Principal's Report

Our new lunch times have begun well with so many of our children not only enjoying the opportunity to play immediately at 1st break, the follow-up eating and drinking is much more ‘full-filling’ with so many more lunchboxes being emptied into stomachs rather than the rubbish bins!? And our clever team of skilful helpful adults continue to provide creative play opportunities such as skipping ropes impersonating horse roping, cardboard tubes for building cubby houses and the ‘good-old’ cardboard box to be just anything you like!

Once again, please keep an eye on the new times for Lunch Orders from Smeatons on Tuesdays and Fridays. All written Lunch Orders must be at the office no later than 9:30 am. All ONLINE Lunch Orders must be lodged no later than 10:00 am, please.

And we have another great addition to our playground resources with the ‘Chicken Palace’ being erected over the weekend by myself, Mr Cameron and Mrs McManus. What a spectacular new home for our Kindergarten Quail - Sparky, and some new Quail friends donated by Mrs McCarthy! Once this crew have settled in we will be sourcing some point-of-lay chickens and, believe me,  I am going to have no shortage of enthusiastic volunteers to feed, clean and collect eggs!? I have been inundated with wonderful volunteers proudly spruiking either their heartful devotion to chickens and/or their resume of expert experience caring for fowls! Stay tuned for updates and great photos.

Thank you to all of those children and families who supported attendance at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service and/or March last Tuesday. Our kids looked very impressive on such an important day of national remembrance. Our red uniforms shone like beacons marching down the street and having close to 40% of the student population attending pays credit to the value placed on ANZAC Day by our St Joseph’s families. Thank you one and all. And of course - Lest we forget.

Many families have given me quality feedback about their experience of Student-Led Conferences this week. I have and will continue next week to be ‘lurking’ outside the classrooms to take verbal feedback from families about the positives and/or suggestions for improvement. Early indications are quite good in that families like the fact that their daughters and sons are present and equal participants in the conversation with our team of skilful helpful adults. Some families do hark back to the days when the teacher did most of the talking but certainly want their child present to hear and comment on the suggested goals and actions for ongoing improvement. Thank you to those honest and enthusiastic families for your insights!

And finally, let’s shout this from the rooftops! What an amazing and generous community we have here at St Joseph’s School Glen Innes. All of our work before the holidays raising money for Caritas - Project Compassion has raised over $1500. Thank you so much for all of the kind donations - either in chocolate or cash. These funds will be gratefully received and distributed by Caritas to support communities in need both in Australia and overseas. Great job!

Project Compassion boxes - $237.95

Mufti-Day - $101

Easter Raffle - $1300.20

Until next time.

May God go with you.

Geoff McManus

Principal