Dear Parents/Carers,

The mornings are a little darker, the days a little shorter and the leaves are starting to turn. Autumn is a beautiful time of year in Melbourne, but it always seems to catch me by surprise! I would like to thank all parents for your understanding regarding the two school closure days we had leading into the long weekend. I hope you were able to make use of the extra couple of days to enjoy some time with your family and friends. Last week our staff spent time working with Anna Glynn, who facilitated workshops around individual strengths and how we can use these strengths to create thriving teams. The intention is to give our staff an understanding of the strengths individuals bring to our teams and our overall staff team, so our people can create an optimal learning environment for the children. Engagement with the work was at a high level and I thank our staff for their continued commitment to our students and school community.

School Production

The time since our last newsletter has been a very ‘dynamic’ one, with many exciting things happening in our school. At assembly last week, it was announced that our school production in 2023 will be Madagascar Jr and it will be performed at Kilbreda College in Mentone on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th September. The show is based off the 2005 Dreamworks movie and is a terrific musical. The children are very excited. Our senior students will audition for the main roles in Week 9, with announcements to be made regarding this before the holidays. This is a whole school event, so we ask again that parents please mark these dates in your calendars because we need all students to present on both nights of the production for the show to be a success. There will be many opportunities for parents to get involved with sets, props, costumes and even make up!

Renovation - Excitement building

The renovation is edging closer and closer to completion, which is very exciting for everyone. With the external entrances and decking taking shape, we can start to see how the spaces will be utilised on a daily basis. All the cabinetry has been installed and the painters have commenced, so we are looking at an early Term Two completion and relocation into the new classrooms. There is a possible delay on glazing and the feature ceilings, so we will wait until we have some confirmation around these before communicating a firm move-in date. In addition to the planned scope, there will also be some works (mainly paint/carpet) carried out in the office, staffroom, art room and upstairs office space to tie everything together. We are expecting these extra works to occur during the school holidays. It will be a bit of a juggling act as we transition from the current spaces to the new classrooms, but the schools leadership will plan it carefully and manage it safely when the time comes. All students/staff will go into the new classroom spaces to free up our hall, art room and library for their primary uses.

Ways of working - Teaching and Learning at the ‘point of need’

As a school, we are continually evaluating and developing the way we are meeting the learning needs of every child in our school. In recent times, we have moved to more flexible groupings across year levels for teaching and learning in Reading, Writing, MSL, Spelling Mastery and Mathematics. There is certainly a sense of pride when I walk around with prospective parents on school tours and see a high level of differentiation and engagement in learning. Our staff, led by curriculum leaders Louisa Di Pietro and Amanda Baker are working very hard to ensure we are at the cutting edge of teaching/learning practice. All groupings are based on current assessment data and the rationale behind this approach is that all students are ‘getting what they need’ in that particular area of their learning. These groups are ‘flexible’ because students learn at different rates and at times they will move in and out of groups. Our staff are best placed to make decisions about which groups each child needs to work in because, as mentioned, decisions are based on the significant assessment data they have generated in the given area of the curriculum. This is a shift in thinking for our students and maybe even for some parents! We are continuing to work with the children on the notion that when they work in a particular group it is because it is best for their current needs in learning. They may need extension when learning about geometry/shape, but consolidation of concepts in fractions. It can take time for the children to adjust to this way of working, but as parents and educators, it is our role to encourage a growth mindset and a can-do attitude towards this. The new ‘physical’ spaces that we are about to move into will make this way of working so much easier, as the classrooms will offer a much greater level of flexibility.

School Photos

School Photos will take place next week, on Tuesday 21st March. While this is usually a day for PE, we are asking that all students wear their full summer school uniform, including their new v-neck school jumper. Grade 6 are to wear their new rugby tops. Long hair needs to be tied back, the correct colour socks to be worn, as well as black leather school shoes. They can bring their runners to school to change into for PE with Mr Kost. Please see the Ordering School Photo page for further information.

St Agnes’ Sports Carnival

We have juggled our Sports calendar to accommodate a Swimming Carnival in Term Four, which means our Sports (athletics) Carnival is being brought forward to Term One from this year on. On Friday 24th March, all children from Prep-Year 6 will participate in the St Agnes’ Sports Carnival, held at the Rowans Road Athletic Track, Moorabbin (Bricker Reserve). The children have been preparing for their events in PE lessons throughout the term and are very excited for the day. The children are to wear their sports uniform for the day and can wear a touch of their house colour with their uniform - hair ties, wrist bands, ribbons, coloured zinc etc. We encourage all parents, grandparents and toddlers to come along. There is much anticipation about parent and toddler races happening again, so dress comfortably! Fingers crossed for a beautiful Autumn day.

Catholic Education Week Mass and Project Compassion

This week is Catholic Education Week and we will mark this occasion by celebrating with a mass on Friday morning at 9am. We will join the regular weekday mass-goers for this mass. All parents are of course welcome to join us. We are into the third week of Lent and Project Compassion is a fundraising initiative run by Caritas during Lent - click the preceding link for more information about the initiative. There is a ‘money box’ in each classroom, where children and families can donate to this worth cause. Caritas work in disadvantaged communities, particularly in Southern Asia. Our School and Social Justice Captains recently led prayer services in our classrooms to help our students connect with this initiative. There are also two whole school actions coming up in the next week. Please see below, a communication from our School and Social Justice Captains:

On the last day of Term One, Thursday 6th April, we are having a Friendship Day and Coin Line to raise money for Project Compassion. Project Compassion encourages Australians to raise much needed funds to help people in need.

Coin Line:

For the next few weeks leading up to the last day of school, children can bring in coins and put them in their class Project Compassion box. On the last day of term, the Project Compassion box will be emptied and each class will make a coin line. The class with the longest line will win an extra 20 minutes of play and a free icy-pole.

Friendship Day:

On Friendship Day the maximum amount of money you can bring is $10 to spend on the stalls that each class comes up with. Different activities and stalls will vary in prices. All money raised will go to Project Compassion to help people in need.

by Bridget W, Hudson L, Alannah H, Hugh C.

Pre-Prep Playgroup

In 2023, we have introduced a Pre-Prep Playgroup for four-year-old kinder children and their younger siblings. Give your child a flying start to their primary schooling!

The goals of our Pre-Prep playgroup include:

To give kinder aged children an insight into the workings of a primary classroom
To establish a connection between local families and children
To connect families and children to our school grounds, staff and community
To enhance the transition program for our new Prep students

All children and families are welcome and it is free of charge. The sessions run from 9am-10am on the dates listed below. Parents are asked to stay with their child(ren) for the duration of the playgroup. The first half-hour will be a structured activity for the children in the classroom or hall led by one of our staff, followed by time for play and engagement together in the playground or other school spaces. We will need some parent help with things like tea and coffee, so if you are a current family and happy to assist, please reach out.

The dates for Term Two are:

Monday 8th May, Wednesday 17th May, Monday 22nd May, Wednesday 31st May, Monday 5th June, Wednesday 14th June.

Please register using the link below and feel free to share this with other local families who are not connected to our school.

St Agnes’ Dad’s Pot and Parma Night

A reminder that the Dad’s Pot and Parma night is on at the Highett RSL on Thursday 23rd March. Tables have been tentatively reserved for all dads to catch up for a Steak, Parma, a drink and some footy on the big screen. Please RSVP to Bart Caroll (0421 877 991) so numbers can be confirmed. All dads, new and ‘not so new’, please come along. Thank you to those who have already confirmed attendance.

Cross Country Training

All students from Year 3 to Year 6 are invited to join in training sessions for the upcoming SSV Disctric Cross Country. There are three training sessions and to be included in our team, children are expected to attend two of the three sessions. The training sessions involve ‘jogging the block’ and commence at 8am on the following dates:

Tuesday 28th March
Tuesday 4th April
Tuesday 2nd May

The District Cross Country takes place on Friday 5th May at Bald Hill Park in Clarinda.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

A reminder the there are a couple of important dates coming up for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Reflection Day is Thursday, 23rd March and the students can wear casual clothes on this day. They will spend the day completing activities related to the sacrament and preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation Paraliturgy on Wednesday, 29th March, 6.30pm

Thanks from St Vincent de Paul - Patricia Hickey Conference President

Please pass on our thanks to the St Agnes school community for their generous Christmas donations. We have used it to support the needy families in the parish area. The gift cards ($470) were very well received.

Open Days and School Tours

We are very grateful to all of our parents for advocating for our school in the local community. We have had a number of enquiries for Prep in 2024, which is a really positive sign for our school. We have three Open Days remaining for this year, where prospective families can come and tour our school to see and hear from the students and staff. The dates for school tours are below:

Wednesday 29th March
Wednesday 3rd May
Wednesday 31st May

2024 sibling enrolments

We are still asking those current families to complete the enrolment process for any siblings who will join our school in Prep in 2024. We are expecting a large sibling cohort, so we need all families to enrol as soon as possible so we know how many places we have to offer new families. Forms can be downloaded from our website or you can pick one up from the office.

2024 Fete Committee Meeting

Yes, it’s time to start getting organised for the 2024 St Agnes’ School Fete. We have locked in Saturday 16th March 2024 for the big day. We are looking to put together a large team of parents, with well-defined roles to lead our fete in 2024. Our last fete gave an amazing ‘lift’ to all in our community after two very tough years, but it also helped raise close to $30000, which is going straight back into our classrooms in the form of new furniture when our renovation is finished. The meeting will be held in the staffroom and all parents are welcome to attend. Your contribution is valued and appreciated.

St Agnes' Footy Tipping Competition

Absolute last call today as the season commences tomorrow - please click on the button below to register

Account details are as follows: Name: St Agnes Parents and Friends BSB: 083347 Account No.: 173603985- Cost to join $25

Before and after school care

Extend are currently offering before-school care on Monday and Tuesday mornings and after school care every day. Please complete your enrolment and bookings via this button.

Term 1 school fees

2023 school fee invoices have been sent out and were due to be paid by Friday 24th February. Please contact Shannon in the office to set up a direct debit or to make payments.

Assembly

For the duration of the renovation project, Wednesday afternoon assemblies will be held in the Church from 2.40pm. Parents are welcome to attend. We will continue to have class presentations, awards, birthdays and special announcements each week.

Wed 15th March - Year 4

Wed 22nd March - Year 6 Leaders

Wed 29th March - Year 1

Wed 5th April - Prep

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Kind regards,

Lachie.

LIBRARY NEWS