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Dear Parents and Community,
Thank you for your continued support of the school and the work you do with your children. It takes a village to raise a child. Next year the school is under review and we will go through some formal processes that are based around strategic planning for the next five years and the formal registration of the school. As a school we set our strategic planning around what we refer to as the SIRF Rubrics. (School Improvement Renewal Framework.) The strategic planning is supported by Catholic Education Melbourne staff and an external reviewer who is yet to be appointed. The formal registration side of the review, if it is anything like the Northern Territory, usually involves, government representatives attending the school for a day or two and reviewing all the formal documentation the school is meant to have, which can include policies, permits, insurances, induction processes etc. We will communicate to the community when we have firmer dates as we will need to have one extra closure date for the review. We have attached a survey to this newsletter so we can get some really good data going into the review.
This week, myself and a number of staff have taken part in Edutech, which is an annual conference for Technology and Education that has gone online this year. It is always a challenge to get past the sales pitches, but I have listened to some really good speakers. Some interesting things I have heard so far. From Pasi Sahlberg (ex head of Finland's Education System). Australia has one of the best education systems in the world, but the gap between the rich and the poor is getting larger, so our poor are becoming more disadvantaged. Australia' students spend more hours at school then anywhere in the world. 11000 hours compared to the average of 9000 hours by junior Secondary. Finland is 9000 hours. In all the countries, there is no correlation between hours at school and results. Extra hours at school does not mean better results. Finland, which is one of the highest performing systems in the world, also has very little homework or none at all in primary and secondary schools. From Adrian Piccoli, head of the Gonski Institute, Australia is the the third highest country for private money spent on Education, only Turkey and New Zealand are higher. In Australia, there is an increase in students coming to school not school ready with some of this put down for the increased time children are spending on technology and less engagement in conversation and communication. For me, this goes back to oral language being the most important thing when a child starts school. It is their ability to talk and communicate that is the best indicator of their likely success at school.
Take Away Lunches: There seems to be an increase of parents dropping off hot lunches for their children at school. eg Hot Wings, fish and chips, McDonald's, KFC etc We do not know where this came from as this is not something we encourage and really would not like to see at all. Schools are places of education, especially healthy eating and these foods are fine for home etc, but not for school. The student has to eat these away from other students to avoid jealousies, so this also creates work for office staff. So if you do have to drop off lunch for your child can we make it healthy choices please.
School Photos: This Friday we have School Photos. Not the greatest time as shoes and other uniform items are worn, outgrown etc waiting for the Christmas holidays purchase for new items. However, we do ak that all students be in correct uniform this Friday. The staff photo is at 8:30 am, so the gates will be closed while that takes place. All photos will be outside due to the Covid Restrictions.
Staffing News: After many years of service, Janet Bohan has informed me that she will retire at the end of the year. Janet has had many positions at the school, most note-ably as the Deputy Principal. We thank Janet for her time and energy she has given the school and wish her all the best for the future.
We will also be saying goodbye to another long serving staff member this year with Trish Roberts also retiring at the end of the year. Trish is currently our Learning Diversity Leader, but has spent many years as a classroom teacher at our wonderful school. Trish is being replaced by Hannah Power, who some parents will start to meet soon as she will be attending our next rounds of Parent Support Group Meetings. We wish Trish all the best in her retirement as well.
God Bless and Stay Safe
Anthony
2020 Parent and Guardian Survey
Dear Parents and Guardians.
2021 is our Review Year and we would like to have some great input from our families about the direction of the school. I think of our work with Dylan Wiliam this year about feedback and the most important feedback of what helps us get to the next level. As he puts it, instead of looking in the rear view mirror, let's look ahead to where we want to go.
Our School Review will have 5 dimensions
- Religious Dimension Sphere
- Learning and Teaching Sphere
- Leadership and Management Sphere
- Student Well Being Sphere
- School Community Sphere
We do ask, that comments about individuals be avoided as all staff and the School Board will look at the results together.
Although we will not be able to respond to every request or recommendation, we will be looking for themes and ideas that appear regularly.
So... if you have some ideas of how to make a great school greater, we would love to hear them.
Anthony Hockey
Principal.
Dear God,
I come to you asking for your help in keeping me strong and healthy in body, mind and spirit.
I thank you that because you created me you know my inner thoughts. You know all of my fears, my hopes and my dreams. You know my past, present and future. Only you know my personality and you know all of my emotional needs.
I pray that you will help me handle my emotions well. I thank you that you understand my feelings and that you hurt when I hurt and you rejoice when I rejoice. Comfort me when I am hurting. Calm me when I am distressed and anxious. Heal me when I am broken. Show me how to handle stress.
Guide me how to keep my life balanced. Open my eyes to activities that can replenish my mind and spirit. Connect me with others in meaningful ways. Deepen my friendships, strengthen my family ties, connect me with other Christians. Help me care for my body and keep it strong. Help me to eat well and keep fit.Most of all, draw me closer to you. Fill me with faith, trust, love, grace and peace.
Let me sit at your feet in your presence, safe and secure in You.
Amen.
Strengthening Connections Coming out of Lockdown
For most of us the last few months have been like living in a washing machine. The speed of change has been bewildering and we have no compass to guide us in the world we have entered. But our tradition and our experience as Catholics concerned to model our lives and to shape our world by Jesus’ values do offer us some ways of finding a way through it.
Joseph’s Corner is offering a 5 week group workshop to explore what it means to feel connected as we move into a ‘Covid normal’ world. During this workshop, they will identify the ways we are connected and how to create, maintain or improve those connections.
If you are interested, please see the flyer for more information.
Christmas Masses
Fr Greg advises that he will let school parents know on Friday Dec 4th what will be happening in regards to Christmas Masses.
**** Please be aware that Father Greg is on annual leave from Sunday 1st November until Saturday 28th November ****
Thank you from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Dear Greg
Thank you for your generous donation to the ASRC Foodbank.
Our Foodbank operates as a free grocery store for people seeking asylum who live in our community. The ASRC Foodbank's unique model enables people to choose their own items, providing access with dignity to food they can’t afford to buy. With your support, we provide food to approximately 700 people each week, most of whom rely on us as their sole source of food. Many of these people are denied the right to work and earn an income, while others receive insufficient income to cover their basic needs. Sadly, this is increasingly the case, and the call on our service is growing.
Giving food is the most immediate and tangible way to support people seeking asylum, and your generosity inspires us. The majority of all groceries and material aid is donated by generous supporters just like you. We can’t operate our programs without your compassionate contribution.
Thank you once again for your support and generosity. It truly is invaluable.
Karen and the Foodbank team.
Karen Quist
Food & Goods Donations Coordinator
As we get ready for Christmas you may have heard a few whispers about some special artwork the children are working on, we will have more news on that next week so keep an eye out for updates!
Lunch Orders
A quick reminder that lunch orders need to be submitted via your CDF Pay account https://smwilliamstown.cdfpay.org.au/
All orders must be in by 9.30am on Tuesday or Thursday, and to help with planning you can order a couple of weeks ahead.
Please don’t contact the lunch order supplier as they are unable to process any orders after the cut-off which is 9.30am.
If you experience any issues with CDF Pay please contact David Valerdo treasurer@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
Show Bags
LAST ORDERS EXTENDED – If you have missed out on getting your showbag order in on time you now have until Thursday 7pm to submit your order https://stmarys.showbagworld.com/ . The showbags will arrive on Friday, which would have marked our Fair weekend, more details on collection will be posted on Thursday via Schoolzine App.
Thanks for all the wonderful donations received so far for the Christmas raffle. You still have time to contribute. What we are looking for now are mainly:
* Bottles – wines, cordials, vinegars, sauces which can be put into a hamper
* Condiments – jams, pickles etc
* Xmas pantry items – anything special and Christmassy
* Vouchers etc
Please remember that food items need to be within expiry date to be donated.
Tickets will be available to purchase from next week!!!