Principal's Message

Heavenly Father,

grant us wisdom, patience, and gentle hearts

as we guide each child through this time of transition.

Quiet their fears, instill them with confidence,

and surround them with warmth and understanding.

Help us speak words of encouragement,

creating a safe refuge where they feel secure, cherished, and loved.

Amen.

Student Class Placements for 2027

Decisions regarding class placement of students will soon be underway for the 2027 school year. Please note that the school is well aware of the individual needs of each child and will consider these accordingly.

Staff use their professional judgement and a range of information to create an optimal learning environment for all students. Classes are re-grouped each year and students are mixed carefully taking into account:

Academic ability, student learning progress, strengths, and specific learning needs
A fair distribution of gender balance within classes and across the year level
Individual, social, emotional, and behavioural needs, including NCCD data
Students who would benefit from being kept together or separated

All our teachers are trained to teach from Prep to Year 6 and will teach at the year level that best suits the school and students. We are blessed with a highly skilled and enthusiastic staff team, and we are confident that all teachers will meet your child's needs.

Parent Input and Guidelines : We respect and value parent input regarding class placement. If parents have pertinent information or concerns regarding their child’s placement, these should be submitted in writing or via email directly to the Principal principal@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au. It is not appropriate to approach individual teachers or other staff members regarding these matters.

Please adhere to the following guidelines when submitting input:

Submission Deadline: All written requests must be received prior to Friday 30 October. Requests received after this cut-off date are very difficult to take into consideration.
Educational Grounds Only: Requests must provide sound educational reasons supporting the concern. Requests should be made only in exceptional circumstances, rather than as a routine annual occurrence.
No "Teacher Shopping": Personal requests for specific teachers will not be considered. "Teacher Shopping"—requesting a teacher based on positive recommendations from other parents or because a sibling previously had that teacher—without a foundational educational need, will not be granted.
Historical Requests: Requests made in previous years are not automatically carried over. If historical concerns remain relevant for 2027, parents must re-submit this information.

Finalising Placements: Making these selections involves a long, arduous, and non-emotive professional process. We ask parents to be mindful of the significant preparation and time our teachers dedicate to this task.

While leadership seriously considers all parent letters and offers meetings to discuss pertinent thoughts, any request is not a guarantee of placement, as other structural elements may take priority. Ultimately, the final decision for the placement of students rests with the Principal.

Parents will be advised of 2027 class placements in the last weeks of term. Orientation sessions for the new classes will occur in December. Once announced, all class placements for next year are final.

Regards

Brian Martin

Principal