Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
I thank you all for supporting your children at home with Remote Learning. I fully appreciate that this may have been challenging and at times frustrating for you. The manner in which our teachers have prepared, delivered, engaged and supported our St James students has been wonderful.
Not only has Victoria experienced a shift in how education is delivered but whole education systems across the world have as well due to the pandemic, where the treadmill of education has stopped. Maybe the treadmill as we know it, may change and be altered. Maybe valuing each individual, collaboration and thriving in partnership together will be a lesson of the lockdown/pandemic at home and at school.
In the past fortnight and even during our remote period last year you would have seen that our teachers have been focussed upon creating the conditions for our children to flourish. This takes time to respond to create a new normal, to reinvent and revitalise learning that is based not on output / scores, but a culture of learning that values each child.
As a school Principal and as a father of four children, I fully understand that teachers who reinvented and revitalised learning touched and formed each of them. They, the kids (and teachers) were all different with different talents. How fortunate were we to have teachers who stimulated and recognised their individuality and depth of talent. Their Catholic education brought forward their personality and allowed them to flourish.
The Acting Premier announced yesterday that schools in metropolitan Melbourne will return to onsite learning on Friday 11 June, alongside a further reduction in restrictions for regional Victoria.
As mentioned in the email sent Monday 7th June, the school closure day for Term 3 planning is on Friday 11th June. This has been advertised on the school newsletter from Week 2 Term 1, and has also been available on the school Parent portal.
We look forward to seeing the children back at St James on Tuesday 15th June.
Semester 1 Reports
Your child’s report is a summary of the data collected this semester.
As per the requirement and regulations for educational settings, schools are to provide parents with written and oral reports.
Students are assessed against Victorian Curriculum’s state wide outcomes for each subject to determine their rating and progress. As a school we believe in the importance of you knowing where your children are academically.
Families will receive access to view student Semester 1 reports on the nForma portal late afternoon Monday 21stJune.
Parent Teacher Interviews
To honour the report, you are invited to the Parent and Teacher Interview, which is conducted each year at the end of Semester 1. These interviews will be conducted online or via phone on Thursday 24th June, afternoon/evening.
Please see instructions on how to book a Parent Teacher Interview on the Deputy Principal's page.
Early Dismissal – Afterschool Care
Interviews will commence at 1:30pm Thursday 24th June and school will be dismissed at 1:00pm. OSHClub will be available for families who require afterschool care from 1:00pm – 6:00 pm. OSHClub Bookings are required prior to Thursday 24th June.
https://www.oshclub.com.au/st-james-oshclub-brighton-vic/
Ph. 0412 570934
Also please note that the final day of Term 2 is Friday 25th June, and students will be dismissed at 1:30pm. OSHClub will also be available on this day.
Faith in our Future
Brendan