Principal's Message

As we come to the end of Term 1, I hope that you take the opportunity to reflect on your daughter’s/son’s application and progress over the term. Year 7 interim reports are available to parents via Compass. Year 12 have just concluded their HSC assessment block last week and Year 11 are currently engaged in their assessment block this week. Marking and feedback from these tasks will be available early in term 2.

There are many ways for parents and carers to be informed about their daughter’s/son’s progress and application. Parents and carers have the availability of direct contact with their daughter’s/son’s subject teacher simply by contacting the College office on Phone: 8522-1500 and requesting a meeting. Parents and carers are also encouraged to attend the Parent/Teacher Interview evenings that are happening during Term 2.

Details for Parent- teacher interviews - Term 2

• Year 12 parent teacher Interviews - Wednesday, 22 May (3.00pm - 7.00pm)
• Year 11 parent - teacher interviews - Tuesday, 4 June (3.00pm - 7.00pm)
• Year 7  parent - teacher interviews - Thursday, 4 July (3.00pm - 6.00pm)

Term 2

The first day of classes for Term 2 will be on Tuesday, 30 April. 

All staff - including our office & support staff will be engaged in a staff development day on cultural competency on Monday, 29 April. Please contact the College office before the end of the term if you need your child to be supervised on the staff development day.

Founder’s Day - Friday, 10 May

We look forward to celebrating our Founder’s Day in the second week back of term 2 on Friday, 10 May. We will be celebrating mass as a College community on this day at 9.30am at St Aloysius Parish Cronulla and I warmly invite parents and friends to join us for mass on this day. More details of the day will be provided by our Dean of Mission - Mrs Therese Hughes for students and parents.

Paul Dillion - Alcohol & Drugs - talks to Year 11/12 Tuesday, 21 May 

Paul will be at the College to speak to Year 11 on ‘Alcohol and cannabis: What if something goes wrong?’ and to Year 12 on the topic of: ‘Last year at school: What do I need to know about alcohol and other drugs?’ on Tuesday, 21 May in the College hall. 

Paul has been working in the area of drug education for more than 25 years. Through his own business, Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) he has been contracted by many agencies and organisations across the country to give regular updates on current drug trends. He continues to work with many school communities across the country to ensure that they have access to good quality information and best practice drug education. 

Road Safety Messages - in conjunction with Sydney Catholic Schools/Transport for NSW

I provide the following important road safety information to parents/carers to ensure the safety of all students across years 7, 11 and 12 coming to and from our College.

Headphones, Mobile Phones and Secondary School

There is increasing concern about the near trance-like state people can apparently enter while using mobile phones and or headphones. Psychologists call this ‘divided attention’ or ‘inattentional blindness’.

Looking at the mobile phone screen or being distracted by sound coming through headphones can make a pedestrian forget about looking out for cars and miss sounds that could warn of danger and approaching traffic. If your child uses these devices, talk about these safety tips;

●    Put your mobile phone away when you are on your way walking, to reduce distractions.

●    Be alert! Always stop, look, listen and think before stepping out onto the road.

●    Check for vehicles entering and leaving driveways.

●    Don’t answer text messages while crossing a road.

Safe Travel for Secondary School Students

During our years in secondary school, we experience many exciting changes, like becoming a safe independent traveller.  Being a safe, independent traveller means being responsible for:

●    managing your own safety as well as looking out for others;

●    focusing on what’s happening around you;

●    planning and managing your time so you are not rushing and making unsafe decisions;

●  removing your earphones and putting your phone away when crossing the road or walking along the train platform; and

●     accessing, reading a timetable, and safely using public transport.

Walking to school safely

●     Plan and practise walking routes.

●     Identify safe places to cross the road.

●    Look out before you step out, and remember to Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time you cross the road.

●     Use crossings and footpaths, where possible.

●     Take your earphones out while walking.

●     Put your phone away so that you are not distracted.

●     If no set footpath is available, face oncoming traffic and walk at a safe distance as far away from the edge of the road as possible.

●     Watch out for vehicles entering or leaving driveways and cars reversing in car parks.

●     Avoid heavy traffic areas, if possible. 

How can parents and carers help? 

Encourage your child to be organised for school the night before, and leave plenty of time to travel to school so there is no need to rush.

Remind them to put their devices away to limit distractions and to stay alert to potential dangers in the traffic environment. Discuss with your child: 

●     what to do when they're running late, miss the bus or train, lose their travel pass, feel unsafe travelling to and from school, or it’s wet weather;

●     a few responses your child could use if encouraged by others to act unsafely.

Secondary Students Staying Safe as a Pedestrian

We want to emphasise crucial pedestrian safety messages that every member of our school community should keep in mind:

1. Be a Responsible Pedestrian: Whether you're walking to school, to the bus stop, or to a friend's house, it's essential to be responsible. This means following traffic rules, using designated crosswalks, and paying attention to your surroundings at all times.

2. Choose a Safe Place to Cross the Road: Not all spots on the road are safe for crossing. Make sure to choose areas with clear visibility, such as intersections or marked crossings. Avoid crossing between parked cars or near bends where drivers may have limited visibility.

3. Stop, Look, Listen, and Think Every Time You Cross the Road: These four simple steps can save lives. Before stepping onto the road, stop and make sure no vehicles are approaching. Look both ways to ensure it's safe to cross. Listen for any oncoming traffic, especially if visibility is limited. Finally, think about your decision and proceed only when it's safe to do so.

4. Stay Alert, Stay Focused, and Stay Aware: Distractions can be deadly when crossing the road and around driveways. Keep your eyes open, listen, and think, it's crucial to stay alert and focused on the task at hand.

By following these pedestrian safety messages, we can all contribute to creating a safer environment for pedestrians in our community. Let's make every day a walk safely day!

Travelling Safely on the Bus

Bus safety is extremely important, and your child should be aware of how to travel safely on buses.  Most students catch a bus, either to or from school or on excursions.  The following are good tips to remind your children about bus travel:

●     Always sit quietly on the bus.

●     Buckle up if the bus has seatbelts.

●     Do not distract the driver.

●     Do not put any part of your body outside the bus windows.

●     Stay seated.

●     Place schoolbags etc., out of other people’s way. 

Reminders for Catching the Bus

Parents and carers are responsible for their child's safety on the way to and from school. Always supervise your child until they are at least 10 years old and hold their hand when walking to and from the bus stop or interchange, and when crossing the road.

Get on board with these tips.

●     Don’t rush for the bus. Follow traffic signals and cross the road with care.

●     Avoid distractions by putting phones and headphones away.

●     Stand back from the kerb when waiting for a bus.

●     Wait until the bus has gone then find a safe place to cross the road.

Stay Safe When Waiting For the Bus and When Exiting

For those who rely on the school bus as their mode of transportation, we want to highlight three critical pedestrian safety messages:

1. Stand Well Away from the Kerb When Waiting for the Bus: When waiting for the school bus, it's essential to stand well away from the edge of the road. This ensures your safety by providing a buffer zone between you and passing vehicles. Stand back from the curb, ideally at least three big steps away, until the bus comes to a complete stop.

2. Wait Till the Bus Has Gone and Then Use a Safe Place to Cross: After exiting the school bus, it's important to wait until the bus has departed before attempting to cross the road. Once the bus has left, use a designated crossing. Never attempt to cross in front of the bus or between parked cars.

3. STOP LOOK LISTEN THINK every time you cross the road: Before crossing, look out before you step out, don’t assume drivers will always stop for you and check that the driver has stopped before stepping out.

By following these three safety messages, students who travel by school bus can minimise the risk of accidents and ensure a safe journey to and from school.

We encourage all students, regardless of their mode of transportation, to stay safe.  Let's continue to work together to keep our school community safe!

General Road Safety Information

Starting Secondary School

We all hope our children will have a happy, successful experience at secondary school. Parents can help their children have a greater chance of thriving (not just surviving) at high school by considering the helpful tips.

Safe Travel to and from School

Discussions about road safety don't stop just because your child is starting high school. Ensuring that your child is confident about how they will travel to and from school will strengthen their feelings of security at the beginning of the year.

●    If they are travelling by bus, ensure they know what bus number/s they will catch.

●  Talk about what to do if they miss the bus, emergency contact numbers and that they can only accept lifts with your permission.

●   If they are walking or riding, practise the route with them before school starts.

●   The School Bus Safety: How Parents Can Help - brochure can provide more information about travelling safely by bus.

Visit www.safetytown.com.au for more road safety information and to help keep your child safe. Share the information with all the adults who care for your child.

Facebook/Instagram

If you haven’t already, please follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We use these social media platforms to keep parents/students/teachers informed on what’s happening at our College.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support of our College during term 1. I wish all of our families a relaxing holiday break.

God Bless and Up Up Cronulla !!!

Stephen Mahoney

Principal