Dear parents, students and families,

Last week we had our Grandparents' morning and warmly welcomed about 200 extra special visitors joining us. I thank them all for coming to share this special time with the students as I'm sure many had to travel some distance. Having now been here for over 10 years there are many grandparents I have got to know reasonably well over that period and I really do enjoy catching up. Thanks again to the members of the Parents and Friends who catered for the occasion - your efforts were gratefully appreciated.

Thursday and Friday were school closure days and I thank parents for making alternate arrangements knowing what a challenge this can be. We worked with Fr Elio Capra on using the creative arts to enhance our Religious lessons for the students and the next day we looked at strategies to enhance learning in Numeracy as part of a current MACS initiative.

This week we have held our Year 3-6 swimming program which concludes tomorrow. On Saturday many of our Yr 3 students will be receiving their First Reconciliation. This important Sacrament of forgiveness continues their Catholic faith journey. We also welcome back Fr Martin from his annual leave and hoped he enjoyed family time in India.

Next week we have some key events which we look forward to:-

Year 5 Transition Day at John Paul College On Tuesday where our Year 5's get a chance to find out a bit more about how high schools work, whether they intend to attend JPC or not
The Division Cross Country at Hastings is on Wednesday afternoon for those students who won their way through at the Seaford District Cross Country
Our annual House Sports are on Friday as is our Pentecost Liturgy in the hall at 2.45pm.

Thanks again for a wonderful week, and we look forward to what’s ahead!

God Bless

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 a reason 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

Wellbeing

Look on the Bright Side!