Week 11 Term 1 2025

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we wrap up a fantastic Term 1, I want to take a moment to celebrate all the hard work, growth, and achievements of our students and staff. From classroom learning milestones to extracurricular participation and success, it has been a term filled with learning, laughter, and community spirit. Thank you to our dedicated teachers, supportive families, and, of course, our amazing students for making this term so memorable. We wish everyone a restful and joyful break and Easter. We look forward to seeing you next term, ready for more adventures in learning!

Election 2025 

On Friday every family received a paper communication from our Parents & Friends regarding IHM being a polling site for the 2025 Election. IHM has done this in the past and it has been a great opportunity for fundraising and promoting our beautiful school.

We encourage all families to consider how they could help in some way on Saturday 3^rd May by either volunteering on the day for the BBQ and Cake Stalls, baking goods, donating ingredients and items needed to support the day. We are also taking donations to purchase ingredients so others can bake goods for the day; donations can be made via Qkr!

As the election is at the end of Week 1 of Term 2 we ask all tear off slips be returned to the office by this Friday 11th April for organisational purposes.

Thank you for supporting IHM to host this event, your help is greatly appreciated.

Live Calendar

Communication between home and school is important to us. Commencing in Term 2 a live calendar will be available through our website, School Stream and on an app called Teams Up which you can download.

This calendar enables families to see all events, every week and keep themselves updated throughout a term or year. All school events currently scheduled will be placed on the calendar. As other events are added e.g. class excursions, you will still receive correspondence about these from staff but can check the calendar whenever needed to see what is happening and when.   

Sports Day

Thank you to  our parents, guardians, relatives and friends for being a part of our Sports Day last Tuesday, to support and encourage your young person and our community. We appreciate your flexibility in being present for a day time sports day this year, so that our students could still have an opportunity to participate. We look forward to returning to our twilight event next year with hopes for better weather.

Congratulations to our students on their participation, sportsmanship and positive attitude throughout the day. Our House leaders did an exceptional job of leading their teams and promoting positive values and being wonderful role models for younger students. Well done Norah, Jacob G, Sid, Ryleigh, Jacob T, Jessica, Clara, Harley, Layla, Ursula, Emmanuel and Luca.

Thank you to Trish Jauncey and Tri-skills for their fantastic organisation and IHM staff for supporting the success of the day. Our P & F organised a food stall which raised $320. Thank-you for your help and support.

Congratulations to:

Chevalier - winner of the Team Performance Cup
Hartzer - winner of The Spirit of the Heart Shield

All teams are to be congratulated on their teamwork, persistence and positive competitive spirit.

Camp Reflections

Our Year 5/6 students attended Woodhouse Camp during Week 9 with the supervision of Isaac Landolfi, Alex Ferrier, Suzie Wallace, Teagan Lypsys and Angela Vagionis. We thank those staff for supporting our students and encouraging their growth and development with this wonderful opportunity. I enjoyed visiting for a day and joining the adventure activities with them. Many of the students shared their reflections with me and it is always great to hear their perspectives.    

This camp was a great experience for me. Going of to High School next year, I am going to miss my friends a lot. It was great to make some memories I am definitely going to keep forever. (Ursula)

Camp was a great and fun time to connect with each other, the time I had at camp was both fun and challenging. I most definitely believe that laser skirmish is a great way to connect with not just students but also teachers, we all had great fun and it gave of a flow of energy making everyone feel safe and happy. A great challenge in camp is probably sleeping, it was hard to sleep when there is so much fun happening! Woodhouse is a great place for everyone! I truly loved it. (Jacob G)

At camp my favourite things were the bat during the movie, it was so funny that everyone was frightened. When we were walking back form the bouldering, we saw a koala walking along the road and also saw it climbing on a tree. I loved camp! (Vim)

I learnt that we shouldn't be afraid to step out of our comfort zone because most of the time, trying something new can make your day. Camp challenged me in many ways, stepping out of my comfort zone challenges me a lot, during some activities I wasn't sure if I should try them, but at the end of the day I did every activity there, and I loved it. (Emmanuel)

My favourite part of camp was doing the creek challenge where you had to swing from the ropes to make it to the other side of the creek. I also really enjoyed seeing the bat that got stuck in the Manor while we were watching a movie. Camp challenged me by making me reach out of my comfort zone and do stuff that I'm not entirely interested in, like going on a hike when we got there. I wasn't used to it, but I enjoyed it. (Veronica)

Best wishes

Julie Hancock
PRINCIPAL

 

Holy Week Prayer

Lord Jesus
As we prepare ourselves to enter this holy time of the year, we remember Your great love for us and the incredible sacrifice You made for our salvation.
During this Holy Week, help us to reflect on Your suffering, death, and resurrection, and to grow closer to You.
We pray for the courage to follow Your example of humility and love.
We pray for the strength to carry our own crosses, knowing that You are always with us.
We pray for peace in our hearts, in our school, and in our world.
Bless our IHM school community as we walk with You through these sacred days, and may we come to understand the fullness of Your love.
May Your resurrection fill us with hope, joy, and a renewed spirit to serve others in Your name.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

A message from our Archbishop Patrick O’Regan: A Lenten Journey in Light of the Synod and Jubilee Year

During the season of Lent in this Jubilee Year of 2025, our hearts have been drawn to the call of the Lord to renew our faith, deepen our communion, and walk as pilgrims of hope.

Archbishop Patrick O’Regan reminds us that Lent is a 40 day journey towards Easter, where we are reminded that The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of hope- life out of death and renewal out of despair. We invite you to read the full article HERE

Caritas Project Compassion

Two reminders:

1. Project Compassion Boxes due this WEDNESDAY 9^th APRIL - please return to your classroom teacher
2. Online Donations HERE

Friday 11^th April - Mission Day

The last day of Term1 is CASUAL DAY - we ask that all students wear appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes. Please bring a GOLD COIN DONATION - all proceeds will go towards Project Compassion. Thank you.

Holy Week - Student Led Reflections

Circle of Security Parenting - Centacare Course 

Do you want to have more understanding about your child's behaviour?
Come along to this free 7-week course and learn how to:

• help your child organise their feelings
• enjoy a more fulfilling relationship with your child
• help your child to feel secure, now and into the future

When:  Tuesdays - May 13, 20, 27 / June 3, 10, 17, 24
Time:   10:00 am - 11:30 am
Where: Centacare - Level 2, 45 Wakefield Streert, Adelaide
Bookings essential via 08 8228 8900

How to Help Your Child's Anxiety

A parent's guide to help their child manage their anxiety written by a South Australia psychologist, Jenni Pearce. You can access the article HERE

Mother's Day Liturgy: Friday 9th May : Photo Invitation

You are invited to email a photo of you and your child/ren to Jhovana Fenu at jfenu@ihm.catholic.edu.au by Friday 2nd May if you would like for us to include it in our Liturgy PowerPoint.

Wishing all our families a very blessed Easter with loved ones.

Jhovana Fenu
APRIM

On Friday 11th April IHM playgroup will be attending a guided Sensory Tour at the Art gallery in the city from 9:30 - 11:00am - we will meet out the front of the Art Gallery. 

Any families at IHM with younger children are welcome to book. To register, please contact our Playgroup Coordinator Bec Patini on 0432 468 798.

Eureka G.A.T.E.WAYS Plot Twist! Program

At IHM Primary School, we value high-potential learning programs and are committed to supporting enrichment opportunities that foster creativity, critical thinking, and academic growth in our students.

We are thrilled to announce that several of our high potential students were selected to take part in the Term 1 Eureka G.A.T.E.WAYS program: Plot Twist! held at St Joseph’s Memorial School on Monday. This unique and exciting learning experience is designed for students who demonstrate exceptional ability in literacy, creative thinking, and who have a passion for storytelling.

Selection for the program was based on multiple measures, including AGAT (ACER General Ability Test) results, teacher observations, and school and classroom assessment data. These students have shown excellent writing ability, analytical thinking, and deep engagement with literature—making them ideal candidates for this enrichment opportunity.

We congratulate the following students who were chosen to attend: Lottie, Jacob T, Ava, Luca, and Juliet. You will hear more about their experience in next term’s newsletters.

IHM Launches Flourishing Hearts Enrichment Program

We are delighted to announce the launch of Flourishing Hearts, IHM’s new enrichment program designed to challenge and inspire highly able students in Years 4–6. This initiative nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, offering students opportunities to extend their talents in a supportive and stimulating environment alongside like-minded peers.

Developed with guidance from Catholic Education SA’s Learning, Assessment, and Curriculum coaches, Flourishing Hearts is grounded in best practices for gifted education. Inspired by Françoys Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT), the program recognises that giftedness must be nurtured through the right environment, opportunities, and challenges to truly flourish.

Selection is based on classroom assessment data, teacher observations, and AGAT (ACER General Ability Test) results. As the program evolves, we look forward to welcoming students from younger year levels as well.

Led by our STEM teacher, Trish Jauncey, Flourishing Hearts engages students in hands-on challenges across science, mathematics, and the arts - fostering leadership, collaboration, and resilience.

We warmly congratulate the following students who have been invited to join the program, having demonstrated high potential in abstract and spatial reasoning: Norah, Ursula, Maria, Luca, Vincent, and Finley. These students meet weekly on Wednesdays during lunchtime and are currently working on an exciting entry for the Junior Art, Craft, and Design Competition at the Royal Adelaide Show.

We can’t wait to see their creativity and skills shine as they embark on this enriching learning journey.

Sonia Bianco & Catherine Hulley
LEADERS OF LEARNING