Principal's Message 

Dear Families,

 End of School Year for Students -                                                    Friday 15th December 

Parents please note that the school year concludes on 

Friday 15th December - 1.30pm  

   THANK YOU!     

    End of Year Morning Tea & 'Thank you' to families for your support!            

Join us for a Coffee/Tea with Seb & Alicia from ‘Two Hens Coffee'

 between 8.30am and 9.15am     

We invite ALL FAMILIES to an End of Year Morning Tea from 8.30am on Friday 15th December.   The staff and students wish to thank all family members for your support of the school throughout 2023.    We thank members of the School Advisory Council, Parents and Friends Committee members, Classroom Helpers, Excursion Helpers, Working Bee attendees, Second Hand Uniform Volunteers, Story Dog Volunteers and the many other family members who add so greatly to our wonderful community.

Two Hens Coffee Cart will be onsite serving hot drinks for parents/carers only.  

We welcome all families to this occasion.   

(Please note - Refreshments are provided for adults only)

This Sunday 10th December is the second Sunday of Advent.

One of the major symbols of the Advent season is the wreath. The encircling wreath is symbolic of God without beginning or end and the green foliage represents our hope in God. There are usually five candles in the wreath, a central white candle representing the light of Christ that came into the world and then four outside candles that are usually purple and rose coloured. The first candle is generally symbolic of Hope and Expectation. The third candle – the rose or pink candle – celebrates the Joy that is anticipated in the coming of Christ. The progressive lighting of the candles marks the journey towards the Nativity.  

The Second Sunday of Advent theme is Peace. This week as we turn to look at Peace, we see that one way that we can bring that hope into the world is to be peacemakers. Peace on earth starts with us, with our attitudes towards others.

Year 6 Graduation Ceremony - Tonight 

Tonight we hold our annual Graduation evening for Year 6 students as they say ‘goodbye’ to their Primary School years. We thank all involved in tonight's events including, Father Joe and all staff for being present and to members of our leadership team and senior school teachers, for their work in planning a superb graduation evening and their work with our children throughout the past 12 months. 

Wishing our Graduates well for this evening - Apologies 

I am most unfortunately an apology for this evening's celebration.  I am taking a period of leave from Wednesday 6th December to Friday 8th December to attend the celebration of an interstate wedding of 2 very special friends of our family.   I wish our Graduates a most enjoyable and very special celebration of their years at St Andrew’s school.   I also congratulate all children who will receive the Year 6 awards that will be distributed this evening by Nicole Black and Emma Strom.   We also recognise the contributions of all Year 6 families who will no longer have children enrolled at St Andrew’s School.  We thank you for the journeys shared and the privilege of educating and supporting your children. 

Important Dates for the week ahead

As we approach the final week of the school year we invite families to a number of very special events - 

Year 6 Graduation Excursion - Friday 8th December 

Our Year 6 children look forward to a fun day to take place on Friday 8th December 

Saturday 9th December - Parish Family Carols Evening at 7.00pm

Semester 2 Reports – Thursday 7th December

Prep - Year 6 Semester 2 reports will be distributed on Thursday 7th December at 4pm

End of School Year Thanksgiving Mass – Wednesday 13th  December – 12.00pm & Year 6, 2024 Leaders Presentation of Leadership Badges   

All families are invited to the End of School Year Thanksgiving Mass to be held on Wednesday 13th December at 12.00pm.  We will be presenting our 2024 Year 6 Leaders to our School Community at the end of the Mass.   Our 2023 leaders will hand over their leadership badges to our 2024 leaders.   

End of Year Assembly – Thursday 14th December at 2.30pm -1.15pm

We invite all families to join us for the end of year assembly as we celebrate with the Year 6 children their final assembly, along with also bidding farewell to our departing staff members. 

 ** Year 6 families are invited to stay for a Year 6 lunch after the assembly. 

End of Year Morning Tea & 'Thank You' families for your support! 

Friday 15th December - 8.30am - 9.15am

End of School Year (Students)– Friday 15th December – 1.30pm & Guard of Honour (1.20pm) 

Students complete the 2023 school year on Friday 16th December at 1.30pm. 

As has become tradition, the whole school will form a Guard of Honour for the Year 6 students at 1.20 p.m. as a special way of wishing them well for the future and thanking them for their contribution to St. Andrew’s community.   We warmly welcome and encourage parents to join us for this farewell.

Advent Liturgies 

We welcome all families to our December Advent Liturgies.

Our liturgies will take place in the School Hall. 

Year Level - 1/2

Date - 11th December Time - 9:00am Theme - Peace

Year Level - 3/4

Date - 12th December Time - 9:00am  Theme - Joy 

Year Level - 5/6

 Date - 13th December Time - 12:00noon End of School Year Mass Theme - Love

‘Move Up’ Transition Sessions with 2024 Class Groupings

‘Move Up’ Transition Sessions with 2024 Class Groupings:

Our children gathered together this morning to meet their 2024 class friends and 2024 class teachers.  The staff have spent time preparing 2024 class groupings with an emphasis on providing a diverse range of skills, personalities and talents in each class, much the same environment as we experience in all of our social and work settings.

2024 will be a time of meeting new people, making new friends and building relationships with their new teacher. Sometimes children will feel disappointed or upset they are not with friends or with the teacher they were hoping for, but the classes and every student has been carefully considered, with the aim of an amazing year of learning and developing new connections at the forefront of our planning. 

The children will gather again in 2024 class groupings on Monday 11th December and Wednesday 13th December.  These sessions aim to provide a supportive format, allowing our children the opportunity to experience their 2024 setting prior to the Christmas holidays.  

Children with our new teachers, Emily Casecelii and Lachlan Ware, will meet their teachers on Friday 8th December.  Both Emily and Lachlan will be onsite on Friday 8th for a full day of 2024 planning.  

Each child will bring home with them this afternoon an envelope providing details on their 2024 class teacher along with a school map identifying the location of their 2024 classroom.  

Semester 2 Reports – Distributed Thursday 7th December (4pm)

The Semester 2 student reports will be distributed on Thursday 7th December through the nForma parent portal. 

Student reports are one of the valuable links between school and home to allow you to gain an insight of how your child is progressing with their learning at St Andrew’s.

The reports will be accessible from the Parent Portal from Thursday 7th December at 4.00pm

The online portal has many advantages which include:

-    Easy access to your student’s archived reports from previous years

-    Accessible on multiple devices

-    Environmentally friendlier than printed reports

When you click on the link to log in to nForma, you will be prompted to change your password.  Please note that your new password needs to be at least 7 characters long and must include at least one non alpha-numeric character, e.g. *, - / or similar. If you have not received the email please look in your junk/spam folder for an email 

from no-reply@nforma.com.au

If you still have trouble accessing your child’s report you are encouraged to contact one of the below staff for assistance:

ecooper@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au 

estrom@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Zooper Dooper Friday’s - 50cents 

Children are invited to bring 50 cents to school to purchase a Zooper Dooper on Friday 8th December.

We thank our Year 6 children for volunteering their time to support the sales of the Zooper Doopers.   All profits raised from the sales will go to our Kadasig fundraising efforts.

2024 Teacher/Student Learning Interviews -     Year 1 to Year 6

Wednesday 31st January and Thursday 1st February, 2024

We will begin the year with two days where Year 1 to Year 6 children will meet with their 2024 class teachers for scheduled 30 minute onsite learning interviews. 

The staff believe that the 2 days of learning interviews provide an invaluable opportunity for classroom teachers to meet with each child to assess where they are at in their learning journey.  The learning interview will focus on each child’s literacy and numeracy development. Through gaining an understanding of where all students are at, teachers will then have the knowledge to best plan for the term ahead.   The information gained from the interviews will further be built upon throughout Term 1 as teachers continue their ongoing assessments with their children. 

Booking Your Child’s Interview Time  - Year 1 to 6 Only 

Parents can book for their child's 30 minute learning interview by clicking on the direct link  https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/43y64

This will take you to step 1 to enter your details. Please select either Wednesday 31st January or Thursday 1st February, 2024. 

The booking portal will be open on Friday 8th December at 8.30am

Booking times will run from 9.00am till 3.00pm on both Wednesday 31st January and Thursday 1st February, 2024. 

When you click finish, you will receive a confirmation email. Please check your junk mail folder if you do not receive the email. 

Classes will commence full time for all classes on Friday 2nd February.

Prep 2024 Classes -  Wednesday 31st & Thursday 1st February (8.45am - 1.30pm) 

Our new Prep children will commence the term from Wednesday 31st January in their classrooms as they transition into school.  

Prep children will be onsite from 8.45am - 1.30pm for Wednesday 31st & Thursday 1st February.  

Friday 2nd February will be a full day (8.45am-3.15pm). 

Our Prep children will have Wednesday’s as ‘Rest Days’ throughout February.

Carols by Candlelight - Thank you Carols Choir Members 

The Parish has warmly invited the St Andrew's Choir to sing at Carols by Candlelight.  

We thank those children who have already committed to attend the Carols, as advised through the Operoo App.  The carols will be held on Saturday 9th December at 7pm.  

We are delighted to advise families that the Carols Choir is at full capacity, therefore we cannot accept any additional members.   Rehearsals with Rosemary Restaino are held each Wednesday and Friday at lunchtime.  It is an expectation that all children participating in the Carols will attend rehearsals. 

We will be encouraging students to dress up in the Spirit of Christmas.  

Simply come along for a relaxed night to celebrate the years’ end along with a touch of Christmas spirit!

Parent Supervision - Saturday 9th - Carols 

Please note that parents will be required to be onsite in the hall for the Carols supervising your attending children.  

Parents are invited to contact Rosemary rrestaino@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au  if further details are required. 

Thank you to our Crossing Supervisors

Parents please take the opportunity throughout the coming days to thank our ever present and ever caring crossing supervisors.  They are there for our children rain, hail and shine.

Dates for the 2024 Year - Closure Days & Time in Lieu Days 

Parents/carers please note the School Closure dates and Time in Lieu days set for the 2024 school calendar. 

There are 4 days set aside for staff professional development and first aid training.  There are additional 2 days as set aside for staff Time in Lieu Days (TIL).   TIL days were introduced throughout this year as a component of the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. 

• Friday 8th March - Closure Day (Continued partnership with Chris Daicos -training and development consultant) 
• Friday 26th April - (TIL - All Schools)
• Monday 27th May - Closure Day - (Faith Development) 
• Friday 16th August - Closure Day 
• Monday 4th November - (TIL - All Schools) 
• Friday 22nd November - Closure Day (3 Hours First Aid & Data Analysis)

Outstanding Fees & Levies

Thank you to families that have or continue paying their school fees.  Term four is almost over and we would appreciate the finalising of any outstanding monies.

Please contact the Office if you are unable to finalise your fee account to discuss options available to help you meet your fee commitment.

office@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au  or 9551 5094

Non-Food Sharing at Christmas

Parents please be aware that we are a non-food sharing school.  With the increase in the number of children who have allergic reactions to different food groups we must be vigilant on the non-sharing of food. Whilst it is most generous for children to want to bring lollies/food to share with their classmates we ask that parents prevent this from occurring. 

Library End of Year Audit - Please return all borrowed books to the library 

The end of Term 4 is approaching fast and I would appreciate if your child would collect any Library books from home (the ones on the book shelves, under the bed, in the wardrobe, or the toy box, in the car and anywhere else they may be hiding) and return them to the library as soon as possible. 

Many thanks for your support.

Sonia Turco

Students who are not returning in 2024

Term 4 Summer Uniform & ‘No Hat - No Play’

 We remind parents that Term 4 has a ‘No Hat – No Play’ Sunsmart policy.   

As a SunSmart registered school all children will have access to Sunscreen. 

The 2023 School Calendar is available on the School Website.  It can be found mid-way on the front page under the heading ‘WHAT’S ON’.   We will endeavour, where possible, to remain true to the dates on the 2023 calendar. We would recommend that parents make a regular visit to the school website to see updates on all school events. 

Paul Wakeling

Principal