Principal's Message

 Dear St Margaret Mary’s Parents and Carers, 

At St Margaret Mary’s we acknowledge the valuable role parents play in supporting their child’s learning. We believe parents are the key stakeholders in their child’s education, an education that is the foundation for their children’s future. 

I wish to thank our P&F Committee and the parents who were able to attend the P&F meeting  last Thursday evening either face to face or via zoom. P&F meetings provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and to contribute to discussions that shape the future of St Margaret Mary’s.

Below is a summary of my Principal’s Report:

  TEACHING AND LEARNING

• Preparation for the SCS School of Rock Creative arts performance is underway. Mrs Jodie McInness is facilitating this wonderful opportunity for StMM. There will be both matinee and evening performances in Term 4 Week One.
• Amadeus Music Program - showcase of musical talent (date tbc)
• Maths Fluency Tasks - all classes K-6 are engaged in daily Maths Fluency tasks - to aid speed and accuracy in number facts.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

Focus for our staff professional learning, is on the new draft Kindergarten to Year 2 English and Mathematics Syllabi to be implemented in 2023. It is important for all teachers to know and understand the research and rationale behind their development and the impact on practice K-10. Years 3-10 draft English and Mathematics to be released later this year or early 2023.

One of our 2022 Annual Improvement Plans  - Goal: to improve student learning outcomes by building teacher capacity. High Impact Teaching Strategies with a focus on explicit teaching - know the curriculum outcomes and the best pedagogical practices for students to increase and reach their learning outcomes. Teachers have been observing each other's lessons with a focus on Writing, Mathematics and Religious Education. The group watches a video of practice and analyse the lesson giving explicit feedback. This is a powerful learning opportunity to develop excellent practice throughout the school.

ENROLMENTS AND STAFFING

• Successful Open Days with good attendance.
• Currently I am interviewing applicants for 2023. We have 22 students currently enrolled for Kindy 2023. Part of the enrolment process is to conduct school tours. I wish to thank the Year 6 leaders for the way they represent our school.
• lllness - Covid, flu. - continues to impact students and staff. Availability of casual teachers will continue to be a challenge with the teacher shortage.
• SCS will soon release information regarding our staffing allocation for 2023. Once we have our allocation we then look at the class structures including specialist classes.

Botany Randwick Network Engagement Opportunities

●  Work Experience - I wish to acknowledge and thank Oscar Costa from Marcellin College for his commitment during his work experience at StMM. Oscar was able to support the students in their Literacy and Maths groups.

●  Stage 3 Debating - the students were given the opportunity to participate in the Botany Randwick Network Debating Competition. Debating will occur over the next four weeks. During week 7 and 8,  StMM will be hosting the competition. I wish to thank the parents who have volunteered to be adjudicators, without their support these opportunities would not be possible.

• Today StMM hosted a meeting of the primary principals to work on a new initiative for 2023. The initiative will see the Stage 3 boys from the local Catholic schools coming together at Marcellin College for various learning opportunities including Hospitality, Science, STEM and Workwork. The lessons will be led by the Marcellin teachers during the boys' sports time on Thursday afternoons. More information will be shared as the project develops. The Stage 3 girls will have an opportunity to work on various projects at StMM.

BUILDING, FACILITIES AND RESOURCES UPDATE

•  Architects are still in the process of drawing plans for the new infants playground.  I will share these plans as soon as they become available.
• New readers for Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2  have been purchased that better support the new English Syllabus.
• Creative play playground equipment purchased for both Infants and Primary
• Awning has been installed near the Year 3 classroom and provides shade for part of the basketball court. This will also give Year 3 a covered outdoor learning space.
• Aluminium seating has been installed on the grass area of the basketball court  
• Undercroft - new curtains on the stage and blinds for the windows
• Timber fence on the top playground. 
• New St Margaret Mary’s sign on front fence on Clovelly Road and a new sign for the parish near the Kiss & Go gate.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT

In response to the 2021 Inquiry and Review Key Improvements Recommendations - “Develop a shared understanding of the school’s strategic direction ensuring parents and staff are consistently engaged in the learning agenda”.

Our vision - Our strategic plan recognises that the best education is one in which parents and carers understand the value of a good education and are active in their child’s learning. We are committed to taking a greater lead in fostering that vital partnership between parents, educators and students. 

Why this matters- When schools and parents work in partnership it means there are:

• increased academic achievements
• increased student wellbeing
• better lifelong outcomes for students
• increased academic achievements
• increased student wellbeing
• better lifelong outcomes for students

I would like parents to consider the prospect of developing a StMM Sports Committee and a StMM Family Faith Committee. I am seeking expressions of interest for parents to join the committees so we can work on greater opportunities in Sporting and in Faith. Please send me an email if you are interested in being part of this initiative.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK? 

God Bless and stay safe.

Pauline Dinale