Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the 2024 school year. The start of a new school year is always a time of new beginnings and opportunities; this year is no exception. I am pleased to report we have had a very calm and settled beginning to the school year, with students in great spirits after the holiday break.

First and foremost, I want to warmly welcome all our new and returning students, families, and staff members. Our school community is enriched by each of your unique talents, perspectives, and experiences. Together, we create an environment where learning thrives and everyone is valued and respected.

We are also excited to see the official beginning of the school year for our foundation ELC classes. These students began in the Hall on Wednesday and Thursday and have loved being a part of school life. My thanks and appreciation go to our ELC staff, who have adapted our hall to become a beautiful learning space for an interim period while our ELC building is completed. This is scheduled for completion in the first week of March.

Parent and community involvement is crucial to the success of our students and our school. We encourage you to get involved through volunteering, joining our Community Council, or participating in school events. Your engagement and support make a significant difference in the lives of our students and are shown to enhance your child’s progress. The average impact of the parental engagement approaches is an additional four months’ progress over a year. There are also higher impacts for students with low prior achievement. If you are interested in reading more, visit Parent Engagement.

We will hold our opening Community Council meeting in Week 4 and then call for any new members to replace current members who have stepped down at the end of 2023. Watch this space.

Change to Pick Up Arrangements 

This year, we will trial a change in pick-up areas and routines just a little to take us closer to our pre-COVID routines. We are asking teachers to dismiss their students from the classroom and ask them to WALK to their pickup areas. They are as follows: 

• Peace Garden – all students who will be using the drive-through pickup option are to head to the Peace Garden where they will be supervised by two staff members. Students will sit in the shade in the grade groups. Pickers will begin at 3:15 pm in the drive-through ring road.6 of our classes open onto the peace garden. Please do not stop on the ring road until the cones are removed in the afternoon. This creates traffic congestion on Casey Cres.
• Classroom Pick up – some parents may wish to pick up outside their child/rens If you wish to use this pick-up option, we ask that you inform your children which classroom they will need to meet you at each day.  Wait outside the classroom (not in the breakout spaces), as this allows the teachers to complete end-of-day tasks with minimal distractions.
• Peace Garden Pick-Up – some parents may wish to continue using the Peace Garden pick-up, which means that those students also head straight to the Peace Garden.
• Walkers – walkers are to meet outside the old canteen near the hall and are not to leave until the teacher on duty walks them along the ring road to the corner of the school.
• Early Bus/Crossing – all students catching an early bus and those crossing the road at the crossing can leave class on the 3 pm bell. They meet the teacher on duty at the end of the Year 2 block. The teacher will walk them to the road and watch as they cross the road at the supervised crossing or walk to the bus stop around the corner.
• Bus – all other bus students are dismissed at normal time and are to walk to the fake grass at the end of the Year 2 block and wait for the bus teacher to walk back up and meet them. They will be taken to the driveway to wait for the bus and supervised by the teacher on duty.
• Bikes/Scooters – those students either biking or scooting will walk to the bike area, put on their helmet, walk their bike to the outside of the school (walkers or back gate) and follow teacher instructions.

We are doing this to give our students the opportunity to be somewhat more self-aware and self-directed. We ask that you discuss these new routines with your children as we will do so in the classroom environment. 

Phones 

We are now asking that ALL students who bring a phone to school take their phone to the front office and place it in an envelope with their name on it for safekeeping for the day. The students may come and pick up from the office in the afternoon. Early leavers may come before 3 pm and the remainder of students may come after the 3:05 pm bell. 

PIN Information

On Monday, Week 3, 12^th Feb, we will have our Parent Information Night (PIN) on the Hardtop from 5:30 pm. A compass notification will go out early next week with more information and a link to a form to register your attendance for catering purposes.

Google Translate

Do you speak a language other than English at home? Did you know that our newsletter can be translated into over a hundred languages at the click of a button? Simply look for Google Translate at the top of your newsletter and select your preferred language.

Lastly, I want to emphasise the importance of open communication. We value your feedback and ideas. Please do not hesitate to contact teachers, staff, or myself with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Together, we can ensure that this school year is successful and rewarding for everyone.

Thank you for being a part of our St Francis of Assisi School Community. Here’s to a fantastic 2024 school year!

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Principal