Joey’s Matters

A Message from the Principal

Mrs Pauline Long

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Principals' Meeting

Last Thursday and Friday I attended the diocesan Principals’ meeting in Armidale. This meeting was an opportunity to learn more about School Leadership. We were fortunate to have an outstanding address from the Vice Chancellor of the University of New England, Professor Brigid Heywood on Leadership. She stressed the need to build strong teams and take advice from other leaders. She also spoke about Leadership for the community and the importance of understanding the context of your community. We are so fortunate here at St Joey's to have such a supportive community where families work in partnership with the school.

 

This meeting was also a chance to reflect on our success as a diocese and a school in improving student learning opportunities and outcomes. Over the past six years there has been a systematic approach to School Improvement. All schools have introduced and continued to refine evidence based practices.  At St Joey’s we:

  1. Have daily uninterrupted Literacy & Mathematics blocks.
  2. Visible Data walls assist staff to help each student at their point of need.
  3. Students requiring extra support are case managed & intervention programs such as MiniLit.
  4. Teachers use effective teaching strategies such as the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model which requires explicit modelling, shared activities and then allows students to work more independently.
  5. Learning Intentions & Success Criteria guide all lessons and also help provide relevant feedback to students. 

We can be very proud of the results our school has achieved over recent years. This year we have a higher percentage of Infants students reaching Reading Benchmarks than ever before. In the Primary our NAPLAN results indicate we have a higher percentage in the top two bands than the Diocesan & National averages. 

 

To continue to improve we need to work together in partnership. Over the next two weeks teachers are keen to have a phone conversation with parents & carers to celebrate the growth in your child’s learning and to explain our plans for catering for each student's learning needs next year. So please get onto COMPASS and book your time slot; it is not too late!

 

Presentation Day

This Thursday, we have our annual Presentation Assembly where students will receive class and school awards. Unfortunately, this year parents are not able to be present but we will be taking lots of videos and photos for you. A full list of award recipients will be in next week's newsletter, on our facebook page and published in the local paper.

 

Year 6 Graduation Dinner

I am pleased to announce we are able to have the special dinner for our Year 6 students and family members at the RSL Club on Monday 13th December.  Notes were given to the students today with all the information and payment instructions. I look forward to celebrating with our students and families on this special occasion.

 

Have a happy and safe week

Pauline Long

Principal