Newsletter ~ Term 4, Week 8, 2024

Principal's Message:

Dear Parents, Carers, Families and Friends of St Mel’s Primary School,

'Magnify Sandhurst'

Every Student - Every Teacher - Every School - Every Day!

Our Staff Team continues to engage in professional learning and preparation in support of the Diocesan-wide Launch of 'Magnify Sandhurst' to be held on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

Last Thursday Di Walker (Leader: Learning Diversity & Pastoral Wellbeing) and myself participated in a professional learning day focussed on the new 'low-variance' behaviour support curriculum which will enhance our approaches to encouraging desired student behaviour and addressing student behaviour of concern. Our Staff Team will be involved in further professional learning in this curriculum early in the new year.

On Friday Danae Napier (Deputy Principal) and I participated in a professional learning day focussed on new 'low-variance' OCHRE Literacy and Numeracy curriculum resources which will be implemented across our school from the start of the 2025 school year.

Currently staff trained in the MultiLit Literacy approach (Foundation to Year 2) are engaged in assessing students in preparation for implementing MultiLit across Foundation to Year 2 from the start of next year.

These significant curriculum reforms involving all CESLtd schools and colleges are designed to enhance learning, behaviour and wellbeing outcomes for all students. This is an extremely exciting time to be an educator in our diocese, state and country, with education sectors across the country, and indeed, internationally aligning their curriculum, learning and teaching approaches underpinned by the latest research in neuroscience and learning.

'Magnify Sandhurst'

Please find attached a letter from Kate Fogarty, Executive Director, CES Ltd Sandhurst in relation to 'Magnify Sandhurst'.

Foundation Transition for 2025:

Next week our new Foundation students for 2025 will participate in their final transition session prior to the Statewide Transition Day when all students will move into their Learning Groups for a taste of things to come the following year.

We look forward to welcoming the Foundation students back on...

Session Four: Wednesday 4 December 9:15am to 10:15am

and again on...

Statewide Transition Day: Tuesday 10 December 12:00pm to 1:45pm

2025 Prep Information Night:

A reminder our parents and carers of students commencing in Foundation (Prep) will gather in the St Mel's Hall on Wednesday 4 December from 7:00pm.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to continue to get to know one another, school staff and receive information in support of the new school year.

We look forward to meeting with our Foundation parents and carers on Wednesday next week.

Year 6 Graduation Mass & Picnic Tea:

Our annual Year 6 Graduation Mass is scheduled to be held Thursday 12 December in Christ the King Church (St Mel's Parish church) from 6pm.

Following the celebration of Mass & celebration of our Year 6 graduates families will gather in the school grounds for a BYO Picnic Tea. We look forward to sharing in this special occasion with our Year 6 students, parents, carers, families and friends.

Staff Planning Day:

Our Staff Team gathered in prayer prior to focussing on the context of the coming school year in terms of embedding elements of 'Magnify Sandhurst'. Teachers spent time further reviewing class groupings prior to visiting online 'Magnify' resources and engaging in preliminary planning for the coming school year.

Annual Review Meetings:

Over the past few weeks I have met with almost all staff for these annual meetings focussed on individual staff goal setting, professional learning, yearly review and conversation in support of continued renewal and development. I am extremely pleased with the manner in which staff have engaged in these professional conversations focussed on their respective roles and contributions to the safety, wellbeing, learning, development and growth of our students.

Student Progress Reports:

Our teachers continue to prepare Semester Two reports which will be released via SIMON Everywhere (PAM) in a few weeks. A reminder to parents and carers to take an opportunity to sit and read through the Student Progress Report with your child focussing on their achievement and growth across Semester Two (and the year), areas of strength, areas of challenge and opportunities for improvement. The release of Student Progress Reports is planned to take place on Monday 9 December 2024.

Parish Volunteers Gathering:

An end of year 'Pot Luck Dinner' gathering for St Mel's Parish volunteers will be held at the St Mel's Parish House on Wednesday 11 December from 6:00pm. Please bring along a dish to be shared for the meal and BYO drinks. We look forward to celebrating a year of volunteering in and around the parish on the night!

Leaving at End of Year? OR... Know of Families Yet to Enrol? [Repeat]

Thank you to the families who have indicated they will be leaving the St Mel's Community at year's end. This information is very helpful as we continue to make plans for the approaching new school year.

Planning Learning Groups & Class Structures for 2025 [Repeat]:

Planning for the approaching new school year is well underway, as we continue to focus on the current year. With enrolments in Foundation and higher grades being finalised and families departing our school community informing us of their intentions, we are seeking to finalise our arrangements for 2025 prior to Transition Day in December, including placement of students in Learning Areas. The composition of learning groups and allocation of teachers (and Learning Support Staff) is a complex process based on many variables including: needs of individual and groups of students, communication with parents and carers across the year, Parent/Carer/Student/Teacher Learning Conversations, student behaviour and social needs, enrolment numbers, teacher availability and expertise, etc... We look forward to continuing to finalise arrangements for the approaching school year along with our implementation of Magnify Sandhurst.

Supporting Year 1/2 Sleep Over & Year 5/6 Camp: [Repeat]

Given challenges in accessing classroom relief teachers (CRTs) and our Leadership staff already taking on additional teaching roles this term, support of post-activity day arrangements is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to the parents and carers who have been in a position to keep children home following the recent Year 3/4 Kookaburra Camp, Year 1/2 Sleep Over and Year 5/6 Angahook Camp.

Student Free Days 2024 [REPEAT]:

Please find following a list of our remaining allowable Student Free Days for 2024 to support your planning for child minding:

Term Four: [REPEAT]

Thursday 19 December - First Aid Professional Learning for 2025

Friday 20 December - Last Day for Staff Team

Notes: The last day for students for the 2024 school year is Wednesday 18 December.

Thank you for ongoing support of our learners and Staff Team.

Stephen 'Steve' Hicks

Principal

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