Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I wrote earlier this term Primary Newsletter that we wanted boys and families to meaningfully engage in all of the wonderful opportunities here at Lauries. It is evident that most boys have done exactly that so far in Term 1.  Teachers have made regular comments about the effort and commitment in all classrooms and we have seen huge levels of participation in many co-curricular activities. As we near the end of term, and assessment becomes more of a focus, I encourage the boys to keep working hard.  Staff are available to assist and will support them during the closing stages of the term, but the boys can help themselves by asking for help when required and maintaining high levels of focus.

Swimming – A big congratulations to all of the Primary competitors who swam in the AIC Championships at Chandler this week on Tuesday.  Many personal bests were achieved which was an excellent effort. Well done! 

Year 5 NAPLAN

The NAPLAN tests are scheduled for Years 5,7 and 9 students next week.  Year 5 classes have completed practice sessions, with questions using the same language and in the same format as those in the official tests. These sessions were guided by teachers and complement the excellent teaching they do in the classrooms every day. It is essential for the boys to have the correct equipment, including a fully charged laptop and earphones as the tests will be completed using the “ONLINE PLATFORM”.

Year 5 parents should avoid making appointments for boys during this testing period please.

PRIMARY CROSS COUNTRY (Friday, 24 March)

This is a further reminder that on Friday, 24 March we will be conducting the Primary Inter-House Cross Country at the College.  The races will be run around the College Campus before Morning-Tea.  Due to normal classes and exams still operating for Secondary, and the campus being very busy, it will be a spectator free event.  Those parents who enjoy watching their son’s run are most welcome to attend the after-school AIC Cross-Country preparation races next term.  The races on Friday, March 24 are a fun Interhouse competition to finish off the term before camp.

Boys should attend in PE uniform for the day and ensure they have a water bottle.  Normal lunchtime arrangements will occur, so feel free to send lunch or boys can go to tuckshop as per normal. The races will suit all ability levels.

REPORT CARDS/ PARENT -TEACHER- INTERVIEWS

Interim Reports will be published in Parent Lounge and Student Café on Friday 31 March. I hope all boys can be proud of their achievements this term and that their report reflects a strong start to 2023.

Parent-Teacher Interviews will be conducted on Monday 24 April (1:45-7:00pm) and Wednesday 3 May (3:30-6:30pm).  Bookings will open on Friday, 14 April at 8:00am and close on Thursday, 20 April at 4:00pm.

The Interviews will be delivered via “Teams” in a digital format. The use of technology for Parent- Teacher Interviews last year was overwhelmingly successful. We encourage the boys to be involved in these interviews and to sit with parents if possible, to ensure consistent understanding of messages and feedback.

TERM 2 TRANSPORT—TUESDAYS

Tuesday afternoon sport/activities for (Term 2 Sports) will commence on Tuesday, (21 March Week 9) and then recommences on Tuesday,18 April (first week back after the holidays).  All boys involved in Rugby and Football will travel to Runcorn after lunch each Tuesday.  Any changes to weekly transport arrangements should be communicated to the Primary Office each Tuesday morning (9:00am) to ensure rolls are correct.  All boys should continue to wear HPE uniform to school on Tuesdays next term as was the routine in Term 1. You would have received a separate App notification this week to nominate transport arrangements.  It is essential this form be completed for boys to attend Runcorn for sport.

On Friday, 24 March (Week 9), we will be conducting our monster raffle from the hundreds of raffle tickets that have been awarded to the boys this term. If you would like to donate any prizes, please send them in to the Primary Office. Thank you in advance to those families who are able to assist with prize donations (big or small). The boys really appreciate it.

In this Edition of the Primary Newsletter, you can also read about Curriculum Updates, Music, Upcoming Events and Laurie Journey winners.

We are looking forward to a really positive finish to the term next in the next fortnight. 

Regards

Cameron Wigan
Dean of Primary

Lauries Primary Curriculum Update - Katie Jordan

Focused Learning Cycles in Primary

At St Laurence’s College Primary, we adhere to the Australian Curriculum guidelines regarding the delivery of content and skills across Learning Areas. Additionally, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) articulates recommended time allocations for each Learning Area as a starting point for decisions about timetabling.

English and Maths are both taught daily in Year Five and Six. However, in other Learning Areas, we condense learning experiences into shorter cycles across the term. This enables our boys to engage with content in richer, deeper and more meaningful ways.

These Focused Learning Cycles (FLCs) operate for approximately three weeks a term, in the Learning Areas of Science, Religion, and Humanities and Social Sciences. For example, if the current FLC is for Science, students would engage in English, Maths and Science lessons (along with their timetabled Specialist classes each day) for that approximate three-week period.  If they were to then move into a HASS FLC, students would engage in English, Maths and HASS lessons for the next three-week period, and so forth.

We have found that the FLC approach better supports boys with time management, as they’re not juggling multiple assessment deadlines at the end of term. It also enables our boys to engage in deeper conceptual understanding.

An audience of family and friends enjoyed our first two concerts for 2023 this week from our Intermediate Ensembles on Wednesday evening and our Senior Ensembles on Thursday evening.  Students should be proud of their performances.  Special thanks to our Senior Music Leaders for compering the events, and to the parents and members of the Laurie’s Music Support Group who assisted with both events.

We are looking forward to the performances by our Junior Ensembles at our Breakfast Concerts coming up in Week 9:

• 21 March:   Treblehood – ERPAC foyer @ 7:45 – 8:00am
• 22 March:   Concert Band 3, Big Band 3 and String Orchestra 3 - ERPAC foyer 7:30 – 8:15am

TREBLEHOOD (Year 5 and 6 singing group)

Any students interested in joining the Treblehood Choir, please see Mr Brown in the Music Department.  Rehearsals are held Tuesday mornings @ 7:15am.

SAVE THE DATES – Term 2

• 10 May - St Joseph’s Primary School (Kangaroo Point) Combined Concert @ 2-5pm (ERPAC) – Guitar Orchestra 2 and Concert Band 3
• 18 May - Junior Ensembles Concert – Concert Band 3, Big Band 3, String Orchestra 3, Treblehood, Percussion Ensemble 2/3 and Year 5 String Orchestra

LMSG Meeting | Term 2 - Tuesday 9 May | 6pm

Our next Laurie’s Music Support Group Meeting will be held in Term 2 on Tuesday 9 May in room MU1 (Top floor VAPA building).  A great way to support your son at SLC is by joining the parent’s music support group.  Meetings are once a month on the second Tuesday of each month (term time).  

If you need any further information about our music program or any of the above, please contact the Music Department: music@slc.qld.edu.au or telephone 3010 1138.

 Strike up the Band!

Ross Capern
Director of Instrumental Music

Mini Vinnies News:

Thank you so much to the many boys and staff who supported our ‘Show Your True Colours’ Day last Friday. We have managed to raise $245.45 for Caritas from this much-loved event! Our ‘Guess the Lolly Jar’ is still happening each morning tea, so students are still able to get involved. We will announce the winners before camp.