Term 2, Week 3 2025

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

As we embark on another exciting term, I want to take a moment to emphasise the importance of our partnership in supporting the success and well-being of all our students.

At Dominican, we believe that education is a collaborative effort between the school, parents, and the wider community. By working together, we can create a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can thrive.

Why Partnership Matters:

• Shared Goals: When parents and teachers work together, we can align our efforts towards common goals, ensuring that each student receives the support they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
• Open Communication: Regular and open communication between home and school helps us understand each child's unique needs and strengths. This allows us to tailor our approaches and provide the best possible support.
• Consistent Support: A strong partnership ensures that students receive consistent messages and support both at home and at school. This consistency is crucial for their development and confidence.
• Community Involvement: Engaging parents and the community in school activities and decision-making processes fosters a sense of belonging and shared responsibility for our students' education.

How You Can Get Involved:

• Stay Informed: Keep up to date with school news, events, and your child's progress through our newsletters, website, and parent-teacher meetings.
• Communicate: Share your insights and concerns with your child's teachers. Your input is invaluable in helping us understand and support your child better.
• Participate: Volunteer for school events, join the Parent and Friends Committee, or attend school functions. Your involvement enriches our school community and sets a positive example for your child.
• Support Learning at Home: Encourage your child's learning by providing a supportive home environment, helping with homework, and fostering a love of reading and curiosity.

Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of our students. I look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to ensure that every child at Dominican reaches their full potential.

CHARTER FOR PARENTS IN SA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Adelaide and the Diocese of Port Pirie work in partnership with parents and carers and their school communities to promote a shared responsibility for the education of each child.  The Charter for Parents in SA Catholic Schools provides the guidelines for this partnership.

Please find attached the CHARTER FOR PARENTS

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

This week we celebrate Catholic Education Week #ShineWithOpenHearts. The focus is very much on education and celebrating quality teaching and learning across our sector. We are very blessed to have such an amazing community at Dominican, where staff, parents and students work collaboratively to ‘Inspire hearts and minds to be the best we can be.’

It takes a village to raise a child and this team approach is evident at Dominican from the moment you walk through the door.

MOTHER'S DAY

Last Sunday we honoured and expressed our deepest gratitude to the incredible women who shape our lives with unwavering love, strength, and dedication. Mothers are the first teachers, guiding us through life's earliest lessons. In our school community, we are fortunate to witness the profound impact of mothers daily. Whether it's through active participation in school activities, providing support at home, or simply being a constant source of encouragement; their contributions are invaluable.

We hope all the women in our community, who nurture, inspire, and lead with love had a happy Mother’s Day last Sunday; your impact is immeasurable, and we are forever grateful. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our school community.

A huge thank you to our dads and P&F committee for organising and helping out with our Mother’s Day stall and Mother’s Day breakfast.

COLOUR RUN

The much anticipated Colour Run is this Friday, and we are all excited! Students will be splashed with colour, whilst some staff will be covered with slime!

All students are required to wear a white top, old shorts and old closed in shoes and on the day, and they will be given a coloured headband and sunglasses. The Colour Run will start promptly at 1:30pm and families are invited and welcome to come and observe the fun.

I would like to thank our school community, who have been extremely generous in their fundraising efforts.

WINTER UNIFORM

Following a two-week transition period, all students are now expected to be wearing their full winter uniform for Term 2 and Term 3. 

Formal Uniform - Winter

• The sports uniform is the same all year round and can be worn with either the shorts or tracksuit pants depending on the weather.
• Sports shoes are only to be worn with the sports uniform
• Hair longer than shoulder length should be tied back with only school coloured hair accessories
• Students are permitted to wear a watch, one pair of silver or gold plain sleepers or studs for pierced ears and a simple chain with a religious medallion.
• No makeup to be worn.

We ask that all families support our uniform policy by ensuring the students wear their correct uniform neatly and respectfully.

WELCOME FR. JOSY

During the holiday season, the LeFevre Parish had the honour of welcoming Fr Josey, our new priest, into our community. Father Josy has joined us from the Noarlunga/Seaford Parish in southern Adelaide. We welcome him with open hands and hearts as he joins our school and parish community.

Angela Scodella
PRINCIPAL

INTRODUCING TRACEY GRICE

I am absolutely thrilled to join the Dominican community this year. The warm welcome from staff, students, and parents has been heartwarming, and I look forward to an amazing year of learning and growth together.

With over 25 years of teaching experience in both primary and tertiary settings, my journey to education was inspired by the words from Matthew 16:24-26: “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Before teaching, I worked in international marketing, traveling frequently and helping distributors market technology products globally. My career in education has spanned all sectors of primary education, mentoring at university, and working with CESA’s central office, as well as globally with International Baccalaureate schools. After completing my Master's in Educational Leadership, I dedicated myself to literacy education, helping every child find their path as a reader.

I believe the most valuable gift we can give students is a genuine love of reading. As a voracious reader, my goal is to help students become enthusiastic, confident, lifelong readers who see reading as its own reward. You’ll often hear me saying to students, “I won’t rest until I find the book that makes you fall in love with reading!”

If I could give any advice to parents in supporting their child’s education, it would be to prioritise reading. Research shows that the highest achieving students are those who devote leisure time to reading. The largest-ever international study of reading found that the single most important predictor of academic success is the amount of time children spend reading books, more important even than economic or social status. One of the few predictors of high achievement in math and science is the amount of time children devote to pleasure reading. So, read to your child, read with your child, listen to your child read, and snuggle up with a good book together. Not only will it support their academic success, but it will also create cherished memories.

When I’m not at school, I’m at the Crows home games (this may be a brave comment given how many Port supporters are at the school!)  I’m a huge cricket fan, and spend most weekends watching my son play cricket, watching cricket on TV or playing backyard cricket!  I love exercise, travel, eating out and doing anything to avoid cooking! 

I am looking forward to meeting you all across the year and working alongside your children to help them be the best they can be.

Tracey Grice
LEADER OF LEARNING

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

This week, we are celebrating Catholic Education Week with the theme "Shine with Open Hearts." As a school community, we are taking part in a variety of activities that help us reflect on and live out this theme.

Students have engaged in moments of prayer and reflection, mindfulness exercises, and creative art projects. One special activity involved all students from Reception to Year 6 creating Hopeful Stars Postcards. Each postcard was decorated with kind messages and drawings, filled with hope and positivity.

These postcards will be shared with members of our wider community through letterbox drops and by delivering them to local organisations such as Lefevre Catholic Parish, Sacred Heart Church, Semaphore Library, and the Philip Kennedy Centre.

Through these small acts of kindness, we aim to shine with open hearts and share joy and encouragement with those around us.

LAUDATO SI WEEK

Next week, we will be celebrating Laudato Si’ Week, marking the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. This special week calls us to reflect on our responsibility for ecological conversion and to renew our commitment to being faithful stewards of God’s creation.

At Dominican, we actively live out this commitment by working together to care for our environment. This includes actively engaging in nude food lunchboxes, class indoor and outdoor environmental responsibilities, composting food scraps, tending to our school gardens, and caring for the local Sand Dunes.

As part of our Laudato Si’ Week celebrations, each student will have the opportunity to plant seeds in our school garden beds; a simple but meaningful way to connect with nature and contribute to the ongoing care of our common home.

We give thanks for the beauty and wonder of God’s creation and look forward to continuing our shared mission to protect and nurture it.

FAITH IN ACTION
At Dominican, we take great pride in seeing our school community actively living out the Dominican Pillars of Community and Ministry through generous acts of service. This semester, our students, families, and staff have shown incredible dedication to faith in action, supporting various important causes. In Term 1, we raised $950 (including funds raised for the Easter Raffle) for Caritas Australia's Project Compassion, which helps vulnerable communities around the world.

In Term 2, the St Catherine’s House Team raised $250 for HeartKids SA, an organization that supports children with heart conditions and their families. Most recently, our Showdown Casual Day raised $250 for the St Vincent de Paul Society, providing aid to those experiencing hardship in our local community. We are deeply grateful to all families for their ongoing generosity and commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others. Thank you!

WELCOMING POPE LEO XIV

We are excited to share the news that the Catholic Church has a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV! Formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, he was born in Chicago and has spent much of his life serving others, including many years as a missionary in Peru.

In his first message, Pope Leo XIV spoke about the importance of peace and kindness in our world. His words and example remind us of the values we teach and live every day in our school community. We keep Pope Leo XIV in our prayers as he begins this important role, and we look forward to learning from his leadership in the years to come.

Martina Kovacev
ACTING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL RELIGIOUS IDENTITY AND MISSION

YEAR 1 - LEARNING

This term, our Year 1 students have been discovering the power of positive emotions through activities focused on gratitude and joy. From sharing what they’re thankful for to celebrating the little things that make them happy, the students have shown a wonderful ability to reflect on and express their feelings and are building their emotional awareness to contribute to a joyful and kind classroom community! We did some artworks to represent what we are grateful for.

In Numeracy this term we have been busy exploring the world of patterns! Through hands-on activities using colours, shapes, numbers, and everyday objects, students have been learning to recognise, create, and extend repeating and growing patterns.

In Literacy, we have been developing our skills in decoding words, blending sounds and writing accurately through the Playberry program. Alongside this, students in Year 1 have been learning how to construct complete sentences with correct punctuation.

Chelsea Fiore
CLASSROOM TEACHER

OSHC APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

The school holidays were packed with exciting activities in OSHC! Students enjoyed a variety of engaging programs, from creative arts and crafts to outdoor adventures and group games, making the holiday period a memorable experience for everyone involved. A big thank you to our OSHC team for providing such a fun-filled break!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW HIGHLIGHTS

Paula Northeast
OSHC DIRECTOR

PORT SAPSASA CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL

On Tuesday, 6 May, twelve determined runners from Years 4-6 proudly represented our school at the Port SAPSASA Cross Country Carnival at Port Malcolm Reserve, Semaphore Park. Competing against strong opposition from schools across the Port District, our students showcased incredible perseverance, and determination throughout the event.  

Each runner tackled the challenging course with grit and enthusiasm.

A special thank you goes to Rebecca K for her assistance with supervision on the day. 

Matthew Annetta
PE TEACHER AND SPORTS COORDINATOR

CHARACTER STRENGTH - CURIOSITY

One of our character strengths that we focus on as part of our Grow Your Mind Program is curiosity. Children are often naturally curious and want to know everything about the world around them. Giving children the opportunity to be curious and explore their environment is important for their development and well-being. Curious children are more likely to learn and retain information, stay involved and do better in school. By allowing your children to be curious and explore, you teach them confidence and appreciation.

Ways to develop and nurture curiosity include-

1. Show them the world -Travel, go camping, go to a museum or show them another culture.

2. Spend time together as a family - Go for a walk, bake a cake, or go to the park or zoo.

3. Encourage friends and family to give experiences rather than gifts – children remember experience and the excitement they felt. Memories can last a lifetime.

4. Wonder aloud - Say out loud, "I wonder why the leaves on the trees are green?"

5. Encourage natural interest - If children are interested in an activity, try to give them opportunities to do that activity.

6. Ask open-ended questions - Use words like who, what, when, where, why and how.

7. Prompt thinking - When your children have a question, ask for their thoughts first before answering.

8. Let kids be kids - Unstructured play is a great way to nurture and develop your children's curiosity and sense of discovery.

Lisa Osborne
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION COORDINATOR/WELLBEING SUPPORT                                             

2025 MID-YEAR INTAKE – FREE TUITION

Catholic Education SA are committed to providing opportunities for all students to access high quality teaching and learning. This year, Reception students who join a 2025 mid-year intake at any Diocesan Catholic school will get free tuition in Terms 3 and 4.

This initiative of the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) aims to reduce the financial burden on families.

At Dominican, we will offer the 2025 Term 3 Reception intake to parents free of charge. The free intake will include tuition fees and compulsory charges. It will exclude uniforms and extra-curricular costs.

“We remain committed to ensuring our schools are accessible for all families seeking a Catholic education for their children, as well as focusing on improving educational and wellbeing outcomes for every student in our schools.” (CESA website)

LIVING LAUDATO SI STUDENT AGENCY INITIATIVE

We are proud to share some exciting news: Dominican School has been selected to participate in the CESA Living Laudato Si Student Agency Initiative!

This marks the beginning of an inspiring journey rooted in ecological awareness and action, as envisioned in Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ encyclical on Caring for Our Common Home. To kick off the initiative, members of our Student Sustainability Committee attended a vibrant Launch Day celebration, joining with students from Catholic schools across the region. Together, they engaged in dialogue, collaboration, and shared commitment to protecting our planet.

This initiative provides a meaningful platform for our students to grow as young leaders in environmental stewardship, equipping them to make a real and lasting impact in their communities and beyond.

We can’t wait to share their progress with you throughout the year — stay tuned for updates as they embark on this hope-filled mission for a greener, more sustainable world.

CHILDREN'S UNIVERSITY

✈️ Keep Exploring with Your Learning Passports! 📚🌍

Don’t forget to keep getting your Learning Passports stamped — there are plenty of fun and educational destinations still waiting for you!

Make sure to log in to your CU portal to check out all the exciting opportunities available. From creative challenges to engaging activities, there’s something for every curious mind!

📅 Reminder: Please bring your passports in during Week 4 of this term to be signed off.

Need more worksheets? Visit Miss Murphy in the Front Office — she’ll be happy to help you keep your passport journey going! ✏️📖

Plus, we will be running lunchtime activities this term, giving you even more chances to learn, have fun, and increase your hours toward your next award level.

Let the adventure continue! 🌟

CHILD PROTECTION

We are committed to ensuring our school is a safe place for all.

All staff and volunteers of our school are mandated reporters under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. Staff and Volunteers respond to allegations or concerns of harm, or risk of harm, against a child or young person by following the South Australian Commission for Catholic School's Reporting Harm of Children and Young People Procedure.

Reporting Harm of Children and Young People Procedure

VOLUNTEERING AT DOMINICAN

To volunteer at Dominican there are 3 steps to take: 

• Complete the online RRAHN training (see flyer) and forward the completed certificate to the office.
• To have your catholic Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• To complete the onsite induction and fill out the necessary forms.

To obtain your WWCC you can bring 100 points of identification to the school office, and we can start the process for you.

If you have a DHS clearance, you can provide your certificate, and we can forward it to obtain a catholic clearance.

Please contact the office E: kmurphy@dominican.catholic.edu.au for more information.

SPORTS DAY FEEDBACK

We would appreciate it if you could take a moment to answer a few questions regarding our recent Sports Day.

Your feedback is valuable to us and will help us improve future events for everyone involved. https://forms.office.com/r/t0YHUkLcQS

Thank you in advance for your time and support.