Message from the Principal

In the recent school holidays, one of the planter boxes in our Wellbeing Garden was given a make over thanks to Danielle, with the help of her children and a family friend. We now have fresh spinach and broad beans growing in our garden which will be used when we cook as part of our Wellbeing Groups on a Friday afternoon. Also, our garden now has a mini worm farm to help reduce waste and to produce organic fertiliser. 

During the school closure day at the beginning of this term, the staff and I began the day looking at a Gospel passage using a new strategy called Imaginative Contemplation, which we have learnt as part of the prayer collective with Holy Saviour in Vermont South. 

The purpose of this strategy is for children to experience a more contemporary way of engaging in prayer in order to strengthen their relationship with God. The staff then spent time planning their religious education unit for the term including opportunities to practice and embed the strategy of Imaginative Contemplation. 

We then ate lunch together as a team and concluded the day with a team building exercise of ten pin bowling. The overall winner was our Year 4/5/6 Classroom and PE Teacher, Mr Jack Cirillo, scoring a total of 106 points.

The four days between the 4th and 6th of May I was away at a Principal Conference in Inverloch with my colleagues from the East Central Zone. Mrs Margie Maher relieved me during my absence and I thank her for her leadership.

During the conference, my colleagues and I worked with a leadership coach Roann Innes who helped us to delve into our individual profiles to understand our strengths and how to minimise our struggles as leaders. 

We also looked at the 2019 and 2021 data from the school improvement surveys (MACSSIS) which is completed by our senior students, staff and parents. 

In particular, we looked at the staff data in relation to Instructional Leadership (2019- 89%, 2020 - 85%, MACS average 57%) and Collaboration in Teams (2109 - 83%, 2020 - 84%, MACS average 70%). We shared our data with a colleague and explored the reasons for the results and for any differences. Our school's results over the two year period were consistently strong and well above the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools' (MACS) average. 

We then looked at a School Improvement Learning Collaborative Heat Map, designed around aspirational practices. We colour coded using traffic lights, where our school is currently at, in relation to these practices. This process helps us to stay focused on our annual goals.

On the final day of the conference, we reviewed the ten characteristics of prayer with a focus on Imaginative Contemplation, a strategy which I outlined earlier in my message. The peaceful location of Inverloch added to the beauty of our reflection.  

While I was away, our school celebrated Mother's Day with a dinner at Dawson's in Kew. Thank you to Sharon for organising. I understand it was a lovely evening, enjoyed by all who attended.

Also, our children delighted in purchasing gifts at our Mother's Day stall. Thank you to Paula for organising the gifts and to Kellie and Talia for running the stall on the day. I hope all our mothers had a lovely day on the 8th of May. 

Kind regards,

Mrs Robyn Thomson

Principal