Principal's Message
Dear parents, students and the wider community,
I have just returned from 13 days straight of professional development and principal enrichment for which I consider myself very fortunate.
The first 5 days were spent, when not travelling, in the Gippsland area centered at Metung. The Peninsula Principal Network titled this learning experience as “A Culture of Care as a Path of Peace”. In reality it was an experience where the focus was on “Connection to Culture and Community” with a strong focus on stewardship. In speaking to TO’s (Traditional Owners) of the Gunnai Kurnai mob at the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Pace and while being escorted to the Den of Nargun we were given their perspective of country and the impacts of colonisation and how they are responding to maintain their culture. We visited a working high country station Karoonda Park in Gelantipy which is a sheep and cattle station. We arrived while they were shearing which was an enlightening experience for some of the principals and a shock to the vegetarians! We were also fortunate to visit the Buchan Caves and have a tour on the lakes where much discussion was had regarding how the TO’s may have lived, the changes since, and our role in ensuring that the beauty of such areas is not spoilt. We also reflected on the need that both the culture of the TO’s and those that have come over the past nearly 200 years are acknowledged and respected. This Conference followed up from the message of Pope Francis for 2021 which was to create a new “path to peace”, a real “compass of principles” to give a “common roadmap” to our journey.
Over the next 8 days I joined with Melbourne Archdiocese for Catholic Schools (MACS) Principal Formation group. ‘Sacred Land exploring an Australian Spirituality’ as a retreat experience focused on Aboriginal spirituality and connection to the land. Ochre-Rain Pty Ltd is the Aboriginal co-ordinating authority who organised daily guides to accompany us on-country and in the story telling. In a group of 14 Principals, we visited sacred sites and heard personal stories from Tasmanian Aboriginal people. At times, the story told was confronting and shameful; at times it was uplifting and hopeful. We visited a church at Nicholls Rivulet, built in 1900 on land granted by the Government in 1889 to Fanny Cochrane Smith as ‘the last survivor’ of the Tasmanian Aboriginal race. It was a Methodist Church, built by Fanny’s family with timber they had milled from the Valley, and is still a meeting place for her many descendants today.
Under the spiritual direction of Fr Iain Radvan SJ, we started and closed each day with 30 minutes of prayer and examine. This time of reflection was an important adjunct to the experience of each day. To pause and reflect on what we have learned, and how it influences our leadership in a Catholic School focused on reconciliation.
We were able to visit a number of sites around Hobart including Port Arthur, Maria Island, Bruny Island and the absolutely beautiful Cradle Mountain.
Engaging in the exercise was a strategic decision for a couple of reasons:
To lead (or teach) in a MACS school, it is an expectation that personnel must commit to a number of hours accredited Professional Learning (25 hours of PL over five years, or 50 hours to be accredited to lead or teach RE).
Finally, and importantly, as the leader of a Catholic School, I am mindful of my commitment to continued formation and spiritual renewal. It is important that I set aside time in my schedule for this development, and that I both encourage and provide opportunities for other staff members of the School.
I am very grateful to the Leadership team that stepped up in my absence to do the hands-on leadership but with email, texts and the phone you are never actually “not present.” I look forward to sharing some of my reflections with staff and students in the future though of course much of these trips is about personal development and spiritual growth.
Yesterday the children celebrated Mass together with Fr Martin and took part in some Pentecost activities to mark this special occasion.
Tomorrow, Friday 10th June, is a Student Free day. Our staff will work closely with Georgina Manning to learn about supporting students with anxiety in the classroom. We have previously worked with Georgina and know it will be a rich day of learning for our staff. Thank you for making alternate arrangements for your child on this day.
Next Tuesday 14th June we hold our parent information session with Georgina Manning. Please check Seesaw for the link to attain a ticket to this evening. You need to tap on 'view original' to be able to book a ticket. We will be holding a movie night for the children on this night, more information will come out about this next week.
Also next week our Marine Ambassador's attend Ricket's Point with Mr Sullivan. We trust this is a worthwhile experience for them and they return to share their learning with our school.
In the final week of term reports will come home, our Year 5's will spend a day at JPC on Tuesday 21st June learning a bit more about how secondary schools function and we will have Italian Day on Wednesday 22nd June. Signora Morina has been very busy with the organisation of this.
Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on Thursday 23rd June. These will be ONLINE. Please go to www.schoolinterviews.com.auand the log in code is ka8ut. Please select your timeslot/s. Class teachers will provide log in details prior to the event.
In some very exciting news for the school Jemima Holmes and her partner Tom will be welcoming a third member to their family with their baby due in mid-November. I'm sure you will share with the staff in offering congratulations to the couple.
God Bless and have a great long weekend with students returning to school after the Queen's Birthday holiday. I will be on personal leave for our short week next week but look forward to seeing you all in Week 9!
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 areason 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