Dear parents, students and families,

Friday the 22nd May was a massive day for our school. In the morning we began our Pentecost Celebration with a whole school Mass. In the middle of the day we hosted Belvedere Park PS for senior sport. Our weekly Winter sport program culminated last week with games against Mahogany Rise PS and our students hopefully enjoyed these weekly games and felt some success, win or lose. That afternoon we had the formal opening of the new senior block. Our school looked magnificent and I thank all classes for their displays as we showed off our wonderful school to our invited guests. My thanks to the members of our own community who were able to find time to attend.

Last week our Year 3-6 students did their swimming lessons which showed development with water confidence, stroke development or both! Last Saturday our students received their First Reconciliation which they had been preparing for. Congratulations to our students and families who I felt respected the occasion of this Sacrament very well. Tonight our Year 6 students taking part in their Confirmation preparation will hold their initial meeting with Fr Martin in the Church commencing at 6.30pm.

On Monday our Year 3/ 4 students had a lesson from a woodwork teacher at school and they all seemed very happy with what they had constructed. Thanks to the 3/4 team of teachers for organising this great activity. Today some of our students who won their way through to the District Cross Country Finals will be competing. We trust that they are successful in completing the course in the best time that they can. Thank you to our sports teacher Mrs Gilling for co-ordinating this.

A further reminder that our staff will be on retreat for Thursday 4th and Friday 5th June where they will be focusing on further developing how we deliver MACS Vision for Instruction on the Thursday and enhancing our prayer practices on the Friday. These days will be student-free and I thank families for making alternative arrangements.

Next Tuesday 9th June our Year 5/6 students will be involved in a Lightning Premiership at Jubilee Park against our local Seaford area schools. Hopefully this will be a great day for everyone and the weather will be kind. I thank the staff involved for organising this.

On Thursday 11th June Mr Sullivan will take out our Marine Ambassadors to learn more about protecting our bay so they can inform the rest of the students. On the same day we will have our termly practice Emergency Drill.

Saturday 13th June is when our students at selected Masses begin to celebrate their First Eucharist. May this be a blessed time for them.

God Bless and enjoy the long weekend afforded by the King's Birthday.

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.

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

Official Opening of Our Senior Building