Principals Message

Good afternoon everyone.  

As we are near the end of term and tiredness is setting in,  we do want to remind you all to adhere to the speed limit zones around all the schools.  It is also a timely reminder to ask that children are not left in cars unsupervised at drop off or pick up time.  The school has had several calls from concerned citizens about this.  

Please note that you are still able to order a hot lunch next Friday 4th July (Last day of school).  Orders need to be by 9am on Thursday via Kelly's Bakery website.  Details on the P & F page in this newsletter.

We also wish to reiterate the need for respectful communications. Our staff are dedicated to working together with our families to get the best possible outcome for each of our students, your child/ren.

Communication refers to both the sending and receiving of information, such as email and notes, and verbal communications such as telephone conversations and face-to-face meetings.  Children achieve more when schools and parents work together. 

We aim to have clear and effective communication with all parents and with the wider community.  Effective communication enables us to share our aims and values, through keeping parents well informed about school life. This reinforces the important role that parents play in supporting the school. Relationships and communication between teachers, staff, parents and students must be collaborative and respectful. 

Guidelines for Communications:

In order to ensure a successful exchange of information, it is important that we all follow a few key principles: 

● Maintain respectful and open communication

● Always use a respectful and polite tone 

● Be ready not just to provide information, but to listen to observations and perspectives 

● Enter the exchange with an open mind and assume a shared best interest for the child 

● Work collaboratively to solve problems 

Allow time to respond to communication: 

● Teachers will make every effort to respond as soon as possible to parent communications, with the understanding that the teaching day sometimes precludes immediate responses and teachers are often involved in school meetings before, during and after school duties.

● Teachers and staff may need some time to collect needed information before responding. 

Who to contact: 

● First communications of classroom and playground concerns should be directed at first to your child’s teacher.  Contact information can be found on the 'School Information' page of each newsletter

● If you have discussed with your child’s teacher and the issue has not been addressed to your satisfaction then contact the Principal. 

● Urgent issues should be raised via the Principal or Deputy Principal

Staff will find a time to talk to you when they can give you their full attention. Please remember that while our staff are in class or dealing with other matters, they may not be available to answer your questions immediately. 

Dealing with Issues 

There may be times, despite ongoing communication, where members of the school are unsure, disagree or believe there is a problem or issue concerning their child. 

Parents should not wait for a small issue to grow into a large one: 

● If the matter involves your child or is an issue of everyday class operation, parents need to make an appointment to see their classroom teacher, detailing the reasons for the appointment. The classroom teacher should be the first point of contact. 

● If the matter involves operations beyond the classroom or concerns that are not easily resolved, an appointment should be made with the Principal or Deputy Principal, however, teachers are the first point of contact.  All contact information can be found on the 'School Information' page in each newsletter.

Please remember that it is never appropriate, respectful or acceptable to vent on social media.  Our staff at St Laurence's work  tirelessly towards educating your children and guiding them in becoming productive, independant, kind, respectful and valued citizens.

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Our fantastic parents and friends committee have been busy working on hosting another colour fun run.  We ran this event in 2023 and it was a huge success. For the children to be able to experience this fun event we wouldAusttaral appreciate help to set up, pack up, to be on the course etc.  Should we get enough helpers, our aim is to hold it next term, just before the holiday.  We have put a flyer on the 'Around the School' page for more information.    It's such a fun day, hopefully we can make it happen.

The P & F's next meeting will be Monday 28th July, 6pm at Bairs Hotel.  All very welcome!

If there is anything you would like us to discuss at the meeting, let us know and we can pass it on.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE for HealthCare Card Holders:  If you hold a current HCC or have recently been granted a HCC, you should be eligible for a considerable subsidy off your school fees.  Please call Michaela as soon as possible on 5662 2192 Mon, Tues, Thurs or Fri's for more information or email office@stlleongatha.catholic.edu.au

Please remember that when the school crossing flags are out, you must stop for pedestrians who are waiting to cross or who have started crossing regardless of whether there is a crossing supervisor on duty.

1.  It is important to keep our crossing supervisors and our school children and school community safe.  

2.  Please come to a complete stop when waiting and also do not proceed until the pedestrians and supervisor are safely off the road.  It is never OK to ignore the crossing supervisor who has the responsibility of keeping our children safe.

3.  At the St Laurence's crossing, our supervisors and children do not have a safety space to protect themselves whilst crossing in the event that drivers ignore the request to stop (as they do outside the secondary college).  Disappointingly, this is an all too common occurrence.

4.  A reminder that it is 40 between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30 pm and 4pm.  

5.  Bus Zones are activated during these times as well. 

6.  At no time should cars be parked outside the school building through to the gym carpark on Ogilvy Street during these times.  

7.  Please do not pull into the driveways along there to drop off or pick up children, this is very unsafe.

Please keep our crossing supervisors and children safe.  

Have an fantastic weekend.  See you all on Monday.