FROM THE PRINCIPAL

TERM 2 - WEEK 2

To the St Nicholas School Community  

Tomorrow at St Nicholas School, we stop to pay tribute to our wonderful mothers. Our mothers to which we owe every success that has come our way. 

We look forward to welcoming our mothers onsite from 7.30am to share a “Muffin with Mum”. This will be followed by a mass at 9.30am in the undercroft. Our students would love to see as many of our wonderful Mums as possible at both events.

On behalf of our school community, thank you to our amazing mums for all you do for us. I trust that your children will spoil you rotten on Sunday.

Improving the learning and teaching of Reading: Term 1 2022 (Kindergarten - Year 3)

As promised in last week's newsletter, I now share with you some of our reading data from Term 1. This data reflects the school boasting that learning and teaching of reading has never been  stronger at St  Nicholas.

Table 1A provides the average grade PM levels of our students. This table also shows the growth of each cohort from where they finished in 2021 to the completion of Term 1 2022. 

When we compare our 2022 reading data to 2020 and 2021 (Table 1B), the increased precision and sophistication of the learning and teaching of reading over the last 12 months is reflected in our results.

When we dive a little deeper into the data, the independent and differentiated approach to learning and teaching of reading also resonates. Tables 1C demonstrate the high number of children who have already reached their end of year benchmark. 

Since 2021 St Nicholas has been extremely deliberate in directing our human resources for reading (ie The Intervention Team) to Kindergarten - Year 3. For a school that is committed to setting our children up for success, research is extremely clear and unified on the importance of students reading confidently by the end of Year 3. Worded differently, the final 9 years of schooling for a struggling Year 3 reader can be very difficult.

To have 60.5% of our Year 3 children already at their end of year benchmark is extremely encouraging. That a further 16 students (Table 1D) are within 2 levels of this benchmark, means 80.25% of our Year 3 students at the conclusion of Term 1 have reached the end of Year benchmark or are within two levels. This we can be proud of!

Congratulations to our staff and students on their wonderful reading. We should be extremely proud of the reading culture we are creating at St Nicholas.

Kindergarten 2023

Tomorrow I am meeting with the principals of St Edward’s and St Joseph's to commence the enrolment process for our 2023 Kindergarten cohort. Once again St Nicholas is in the envious position of having great demand for a position at our school. 

On the 16th March I wrote to our School community, explaining our current families would lose their right to a 2023 Kindergarten spot if their application was not submitted by the closing date (Friday 8th April). Any application from a current family that is not received by 3pm tomorrow, 6th May 2022, will be placed on a waiting list.

School Uniform. 

The official change over date from summer to winter uniform is this Monday 9th May. As outlined later in the newsletter, due to supply issues children can be in either full summer or winter uniform.

We continue to expect high standards on uniform presentation. Parents are asked for their support with ensuring our children present neat and tidy in their full summer or winter uniform. This includes our school hat. 

eSafety Webinars

The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCPS) have arranged with the eSafety Commissioner to hold 3 webinars during 2022:

Have a wonderful week

John Clery

PRINCIPAL