From Our Principal
St Mel's is a proud Catholic Education Community, striving, learning
and achieving together through Christ our light.
Newsletter ~ Term 4, Week 6, 2024
Principal's Message:
Dear Parents, Carers, Families and Friends of St Mel’s Primary School,
'Remembrance Day - Lest We Forget!'
On Monday we paused across the school at 11:00am to remember our Servicemen & Servicewomen who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our nation, all those brave men and women serving and those who have served.
School parent and returned soldier, Dan Gleeson, present at the local Shepparton ceremony, laid our wreath on behalf of our school community.
Our afternoon assembly included a special prayer reflection focussed on Remembrance Day, with children, teachers and support staff reflecting on the significance of the day in their Learning Areas.
'Magnify Sandhurst'
Every Student - Every Teacher - Every School - Every Day!
This week three teachers participated in the next Professional Learning cohort in preparation to implement the MulitLit Literacy approach at St Mel's PS in 2025 as part of the Magnify Sandhurst alignment of low variance curriculum across diocesan schools and colleges.
This coming week Danae Napier (Deputy Principal), Di Walker (Leader: Lerner Diversity and Pastoral Wellbeing) and myself will attend professional learning days for school leaders focussed on the new Positive Behaviour and OCHRE Education online 'low-variance curriculum' resources.
Our Staff Team will continue to plan for implementation of Magnify Sandhurst learning and teaching reforms in readiness for the 2025 school year. This includes attending to pre-launch preparation, including students assessments prior to the end of this year. Our teaching and non-teaching staff are to be commended on their continued involvement and support of these changes.
Student Free Day (Planning for 2025) - This Monday 18 November:
As previously announced, there is NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS this coming Monday.
Our Staff Team will engage in Planning for 2025.
2024 Foundation Student Excursion: Shepparton
Our Foundation students and accompanying staff enjoyed an extremely interesting tour around the local area last Thursday as part of their current focus on learning more about Shepparton. The tour included stops at: Monash Park (painted cows), Shepparton Art Museum, Kidstown, the Central Business District and other locations. The children have been busy this week recalling their experience as part of classroom activities.
Foundation Transition for 2025:
Our first two Foundation Transition sessions have provided our new Preps for next year with a taste of schooling and supported them develop relationships with children from other kindergartens and staff from our school.
We look forward to welcoming the Foundation students back on the following two remaining transition sessions:
Session Three: Wednesday 27 November 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Session Four: Wednesday 4 December 9:15am to 10:15am
Prep Information Night: Wednesday 4 December 7:00pm
(Parents / carers only - No students attend)
Statewide Transition Day: Tuesday 10 December 12:00pm to 1:45pm
2024 MacKillop Art Exhibition:
We look forward to hearing of Addyson Almond's experience as an entrant artist in the 2024 Sandhurst MacKillop Art Exhibition.
We congratulate Addyson on her beautiful artwork and wish her all the very best for the judging.
The exhibition held in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, runs from Friday 15 November (Opening Night) until Saturday 30 November 2024.
Supporting Year 1/2 Sleep Over & Year 5/6 Camp:
Given challenges in accessing classroom relief teachers (CRTs) and our Leadership staff already taking on additional teaching roles this term, support of post-activity day arrangements is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to the parents and carers who have been in a position to keep children home following the recent Year 3/4 Kookaburra Camp. We are also very grateful for the parents and carers who are in a position to keep Year 5/6 students home on the day after the Angahook Camp and those able to collect their Year 1/2 students up early after breakfast from the Year 1/2 Sleep Over being held this coming Thursday 21 November.
Colour Fun Run:
What a wonderful afternoon!
Congratulations to all our learners for participating in such a fun, physical activity at school last Friday afternoon. The children certainly enjoyed running the obstacle course, being powdered in colours and marvelling at the end result. Thank you to all involved in raising funds, organising the event (St Mel's Social Committee) and attending to be part of the fun!
A reminder - fundraising can continue up until today and earned prizes can be ordered by today for delivery by the end of the term.
Annual Review Meetings:
These annual meetings focussed on individual staff goal setting, professional learning, yearly review and conversation are currently being held between teaching and non-teaching staff and myself. It is a good opportunity to focus on these prompts and listen to staff members share their experience this year. I look forward to the remaining meetings to come.
Student Progress Reports:
Our teachers continue to prepare Semester Two reports which will be released via SIMON Everywhere (PAM) in a few weeks. A reminder to parents and carers to take an opportunity to sit and read through the Student Progress Report with your child focussing on their achievement and growth across Semester Two (and the year), areas of strength, areas of challenge and opportunities for improvement.
Welcome St Anne's College:
Last Friday morning we welcomed students and staff from our sister school, St Anne's College, eager to make use of our netball court, lawn areas and nearby tennis courts for their physical education program. With facilities still under construction at St Anne's College, we are more than happy to support the college's programs where possible.
Planning Learning Groups & Class Structures for 2025 [Repeat]:
Planning for the approaching new school year is well underway, as we continue to focus on the current year. With enrolments in Foundation and higher grades being finalised and families departing our school community informing us of their intentions, we are seeking to finalise our arrangements for 2025 prior to Transition Day in December, including placement of students in Learning Areas. The composition of learning groups and allocation of teachers (and Learning Support Staff) is a complex process based on many variables including: needs of individual and groups of students, communication with parents and carers across the year, Parent/Carer/Student/Teacher Learning Conversations, student behaviour and social needs, enrolment numbers, teacher availability and expertise, etc... We look forward to continuing to finalise arrangements for the approaching school year along with our implementation of Magnify Sandhurst.
Leaving at End of Year? OR... Know of Families Yet to Enrol? [Repeat]
Thank you to the families who have indicated they will be leaving the St Mel's Community at year's end. This information is very helpful as we continue to make plans for the approaching new school year.
Also, if you know of families yet to approach us for enrolment, please encourage them to do so NOW! We have received interest in the holidays and last week and approaching capacity in some areas.
Student Free Days 2024 [REPEAT]:
Please find following a list of our remaining allowable Student Free Days for 2024 to support your planning for child minding:
Term Four: [REPEAT]
Monday 18 November - Planning Day for 2025
Thursday 19 December - First Aid Professional Learning for 2025
Friday 20 December - Last Day for Staff Team
Notes: The last day for students for the 2024 school year is Wednesday 18 December.
Thank you for ongoing support of our learners and Staff Team.
Stephen 'Steve' Hicks
Principal
Did you know? ~
