Principal's Message
Dear parents, students and the wider community,
It has been nice to have a week a little less disrupted due to all of the wonderful cultural and extra curricula activities that were a part of our first week back to school. After losing the majority of second and third terms at school over the past two years I look forward to 2023 being a year of re-establishing rich and deep learning IN the classroom.
Thank you to the team that organised and ran our Mothers' Day Stall on Wednesday. It is always a very big occasion while the students agonise over their particular gifts for their mums! At least the mums working at the stall got to have some influence over what their gift may be!!! Many thanks to Mrs Brooking and the team who organised this year's Mothers' Day Big Morning Tea on Thursday. After not having it for a couple of years it was truly a great oppportunity to show our new parents of our Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 cohorts what a wonderful community they have joined. It was a great morning and I thank staff for supporting our two leaders of the day, Mrs Winduss and Mrs Brooking, in making it a huge success.
I need to advise that enrolment applications for 2023 Foundation will close on Friday 20 May. This is due to incredibly strong interest from local families in wanting to join our school. Thank you to all who have contributed to this through reaching out to your neighbors and friends. I believe we have a wonderful school which is focused on providing the best education possible for each and every one of our students and it is nice to see that so many local families feel this too.
Next week our Year 3 and Year 5 students complete the national NAPLAN testing schedule between Tuesday and Friday. These tests provide one set of data that we use to chart student growth as many of you will be aware. Ideally we would like students present on these days to complete all tests, if at all possible.
Next Wednesday our students who would like to receive First Eucharist this year will have the opportunity to meet with other Parish families in the Church to begin their preparations towards this. Please ensure that you are in attendance if this is relative to you. May Christ guide you all in your journey.
On Friday some of our Year 3-6 students will be at Ballam Park representing our school in the District Track events. Mrs Ary will provide further information regarding this to those who have been selected.
Happy Mothers' Day to all our mums, grandmas and important female role models in our students' lives. Hope you have a wonderful day and get thoroughly spoilt.
Lord Jesus Christ, You chose to put yourself—tiny, needy and helpless—into the nurturing and watchful hands of a human mother. Since then, every act of mothering, both physical and spiritual, in every time and every corner of the world recollects Mary’s. Inspired by this example, we, too, honour our mothers and mother figures today. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers and nurturers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, honour them always with a spirit of profound respect.
God Bless.
Rod Shaw
Principal
School Attendance and Unexplained Absence
Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on 9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with a reason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.
If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school and collect a late pass.
If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.
As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:
Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.
If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.
If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.
Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.
This is a legal requirement.
Democratic Principles
The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:
(a) elected government; and
(b) the rule of law; and
(c) equal rights for all before the law; and
(d) freedom of religion; and
(e) freedom of speech and association; and
(f) the values of openness and tolerance