Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to this new format for our school Newsletter – I hope you are enjoying our new-look school website and the Connected school app which will keep you up-to-date with all that is going on around the school community. If you haven’t already, please sign up for Connected – see our office staff if you need a hand.
Staff Commissioning Mass
All families are invited our staff Commissioning Mass on Sunday 17 March from 8.30am at St Bernard’s Church. This is a lovely way to support our staff as they are commissioned and blessed by Fr Francis in front of the school and parish communities for the important work they do. Your presence would be a wonderful gift for our staff. After Mass at approximately 9.30am, we will move over to the school for a free morning tea and sausage sizzle. All welcome!
Playground Official Opening
Our Kindy/Pre-Primary playground upgrade is almost complete and is looking amazing! The official opening will be held after the Commissioning Mass and morning tea at 10 am. Please join us if you can for this very special event.
Teaching and Learning
The first five weeks of this term have been jam-packed with learning for students and teachers alike. Our new spelling program, PLD, is now well underway and staff are continuing to work with Mrs Liz Harper, CEWA Literacy Consultant, to improve their practice of taking Running Records and analysing this data to assist with grouping and ongoing instruction. I am so impressed with our staff’s willingness to take on new learning – what great modelling for our students about the value of lifelong learning!
Project Compassion and Lent
Students, staff, parents and parish members marked the start of Lent with our Ash Wednesday liturgy this week. This was a lovely celebration, led by our Year 6 leaders and reminded us that, for the next 40 days, we will be renewing our faith and commitment to God as we prepare for the joyous season of Easter. Caritas is one of the fundraising and mission arms of the Church and the season of Lent is when the annual Project Compassion fundraiser takes place. Each child received a Project Compassion box on Wednesday in which to place any spare coins or donations. Each classroom also has a donation box on their prayer table. The boxes will be collected at the end of term and the proceeds sent to Caritas to assist their work with poor communities around the world. Please support your children to understand the selfless, giving the focus of Lent which can help us all to become better people.
Dispute Resolution Process
Disputes, disagreements or conflict are a normal part of the human experience, but it is how we deal with these issues that define the sort of people we are. I encourage you to discuss issues, as they arise, with the people involved: an open, honest discussion usually leads to a speedy resolution. The first step in issues involving students or classes is to talk to the classroom teacher. If you feel the matter has not been properly addressed or resolved, please make an appointment to see me. Parents should never address students directly and discussions with others not directly involved rarely serves to resolve situations – and can actually harm our school’s reputation in the community. I encourage you to see me if there is anything you wish to discuss, and we will work together to seek a resolution.
I wish you all a wonderful couple of weeks before our next newsletter – and I look forward to seeing you at the P&F Goods and Services Auction, the staff Commissioning Mass and the opening of the Kindy/Pre-Primary Playground.
God Bless,
Mrs Sharon Marino
Principal
