Principal Reflections
Dear Parents and Carers,
Our Language of Behaviour Support
At St Ed's, we aim to work collaboratively with families to ensure the best outcome for their child. To provide a consistent and supportive approach across the school, we would like to share some information taken from our Living Well, Learning Well Policies and Procedures. Here, you will learn about our philosophy on behaviour support and the language we use.
Our Three Rules for Living
Central to a positive approach to academics, behaviour and wellbeing in Armidale Catholic Schools are our 'Rules for Living':
I am safe
I am valued, respected and cared for
I am a learner
These rules help us describe productive and positive behaviours as those that promote safety for themselves and others, show consideration, and support learning and well-being.
When behaviours diminish safety, care, or learning, we describe them as unsafe and/or unproductive. Instead of focusing on predetermined consequences, our approach is about understanding and support. We ask: "How do we support this student in replacing this unsafe/unproductive behaviour?"
Staff in the Diocese of Armidale Schools use a language of behaviour that prompts a structured decision-making process when there are concerns about a student's welfare, including their observed behaviour.
For behaviours typically labelled as bullying, we refer to them as unsafe behaviours and conduct a risk assessment. We avoid terms like "allegation," "perpetrator" and "victim" in favour of explicit language that outlines unsafe actions, associated risks and strategies to reduce those risks.
We understand that students sometimes feel there are no consequences for others' actions because they don't see a physical or immediate outcome. However, it's essential to know that just because you don't see a visible consequence, it doesn't mean that adequate support and strategies haven't been put in place to help students replace unsafe or unproductive behaviours. Our focus is on long-term support and positive change. Of course, we require the students and their families to respond to the support shared to ensure that the level of risk of a repeat of the behaviour is managed.
Our three Rules for Living are central to everything we do here at St Ed's. Our entire staff works diligently every day to ensure our students feel safe, valued, cared for, respected, and are learners. We need your support and engagement to continue providing the best possible outcomes for all students in this setting.
For more detailed information, our Living Well, Learning Well Policy and Procedures document, along with other school policies, is available on our website.
Semester Reports
Our teachers are diligently working to finalise report grades and comments, drawing upon their ongoing teaching, learning, and assessment of each child. The reports will be available on Compass on Thursday, 26th June. Before you read your child's report, here are some key considerations:
Each grade on the five-point scale reflects your child's achievement against the NSW syllabus outcomes for their specific learning stage. It's crucial to remember that this is a measure against set standards, not a comparison to other students.
To determine these grades, teachers have utilised various assessment methods, considering all material taught up to this point, to ensure the grade accurately represents the student's current understanding and skills.
Below, you will find a detailed description of the knowledge, understanding, and skills typically demonstrated by students at each grade level.
The inclusion of social skills in semester reports reflects how a student navigates interactions in a way that fosters an environment where everyone feels safe, valued, respected, and cared for. Developing strong social skills, such as collaboration, communication and respect, demonstrates students' ability to contribute positively.
Kindergarten 2026 Interviews
Over the past few weeks, we have held interviews for our 2026 Kindergarten cohort. It is always lovely to meet new families and prospective enrolments for our school, as well as have the opportunity to talk about the fantastic staff, students and families here at St Ed's. Once again, we have a strong interest in enrolment, which is a testament to the excellence of our school community.
Thanks again for your support,
Keep smiling,
Alison Hatton
(Principal)