Principals Report
Dear Parents, Families and Friends,
This past fortnight, St Mary’s has hosted three important visits that highlighted the great work of our staff.
The MultiLit team spent time in the classrooms and with staff who praised the consistency of our literacy teaching and our commitment to student growth. Our School Improvement Leader from Catholic Education Sandhurst, Ben Fitzpatrick, conducted a Pulse Check with a look at a variety of indicators across the school. Ben affirmed the way we have embedded Magnify across the curriculum while encouraging us to stay focused on future priorities. The VRQA audit recognised all of our practices to keep students and staff safe, along with the compliance of running a school, with no further actions or recommendations required.
I am very proud of the positive feedback our staff received and the professionalism they continue to show. Next week, we look forward to welcoming the team from Knowledge Society, who will observe our behaviour curriculum as part of the Magnify Sandhurst initiative and broader school improvement work.
On Thursday, we will be holding Learning Conversations, an essential time for students, parents, and teachers to meet and set new learning goals. These meetings are crucial as they provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and determine the next steps in their educational journey. Our teachers are well-prepared to offer insights and guidance tailored to each student’s needs. Thank you to parents who have booked a time to discuss their child's learning goals.
With Book Week finishing up, Father's Day is just around the corner, and it's the perfect time to celebrate and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of positive role models in our lives. These individuals, whether they are fathers, stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, or mentors, play a significant role in shaping our character, values, and future aspirations. To honour these influential individuals, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the positive male role models in your life. Consider their unique qualities and the impact they have had on your personal growth. In celebration of Father's Day, we will be organising a special event on Friday week. Beginning from 8:30 a.m., fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other role models are invited to join us for a bacon and egg breakfast. 9:00 a.m. Liturgy at 9:15, followed by Parent & Student Activity. We are still seeking a helper to cook the BBQ, so if you have a spare 30 minutes on Friday morning, please let Sandra or me know. prinicpal@sminglewood.catholic.edu.au
On a personal note, I feel incredibly blessed to be celebrating my third Father’s Day, and the first with my son.
A reminder that families will receive a letter last Monday with instructions and a unique access code to complete the annual parent and carer survey. Thus far, we have 9% of our families who have completed this. The survey is an important opportunity to share your feedback about our school, what’s working well and where we can continue to grow, helping us provide the best outcomes for our students.
Participation is voluntary, but we strongly encourage you to take part so your voice is heard.
Please note that only one parent, carer, or guardian per family is invited to complete the survey. Simply use the details in your letter to access the online survey.
