Principal message

Dear community of St Monica’s,

 

Welcome to 2024!

I hope that the road to the new school year for your families was full of excitement and you are all ready to bring your best to 2024.

Under medical advice, at this stage I will be on leave until the end of February.

 

Please support the leadership team as they navigate my absence. 

A letter from Kate Fogarty (Executive Director, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd) will be emailed to families regarding the appointment of an Acting Principal.

 

As I  was not able to be present over the past two days in preparation for the year I shared the following vision with staff.

 

Principal vision

Excellence through collaboration and teamwork- when we work together we multiply our impact!

Deliberate decision to create structures that allow for collaboration in planning ( 2 hours together out of 4 hours class focus time)

It is important that we each talk to people directly if we have questions, queries around decisions, actions. It is healthier to ask directly then talk with someone else about them- address concerns directly with the people who can make a difference depending on concern- we are all in this together!

You will notice that curriculum leaders all have a teaching load. This is so that we have a working alongside model rather than a hierarchical model. Students are at the centre of all that we do, whether we are teaching, supporting or leading.

Having leaders in teaching roles endeavours to  enhance collaboration and support, at the coalface along with you. Learning about students and challenges faced by staff every day. We all continue to learn.

Furthermore as a result of last year’s review the leadership team have committed to developing  their skills in coaching and mentoring through professional development at the end of term 1. 

Our aim to model for our students a safe environment in which we can take risks in our teaching and learning in order to improve student outcomes.

This builds transparency through communication which results in capacity building.

In the same way modelling what you expect in the classroom as well as explicit teaching of expected behaviours including looking after your learning environment, the state of your room, your presence, It is important that your students know what your expectations are. 

It is important that as a school we set high expectations and that we work together to monitor and achieve them whether that is behaviour, dress, or student outcomes. We set the benchmarks. Let us aim high for ourselves and our students. All students can learn given time and support.

My vision is to have students who have a strong sense of self, of who they are and what they bring to team/school. They don’t know what they don’t know so we immerse them in experiences to stimulate their natural curiosity about the world around them. Our inquiry units are about a process of inquiry not just sharing of information. Let us give our students opportunities to really find out about their interests. Let’s pique their interest in areas that we have brought to their attention.

Let is provide opportunities for sharing of ideas and dialogue. Let us set up our classrooms so that this is easy- turn and talk is regular and possible whether in seats or on the floor. Recently I read an article about seating arrangements in classrooms. I have always been a believer that group tables are best for collaboration. However recent research by Nathaniel Swain suggests that table rows are supportive of behaviour management and focus and if set up in such a way that 4 students can group themselves by turning around you have the best of both. When making decisions be deliberate and know why you’re doing it.

Let us also support our students who struggle outside. We have the opportunity for staff to run clubs at lunchtime for students who need respite from the crowded  playground. We will be working closely with Gradey Rowe from CES who will support us to support our students who are neuro divergent. Wellbeing of staff and students is a priority in 2024.

Let us bring our collective strengths to this endeavour, to our work and to our teamwork. Together we are more effective. 

Later today we will identify our strengths and what we bring to our teams within the school.

I am excited. I hope that you are too.