Assistant Principal News
Louise Gordon
Tell Them From Me Survey
A school is thriving when teachers, students, parents and carers are all working together toward a common vision of success.
It is important to strengthen relationships and gain a deeper understanding of the whole school community by giving everyone a voice in setting a school’s direction. The school utilises the Tell Them From Me Survey data annually to design the Annual School Improvement Plan for each school year.
This year’s Tell Them From Me Survey results indicated that parents were generally satisfied with:
Opportunities for prayer and faith development
- Fostering an understanding of Catholic life and culture and promoting relationships with the Parish community
- Student engagement in learning
- Modeling and promoting positive behaviours
- The care and wellbeing of the students provided daily
- The range of Creative and Sporting opportunities
- The supportive and professional staff
Areas requiring further development:
- Involvement of parents in school community events
- The importance of checking the calendar of school events regularly
- Accessing COMPASS to be informed of school notifications
- Student participation in extracurricular activities
Student Attendance
Systemic Catholic primary schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney must record daily student attendance. All student absences must be followed by an explanation /medical certificate from parents within one week of the absence. This can be completed using our school web based system – COMPASS.
If an explanation is not received within that time, the absence will automatically be recorded as an unexplained absence. Children who arrive at school after 8.55 am must report to the office before going to class where a late note will be issued stating the reason for the partial absence.
Parents are reminded that if your child will be on leave for more than 10 school days an ‘Application for Leave form/Application for Extended Leave – Travel form’ at least three school days before the absence needs to be completed. It is a legal requirement that a principal must grant an exemption from attendance prior to such leave being taken.
Application for Exemption’ forms are available at the school office and on Compass under parent links. If an exemption certificate is not provided to the parent by the school before the absence, the absence will be recorded as unexplained/unacceptable.
Student Performance and Growth
At the end of Week Six student Learning Books will be sent home to assist parents to celebrate their child’s engagement in learning. Student work samples across the Curriculum Areas serve as a form of formative assessment identifying student strengths and areas for growth.
Parents are encouraged to have a conversation with their child to praise and support them in planning future learning goals to assist them in achieving student outcomes.
Parents are asked to sign their child’s Learning Book log after viewing their child’s book which will be located at the front of the Learning Book. Books will be sent home on Friday and are to be returned on Monday.
NAPLAN Results 2022
Individual Student Reports for students in Years 3 and 5 will be available for parents from the 29th August. The report shows a student’s results in the key areas of reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Please view the link below - How to interpret NAPLAN results and contact your child’s class teacher if you have any questions about the report.
ACARA has also released FAQs fact sheets for parents/carers in both English and in other languages. FAQs are available here: https://www.nap.edu.au/results-and-reports/student-reports
Mrs Louise Gordon | Newman Coordinator