Principal's Message

 Dear Parents,

At the Term 3 Parent & Friends Forum meeting, I shared an update on two key priorities from our School Strategic Plan that are driving improvement across our school. These priorities reflect our commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, while ensuring every student feels safe, supported and valued within our school community.  

Priority One: Enhancing Pedagogical Frameworks and Improving Student Writing 

This year, our staff have continued to strengthen teaching and learning through the implementation of the CSBB Curriculum, Assessment and Pedagogy Framework (CAP), Curriculum Reform initiatives, and the Religious Education Curriculum. These frameworks provide a consistent approach to high-quality teaching and support improved learning outcomes for all students.

A significant focus within this priority has been the improvement of student writing achievement. Our goal is to ensure every student experiences high-quality teaching that supports growth and success in writing.  

We are achieving this through:

• Building teacher expertise through targeted professional learning in writing instruction.
• Establishing consistent writing expectations and assessment practices across the school.
• Providing daily opportunities for students to engage in meaningful writing experiences.
• Explicitly teaching writing skills, vocabulary and sentence construction.
• Using tools such as Bump It Up Walls and Anchor Charts to help students understand learning goals and success criteria.
• Collaboratively analysing student writing samples to identify strengths and determine next steps for learning.

As a result, we are seeing students become more confident writers, develop stronger vocabulary and sentence structure, and gain a clearer understanding of how they can improve their writing. These improvements are contributing to increased growth and achievement in literacy outcomes across the school.

Priority Two: Fostering a Culture of Wellbeing

Another priority is fostering a culture of wellbeing that supports both students and staff. This work includes strengthening wellbeing practices, implementing the CSBB Student Wellbeing Framework, embedding Child Safe Standards, and ensuring appropriate support for students with diverse wellbeing needs.

A cornerstone of this priority is our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework. PBL helps create a positive, safe and inclusive learning environment by explicitly teaching behavioural expectations and recognising students who demonstrate these values.

Our whole-school expectations for 2026 are:

• Term 1: Respectful
• Term 2: Responsible
• Term 3: Safe Learner

• Term 4: Overall PBL Star

   

Students are recognised through our PBL Award system, where stamps are awarded for demonstrating positive behaviours. Awards are presented at key milestones:

• 10 stamps: White Award
• 30 stamps: Bronze Award
• 60 stamps: Silver Award

• 90 stamps: Gold Award

   

These awards are celebrated at assemblies and special school events, reinforcing positive behaviours and encouraging students to make responsible choices.

Through our wellbeing initiatives, we continue to strengthen positive relationships, student engagement and a sense of belonging. Students are developing the skills, confidence and resilience needed to thrive both academically and socially.

I thank our dedicated staff and supportive families for their ongoing partnership as we continue to work together to ensure every child at Holy Family is known, valued and supported.

Kind regards,

Pauline Dinale