Dear Parents
I think it is fair to say that we didn’t get the start to the year we all expected! However, the main thing is that we are all safe and well and the disruption was relatively minor and I am very grateful for that. I can’t recall a start to the year where we had a lockdown, serious bushfires close to home and rain on the first day of school. I would like to welcome everyone back, especially our new families. Needless to say, we have had to make a number of adjustments to our original plans and there have been a few date changes. The term planner which was sent out this week, is accurate as of today. Once again, I am very appreciative of the patience and support you have shown during this challenging time.
Gratitude As a part of our school improvement plan this year, we will be focusing on the virtue of gratitude. Much of this will come through the Making Jesus Real programme. However, we will be asking all students, parents and staff members to think of the ways in which we can show gratitude towards one another. It only takes a little effort, but it goes a long way towards making our community a better place. I know at the end of the year, many parents show their gratitude towards the teachers. Maybe, we can try doing it throughout the year. Many students show gratitude towards their classmates by sharing, being inclusive and saying thank you. Maybe they can practice this more often. The teachers have committed to being role models of gratitude towards everyone in our community. I look forward to the results of this important focus.
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”. Voltaire
Parent Information Night This was originally planned for Monday this week, however, it has been rescheduled to Monday 22 February. It commences at 6pm in the hall for all parents and will be followed with two class sessions, one at 6.20pm and one at 7.00pm. Please make the effort to come along and find out what is happening in your child’s class this year. As the information will be of a general nature, please note there won’t be time for individual meetings with teachers. These can be scheduled at any other time throughout the year.
P&F Family Fun Night Our new P&F met yesterday to finalise this year’s welcoming event. In light of everything going on, we have decided to hold an outdoor movie night this year on Friday 19 February on the oval from 7.00pm instead of the usual carnival type event. This will work in well with the COVID restrictions and gives us the flexibility we need, remembering we were in lockdown only last week. We will have a couple of food trucks available. However, families are welcome to bring their own picnics and blankets and spread out on the oval and watch Trolls World Tour. Please remember that no alcohol is allowed on school grounds for this event. Our P&F Executive this year is made up of Candice Ladd and Raelene Kerin as joint Presidents, Dee Wright as Treasurer, Angela Cotellessa as Secretary and Anita Andrews as the Second Hand Uniform Shop Manager. I am very grateful that these parents have agreed to step up and take over the reins from last year’s P&F. We have a new committee and I’m sure they will do great things for our community. As usual, please make sure you support them with their community building and fundraising efforts. It all goes back into making our school a much better place for everyone. All money raised goes straight into our playground upgrade.
Free Dress Day for Bushfires In light of the devastating fires which had an impact on a number of people in our community, we will hold a free dress day this Friday 12 February. Please give generously. All money raised will go to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal which helps those who need it the most.
Edu Dance Programme I am very excited to inform you that we are introducing a new dance programme which is run by a qualified instructor from Edu Dance. This term, the Blue classes from Pre Primary to Year 6, plus 6 Orange will be having lessons every Wednesday. This programme will culminate on Wednesday 31 March at 6pm in the Hall with a dance extravaganza where parents are invited to come along (hopefully COVID restrictions will be lifted by then). It will be high energy and it is an amazing production. Both Kindergarten classes plus the Gold classes will have their lessons and concert night in Term 3. These two nights will replace the traditional assembly nights we have done in the past. I have worked with Edu Dance before and I can assure you they are very impressive.
Ash Wednesday Mass This Mass will now become our first whole school Mass for the year and all parents are welcome to come along. Ash Wednesday signifies the start of Lent, which is a time of penance in our Church. It is a time of reflection as we spend forty days leading up to the highlight of the Christian calendar, Easter. It is also a time of solidarity where we think about those around the world who are not as fortunate as we are. The Church organises Project Compassion through its agency Caritas, where we do some fundraising for those people. Please support this worthy programme.
School Advisory Council (formerly known as the School Board) The first meeting for the year will be held next Monday 15 February at 6pm in the staffroom.
Playground Supervision Please remember that there is no playground supervision before 8am. Students are strongly discouraged from coming to school before 8am and being left unsupervised (we now have the OSHClub which provides before and after school care). Students are requested to wait by the canteen until 8am when a teacher will escort them to the oval for free play until 8.20am. Likewise, after school, students should not be playing in the playgrounds or using equipment unless they are directly supervised by their teachers or parents. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Yours sincerely
Laurie Bechelli