Dear Parents & Guardians,

Naturally, I’d like to begin the first newsletter for Term 4 by welcoming everyone back to the busiest term of the academic school year.  As the days go by in Term 4 the deadlines get closer, the demands for social events to celebrate the end of the year require planning and then happen, teacher interviews for new staff happen, planning for teacher professional development in 2020 begins, Kindergarten Orientation for the 2020 cohort occurs and many other matters that haven’t come into my head as I sit and draft this newsletter.  In addition to this, we keep pushing ahead with teaching your children, trying to keep the students focused on their learning right up to the last week of school. Now I’m scaring myself! In all seriousness though, this is quite a stressful time for staff as they try to keep all the balls in the air, at the one time and naturally your support in trying to do this will be helpful. Quite often with highly stressful times come reactive actions and we must all watch for this, support each other and focus on solving the problems that arise rather than blame.

I’m sure, like last year, we’ll do a good job together as we attempt to deliver all the above.

Now for some exciting news, that makes me very proud of our school community.  Our NAPLAN results for 2019, overall, are the best the school has had since 2008.  If it was only Year 3 results or only Year 5 results, then maybe, one could argue that it was just a “bubble year” with a strong cohort of students.  This quite often happens. However, the results for both Year 3 and Year 5 largely reflect each other. I am of the belief that this has been due to a significant change in classroom practice at St Paul’s that commenced under Mrs Sillis’ leadership.  The teachers have engaged in a comprehensive capacity building program, especially in how we teach reading, both decoding words through a focused approach on phonics (linking sounds to letters) and phonological awareness (hearing sounds and being able to hear the difference in sounds) as well as the explicit teaching of comprehension and writing.  I had heard from parents occasionally, that the teacher of their child had been away a lot. Usually they weren’t away, they were being trained in the above to build their capacity as educators to make a greater difference to your child’s learning. The end product of that is our best NAPLAN results in the past ten years with the school being above the state average in all areas, in some areas more than 15 points above.  This is a huge turn around. The mathematics results, whilst above state average, were not significantly, an area of the curriculum that has just begun to be a focus point this year. The table below clearly outlines a school that is beginning to show considerable strength in it’s curriculum delivery and student performance.

Year 5 NAPLAN Results

Year 3 NAPLAN Results

It is always very rewarding when one can see tangible evidence of a positive outcome for the hard work the teachers and students do.

Go Gently,

Michael Reardon
Principal

School Disco

This will be held on Friday, 1 November 2019.  By now everyone should have received the details and information.  Whilst there is no specific theme, children can feel free to come in dress up or any clothes of their choice.  This will be supervised by the teachers and Mrs Harb is assisting with the planning and organising parent helpers for handing out drinks and chips. Parents are to follow the directions carefully, to drop their children off and leave straight away, otherwise parents can get in the way of our supervision as the children may not see the teachers as being responsible for decisions concerning their behaviour.  This way, everyone has a good time and the expectations on behaviour are from the school which will be consistent for all.

We Now Have Lego Tables Next to the Hall

The P & F have generously paid for two special tables to be constructed that have been placed near the stage in front of the hall.  I now need to fill the special tray with Lego. This will mean that many of our students will be able to enjoy construction at play time.  With our limited play space, it gives the students another opportunity to be creative with their play during the lunch time breaks.

If there is any Lego at home just gathering dust and no longer used at home we would love to have it.  I’m only after the Lego blocks, not other pieces such as trees, people, curved pieces, windows etc.  I ‘m also not wanting particular Lego kits as the pieces will get lost or even taken and this will then become an issue.

I’m also only wanting official Lego blocks not other generic types, as this enables consistency when restocking the lego trays as pieces will eventually go missing and will need a top up.

I’ve already ordered some blocks for the tables, naturally if this can be supplemented with additional blocks from home, the greater opportunity for the students.

I’m also after some of the Lego mats for the students to construct on. Please send those through as well if they are lying around at home as well.