Principal's Report

As we did in Term 1, we recently surveyed our students to ‘check in’ on their important personal and collective opinions about their safety, learning and respectful behaviours. Under the relentless banner of Living Well Learning Well, our Stage 2 and 3 students responded to an identical online survey to compare their Term 2 opinions to their first term responses. Similarly, the Stage 1 and Kindergarten students responded in paper format as a means of ‘checking in’ with our younger children to be sure that they too are feeling safe, valued, respected and cared for with a strong focus on learning.

The Stage 2 and 3 children responded on a 6-point scale - see below.

In summary and out of 69 children, 89% feel safe; 85% feel cared for; 87% feel a strong focus on their learning; 86% feel supported by adults in the classroom, and 78% feel they have a voice in their learning and wellbeing at the school. Interestingly, the student voice section has declined since the first term survey and gives our team of skilful helpful adults a clear area for ongoing improvement to seek out and act on student voice in the classroom because the research shows it to be a powerful factor in improving learning engagement.

In Stage 1 and out of 34 responses, the children were overwhelmingly positive about feeling safe, having a strong focus on learning and knowing which adult to speak to if they need help - see below.

The Kinders were also able to articulate their positivity about their personal safety, learning behaviours and feeling cared for - see below.

As a distinctly catholic school, we are very proud of our First Holy Communion children who are now able to join us at the table of Eucharist after a high quality formation process led by Father Glesson and Ms McMenimem. Thank you to the parish team that supported this important step in the faith life of our children at St Joseph’s School.

We have a big week ahead with the Fun Day of Team Colours and the School Disco next Thursday 23 June and the Whole School Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thank you to Ms McMenimem,  the SRC team and the P&F for their hard work and preparation in anticipation of three highly valued whole school events.

Stay well and keep warm!

May God go with you

Geoff McManus

Principal