Issue 6, 11 April 2025

I want to acknowledge the efforts of staff, students and families over the past 11 weeks. Term 1 is long and jam-packed with events and activities. We’ve hosted, celebrated and engaged in liturgies, feast days, sports day, interschool competitions, swimming lessons, SAPSASA events, camps, excursions and many other things. All these things have happened in addition to the high-quality teaching and learning that occurs every day at school. I certainly enjoyed the end-of-term assemblies where students have shared and celebrated their learning and achievements over the past 11 weeks. Well done to everyone on a positive start to the school year. I wish all families a happy and safe term break. May you find some rest and relaxation before coming back refreshed and ready for Term 2. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday 28th April. 

To conclude the College’s Project Compassion Fundraising efforts this term, we will once again finish the week with the annual Teacher Dunk. Students and staff have fundraised consistently over the course of the term to raise over $6800 with all proceeds going to support Caritas Australia initiatives - an amazing effort! The Teacher Dunk is designed to progressively wet nominated staff as we reach each fundraising goal. In the lead up to this event our primary students have been very keen to remind staff that they are going to be 'dunked' which always adds to the fun and excitement of the afternoon. I’d also like to acknowledge that the amount of money consistently raised for Caritas Australia each year by our school is noteworthy and is a credit to the generosity of the community and the efforts of staff, students and the senior SRC team. We would like to thank everyone for their kind donations and the ongoing support of people and communities that are marginalised.    

We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of John Bethell following his sad passing. John was a well-regarded member of both the school and Port Augusta community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Amanda, Jeremiah and Annabelle at this time. May they find comfort in the loving memories shared and the support of those around them.  

Last Thursday our 11 students participated in the Road Awareness Program (RAP), run by the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS). The program is designed to enhance road safety among young drivers and road users. The program targets secondary school students, particularly those of driving age, and aims to instil positive attitudes, smart decision-making, and safe behaviours on the road. Each year students find this to be a valuable experience and are asked to conduct a self-assessment of their own road safety rating. Each student is asked to rate themselves as being either RESPONSIBLE, a RISK TAKER or TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. By the end of the day all students realised the importance and impact of being a REPONSIBLE road user.   

As per our assessment and reporting schedule, students in Years 3-12 will receive an Interim Report at the end of Week 11. This report will provide a helpful snapshot of your child’s learning throughout Term 1. Reports will be available to parents/caregivers via the SEQTA Engage platform. While you are there, I also encourage you to check and review the assessments that have been uploaded throughout the term.  

For your information, I have provided further details below relating to how and when we use SEQTA to report on student achievement throughout the year.   

Student achievement is reported to families and caregivers in a variety of ways including formal parent teacher learning conversations, end-of-term and end-of-semester formal reports.  

SEQTA Engage supports reporting of achievement to students and families in a continuous manner. Students experience a series of ongoing assessments across learning areas which embrace a mix of formative (identifies areas of strength and challenge – may not contribute to overall grade – rather informs the learning) and summative (assessment of achievement at a point in time, contributes to overall grade). As summative assessment tasks are completed, teachers release results through SEQTA Learn (students) and SEQTA Engage (parents/caregivers) in a timely manner. 

Therefore, parents/caregivers can expect the following: 

• release of results through SEQTA Engage in an ongoing manner 
• an interim report at the end of Term 1 and Term 3 which will indicate the grade achieved so far in each learning area as well as an indication of approach to learning, made available through the SEQTA Engage Dashboard 
• end-of-semester report end of Term 2 and 4 to indicate the overall grade achieved in each learning area as well as an indication of approach to learning, made available through the SEQTA Engage Dashboard 

As a parent/caregiver you will find the information in the tabs on the left-hand side of the screen. This is where information regarding assessment and reports can be accessed (see image). 

If you need help accessing the SEQTA App, please contact the school and we will happily assist you. Information regarding SEQTA is also available on our school website.

On Wednesday, the Chrism Mass was held in St Mark’s Cathedral in Port Pirie. This mass is important in the Catholic Church as the holy oils that are used within the sacramental life of the Church are blessed. 6 of our Year 7 and 9 students who are Confirmation candidates represented Caritas College and witnessed the blessing of the oils, one of which will be used when they are confirmed later this year. Students were able to see their connection to the wider Church community and enjoyed exploring the Cathedral after mass and having a brief tour of our Catholic Education office. We look forward to walking with these young people as they make this special and significant step in their faith journey and we thank Mrs Christine Kemp for accompanying these students to this important celebration with our diocesan family. 

This week, we mark the fifth week of Lent, the time of preparation for the season of Easter. We remain in Lent and Holy Week until Easter Sunday, celebrated on April 20. The themes during this time are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. On Easter Sunday, we move into the joyful season of Easter which is 50 days of celebrating. In honouring the significance and this wonderful tradition, the giving of Easter eggs is encouraged to happen only after the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. 

If you are looking for a way to enjoy your Easter treats that support ethical and sustainable practices, consider purchasing slavery-free certified chocolate Easter eggs. This sends a message to chocolate companies that consumers care about social justice and responsibility, connected to our Catholic Social Teaching of Dignity of the Human Person. 

Holy Week this year falls in the first week of the school holidays, so throughout this week, students across the College will gather in year levels to commemorate the Stations of the Cross. Since the earliest centuries of the Church, Christians have made pilgrimages to Jerusalem to walk in the footsteps of Jesus during his suffering, death and resurrection. During the fifteenth century, Christians began the practice of prayerfully meditating on the Passion of Christ by reproducing the pilgrimage in what we now know as the Stations of the Cross. By walking with Jesus, we join our personal suffering with his, knowing that he will lead us to new life through his Resurrection.  

In this Jubilee Year, where we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope, the Stations of the Cross takes on a significant meaning as we consider the hope that Jesus continues to bring to our world as we journey with him in his final moments. 

This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week – a time of reflection and remembrance of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this solemn and important week, Christians participate in various traditions and ceremonies such as Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday. As we journey with Jesus throughout this week, take some time this week to reflect upon what these events mean to us. 

The Passion of the Lord, also known as Palm Sunday, is celebrated this Sunday, 13 April. This marks the beginning of Holy Week – the final week of Lent. Palm Sunday reminds us of the journey that Jesus made into Jerusalem, on a donkey, to celebrate the Jewish feast of the Passover. People welcomed Jesus by shouting and waving palm branches and throwing them down onto the road in the path of the donkey. 

Please see mass times for All Saints and Wilmington.

A number of children in our school and parish community will begin their formation and preparation sessions to receive their First Holy Communion in Term 2. This is an exciting time for these children and we continue to pray for them and their families as they continue their faith journey. The first session for these children and their families will be Saturday 3 May at 6:30pm or Sunday 4 May at 10:30am at All Saints Church.

After Easter, the All Saints Catholic Parish will farewell Sr Sheela Thomas as she returns to India. Sr Sheela is a Sister of St Anne of Chennai who ministers to our local Port Augusta community. She has been instrumental in supporting our College and our Parish Sacramental programs and is a very well known and respected member of our community. We wish every blessing upon Sr Sheela and we thank her deeply for her support and ministry here at Caritas College.

This week we celebrate student achievement across Term 1 throughout the school. For our Years 3 – 12 students this will be formally reported home via an interim report, while our Reception to Year 2 students will continue to receive updates on their learning via Seesaw.

Students in Years 3-12 are provided with a grade based on achievement and feedback on their approach to learning for each subject. 

The approach to learning grade takes into consideration the three criteria:  behaviour, diligence and engagement.   

Behaviour involves: 

• Classroom conduct and attitude 
• Politeness and respect 
• Consideration for the learning of others  

Diligence encompasses: 

• Self-discipline 
• Self-reflection 
• Independent motivation 
• Persistence 
• Conscientious application to classwork and homework   

Engagement includes: 

• Classroom focus 
• Communication (verbal and body language) 
• Punctuality 
• Participation and contributions in groups and class   

The inclusion of information on a student’s approach to learning is so important. The Science of Learning tells us that students who recognise that intelligence and ability can be improved by hard work are more motivated in the classroom. For this reason, when having conversations with your child on their interim report, we encourage you to discuss their approach to learning and the progress they have made throughout the term, rather than the grade. Grades are indicative of where your child’s achievement is comparative to a prescribed year level standard at this point in time. It is important to remember that the assigned letter does not change what your child can or can’t do at present or their capacity to progress in the future. 

Setting learning goals for the next term can be a healthy way to encourage progress and support a growth mindset for intelligence. It is important that we focus on the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, rather than setting goals for a specific academic grade alone. 

As your child settles in for a well-earned break, we encourage you to consider how you can encourage a growth mindset at home. Applying a growth mindset to your child’s daily life can help ensure they feel in greater control of their learning, no matter the context.