We cannot believe that it is already Week 7! How this term is flying!

Well done to all in our Year 7 cohort - it has been a busy, overwhelming, exciting, thrilling, and enjoyable start. We know that all the teachers are so proud of you all and, as your Year Level Leadership Team, we have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many of you already!

During Week 7 we have NAPLAN. We want to remind you that whatever happens in NAPLAN, this doesn’t determine who you are or your future. We only ask that you take a breath. Families - please take the time to unpack the pressure that this week can present. We encourage favourite home-cooked meals, downtime activities (like puzzles, reading or a family game of Mario Kart if you’re like Mrs Greenwell!), and ice cream at the end of the week.

In Week 8 we have Year 8 and 9 students heading off for their camp program. The school may feel a little quiet without all our students. Some regular teachers may be absent during this time. Please take the opportunity to check PAM and SIMON dashboards in the morning to help prepare your child for any changes throughout the day. Please reach out to your child’s Mercy Homegroup Leader or classroom teachers if you have any questions during this week.

A couple of friendly reminders about issues that are popping up:

• Please remind your child of the uniform policy, particularly shoes, jewellery and hair needing to be tied back.
• Log any absences via PAM to notify your child’s Mercy Homegroup Leader, so we can follow up with any support.

LEARNING IN FOCUS

International Women’s Day and Year 7 English

The Year 7 unit of study for Term 1 Speak Up! Stand Strong! fits beautifully with International Women’s Day (8 March). The students have already learnt about Pearl Gibbs, Catherine McAuley, Mary MacKillop, Queen Elizabeth I, Sojourner Truth, and Mary Lee (an Irish/Australian suffragette, who fought for the right of Australian women to be able to vote and be elected to parliament). The students are very engaged and are busily analysing the literary features of their key speeches, alongside learning about their impact on local, national, and global communities after “speaking up” at key points in history. They are also learning how they can agitate for change, building a strong connection to Project Compassion and how they can make a difference by contributing to Caritas this Lent.

STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics)

“Currently, the Year 7s are learning basic science skills and today we focused on their ability to independently read and follow instructions, along with learning how to measure accurately.” (Ms Brittany Taylor)

The Reading Room

Step inside our Reading Room! All Coolock students visit the library’s Reading Room each fortnight, to learn more from our teacher-librarians about how to best make use of the library as a resource, and to return, borrow and read books! Our Year 7s are embracing this routine enthusiastically.

Music

Students who are studying Music this semester have had an exciting time receiving their instruments! The small-group tuition they receive at school as they learn to play provides a brilliant opportunity for students to refine their skills in a supportive environment. Enjoy the practice at home!

Punch

Punch the baby snow monkey has captivated the world (and our hearts), and there are so many things we can reflect on and learn from this cultural phenomenon.

“... we are all Punch. Even the person that you think has a ton of friends all the time is Punch. Everyone faces that rejection and that loneliness, at least once, but more often multiple times throughout the year. But luckily for Punch and us, the story doesn’t end there.

With time, Punch made a friend. The friend didn’t change who Punch is but adapted to Punch and his Ikea monkey mother; a recent video shows Punch and his friend cleaning bugs off the stuffed monkey together. When we find our people, the ones we clean bugs with, suddenly the world feels a lot less isolated.

…But for now, I can always remember that even that little monkey persevered and made friends. He was knocked down and thrown around, but he didn’t give up, so why should I? Why should any of us?”

What a lovely message for our Year 7s as they courageously transition into our College. It can be hard at times, but with support, they are persisting and achieving success.

Mrs Greenwell, Mr Greene, Mrs Cody and Ms Lemon, Year 7 Leadership Team