Principal Reflections

From the Principals - Alison & Pete

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,

Each year on the 8th of August, we celebrate the feast day of St Mary Mackillop, Australia’s much beloved first Saint. St Mary Mackillop played such an instrumental role in shaping our Catholic identity as a nation. She was responsible for making education accessible for children in our country. 

Mary MacKillop devoted her life to providing a holistic Catholic education for children from rural, poor families. She was a trailblazer and a leader who passionately advocated for the education of underprivileged children and children in remote areas where others either would or could not go.  For such children and their families, Mary opened a door of hope into the future. Saint Mary Mackillop founded the sisters of St Joseph, a name that many of our Armidale diocesan schools still carry to this day. 

To mark this special feast day, we celebrated Mass as a whole school with Fr. Paul and Deacon Paul. We would like to thank Mrs. Clarke for all her organisation and also our fantastic student readers who help contribute to such as special Mass. 

Living Well Learning Well Staff Development

Over the next few weeks, our staff will be completing a professional development work pack on our diocesan Living Well, Learning Well approach to multi-tiered student behaviour, learning and well being support. 

This professional learning, facilitated by Amanda Sheridan, our Leader of Inclusion and Head of Infants Campus, looks at how we as professional staff in our school can best cater for the learning and wellbeing needs of our students. At our staff meeting on Tuesday, we were looking closely at the importance of consistency in our language when supporting challenging behaviours in the classroom and on the playground. 

As a leadership team, we are so proud of the way our staff each and everyday commit to supporting the vast array of learning and behaviour needs of our students. They are a professional and collaborative team focussed on making our students that best versions of themselves. 

Principals Conference in Coffs Harbour 

Alison and I will be away at the Term 3 Principal’s Conference in Coffs Harbour this Wednesday/Thursday and Friday. During this time Amanda Sheridan will be filling in as Acting Principal.

Have a wonderful week everyone,

Keep Smiling,

Alison Hatton and Pete Flynn