Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Week 4. We have a busy week ahead. We are looking forward to celebrating our annual Grandparents Day tomorrow and welcoming our new Kindergarten students for 2025, and their parents, to an orientation morning on Wednesday.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR  & SCHOOL RULES 

We have been reminding our students of the importance of following our school rules and treating each other with KINDNESS and RESPECT. These rules are in place to ensure everyone's safety and to foster a positive atmosphere at St Aidan's. The values that we model and teach are in place to create a welcoming and respectful environment where every student can thrive and feel respected. 

"If we make Kindness a daily activity

we can create a healthy social

atmosphere in which

misunderstandings can be overcome

and conflict forestalled."

Pope Francis 

Fratelli Tutti 2020

CONFIRMATION

Last Thursday, our Year 6 students celebrated a significant milestone: their Confirmation with Bishop Umbers. It was a memorable occasion filled with reverence as the students took another step in their faith journey. The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the Sacrament of Baptism, by which in the laying on of hands and the anointing with Chrism Oil, which first happened at Baptism, we are confirmed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We are reminded of our participation in the ministry and mission of Jesus, and strengthened to follow Jesus more closely. 

I would like to thank Bishop Umbers, Fr Allan and Fr Rafael for presiding over such a significant occasion. Thank you also to Mrs Smithson and Mr Brett for preparing our students and coordinating the Mass. Congratulations to all our Year 6 students on this important achievement.

NEW INITIATIVE - EAT THEN PLAY

After attending a Principal Conference in Christchurch at the end of last term I have returned to St Aidan’s with a number of ideas and initiatives. I would like to share one of these which has proved to be successful after trialing it over the past two weeks with our students.

In New Zealand, students play before they eat. The theory behind this is you fuel to learn, not fuel to play. When the students eat after they play, they then return to the classroom after a break energised and ready for the next learning session. 

The positive outcomes the New Zealand schools are experiencing from this change is that students, after sitting in a class, are happy to come out and play first, not sit for another 10 minutes to eat. A bell then rings after 20 minutes and the students eat. The students are then calm when returning to class and are ready to start learning straight away.

During our trial our staff and students have also noticed these positive outcomes. Our students are going into class calmer. By having a play and then sitting down to eat, the students are more settled when returning to the classroom and are ready to begin learning straight away. 

Overall, the aim for the above change is to enhance the break/lunch experience for our students and contribute to a positive school culture.

Have a lovely week.

God Bless.

Rachel Baker

Principal 

Have a lovely week.

God bless.

Rachel Baker 

Principal

For more information about St Aidan's Catholic Primary School please visit our website http://stamaroubra.syd.catholic.edu.au