Principal's Panorama

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Congratulations to Tristan, Arlie, and Elliot for receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday! 

This is a significant milestone in their faith journey, and it's wonderful to hear about their commitment to seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God. 

May this sacrament bring them peace, spiritual growth, and a deeper connection to their faith community.

Fruit and Veggies!

September marks the start of "Fruit and Veggie Month" – a fantastic chance for our little ones to explore new flavours and have fun in the process.

We all know the importance of a balanced diet for growth. "Fruit and Veggie Month" encourages our students to try new foods, expanding their taste horizons and fostering openness to new experiences.

On Monday, our school turned into a vibrant rainbow garden as students dressed up as their favorite fruits and veggies. 

I wonder how many bananas, strawberries, grapes and broccoli you can see in our photos?

Student Centred Voice

The playground is an integral part of our school, providing an opportunity for children to engage in physical activities, develop social skills, and have fun. 

Sports too, are a wonderful opportunity to  develop these skills, however it is also a time when we may see unsporting behaviour.

We believe that every child deserves a safe and inclusive environment in which they can thrive. To address these concerns in our current soccer matches, I met with some committed students to help detail who we are and how we play at St. Mary of the Angels.

It was heartwarming to hear those students were as committed to fostering empathy, kindness, and inclusive play among the students as the educators.  As a team they developed how we play breaktime soccer at St. Mary of the Angels.

Thank you for taking your time to encourage others to treat each other with respect, fairness, and inclusivity. Clancy, Lewis, Hugo, Darcy, George, Ryan, Zac, Ricky, Mia, just to name a few!

We believe that by working together as a school community, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our children. Let us continue to guide them towards becoming responsible, respectful, and empathetic individuals.

School Uniform

I would like to extend a friendly reminder about the importance of proper school uniforms for our students. Wearing the correct uniform not only reflects our school's pride and values but also plays a vital role in creating a focused and conducive learning environment.

Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

Uniform Equality: Uniforms promote equality among students. When everyone dresses alike, it eliminates socioeconomic disparities and fosters a sense of unity within the school community.

Focus on Learning: Proper school uniforms help students concentrate on their studies by reducing distractions related to clothing choices. It encourages them to shift their focus to academics and personal growth.

School Pride: Wearing the school uniform is a symbol of pride in our community. It reinforces a positive school spirit and helps students identify with their school community.

Professionalism: Dressing in uniform sets the foundation for a professional attitude, teaching students to adhere to dress codes and grooming standards, which are valuable life skills.

To ensure that your child is prepared for success, please take a moment to review our school's uniform guidelines. 

Term Four is when we move back to our full summer uniform, it is important to note that ties are still compulsory uniform in Term 3.

Remember, proper school uniforms are more than just clothing; they are a tool for creating a harmonious and focused learning environment. 

We thank you for your continued support in upholding our school's values.

Clarity and Lyn Sharratt

Catholic Schools Armidale will be continuing the system collaboration with Lyn Sharratt this September. 

Lyn Sharratt is a prominent educator, author, and consultant known for her significant contributions to educational leadership and improvement. Her work primarily focuses on fostering leadership excellence, building strong school cultures, and enhancing student achievement. 

Some key aspects of Lyn Sharratt's work include:

Clarity Framework: Lyn Sharratt's Clarity Framework is a comprehensive model which is designed to support school leaders in their efforts to improve student learning outcomes. It emphasises the importance of clear communication, collaborative practices, and data-informed decision-making.

Leadership Development: Sharratt's work places a strong emphasis on leadership development at all levels within educational organisations. 

She advocates for distributed leadership, where leadership responsibilities are shared among staff members to create a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: Sharratt encourages schools to use data effectively to inform their instructional practices. This includes collecting and analyzing various types of data, such as student assessment results, to make informed decisions that benefit students' learning experiences. No Data, No Discussion, No Decision..

Professional Learning Communities/Teams (PLTs): The Clarity Framework promotes the establishment of Professional Learning Communities within schools. These collaborative groups of educators work together to improve their teaching practices, share insights, and drive positive changes in the school community.

Visible Learning: Sharratt's work aligns with the principles of John Hattie's Visible Learning research, which emphasizes the importance of making learning outcomes visible, measuring progress, and using evidence-based strategies to enhance teaching and learning.

System-Wide Improvement: Beyond individual schools, Lyn Sharratt's work extends to system-wide improvement initiatives. Lyn has been working with Catholic Schools Armidale for many years to develop strategies and practices that can positively impact multiple schools within our region.

Books and Publications: Lyn Sharratt has authored or co-authored several books and publications, including "Putting FACES on the Data: What Great Leaders Do!" and "Leading Collaborative Learning: Empowering Excellence." These resources provide practical guidance and insights for educators and leaders.

In summary, Lyn Sharratt's work is highly regarded in the field of education for its emphasis on leadership, clarity, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative practices to improve student achievement and create positive learning environments. As a school our leadership team will join the other CSO schools in Moree and Tamworth for further training on the next steps for 'Clarity' work within the Catholic Schools Armidale system.

Sensitive Contact

Parents and carers are reminded to contact staff via the guyadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au email address, as a school community, there will be times when there may be the need for sensitive information to be shared to a closed group of educators. If this is the case, please use guyprincipal@arm.catholic.edu.au as the contact email.  This ensures that there is traceability and continuity in the case of staff changes etc.

May you all be blessed by the joy and love of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the Church celebrates her birthday today on the 8th of September.

Mrs Zoe Nugent

guyprincipal@arm.catholic.edu.au