Principal's Report

Prayer Before the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Loving God,

As we prepare to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, we come before You with humble hearts.  We know that You are a merciful and forgiving God, always ready to welcome us back with love.  Help us to be truly sorry for the times we have fallen short,for the wrongs we have done and the good we have failed to do.Grant us the grace to seek Your forgiveness and to grow in Your love.  May Your Holy Spirit guide us,so that we may follow the example of Jesus in all that we do.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

As a community we wish our Year 3 Candidates all the very best as they make their First Reconciliation this week. 

Dear Parents and Carers,

This fortnight I happened upon an article that both shocked and saddened me. It was entitled “Amongst The Worst In The World” - Australia’s Battle Against Behavioural Problems in Schools. I was shocked as the report seemed far removed from the environment at St Margaret Mary’s and saddened to think that so many of our nation's students and teachers are currently feeling unsupported in our schooling systems.

As we continue to work together to foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all our students, this article highlighted that we are on the right track in addressing the issue of undesirable behaviour within our school community. The article cited a recent OECD report regarding disruptive and inappropriate behaviour in classrooms across Australia, with Australia ranking 69th out of 76 countries for classroom discipline. This trend reflects challenges faced by many schools, including the shift in responsibility for teaching appropriate behaviour from families to schools.

While this shift places significant pressure on teachers, it's important to acknowledge that we are already taking a balanced and collaborative approach at St. Margaret Mary’s. Teachers can feel unsupported when behavioural concerns are raised, especially if parents react defensively, but here at our school, we are fortunate to have a strong partnership between staff and families. This partnership is vital to ensuring that our children understand the importance of respectful and responsible behaviour both at school and beyond.

The article also points out that one of the factors contributing to disruptive behaviour is the lack of consistent values around education in Australia's diverse population. This can make it challenging to implement uniform strategies for managing behaviour, as cultural differences and varying expectations play a role in shaping how students and families view discipline. Our school continues to focus on clear communication and shared values, which are key to creating an environment where students can thrive academically and socially.

We are also mindful of the increasing numbers of students with special educational needs, and we continually seek ways to support these students while maintaining a safe and productive classroom for everyone. While there are calls for more training and additional programs to address these challenges, it is clear that a collaborative effort between parents, teachers, and school leaders is essential.

At St. Margaret Mary’s, we understand that addressing behavioural issues is not the sole responsibility of the teacher. It is a shared commitment between the school, families, and students themselves. By continuing to work together, we can ensure that every child receives the support they need to develop positive behaviours and achieve their full potential. 

Warm Regards,

Mrs O’Donnell