Principals Report

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of St Brendan’s,

As we journey further into the Lenten season, I find myself reflecting on what I am called to do as a Catholic Christian. I know that Lent is the forty day period before Easter where we are encouraged to:

• Pray - speak to God with prayers of gratitude, praise and petition
• Practise self-regulation - deny ourselves some of the things we want (delay gratification)
•  Practise Alms-giving - support those who are less fortunate with financial and material   help

These behaviours and actions are also the things that we discuss with our students at an age appropriate level. Those of you who were available to attend Ash Wednesday Mass this year would have heard some of our Year 3/4 students share their simple and heartfelt Lenten promises. They promised things such as:

• Helping mum and dad more often
• Cleaning their bedroom
• Emptying the dishwasher
• Feeding the dog
• Being kind to others at school and home
• Not fighting with their siblings

Lent is a wonderful time for personal reflection and for growth as a human being. We are  reminded that through our Baptism, we have received the same identity as Jesus. We are reminded that we are loved sons and daughters of God. Jesus knew he was the beloved son of God. This awareness helped him through the extremely challenging times he experienced in his life.  Does our identity as being deeply loved by God comfort us when the going gets tough? Please reflect on this Lenten prayer.

God of infinite love,

you shower me with limitless gifts in my life. 

In my every thought and action today 

guide me to the bright and loving light of your kingdom. 

Help me to be aware of 

the many ways you allow me 

to share in your life so intimately today. 

Thank you for the gifts you have placed in my life. 

Let me be grateful every moment of this day.

Every Day Counts - Regular School Attendance is Essential

It is important to remind all parents and carers of the requirement that their child/children’s regular attendance at school is mandatory and essential. The Victorian Education Department and MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) urge principals to remind parents of their obligations around school attendance. These obligations are as follows:

• Schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6–17 years in Victoria unless an exemption from attendance has been granted
• Daily school attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don’t fall behind both socially and developmentally

It is also vital for parents and carers to consider the following:

• Children and young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes and higher incomes across their lives.
•  It is very important that children develop habits of regular attendance at an early age. 
• Students are expected to attend the school in which they are enrolled, during normal school hours every day of each term, unless:
•  there is an approved exemption from school attendance for the student, or
•  the student is registered for home schooling and has only a partial enrollment in a school for particular activities.

I urge all parents and carers to encourage and actively support their children to attend school each and every day. Through consistent attendance, your child/children will develop the following life skills:

• Awareness of the importance of routine
• Resilience
• Responsibility
• Age appropriate learning across the curriculum
• Social connection

I believe it is important to mention that all classrooms are air conditioned so there is no need for children to have the afternoon off due to hot weather. I strongly encourage all parents and carers to have their children at school on time each and every day. If you are planning holidays during the school term, please advise us the office of the dates for your travels.Thank you for your support in this matter as it is extremely challenging for students to feel calm and confident when they arrive late or have missed days for any reasons other than illness or family bereavement.

Please remember: EVERY DAY COUNTS!

NAPLAN 2024

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.

NAPLAN timetable

The NAPLAN test window is 9 days. This is to accommodate schools that may not have the capacity to complete the tests in a shorter time frame.

The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 13 March and finishes on Monday 25th March 2024. Schools will schedule the tests as soon as possible within the testing window, prioritising the first week.

Curriculum areas assessed:

• Writing - Students are provided with an idea or topic called a “writing stimulus” or “prompt” and asked to write a response in a particular genre (narrative or persuasive writing).
• Reading - Students read a range of informative, imaginative and persuasive texts, and then answer related questions.
• Conventions of language - Students read a range of informative, imaginative and persuasive texts, and then answer related questions.
• Numeracy -Students are assessed on number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability.

Please remember: NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

Kaboom Sports Afternoon - Rescheduled to Thursday April 18 1.45pm - 3.15pm

We are looking forward to our rescheduled Kaboom Sports afternoon. It will be the first opportunity for our house leaders to put their leadership skills on display. All students will participate in a ‘tabloid sports’ event. The students will be grouped into multi-age (F-6) groups where they will enjoy a variety of team based games. The activities will be led by our house captains, and our older students will assist our younger ones to join in and have fun. All parents and grandparents, who are able to attend, are most welcome to join us. Please bring along a picnic chair or a rug, a snack and cool drink if you’d like.( Please note all events where children are present are strictly alcohol free).  We look forward to welcoming those who are available to attend. 

All students are to:

• Wear their sports uniform including runners
• Wear a touch of their house colour eg: tee shirt,ribbon, scrunchie, headbands, hats, coloured shoe laces etc 
• Bring a hat
• Wear sunscreen that has been applied at home 
• Bring their drink bottle filled with water - children will be able to refill their drink bottles at school

This Week’s Assembly 

I would like to thank Year 5/6R and Mrs Nicole Reed for showcasing their learning at assembly this week. I was very proud and excited to see our students confidently share about their learning experiences in the classroom, and their learning and social experiences from last week’s camp at The Briar’s in Mt Martha. Well done, everyone.

Class Representatives

Our sincere thanks to the people who have volunteered to be class reps. for each of our eleven classes. I believe all positions have now been filled. If you have taken on this role, please speak to me when you drop off or collect your child/children from school and I will give you a Class Rep.information folder to assist you in your role. Your generosity and kindness are greatly appreciated. 

Have a great week everyone.

Sue