Principal's News

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2025!

The children and staff have settled well into the school routine. From Day 1, we've seamlessly embedded our NEW approach, MAGNIFY. While some children adapted immediately, others have taken a bit longer to adjust. This is completely natural, and they will eventually find their rhythm and embrace the learning process.

Why Magnify?

Magnify Sandhurst is our evidence-informed science of learning school improvement initiative.

It focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum, and the creation of positive classrooms.

 Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms.

Magnify is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of joining all Principals and senior leaders from Catholic Education Sandhurst. One of the sessions focused on our system's 'Marketing' strategy and plan. You can expect to see a digital advertisement, and, in due course, a new webpage aligned with all our Sandhurst schools. Social media will be extensively utilized, as it is a major platform for our parents. Ongoing training will be available for Principals, marking exciting times for Sandhurst's 16,000 +  students and educators.

In my 30 years of teaching and leadership, I have never experienced such a professional and unified approach to a knowledge-rich curriculum and robust support for teachers. As Ollie Lovell from Steplab remarked this week, "Steplab's involvement with Sandhurst is groundbreaking, across every school in the diocese." 

Steplab is here to accompany us on this journey, offering a new instructional coaching program that provides sequential and differentiated support to teachers at their point of need. Our major stakeholders (MultiLit, LME Global, Steplab, OCHRE, knowledge society) will collaborate to reignite a passion for learning for all.

Information Sessions

Thank you parents/carers for attending the F-2 and/or 3-6 Information Sessions. A letter was sent on Friday 7th. This is a general overview for the term. 

As mentioned in both meetings we are reviewing our excursions and incursions, so we align more with the curriculum. The length of any excursion is not our priority, but the richness of the experience is.

There will be a change to our student leadership structure. I spoke with Year 6 students yesterday so they can start thinking about whether leadership is for them at this time.  We will have four student leaders, and they will fill a number of roles throughout the year. They will coordinate assembly each fortnight with School Leadership. They may be required at times to accompany myself or other staff to school events. School leadership will work with them on developing aspects of leadership, including speaking in front of others. 

All year 6 will be house leaders when required. We are fine tuning 'Fire Carriers' and this will include Year 5. 

At the Opening Mass all year 6 will receive a badge with their first name on it. The four leaders will be announced and presented with a 'student leadership' badge.

Badges will stay in the office, so we have access to them when needed.

In the future this selection process will occur in Term 4 for Year 5 and announced at the final mass or assembly for the year. 

As communicated to Year 6, I will be presenting to them the requirements for their expression of interest. This will take place next Tuesday or Wednesday. 

Guidelines will be developed and sent to Year 5 in Term 4 each year. In this case Year 6 parents/carers will receive them soon. 

Ms Allen, Ms McKillop, Mr Summers, Mrs Liddell and I look forward to supporting our student leaders and all year 6.

Staff News

Mrs Miles in Foundation is expecting a baby at the beginning of Term 3. She will teach until the end of Term 2. We have started the recruitment process. We wish Lexi all the best at this special time for her and Lawton. 

Maintenance

Chris Jones will be finishing up after 5 years as our grounds/maintenance person. We thank him and wish him all the best. See our advertisement for a new person on FB  or below.

Assembly and Awards

Our first assembly will be next Friday 21st February at 9am in the stadium. Year 6 will be leading this. Two awards will be given out to each class and 2 Leadership awards presented by me (F-2 & 3-6 award).

Community Group Dates

Tuesday 7pm

Chair- Sheena Russell

Term 1- 4th March, 1st April

Term 2- 6th May, 1st July

Term 3- 2nd September

Term 4- 18th November

There will be a calendar of events coming out soon with coordinators names and spaces for new coordinators e.g. Bunnings BBQs- Matt Schroeders 0417 590 564, Bowls Social Night- Beth Ivory 0448 808 875, Shrove Tuesday- Sheena Russell 0413 902 752

Other opportunities- Easter Raffle, Major Raffle, Fete, End of Term BBQs x 3, Mother's & Father's Day, Parent morning teas, Open Day, other social events...

Coordinators may hold meetings onsite if required. Some do not need a meeting. Some events need one or more meetings.

Advisory Council Dates & Members

Tuesday 7pm 

Chair- Cait Alletsee

Term 1- 11th March

Term 2- 13th May, 10th June

Term 3- 9th September

Term 4- 14th October, 11th November

We are seeking expressions of interest to join the Advisory Group. Some goals for 2025 include:

-Master Plan 2025-2035

-Capital Plan for the Stadium

-MAGNIFY- CESL plan and how we use this to support the promotion of our school

-Marketing

-Parent Engagement

We attempt to spread members across these areas so they can engage with other parents throughout the year and possibly form a sub-committee.

We meet 5-6 times throughout the year. If you are interested email David dkeenan@slshepparton.catholic.edu.au and I will send the CESL (Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd) Terms of Reference and a PowerPoint presentation. I was made aware on Monday that there will be a NEW Terms of reference passed by the CESL Board probably next week. I will wait until I receive this and then send.

Drop off and pick-up- Carpark

Though we are fortunate to have our own car park, we still need to be very cautious and patient. The busy times are between 8:40am-8:55am and 3:20-3:35pm. 

Supervised Hours

8:15am-3:40pm

The office does NOT open until 8:30am. 

8:15am-8:30am- children or parents are not permitted in the school building. Teachers are getting ready or meeting before the children enter. The front door is opened at 8:30am. 

Personal Digital Devices Policy

As posted on PAM (Parent Access Module) please read this policy and accompanying letter from our Executive Director, Kate Fogarty. This policy and any other local guidelines will be sent to you for a digital acknowledgment like a permission note you receive on PAM.

Transition to Microsoft365

Years 3-6 students will receive their device soon. F-2 will have access to Laptops as required. 

Upcoming Events (see the calendar page and calendar on PAM)

Every Wednesday until the 10th March public holiday is a non-school day for Foundation. We hold individual testing during this period. 

As we step into a 'cooler' weekend of weather we should be grateful for the opportunity we have at St Luke's. Yes, we attend school to learn reading and writing, but having fun and forming friendships is a huge part of the experience. It gives me great pleasure when I see siblings or cousins entering together with a smile. I am sure it puts a smile on any parents face.

David Keenan

(Principal)