Dear Families

Our students have continued to settle in well with their new teachers and classmates. It is pleasing to listen to our students as they articulate what and why they are learning and how they can improve in their learning.

Most classes have co-created ‘Bump It Up Walls’ which provide the students with examples on what they need to include in their writing if they want to show growth. Please pop in to the classroom to have a look at these.

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

Friday 6th March

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

In 2020 each of our Year 6 students will carry out a Leadership role. Some students will lead curriculum areas while other students will lead meetings with all of our classes to gather ideas on how to improve our learning environments and playground.

Eithne King and myself are looking forward to working alongside each of our Year 6 students during the year.

OPEN DAY

We held our first Open Day on Tuesday and welcomed some new families to our school. I would like to acknowledge our School Captains (Christopher and Jessica) and School Vice-Captains (Harly and Ava) for speaking to our visitors about many of the opportunities students have at our wonderful school. These students exhibited strong leadership while speaking and conducting school tours.

WELCOME DINNER

We are hosting our 2020 Welcome Dinner tonight. I am looking forward to meeting our Prep parents, new parents with children in other classes and some of our new staff at this event.

Thank you to Eithne King for coordinating and setting up this event.

Joanne Desperles for designing our invitations.

FOOD ALERGIES

Please remember that some of our students have specific food allergies. We are a ‘nut aware’ school so please do not send food containing nuts. Also, some students are allergic to eggs therefore we ask that egg sandwiches, boiled eggs, etc are not sent to school.

Thank you for your understanding of the needs of all of our students.

CONDOLENCES

On behalf of our school community I would like to pass on our thoughts and prayers to the Higgins and Ryan families.

John Higgins - Stella (5/6D) and Marcus’ (1/2WK) dad passed away recently

Jack Ryan’s (3/4S) uncle passed away recently

Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your heart.

School Fees

Your 2020 school fees accounts were sent home on Monday. Please make a time to come and see me if you are experiencing difficulties paying your account. All discussions with me regarding school fees are completely confidential.

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS

Semester One

We advise parents that the following 3 days have been designated as School Closure Days in the first semester of 2020. Staff will be undertaking professional development on Friday 6th March and Friday 5th June.

PLAYGROUND UPDATE

Our cubby houses are nearing completion. The next stage for this area of our playground is for the installation of shop fronts and the development of a vegetable garden.

I would like to thank our Parents and Friends Association for providing the funds to make these projects possible.

A BIG thank you to Phil Wilson (dad of Henry and Olivia) who has designed and built our cubby houses.

CURRICULUM INFORMATION EVENING

Parents are expected to attend our Curriculum Information Evenings

Prep (Wednesday 26th February at 6-7pm)

Years 1-6 (Thursday 27th February 6-7.30pm) Year 1/2- 6pm, Year 3/4- 6.30pm and Year 5/6- 7pm

These sessions provide an opportunity for you to work in partnership with the school to support your child’s education.

During these sessions parents will have the opportunity to listen to expectations (eg. behaviour, homework, uniform) for the 2020 school year and to meet your child’s class teacher.

Students in Years 3-6 are encouraged to attend this evening with their parents.

SOME IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

We encourage students to arrive at school no earlier than 8:30am as they are not supervised by school staff before this time. Camp Australia runs a fabulous program both before and after school if you need to drop off any earlier than 8:30am or pick up later than 3:30pm. Please see their website for enrolment information. Some students are arriving at school as early as 8am or before!

Car parking

We remind parents that there is no parking in the school car park, and that the area behind the hall needs to be clear at all times, as we need access to the back gates of the oval.

We congratulate the Mathers family who ‘bought’ a car park last year for Term 1 at our Trivia night and have been using this car space daily. Watch out for the next auction of a space, you might just be able to buy one yourself!

Unexplained Student Absence - Notifying the School Office of Student Absences

It is essential that parents contact the school either by phone, from 8am, via email - absent@hfmw.catholic.edu.au, or via the Skoolbag App, if your child will be absent from school. Parents who do not contact the school will be sent an SMS in the morning, and will be followed up with a phone call throughout the day seeking clarity on the whereabouts of their child.

As a means of saving our administration team from making multiple phone calls we ask that parents contact the school to advise of student absences.

If a child is to be absent for a number of days then parents are asked to advise the class teacher. This may be applicable to family holidays, extended periods of illness etc.

This process has been put in place as a matter of safety for the children in our care. We thank parents for your support of this new procedure.

Head Lice

We have had a number of reported cases of head lice throughout the school. At this time of year they are very active. Please remember to check your child's hair regularly and treat if required. Remember that you are required to keep your child at home until the Lice have been treated.

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