Deputy Principal / Religious Education

Dear Parents and Families

Welcome back to another school year!!

Principals and teachers everywhere recognize the important contributions parents make toward a child’s success in school. There is no question about it - success at school begins at home. Parents are the single most important variable in a child’s schooling. Parents model both a silent and spoken language in front of their children daily.

One of the most important components of a good school is the partnership between the school and parents who work together for the best interest of children. The close partnership between home and school is one of the exceptional strengths at St Luke’s Primary School.

St Luke’s has a strong tradition of supportive, hard-working parents. Throughout the year parents have the opportunity to develop that partnership in a variety of ways; parents can join the social committee, volunteer in the classroom, join the School Council, attend assemblies, help out at a special event, sport or volunteer at the Bunnings BBQ. These opportunities show children their education is important.

As we begin a new school year, our teachers along with all teachers across the Sandhurst diocese, are establishing school standards and expectations as part of the Magnify package. Lining up and walking calmly to class for example, provide the calmness students need for successful learning. Calm classrooms blended with the teacher’s consistent standards, form a smooth-running classroom where the children have the security of understanding their environment and are reinforced positively for their contributions.

At home, it is important to provide routines to. Many families build a daily “quiet time” when the television is turned off and they are off devices. This quiet time provides students the opportunity for completing schoolwork or for recreational reading if there is no homework. During this quiet time a suitable place, free of distractions, especially technology should be available. The routine of a daily quiet time provides an opportunity to develop self-discipline, stimulate imagination, and enhance reading or computation skills. Personally, I know how good it is to NOT have the TV blaring in the background!!

Routines also make completing chores easier for both children and parents. If children are consistently expected to complete routine household duties at the same time on the same day in the same place, they soon begin to develop a responsibility for their commitment and contribution to the family. Unstacking the dishwasher, putting clothes away, feeding pets, putting bins out etc... are responsibilities that provide routine and discipline. The same routines and discipline apply at school.

As families establish routines for the new school year, it is helpful to keep in mind that childhood is a special time of learning, exploration and growth. Children need to be provided free time to explore their world and experience the joy of discovery. Whilst establishing routines is important so to is a balance of free time allowing children to be children. The realities of the adult world will be there all too soon. As children grow and learn, they find joy and satisfaction in working closely with their families toward a common goal. Such is the case with the students at St Luke’s Primary School.

Our hope for 2025 is for school and home to be in partnership working together to build skills and knowledge, reinforce values, and develop a strong sense of self-worth. We must invest our time and energies in our most valuable resource for the future - our children. And most of all…we do it because we love them.

Best wishes for a successful 2025!!

National Apology Day Breakfast ~ Thursday Feb 13th.

February 13th marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. The apology was delivered in 2008 by the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The origins of the apology event can be found in the ‘Bringing them Home’ report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. When we acknowledge country as we gather, we are reminded that there is much to be done towards true reconciliation. Remembering this historic occasion is one way we, as a community, can keep the narrative going and take steps towards justice and healing. We had a small contingent of students and families represent St Luke’s at the Apology Day breakfast yesterday at the Queens Gardens. Our students were amazing ambassadors for their school and for some, their culture.

Enhancing Catholic School Identity Survey (ECSI)

Every 4 years schools across the Sandhurst Diocese participate in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) survey to help schools develop and celebrate their Catholic Identity.

Attached is information on how to access the survey, and whilst it's a voluntary and anonymous survey, we would appreciate as many families as possible to participate. The survey takes approximately 50mins to complete and can be completed over numerous sittings. All staff and students in grades 5/6 will also participate taking the survey to gain a full community perspective.

The ESCI survey period opens on Monday 10th Feb and closes on Friday 28th March.

Please follow the attached instructions and use the follow access code to commence the survey.