Principal's Report

School Newsletter Term 2

    Week 4, 2024

Principal - Kylie O’Donnell

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you to those of you who braved the weather and joined us for our Family and Confirmation Commitment Mass last Saturday. It was a lovely celebration, made even more special by the participation of our Year 6 students who are embarking on their Confirmation journey.

The children demonstrated their dedication by assisting with the readings and offertory, adding a meaningful touch to the celebration. As they prepare for this significant milestone in their faith journey, I ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Your support and encouragement are invaluable as they continue on this path of spiritual growth.

Uniforms

Winter has officially arrived, bringing with it chilly mornings and the need for our jackets and jumpers. I remind you that children should now be in full winter uniform with no combinations of winter and summer. As indicated in each grade's curriculum notes, our sports days remain the same this term, so children should only be wearing their sports uniform on Wednesday and Thursday.

I'd also like to remind everyone about the importance of labelling all your uniform items. A simple name tag can make a world of difference! Not only does it ensure that your child's belongings find their way back home, but it also fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership. 

General Behaviour

Yesterday at the first break, Miss Frost and I had to speak to our year 3 -6 students regarding their conduct and the importance of demonstrating respect and good manners towards both their teachers and peers. At St. Margaret Mary's, we take great pride in the exemplary behaviour of the majority of our students. However, our teachers have observed a number of instances where student behaviour has fallen short of our expectations.

We've identified a few areas where we need to focus our efforts: speaking when the teaching is addressing the class, disrespectful gestures such as eye-rolling when given instructions, not taking care of belongings, making inappropriate comments and speaking rudely to peers, hands and feet on others during break times, and not participating in whole school activities like prayer.

We know to fully address these behaviours, we require a collaborative effort between home and school. Therefore, we appeal to you, to remind your children to treat others with kindness, empathy, and respect at school and beyond.

SCECS News

Please note that our before and after school care provider is in search of a new director. Kat Lai has made the decision to pursue new opportunities, and the SCECS team is now initiating the recruitment process for a new director for the STMM Service.

Social Media 

In recent weeks, the media has reported information and opinions surrounding the appropriate age for children to access various social media platforms. Amidst this dialogue, I recommend turning to raisingchildren.net.au for its wealth of reliable information and sound advice on parenting.

Additionally, I'd like to direct your attention to an insightful article titled "Are they old enough?" currently featured on the eSafety Commissioner's website. This article offers valuable insights and considerations for parents navigating the complex landscape of children's online presence.

By staying informed and utilising reputable resources, we can better equip ourselves to guide our children safely through their digital journey.

Inter School Public Speaking 

This week, I had the privilege of listening to the Stage 3 finalists deliver their speeches, and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed. The confidence, and depth of expression displayed by our students in public speaking was exceptional.

Among the eight finalists, each one presented themselves with such poise and conviction that I found it difficult to choose a standout candidate. Their preparation and delivery were impeccable, leaving no doubt that any of them could represent our school at the next level of competition.

One of the optional topics was whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be considered a friend or foe. The students who chose this topic showcased a sophisticated understanding of the implications surrounding this cutting-edge technology, discussing both its positive and negative impacts with insight and clarity.

Moments like these reaffirm why I love my job – witnessing the incredible potential and capability of our future leaders. It's truly inspiring to see the intellectual curiosity and  articulation of our students, reminding me that our future is indeed in safe hands.

Congratulations to Harrison Casamento in Year 5 and Nathaniel Lynch in Year 6 who will be representing STMM when we host the semi finals next week.