Principal's Message
Dear parents, students and families,
Thank you to our parents who were able to support our Camp Information evening last night. It is an event the students will be looking forward to greatly. A reminder that tomorrow morning we have our Opening School Mass for the year and hope many can join the students there. My thanks to Mrs Thomas for deputising for me at this important event as I will be on leave in Yarrawonga for a Valentine's Day family wedding.
A further reminder that we are holding our Parent-Teacher meetings for Years 1-6 on the afternoons of Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 February between 3.40 and 6.00pm. Parents are to meet with your child's class teacher on-site as we feel it is important that relationships are established face to face. You can book your 10 minute timeslot between 3.40-6.00pm at https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au and enter the event code 4qea4
The aim of these meetings is for you to share as much information about your child with the teacher, look at some potential goals and to discuss how your child has settled into their 2025 class.
Next Tuesday 18 February our students will be learning to Bush Dance as part of their Arts Curriculum. That evening, at 6.00pm, there will be an opportunity for our families to come and see what their children have learnt during the day. On Wednesday 19 February we will have a student-free day as our staff, joined by the staff of St Francis Xavier PS, will be working with leading educationalist Glen Pearsall on enhancing their practice. I apologise for any inconvenience with this early date in the year but we know it will be of benefit to our students. Moira will be running day care for those that require it on-site so please ensure you contact Happy Kids if you will need this.
Our Fire Carriers will be at JPC next Thursday 20 February. Our new Fire Carriers, as well as those from the JPC cluster of schools, will gather to commission the new Fire Carriers in their roles. Congratulations to all the Year 4 students who applied and the four who were selected- Darcy, Ben, Owen and Joseph. On Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February we will be using the hall to hold Berry St training which underpins our wellbeing approach. We will have numerous staff from the JPC Cluster here for the two days as well as a number of our staff receiving training.
Monday 24 February at 9.15am is our first OPEN MORNING for prospective 2026 Foundation enrolments. It is exciting to know of the very large number of families potentially wishing to join our community with nearly 50 expressions of interest so far. These tours are aimed at new parents wanting to join our school community for the 2026 year. Please let anyone you know who may be considering our school for their child/ren to ring the office for further details. If there are any siblings due to start next year please contact the office.
As many of you will be aware Mrs de Veer had a fall this week at school and has broken her ankle in a couple of spots. Please keep Ceri in your prayers, as I know the staff and students will. Mrs Suzanne Ribet, who the students know well, will be her replacement for the majority of time while she recuperates.
God Bless and have a great week.
Rod Shaw
Principal
School Attendance and Unexplained Absence
Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on
9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with areason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.
If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school and collect a late pass.
If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.
As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:
Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.
If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.
If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.
Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.
This is a legal requirement.
Democratic Principles
The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:
(a) elected government; and
(b) the rule of law; and
(c) equal rights for all before the law; and
(d) freedom of religion; and
(e) freedom of speech and association; and
(f) the values of openness and tolerance