Principal message
Dear community of St Monica’s,
Dear community of St Monica’s It’s lovely to be back at school to see the smiling faces of our students. It’s a privilege to have been able to step out of the school as it has enabled me to return with a fresh perspective. Sometimes when we are in the forest it is hard to see the forest for the trees. I have returned with a clarity that will help us as we begin our strategic plan. In the next newsletter I will be able to report on the recommendations that came from the review and how we will take steps to develop our school improvement plan for the next four years. It is an exciting time for St Monica’s.
This week I met with some of our new prep families starting in 2024. It’s really nice to be able to sit one on one to find out about the interests of each new student, focusing on who they are and what are their dreams and interests. I thank our new families for taking the time to have these chats.
Max Lamb and I have just spent two days in Moama working with Dr Selena Fisk around the use and analysis of data, what data we collect on student outcomes and how we analyse it to inform teaching. Over the next few months we will be working with staff to develop a new data plan based on this new information.
Next week we welcome Sherralee who will work with each class for 30 minutes a week to support the AusLan program. Sherralee is deaf and will authenticate our use of Auslan in our co-learner program.
On Monday I will meet with the School Advisory Council at 6pm. We will welcome new members at this meeting and I look forward to having them on board. If you have yet to send me a reflection of why you wish to participate on the council please be prepared to speak about this at the meeting.
On Wednesday 19th July our 5/6 netball squad will participate at division level. They may then qualify for regional netball competition the week after. In week 3 our football squad will compete. Thank you to Mr Epps for all the organisation required to make this happen. We wish them all the best as they represent our school.
This term our sacramental program continues with Reconciliation (the Sacrament of Penance). For further information see Religious Education Page. The sacrament will be celebrated on Tuesday 22nd August. Please keep these students in your prayers as they commence their preparation.
In week 4 we will farewell Shaun O’ Brien and welcome Cillian Maloney as class teacher for 3/4. Shaun has developed many relationships over his time at St Monica’s and will be sorely missed by our students, staff and families. I wish Shaun all the best with his new professional experience. I am pleased that we will continue to be connected with the O’Brien family through the boys.
A reminder that in week 5 there will be a closure day on Friday 11th August.
Planning for 2024 starts this term with Annual review meetings between staff and the principal. In these meetings staff are given the opportunity to reflect on the professional learning and wellbeing goals they set at the start of the year. I enjoy meeting with each staff member individually to provide feedback and highlight their successes and discuss how leaders can provide support. This is also an opportunity for staff to let me know what their plans are for 2024 so planning for classes can begin.
As we start this planning process it would be helpful to know if there will be any changes to student numbers. So if you are moving next year please contact the office.
We have a number of exiting events happening this term. These include Book Week. The theme is READ-GROW-INSPIRE. It might be good to start thinking about dress ups for the parade that will take place in week 7. The term will end with FOOTY Day on Friday 15th September and in between all that we have Father’s Day, excursions, athletics, parent/teacher/student conversations and Augustine House day(Blue). We will keep you up to date with events through the newsletter and what’s on messages from each unit.
Next week we will be starting Breakfast Club on Friday mornings rather than Wednesday mornings due to staff changes.
The students and teachers have adjusted well to the morning routine change. A reminder that the gates open at 8.30am as usual. Students can drop off their bags and drink bottles in their class rooms and then play outside until 8.50am. When this bell goes teachers will be in classrooms to welcome students and get ready to begin classes at 9.00am.
At this week’s assembly I spoke to the students about how we can influence our lives by how we interact with each other. That a smile can be contagious and may be the highlight of someone’s day. As we start our semester let us remind ourselves of this and aim to interact with an understanding that we are all brothers and sisters, at one with creation. We cannot be Christian on our own. It is through prayer, both individual and communal that we can stop, reflect and consider how we can be the best we can be as we state in our school prayer said at each Monday morning assembly.
None of us is perfect but we can each strive to make the world we live in a better place. May God give us strength and courage.
Warm regards
Fiona Dearn
Principal