Assistant Principal's Page

Focus of The Week:  

Week 5 - We Use Our Manners At The Canteen. Lastweek our focus was on using our manners when we we are interacting with other people, either at school or out and about. One area where it is very important to display manners at school is when we are going to the Canteen. Using our manners shows our respect for both ourselves and those whom we are talking to. Our Canteen managers and the other people serving at the canteen always treat students with respect, and we thank them by speaking politely and showing our manners to everyone at the canteen. Using manners at the Canteen means taking our turn, being polite to adults and other children, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and waiting quietly and patiently for our turn.

When we are using the canteen we must remember to:

• Line up correctly and quietly
• Always use the words 'please' and 'thank you'.
• Only buy for yourself
• Only be at tuckshop if you are purchasing
• Only 2 children to collect lunch tubs
• No canteen on wet weather days

Week 6 - We Follow The School Rules On The Playground.  This week we are looking at 

how we play safely on the playground and how we treat others through our play.   It is very important to be aware of the rules of the playground, and to follow these rules for everyone’s safety. Feeling safe and included at school is important for all students, and this week our focus is on making sure that everyone feels included on the playground.  We do this by being aware of our words and actions towards others.

When we are on the playground we must remember to:

• Stay in our own play areas for everyone’s safety.
• Only play ballgames at Recess and Lunchtime in the ‘walk through’ areas, as straying footballs, soccer balls or basketballs may injure children as they move to their areas after entering the school.
• Include everyone who would like to play in our games.

Lost Property: As the year draws to a close, I am conscious of the number of items we still

have in Lost Property.  These items do not have names on them, or have names of children who have left and handed down their clothing.  Mrs Catherine Garnon does an amazing job of reconnecting lost clothing with their owners, when she is able to find a name on the item!  As of this week, Mrs Garnon is bringing a selection of items from Lost Property out to our morning assembly to see if we can both reacquaint items with their owners, as well as reduce the number of items that have not been claimed.  If you are missing jumpers, coats, sports jackets or trousers, drink bottles, lunchboxes or any other item that may have ended up at school, please remind your child/ren to either have a look for them in Lost Property, or keep a close eye on the items that are presented at the morning assembly.  Hopefully the Lost Property shelves will be bare by the end of the term! Any clothing that is left unclaimed at the end of the School year will be donated to the Clothing Pool.

Orientations:  This Friday will be the last of our Kindergarten 2024 Orientation sessions. It is lovely to see how settled our prospective new students are, as they get ready to tackle the formal world or Education!  As our Kinders come into school, our Year 6 move on to the next chapter of their education.  Our Year 6 students who will be attending James Sheahan in Year 7 next year will have their final Orientation Day next week on Thursday 23rd November.  Students will come to school as usual, then will be taken to Sheahan by bus for the day.  They will be returned to McAuley in time for afternoon buses.  If your Year 6 child is not going to Sheahan next year, there will be supervision for them at McAuley on Thursday.  While we are losing our current Year 6, our Year 5 students are preparing to take over as our future school leaders.  They will have their grade Retreat this Thursday, followed by their Leadership Preparation Day next Friday, 24th November.  We wish them well as they begin their transition into this very important role during their final year of Primary school.

Visitors:  Over the past few weeks we have been lucky enough to host two Student Teachers from different Universities, but on the same grade!  Last week Mrs Renee Collett completed her final practicum in Year 3B with Mrs Agresta, while this week, Miss Paris Donnelly, who has been working with Year 3M, Mr Hudson and Mrs Follett, will finish her practicum. Next week we are delighted to welcome Miss Belinda Agresta to McAuley to complete a week of Work Experience across the school.  We thank our student teachers for all they have contributed to McAuley and wish them well in their teaching profession. Hopefully Belinda will also enjoy her experience as an educator and choose to follow this very rewarding path!

Scholarship Successes:  We are very proud of three of our students, who have been awarded scholarships at the Orange Regional Conservatorium for 2024. Congratulations to Sarah Stone, Catherine Stone and Cynthia Palmer. Their hard work has paid off and we are delighted with their success!   

Assemblies This Term:  As we have had to postpone so many Class Assemblies throughout the year, we have had to schedule some of our Assemblies on a Thursday as well this term!  As we have Grade Retreats both Thursday and Friday this week, we will not be having any Grade Assemblies. Our next Assembly will be hosted by KM next Thursday, 23rd November at 2.10pm.  Please check the upcoming events to see  further Assembly dates.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Robyn Petty