Welcome to our Information Night for enrolment 2013 Our Lady of the Angels Primary School

1. Welcome to our Information Night for enrolment 2013 Our Lady of the Angels Primary School 27th March 2012

2. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land on which we are, the Dharug people. We pay our respects to the elders, past, present and future, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal people. We believe we can walk together for a better future.

3. AGENDA • Acknowledgment of country • Welcome – introductions: Fr Warren, Mrs Hey • Fr Warren Edwards • History • Learning and Teaching at OLA across the stages-flexible learning spaces…What’s it all about? • Kindergarten at OLA in 2013 • Curriculum • Assessment and Reporting to parents • Specialist programs • Parents as partners • OOSH • Rouse Hill parish catchment/Enrolment procedures • Building project - plans • Questions?

4. History • Land purchased • Parish established in May of 2007 • Fr Warren Edwards PP • School- 2009 (OLOR Kellyville)19 students • On site Feb 1st 2010 – 66 K-2 • K-4 2011- 148 • 2012 K-6 - 238 “Faith seeking understanding”

5. Education in a Catholic school aims to provide for the • spiritual, • academic, • emotional, • social and • physical • development of each student by means of a rounded and well-balanced curriculum.

6. student centred Facilitated by teachers

7. At OLA, we recognise that… Students in the 21st century require an education that builds strong foundations in problem solving, thinking skills, and working cooperatively. With explicit teaching at the centre, students are given opportunity to explore further and apply learning though their preferred medium. “Faith seeking understanding”

8. Why flexible learning environment? • Promotes professional dialogue • Allows for student /teacher flexibility • Greater sense of connectedness amongst students • Students to work in preferred space and with preferred medium • Efficacy of learning and teaching is determined by teacher quality

9. Kindergarten at OLA “Faith seeking understanding”

10. A transition program will be implemented for the first four-five weeks of 2013. RATIONALE OF TRANSITION PROGRAM The aim of this program is to foster a successful kindergarten transition for children, family and school by: • promoting a sense of continuity and stability for the child moving from pre-school to school. • providing a supportive and positive environment that caters for the child's individual interests, needs and strengths. • Providing opportunity for the children to develop positive social skills and participate more confidently. “Faith seeking understanding”

11. Classroom Setup Learning centres are set up for different types of activities: dramatic play, art, blocks, cognitive games, craft, books, sand and water and outdoor activities. Young children work best in small groups where they can learn to relate to other children, establish friendships and solve problems together. “Faith seeking understanding”

12. Materials in each area reflect specific interest of the children while the tasks seek to achieve curriculum outcomes. Learning takes place when children have a chance to try out their ideas and see for themselves the results of their actions. “Faith seeking understanding”

13. Children need materials they can relate to through past experience before they are asked to learn new concepts. Children learn best when they can select activities that interest them and when they have time to see a project through. These are skills we want on encourage in early learners. They should experience success and at the same time be sufficiently challenged to learn new skills and concepts. “Faith seeking understanding”

14. Every Catholic school seeks to provide quality educational programs based on the NSW Board of Studies curriculum requirements. The Key Learning Areas (KLAs) are: • English • Mathematics • Science and Technology • Human Society and Its Environment • Personal Development, Health and Physical Education • Creative Arts Parramatta Diocese K-6 Religious Education Curriculum – “Sharing Our Story” Sacramental Program: Reconciliation –Year 2 First Eucharist – Year 3 Confirmation – Year 6 Anticipated National Curriculum 2013

15. explicit teaching explicit teaching Teaching and Learning Literacy Block – • Reading, • Talking and • Listening, • Writing “Faith seeking understanding”

16. explicit teaching explicit teaching Numeracy Block – number game for mental recall, teacher modelling, Independent application and open-ended tasks, sharing “Faith seeking understanding”

17. explicit teaching explicit teaching Project based work will form the basis for addressing outcomes across other Key Learning Areas as well as integration of Language and Numeracy. • Developmentally appropriate, experience based and student-directed. • Collaboratively designed. • Self and peer assessment, building resilient reflective practitioners “Faith seeking understanding”

18. Assessment: ongoing and takes many forms. • To inform explicit teaching • To monitor growth • To screen for early intervention • System Level – • Kindergarten: School Entry Assessment (Terms 1 and 4) • Letter ID • Concepts about print • MAI (Mathematical Assessment Interview) • Running Records Observation Survey • Year 1: Early Years Assessment (Terms 1 and 4) • Burt Word Recognition • Clay Reading (running records) • Writing Vocab • Hearing / sound recognition • MAI

19. School based assessment: • -Reading: running records and PAT Comprehension Yr 1-6 • Diagnostic/standardised testing reading/spelling • Mathematical Assessment Interview (MAI) every child K-6 • Annotated work samples for writing, Maths, other KLAs • External Assessments: • NAPLAN - National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy – Yrs 3 and 5 • - individual reports with national comparative data • Identification tool for individuals in the school • Being part of the Catholic Education System- • Educational psychologists • School counsellors • Guidance officers • Itinerant teacher –vision/hearing • LOTE • New arrivals All children are at different points along the learning continuum - that’s OK!

20. Reporting to Parents at the end of all four terms Teacher/Parent/Student Conferences will be held at the ends of Terms 1 and 3 - • informal report outlining the student’s strengths and suggested areas for development as evidenced in student work samples, and concludes with student’s goal-setting. At the end of Terms 2 and 4 - • formal A-E report*, as legislated by the Federal Government, • provided with the option for an interview upon request. *Different report for Kindergarten and for students identified with need for learning support (optional).

21. Extra Curricular & Special Programs • Our Lady of the Angels Primary School provides involvement in specialist programs including: • Yoga • Gymnastics • Dance • Athletics, Ball skills, and inter school competition(8 yr old +) • Japanese language and culture • Cultural activities and school excursions and incursions • Creative Arts Festivals + Choir • Environmental groups • Lunchtime clubs eg Chess , gardening, percussion, board games, lego, etc. • Outreach programs • Feeder school for systemic secondary • schools such as : • Marian College, Kenthurst (Co-ed) • St Mark’s, Stanhope Gardens (Co-ed) • Terra Sancta, Schofields (Co-ed) • Private secondary schools: • Oakhill College • OLMC Parramatta • Mount St Benedict's

22. Parent / Community Partnership Our school motto, ‘Faith seeking understanding’ stems from the knowledge that the members of our community have come to our school primarily because we share the same Catholic faith. It is our mission, as educators of children, to mutually nurture this faith into deeper understanding of God’s saving plan for us as we live, grow and learn together. "The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute" (2221, Catechism of the Catholic Church) • Relationship based on… • Mutual trust and respect • Positive • Openness P&F est 2011 Speaker: P&F President– Mrs Danielle Odd • Regular communication through • weekly Newsletter (emailed) • class communication note • school website. “Faith seeking understanding”

23. Out Of School Hours…OOSH Service provided on site by KTOOSH Morning: 7.00 am – 8.30 am Afternoon: 3.15pm – 6.00 pm Further information in enrolment packs

24. Cattai Creek Who is eligible for enrolment? All parents and children who are prepared to support the religious principles and ideals of the Catholic School and live within the Rouse Hill parish catchment area, may be considered eligible for enrolment. Children should turn five years of age prior to the 31st July of the year commencing school However, parents of children who will turn five after 1st April are invited to arrange an assessment of readiness with their preschool and with the Principal and to be guided by professional advice in deciding the most suitable year for enrolment for your child. • Complete an enrolment form and return it by mail or hand in to OLA office • An invitation for an interview will be extended (conducted in Term 2) • An offer of placement (early in Term 3) • Kinder transition/orientations mornings (X2) held later in the year; info for parents and optional transition for parents. More information within the enrolment package. “Faith seeking understanding”

25. Above all, we want your child to be happy to come to school. Thank you for your time. We hope you come along and be part of our history. Enrolment packages may be collected from the exit. Also, please remember to add your name to the list and write into which grade you would like to enrol your child in 2013. “Faith seeking understanding”