Plans for 2026

Plans for 2026 are well and truly underway. In 2026, we will have 14 classes:

Year Prep x 2 – located in Rooms 5 and 6 (current location)
Year 1 x 2 – located in Rooms 1 and 2 (current location)
Year 2 x 2 – located in Rooms 3 and 4 (currently location)
Year 3 x 2 – located in Rooms 9 and 10 (current location)
Year 4 x 2 – located in Rooms 22 and 23 (current location)
Year 5 x 2 – located in Rooms 16 and 17 (current location)
Year 6 x 2 – located in Rooms 20 and 19 (current location)

This structure allows for growth and student movement and provides opportunities for teachers to work in teams. Students and teachers will work closely, sharing spaces and strengths when appropriate. It is important to remember that all teachers have other administration duties alongside their classroom responsibilities, which may require them to be released on an ongoing basis. A great deal of thought and planning also goes into the placement of each teacher. Often a classroom teacher can be considered “The Prep Teacher” or “The Year 6 Teacher”. However, this is not the case. Staff at St Justin’s have the training, and more importantly the passion, to teach students at a variety of levels.

Next year, as with all years, there will be movement within the school - please see below. In planning, it’s wonderful to hear staff talk about all students and not just those in their class or their year level. A great deal of thought is also given to the placement of each child – a decision that is not taken lightly. We endeavour to provide each child with the opportunity to be part of a class that will allow him or her the best opportunity to learn. Consideration is given to each child’s social and emotional needs, ability, behaviour, friendship groups, etc. Individual needs and a whole school perspective must be considered.

However, having said that, with our connecting classrooms accessed via doors or sliding doors and our large playground, our students are more able to engage and interact with students and teachers from other classes. We are a community of learners and we learn for, from and with each other. This includes us all and not just a selection. It is exposure to a variety of personalities and qualities that help us develop as a whole person. In some schools, students are asked to nominate 5 or so ‘friends’ that they would like to be with in the following year. However, some schools have found that this has created a great deal of anxiety for students and it can send the wrong message that “I can only learn if I am with my friends”. Likewise, some schools have asked parents to make any formal requests in writing. Again, this has created a great deal of anxiety with parents, some who feel the need to write something, simply because there has been an invitation. We believe that with our ongoing communication, staff are in a position to make an informed decision. Life is sometimes, not about being in the perfect situation, but making the most of the situation we are in. With many goals still to be achieved until the end of the school year, we will continue with our plans for 2026.