From Mr. Quinn

It was great to welcome Ms. Menz, the Director of Schools, into our school last week. Ms. Menz was keen to go into each room to investigate the children's learning. She is obviously very much in tune with our children's learning priorities and the clear focus around the benefits of a professional learning community. The strategies used at St Mary's are found across all  Diocesan schools which provides real benefits for both staff and students. A common and systematic approach across all schools leads to positive accountability and consistency in the classroom and efficiencies when facilitating the educational budget at a System level. Ms. Menz has a great team around her who build the density of leadership and sense of support in and to our school.

Learning in our classrooms

We are deep into the assessment cycle at present with the students showing their progress in both formal and informal assessment tasks. We hosted Mrs. Jess Scully from the CSO last Tuesday at our staff meeting at which time she continued to unpack the application and benefits of the 'Centralised Guided Resource' which is a fabulous resource developed within the Diocese. This resource enables thorough analysis of student performance and needs within their learning. Last week we focused on reading and comprehension but the resource also includes mathematics and in the future, Writing. Our Year 3 teachers are trialing the resource at present and shared many insightful aspects of their work with the rest of the staff. This will result in the whole staff sharing their knowledge to provide high impact literacy instruction that all are aware of and can see the sense of. Research is clear that when a school has a whole school approach to curriculum areas, utilising all of the knowledgeable others within the staff, strong and consistent improvement is more likely.  This is the best professional development for teachers, that is learning from each other. We will continue with another session from Mrs. Scully at our week 7 meeting.

As I said in our last Newsletter, the building of teaching teams here is well developed and a continual process. The staff meeting work feeds directly into the stage PLT meetings that are held each week and led by Mrs. Stephen. There is a schedule for these teacher meetings each week that is both sequential and cumulative.

I wonder if you have tried the five questions I mentioned for parents in our last Newsletter?

To refresh your memory:

1. What did you learn today?
2. How do you go?
3. What did you do if your didn't understand?
4. How can you improve on your learning?
5. What are you most proud of?

If you haven't started using them I encourage you to try. You will learn a lot about your child's learning and will be able to show very clearly you are an important part of their school learning.

We were able to present the Diocesan Director of Catholic Mission, Mrs. Jacqueline Toakley, the sum of $3200.00 last Monday at our school assembly. Our Mini Vinnies group were very proud of their efforts and wish me to thank all families who contributed to this fundraising effort. The Dance-a-thon/crazy hair day was a great success.

We thank our P&F committee and volunteers for organising our school discos last Thursday. There was a great turn out the the children had an enjoyable time. Behaviour was really positive. Thanks to all parents who both dropped of and collected children promptly.

Finally our first two weeks of kinder transition is completed today. All has gone smoothly and the change of venue into the school library was a terrific idea.

P & F 

FETE Save the Date Saturday 15 November - St Mary's Fete

Wear Your Summer Uniform during Term 4!

Wearing our Uniform with Pride

Thank you parents for ensuring your children wear the correct uniform.  It is very evident that we take pride in our presentation. 

Maintaining a high uniform standards is an important part of our school's identity and plays a significant role in fostering a sense of pride and respect for our school.

Our uniform identifies St Mary's School within the community and develops a sense of school spirit and belonging within the student body.  Some specific uniform requirements, such as shoes, hats, hair and jewellery, are directly related to student safety. The wearing of the correct school uniform is compulsory, and students are expected to arrive wearing it daily, ready to learn. Families are asked to ensure that each item of clothing is clearly labelled.

We thank you for your partnership in this important aspect of school life.