Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I wrote at the beginning of this term in the 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 the first 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.

Year 5 NAPLAN

The NAPLAN tests are scheduled for Years 5,7 and 9 students starting next week (Week 8- 13,14,15 &18 March). Year 5 classes have completed multiple 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 they complement the excellent teaching done 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, 15 March)

On Friday, 15 March we will be conducting the Primary Inter-House Cross Country at the College. The races will be run around the College Campus., similar to the House races last week for Secondary. 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 15 are a fun “House” competition to finish off the term before camp.

Boys should attend in PE uniform (must have House shirt) 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 the canteen as per normal. The races will suit all ability levels.

REPORT CARDS and PARENT /TEACHER- INTERVIEWS

Interim Reports will be published in Parent Lounge and Student Café at the end of Term. I hope all boys can be proud of their achievements this term and that their report reflects a strong start to 2024.

Parent-Teacher Interviews will be conducted on Monday 22 April (1:45-7:00pm) and Wednesday 1 May (3:30-6:30pm). Bookings will open on Friday, 12 April at 8:00am and close on Thursday, 18 April at 4:00pm. Please note that school concludes at 1:10pm on April 22 to facilitate the interviews.

The Interviews will be conducted via “Teams” in an online format. The use of technology for Parent- Teacher Interviews in recent years has been overwhelmingly successful. We encourage the boys to be present and involved in these interviews, to sit with parents if possible, to ensure consistent understanding of messages and feedback.

TERM 2 TRANSPORT —Tuesday Sport Afternoon

Tuesday afternoon sport/activities for (Term 2 Sports) will commence on Tuesday, (19 March Week 9) before pausing in Week 10 and then will recommence on Tuesday,16 April (first week back after the holidays). All boys involved in Rugby and Football will travel to Runcorn after lunch each Tuesday by bus. Any changes to weekly transport arrangements for pick-up should be communicated to the Primary Office each Tuesday morning by (9:00am) to ensure rolls are correct. Boys not involved in Rugby or Football will remain at school with teachers for various activities and will be dismissed at 2:55pm as usual. 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.

END OF TERM RAFFLE

On Monday, 25 March (Week 10), 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 into 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, Primary Leaders News, Upcoming Events and Laurie Journey winners.

We are looking forward to a really positive finish to the term in the few weeks.

Regards

Cameron Wigan
Dean of Primary

Lauries Primary Curriculum Update-Jon Tracey

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 Mathematics 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 (HASS). For example, if the current FLC is for Science, students would engage in English, Mathematics 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, Mathematics 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.

Jon Tracey

Head of Teaching and Learning Primary

Music- Ross Capern

The Laurie’s Music Support Group hosted their annual Trivia “Night themed Heroes vs Villains” last Friday. It was great to see so many new parents attend and it was a wonderful way to start our calendar of events. Special thanks to our parent volunteers who assisted on the night.

An audience of family and friends enjoyed our first two concerts for 2024 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 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:

• 19 March ERPAC foyer @ 7:30– 8:15am; Treblehood, Concert Band 3, Big Band 3 and String Orchestra 3

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
Mr. Ross Capern
Head of Instrumental Music

Mini Vinnies Term 1 – Kate Flanagan

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 $300 for Caritas from this much-loved event! Our ‘Guess the Lolly Jar’ is still happening each morning teal, so students are still able to get involved. We will announce the winners before camp.

Library -Book Club

Welcome to another year of Scholastic Book Club 😊

Issue 2 is out now. Ordering can be accessed from the link below.

Orders for Issue 2 must be submitted by 14^th March so that orders can be delivered before the end of term.

Enjoy

https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

This week’s Primary Spotlight is ‘Be On Time For Private Music Lessons’. We have noticed music teachers constantly coming up from the Music Department to get the students they are meant to be teaching. This is very frustrating for these music teachers and parents have paid a lot of money for theses extra music lessons. Boys need to make sure they are organised by regularly checking their emails for updated lesson times, and set themselves reminders in their diary their watch. So boys, be at your music lessons on time and save your music teachers from walking all the way up to Primary.