Principal's Message
Dear parents, students and families,
In this time of Lent remember the Ashes that were placed on your forehead last week as a symbol of humility, penance and our commitment to becoming better in our attitudes, values and actions.
Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend last week's parent/teacher meetings on-site. Staff have expressed how nice it was to connect children with their families.
Our first open morning for prospective 2024 Foundation enrolments was held on Monday and we had a record 9 new families in attendance. Including our 26 siblings we have another 20 expressions of interest so far. Our final school open morning is on Monday 27th March should you have anyone you know who has expressed interest.
Our Foundation students have nearly finished their first full week of schooling. While I was conducting the school tor on Monday it was expressed by the visiting families how settled both our classes are for students who have done under 20 days at school. A credit to themselves, their families and our staff!
Our School Advisory Committee met last night for the first time this year. This group's role is to provide advise on developments within the school and helping to set future direction. It is a pleasure as principal to work with them and Fr Martin to the betterment of our students.
Tomorrow is our House Cross Country which families are welcome to attend. I thank Mrs Ary for her organisation of this as it is an important event where she selects our squad to represent us at the District Cross Country later in the year as well as providing a bit of fun for many of the students who do not find running such a thrill but are prepared to have a go to support their House.
Next Monday our Year 5 and 6 students head into Melbourne until Wednesday. they will be staying at the CYC City camp and enjoying a variety of activities within Melbourne. I thank Miss O'Donnell, Mrs de Veer, Mr Bright and Mrs Brooking for their care of our students and for juggling their own family time to be able to attend.
Next Thursday and Friday are school closure days as previously advised. I have spoken with Moira who will operate Happy Kids in the Hall on both those days should you require it. Our staff will have professional learning on Literacy on Thursday and RE with musician Andrew Chinn, looking at the Liturgical calendar, on Friday.
The following week we have Labour Day on the Monday before our Year 3 and 5 students commence the annual NAPLAN testing from Wednesday 15th March. Catholic Education Week commences on March the 12th and concludes with a mass at St Patrick's Cathedral on St Patrick's Day when schools from across the Archdiocese gather and celebrate Catholic schooling. We will be represented by Miss O'Donnell, our 2 School Captains, 2 Vice Captains and 2 Liturgy Leaders.
What a busy start to our year!
May peace be with you,
Rod Shaw
Principal
School Attendance and Unexplained Absence
Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on 9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with areason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.
If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school and collect a late pass.
If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.
As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:
Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.
If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.
If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.
Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.
This is a legal requirement.
Democratic Principles
The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:
(a) elected government; and
(b) the rule of law; and
(c) equal rights for all before the law; and
(d) freedom of religion; and
(e) freedom of speech and association; and
(f) the values of openness and tolerance