St Xavier's Newsletter

Principals Message

Dear parents and carers,

 

I am very happy to be back on board. It was a joy to see all the students this morning greeting each other, hugs all round and a few nervous faces. Once classes commenced there was a calm hum and staff engaged the children in conversation about what is in store for 2025. 

Welcome to the following new students and their families;

  • Annabelle, Sam and Meg Crawter
  • Aurora Turnbull
  • Leo McKinlay
  • Elsie and Alice Groves

 

The staff met last week for two days of training in the areas of Child Protection, Code of Conduct, our Annual Improvement Plan for 2025, Our Catholic Identity and other information for a smooth start. We welcomed back Mr Frend as our second AP and Miss Mooney who has returned from maternity leave. All staff are committed to providing an environment for your children in which they can feel safe, respected, valued and cared for as they learn. Our goal of every child achieving their best remains strong. Our shared beliefs, understanding, accountability and responsibility guide us in doing our work. 

 

‘Missing school is missing out!’ 

 

We recognise that regular attendance plays a crucial role in our students’ academic success and overall well-being. This page aims to highlight the significance of attendance and the impact that missing school can have on children’s education. Our goal is for children to achieve excellent attendance and to be in school before 8.50am every single day.

 

 

Why Attendance Matters

Regular school attendance is essential for students to fully engage in their learning and make academic progress. Here are some key reasons why attendance matters:

  1. Academic Success: Attending school regularly allows students to benefit from consistent instruction, participate in classroom discussions, and complete assignments on time. This contributes to better academic performance and helps students achieve their educational goals.
  2. Building Relationships: School attendance provides opportunities for students to build meaningful relationships with their peers and teachers. These connections enhance the learning experience and contribute to a positive school environment.
  3. Developing Essential Skills: Consistent attendance helps students develop important life skills such as time management, responsibility, and resilience. These skills are crucial for success both in school and in future endeavours.
  4. Preventing Learning Gaps: Missing school, even for short periods, can lead to gaps in learning that may be difficult to overcome. Regular attendance ensures that students receive continuous instruction and stay on track with their learning objectives.

It is essential for children to attend as much school as possible if they are to get the most from their education and achieve their full potential. Being absent or late to school means a lost learning opportunity for your child.

The Impact of Missing School

While the importance of good attendance is clear, it’s also essential to understand the negative consequences of missing school:

  1. Academic Challenges: Students who are frequently absent often struggle to keep up with their classmates academically. They may miss important lessons, fall behind in their learning, and experience difficulty mastering essential concepts.
  2. Decreased Engagement: Chronic absenteeism can lead to disengagement from school and a lack of motivation to participate in learning activities. This can result in decreased academic performance and lower levels of achievement.
  3. Social and Emotional Impact: Missing school can also have social and emotional consequences for students. They may feel isolated from their peers, experience increased stress or anxiety about falling behind, and miss out on valuable opportunities for personal growth and development.
  4. Long-Term Outcomes: Research has shown that students who are chronically absent are more likely to have lower graduation rates, decreased earning potential, and higher rates of involvement in negative behaviours such as substance abuse.

We are committed to promoting good attendance and providing support to ensure that all students can attend school regularly. We encourage all families to join us in prioritising attendance and recognising its importance in shaping the future success of our students. Our goal is literate and numerate students for a HOPE filled future!

Communication 

  • Your children’s teachers are the first people you should contact with any concerns about your child or other students.
  • If at any time you feel unsatisfied with the result of a conversation or the follow-up from a conversation please contact me! There is nothing too small when it comes to our students and parents. 
  • I am very happy to meet with parents on confidential matters or matters they do not wish to talk about to anyone else. My door is always open and the office staff can slot in emergencies or other planned times. 

Uniform Policy-Haircuts/Jewellery

I did point out at the end of last year the guidelines around hair but a few students have appeared with cuts not in line with our policy. 

  • Hair that is long at the back must not go past the collar.
  • Long hair goes up for safety reasons.
  • Shapes and patterns in hair are against the policy.
  • Earrings must be silver or gold studs or sleepers. All other earrings are against the policy. 

I am more than happy to hear your thoughts on any aspect of the above policy. The Schools Advisory Council will be discussing it this term. Until then it stands and parents are asked to be supportive and abide by the requirements of the policy. 

 

St Xavier’s is a wonderful school with excellent resources. The thing that I am most proud of are the people who make up our staff. Their love and care for the students and for each other is obvious and every day they go above and beyond to provide meaningful learning experiences and support for your children. I encourage you to work with them and beside them to build a strong team to look after your precious little people. 

 

There is so much to look forward to this year and working with parents is just one of them. 

 

Kind regards,

Jen

Birthday Food

Please keep in mind we have children in every grade across the school who have particular food allergies. Some of these are very serious and we need to keep everyone safe. The best options for a class birthday treat at school are water icy poles or a lollipop per child. It is best to avoid cakes, muffins etc. We appreciate your support in this area.