Dear Families

OPENING SCHOOL MASS AND LEADERSHIP INDUCTION CEREMONY

Yesterday we celebrated, as a school community, our Opening School Mass and Leadership Induction for 2020. Thank you to the many parents, grandparents and parishioners who attended- it was great you could join us. We pray that God will bless and guide us as we begin this new school year at St Francis of Assisi Primary School.

Many thanks to Father James and Father Andrew who celebrated Mass with us. A big thank you to Ms Lisa Conroy, Religious Education Coordinator, our Year 6 teachers who coordinated our Mass and to the staff and students for their preparation. It was a wonderful celebration.

During Mass we inducted our Year 6 students into their role as school leaders. Each child received a leadership badge, and in return, they presented the school with their leadership promise for the year. I am looking forward to working with Year 6 throughout the year as they care for the other members of our school community. A big thank you to the Year 6 teachers for ensuring the students were prepared in taking on this role.

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

It was terrific to see so many parents taking the opportunity to meet teachers and attend our Parent Information Night last Monday evening. 500 sausages were cooked and the turn-out was quite amazing. It is so important that a strong partnership is established as soon as possible between parents and teachers.

I would like to thank the teachers for all their hard work in preparing for this night and for staying back after work to present this information. They are truly a dedicated group of people.

Parents/Teacher Interviews will occur in week 5 which will give you as parents the opportunity to have a sit-down chat with your child’s teacher and express your child’s successes and challenges and what you hope they will accomplish in the 2020 school year.

A note regarding this was sent out last night through SZapp and a link to the booking sheet can be found later in this newsletter.

ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Each year, the school looks at areas of improvement and sets goals based on data and feedback. This year the teachers presented our focus for the year at our Parent Information Night.

We have set 3 areas for review and improvement this year.

1. To improve the quality of writing across all grades.

Our focus will have 2 parts:

• Create greater student efficacy in writing through effective differentiation with a particular focus on extension.
• Strengthen a school wide spelling approach that is consistent and differentiated to suit the needs of all students

2. To improve student achievement by using effective evidence – based/informed practices

• We will use of succinct, displayed visible learning intentions and success criteria which are referred to during lessons to strengthen the teachers’ and students’ understandings.
• We will also enhance clarity, capacity and efficacy in conceptual inquiry by professional reading, professional learning and collaboration.

3. To strengthen student performance in Mathematics

• We will be involved in school based Professional Learning and coaching combined with external Professional Learning focussed on strengthening our capacity to deliver high quality, evidence based instruction that features precision teaching practices.

If you have any questions about our Annual Improvement Plan, please feel free to come and see me.

PLAYGROUP

Playgroup has started again for the year. Our playgroup runs every Monday morning from 9:30 – 11am in our BASCA building with Mrs Liz Shore being the coordinator. Everyone with small children (all ages are welcome) are invited to come and meet new parents, share a cuppa and allow your children to participate in some fantastic activities. Please invite your friends, families do not have to have children in our school to attend, everyone is more than welcome.

Story time is offered before playgroup in the library every morning. Come and meet Mrs Debbie Cossettini (our librarian) and join other children for a story.

HOURS OF SUPERVISION

Please be aware that the hours of supervision are between 8:30 am and 3:30pm. Our morning assembly commences at 8:55am each day and is a great way to gather together as a school community and welcome each other in prayer. Lessons commence each morning at 9:00am and conclude at 3:05pm. on Mondays to Fridays.  When children arrive at school in the morning they should make their way directly to the hardtop area where they will be supervised from 8:30am by a teacher on duty. Children should not be inside the building or in their classrooms before school.

We have noticed that some children are arriving at school prior to 8.30am. The school provides before school care (BASCA) for families needing care for their children before school. Many parents do the right thing and pay for their child/ren to be cared for. If you need to have your child at school before 8.30am please contact BASCA on 62928034.

We also ask that you assist the school in the interests of the pupils’ safety by ensuring that your child does not or remain at school after 3:30pm. Children who remain at pick-up from 3.30pm will be asked to make their way down to BASCA.

EMAILS
I have talked to the teaching staff about when it is appropriate to answer emails. Please know that teachers are not able to check or answer emails immediately. If you have urgent information that needs to be actioned, please email the front office staff. Teachers spend most of their day either teaching your child or preparing for lessons. The staff will endeavour to get back to you by the end of the day however, with meetings etc this is not always possible.

I have also asked the staff to be mindful of their family time. Often emails appear in an inbox of an evening. Teachers will respond when they are back at work the next day.

The teachers are more than willing to communicate with you, however, it will be when they are not busy working with children.

MORNING DROP OFF

Just a small reminder when dropping off children in the morning. Please stop your car and allow your child/ren to exit at the coloured bays near the front entrance. There has been a tendency of late, for some parents to allow their children to exit their cars near the playground gates. These gates will be locked at 8:30am.  Once again we ask that you follow these simple rules which allows the morning flow of traffic to move smoothly and safely for all.

OFFICE HOURS

This year our Front office hours are as follows:

Monday – Thursday 8am – 4pm.

Friday 8:30am – 3:30pm.

Please note that if you need to pay school fees or have issues with finances Susan Rowell, our Finance Manager, does not work on Mondays. She is available on Tuesday – Thursday 8:30am – 2:50pm and Friday 8:30 – 3:30pm.

Peace and best wishes

Kate Markcrow