From the Principal's Desk
Dear Parents/Carers,
As I begin to draft the second newsletter for the year I am mindful and reflective about the first month of school. Kindergarten has settled in remarkably well. Routines for all grades are established and hopefully the same is happening at home.
I am constantly reminded how busy a teacher's life is when they return to school. On average they attend at least two meetings every week outside of the regular school hours. In addition, they begin to assess the students, reflect on learning needs, adjust their teaching program accordingly and take on additional responsibilities (Mini Vinnies, Garden Club, preparation for sporting events etc). I look at their commitment to their work and your children with the greatest admiration.
In addition, we have our first whole school liturgy this week where the school captains and student leaders are presented with their badges. The captains are also presented with their blazers, needed when attending formal functions, representing the school. They are so excited about their sense of service to the students and school community. I need to congratulate them on their start to a leadership journey that I am expecting to continue well beyond St Paul’s. They will bring a strong sense of belonging to the other students at St Paul’s, which through their influence will offer the children some community which is welcoming and stable in a very complex world beyond the school gate. Bonding of students occurs when they experience an affinity for the school as a place where they are recognised as people and feel linked with others. A significant part of the student leaders' work is to offer support and affirmation for each little person at St Paul’s. The student leaders will come to learn that their presence in the school community is significant to the group and they have a real contribution to make to its Growth. A sense of belonging for our students is naturally nurtured most by the staff and you, the parents.
I am very much aware of how my speech patterns with children should reflect respect for the child and allow the child psychological space for response. I try to model this to staff and the students and this is critical in building nurturing relationships. Maybe there is something here for all of us to reflect on, especially as we begin a new year. The questions below you may find helpful, they have been to me personally.
Do I speak to the situation or the child’s character?
How do I express disappointment or anger with the children?
How conscious am I of the power of the non-verbals I’m using?
Do I acknowledge what the child has said?
Do I invite co - operation in my speech?
Do I use sarcasm?
Do I just be dismissive with the child and not take them seriously?
Go gently,
Michael Reardon
Principal
Principal Awards
Congratulations to the following students who have recently received a Principal Award.
Tobias Lloyd, Charlotte Racca, Veronica Waltisbuhl, Alana Galluzzo, Aiden Polewski, Charlie Miller, Isaiah Marquez, Jordan Talasch, Oliver Lawrence, Chase Flippence, Olivia Costa, William Zaborski, Patrick Joyce, Lara Restaino, Isaac Sammut, Jax Halls, Marlee Evans, Jade Andreata, Zoey Szabo, Ava-Lucia D'Costa, Genevieve Flannery, Lincoln Tulich.
School Cyclic Inquiry Survey Now Open
This year St Paul’s School will be undertaking School Cyclic Inquiry where we have the opportunity to review our achievements over the past five years and to plan for our future growth as a school learning community. This will occur over two days (13 and 19 June) during Week 7 and 8 next term.
Part of the process is the data gathering exercise where we seek reflection and input from the students, parents and staff. Below is the URL link to an electronic survey that will take no longer than fifteen minutes to complete and will be critical to gaining your input. There will be a one week window for the survey to be completed (Friday 16 Feb - Friday 23 Feb).
http://tellthemfromme.com/spc24
Parent Volunteer Orientation
Any parent who wishes to support students in the classrooms during group work, or as helpers at any sporting event or excursion, must complete our parent/carers volunteer orientation. We keep a list of parents who have attended and they remain valid for two years. We have a list at the school of parents who are still current. If you are not sure whether your volunteer status is current, please call the school and we can inform you.
In the past I have run Volunteer Orientation sessions during the day and evening for parents and carers. We always seem to have the need to run additional sessions because parents have missed the sessions. To make it easier on your time as well as my time, we have created an electronic orientation session. It will require parents to dedicate an hour to viewing and completing the activities required. At the end of the session there is a small set of multiple choice questions, once completed by you, finalise your status to be a volunteer. The presentation slides have a voice over by Mrs Hatter, Mrs Brunetta and I as we cover the content of managing student behaviour and Child Protection. This gives greater flexibility to parents as to when they complete the volunteer’s Orientation.
Once the course is completed and your working with children check provided and approved, your status as a volunteer is electronically recorded on our database.
Today we have sent out to all parents the link (also below) to the Volunteers Orientation via a compass alert and I encourage all parents and carers who wish to be a volunteer to complete the course.
https://forms.gle/KdCXvfqaLokT6zvd9
The link will close 3pm on Monday, 4 March 2024.
Information about Parent-Teacher Data Meetings
Monday, 26 February, Tuesday, 27 February, Thursday, 29 February & Friday, 1 March
Bookings are now Open on Compass to book a parent-teacher data meeting. Bookings will close this Friday, 23rd February at 3:00pm.
On Monday, 26 February, Tuesday, 27 February, Thursday, 29 February & Friday, 1 March, parent-teacher data meetings will take place. Please note that they are on site, face to face meetings.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a specific set of assessment data that will give you an understanding of your child’s areas of strength and areas for further development in Reading and Mathematics. The duration of the meeting will be approximately 10 minutes. Your child’s classroom teacher will be providing you with a printed copy of a synopsis of your child’s achievements in this assessment on the day of your meeting.
The assessment data that will be shared with you comes from ACER. ACER is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation with more than 90 years of experience providing quality educational research. The suite of assessments used in the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is called PAT Adaptive. PAT Adaptive helps our school to use assessment data to measure a student’s knowledge, skills and understanding in a subject helps pinpoint where they are in their learning journey and what they need to progress.
Students are not required to attend the meeting with their parents.
If parents are unable to make the scheduled meeting times please contact the school office and arrange a mutually convenient time for a phone conversation with the class teacher.
If you have any further questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
Information about Parent-Teacher Personalised Plan Meetings (PP Meetings)
Monday, 26 February, Tuesday, 27 February, Thursday, 29 February & Friday, 1st March
Important change for parents and carers with children who have a Personalised Plan (PP): Please note that this year the PP meetings will be held concurrently with the parent-teacher data meetings. Please read the information above and book a meeting via Compass. The classroom teacher will discuss your child’s data for reading and Mathematics and will then discuss with you their draft goal/s and strategies as recorded on your child’s PP to further support them with their learning.