slc.qld.edu.au  
2. Year 6 - Science Investigation acceptance and payment (Parent Lounge)
3. Assessment Planners for Year 5 & 6 have been emailed to parents for review.