Dear Families,

It was disappointing that we were unable to hold our Bunnings Sausage Sizzle last Saturday. I know many volunteers were looking forward to helping out on the day. We will be holding a sausage sizzle at school shortly.

Last Saturday we celebrated Remembrance Day and the guns on the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. The Sunbury RSL always hold a service and local community groups have the opportunity to lay a wreath to remember those who have died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conflict. I would like to thank Jodie Sheedy and the Castanelli family who represented our school by laying a wreath on our behalf. I only hope that all people involved in conflict throughout the world will find a way to peacefully resolve their differences and bring safety and freedom to all.

2024 News

I would like to thank you for your feedback regarding the language that will be taught at St Anne’s . In consultation with our School Advisory Committee, it was decided that Italian will be the language taught from Prep to Year 6. I warmly welcome Carlo D’Amico, who will be teaching Italian to our school community as a new staff member. Carlo has taught Italian and been a classroom teacher at St Anthony’s in Melton South.

We also welcome Stephanie Young to our Staff for 2024. Stephanie comes to us from Coburn Primary in Melton and has had many years experience teaching a range of classes.

Karryn Grunden will be joining us from McEwen Drive Kindergarten. Karryn has had extensive experience teaching children in the early years. She will be teaching a Prep class in 2024.

We welcome Sinead Pearse who has taught at St Bernard’s, Bacchus Marsh. Sinead has been teaching for several years and has had a leadership role as a team leader.

Susan Burke will also be joining our school next year. She recently worked at St Patrick’s Ballarat. Susan may be known to some of our children as she has been replacing teachers during this year.

Jill Marr will be our Numeracy Leader for our children in Prep to Year Two. Jill comes to us from St Joseph the Worker where she has been their Numeracy Leader. Recently, Jill has been working in maths’s intervention at St Anne’s.

We look forward to welcoming these new staff members to our school and I am sure you will join me in this ensuring they soon feel as though they are integral members of our community.

All classes will have PE lessons each term in 2024. Jacinta Fox will teach children in Prep - Year 3 and Justin Cleur will teach children in Year 4-6. Justin is very excited about this opportunity to develop our senior children’s fitness and physical skills.

Our children will meet their 2024 teachers on Friday 1st December.

Next Tuesday our leadership team and members from MACs Northern region Office will be working with us to plan our School Improvement Plan for the next four years. Feedback from our recent School Review, NAPLAN results, MACSIS data and general feedback from staff and children will assist us to identify the areas we will focus on over the next four years.

Our Review feedback was very positive and Emma Richardson, our reviewer was very impressed with our school and community.

The strengths she identified were;

Professional and leadership development are clearly prioritised, and supported through a range of opportunities that are offered to staff. As a result, teachers are engaged and committed to providing the best learning experiences for all students.
The physical environment for students provides a broad range of active and passive play and learning options. Children are able to be mentally and physically stimulated during learning breaks, enhancing both the whole school culture and student outcomes.
Expectations for behaviour are well-known and appropriate responses, strategies and actions are consistently implemented according to policies and procedures.
Learning and teaching structures and practices are providing students with an engaging curriculum which is resulting in consistent academic achievement outcomes.
Engagement with and support from families is positive and enhances the school culture.

Emma also suggested some opportunities for further improvements;

Maximise on the professional culture of continuous improvement and the staff appetite for professional learning by providing tailored opportunities for teachers to gain feedback and enhance their instructional practices for greatest impact.
Continuously monitor and evaluate organisational and leadership structures for impact on wellbeing and improved outcomes.
Enhancing experiences for students to experience working in the service of others, potentially in relation to Catholic social justice initiatives.
Investigation of the potential for links across both learning and outcomes in student wellbeing and Religious Education.

The above feedback will drive our focus for the next four years. Once finalised I will share our School Improvement Plan and 2024 Annual Action Plan.

Positive Behaviour for Learning - PBL

Our focus for the term is focussing on behaviours that we expect to see if we are following our values. Examples may be;

If I’m being respectful I use friendly language and treat others how I want to be treated. If I am being responsible then I am following the directions of adults. If I am being resilient I bounce back when things don’t go my way and if I am being safe I ensure that my actions do not hurt myself or others.

At home you can support us by talking to your children about living out our values. You may want to have the same values at home as we do at school to support our children to meet our expectations.

May God bless you and take care

Ms Noelene Hussey

Wellbeing