Principal Message
Term Three has started very well. Students have been reviewing their learning goals with their home group coach. I have been reminding the students at the past two Monday assemblies to ensure they view Term 4 as an important time to lift and seek growth and improvement. We know from educational research that a strong predictor year to year of success in a given year is often informed by a solid approach in how the previous year is completed.
This is particularly important for Year 11 as they transition in Term 4 from Year 11 Prelimary to the Year 12 HSC program. Starting that strongly is crucial to their HSC success.
Our Year 12’s have begun their HSC examinations and most of the major ones have been completed. The feedback has been very positive on the papers they have sat which is reassuring as we wouldn't want their efforts to be compromised. We look forward to celebrating their formal on Friday 17th November.
Today is World Teachers Day 2023 with the theme of #HatsOfftoTeachers . Today we have given all our staff a gift to thank them for their ongoing work along with a fundraiser and multicultural lunch to raise money for Breast Cancer Research. Many staff were wearing pink today to mark this occasion.
You may wish to donate to the cause in support of our staff led by Debbie Lihou on this occasion from our Staff Wellbeing committee. National Breast Cancer Foundation donation pageHERE.
Parent Teacher interviews have taken place in previous weeks and I hope these meetings have worked well for all those involved and the students build on the feedback they gain to grow in their learning in all their subjects. Thank you to staff who have given so generously of their time after a normal school day.
At the time of enrolling your children at Kildare CC you were asked about the need to work in partnership with the school and the support of college policies. Enrolment for everyone went ahead on the basis of a ‘yes’ to questions asked. It is timely to revisit some of these policies and ask you to read them and ensure we have your ongoing support. Such policies are not up for individual interpretation. Two policies in particular come to mind given some interactions we have had in the past few weeks.
In regard to the partnership agreement it is vitally important that all staff are safe in their workplace. In regard to this, can I please remind everyone to manage the energy they bring to verbal and written interactions with all staff in the college.
As workers in our Lord’s vineyard, valuing the commandment to love one another, as we know from John:34-35; “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Therefore calm and respectful communication is always preferable to the opposite. I am sure that is how you find our staff and if not I would be most disappointed and hope you will make contact. I presume this is what we all face in workplaces today. Kildare is no different.
I have directed staff to not continue conversations or respond to emails that sit outside what is reasonable.
In regard to uniform policy, some students with long hair need to tie it back each day. This is a safety requirement. Some need a haircut to tidy it up. Further some students seem confused or are deliberately ignoring guidelines for when sport uniform can be worn and when academic uniform can be worn.
Please see this extract from page 8 of the Uniform policy:
Therefore let's continue with all being in Academic uniform this Monday morning.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Kildare Catholic College.
