From the Principal

We understand that this time has not been easy and with COVID numbers fluctuating it can dampen our spirits. We just want to reach out to each parent and say we are walking this journey with you. We applaud everything you are doing to keep things together and support the learning journey. This time is asking us to dig deep and do all we can to flip our thinking and stay positive for everyone. 

As a school community parents, teachers and students we are doing well and we need each other to see the silver lining in each day. Looking to far forward is too tricky with all the uncertainties, the past can be frustrating with what we missed doing so we need to focus on this moment, today and see what we can be grateful for. Let's find the smallest positive in day. Today is the gift - that is why it is called - PRESENT!

Online learning 

Congratulations on getting your child on their Google Meets. We are going to add some moments online for connection and hopefully add some smiles. Today was PJ or oodie day. Next week we are going to have FUN Friday and teachers will post FUN activities for children to do. It will be a Google Meet FREE day. We have also added Friday Storytime at 7. Look out for the moments we can connect. If you have an idea for FUN Friday or for a theme, please email your teacher and we can see if we can weave it into the learning week.

FUN Friday - Friday 3rd a Google Meet FREE day

Specialists

This week specialist went live on Google Meets too. While they will continue to post videos and tasks, we believe going live is another opportunity to connect. Specialists that started found an increase of students online. The specialists time is important for children as it gives them a chance to do a different type of learning than Literacy and Numeracy. At this time, developing skills in art and music can be therapeutic and good for our mental health. In the same way participating in drama/well being games and activities can help build our resilience and switch our thinking. Practicing Italian, learning a Digital Technology Skill or getting physical at PE all add to variety and engage our minds in different ways. Some of these areas are your children's strength areas. It is a fun way to learn and practice skills. We encourage participation and maintaining the routine of the day as much as possible as it will help making the switch when we do return back to face to face learning at school.

Numeracy Professional Development

On Thursday 2 September, our staff will be participating in a Numeracy Professional Development session online. Junior staff will be participating from 9-11 and senior staff from 11:30- 1:30. When teachers are at the session they will be posting work for students. The rest of the day will involve Google Meets as in the timetable. Please refer to the child's Google Classroom page for further  details.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Parent/teacher interviewswill take place on the 9th September this Term. We have planned for these interviews to be Google Meets as it is the safest option given our current restrictions. Interviews will be held from 2:30 pm till 8pm. The Online Interview app is now open for you to book your appointment. Interviews will be 15 minutes. 

We would normally send home the child's goal folders prior to this meeting but this is not possible at this time. However, teachers will be informing you about your child's goal prior to the meeting. Teachers will be discussing your child's progress from the goals in the June written report and their new goals for their next learning stretch at your interview. Our school prides itself on the personalisation of learning by providing individual learning goals for each child. We believe in the continuation of learning based on personal goals (Rather than calling it Homework!!!) for each child and the partnership that occurs when we work together to support the child's learning growth.

On the 9th September interview day teachers will be posting student work for the afternoon session.

If we are still doing remote learning past the 9/9, we are going to make 

Friday 10th September a FUN day at home and at school. 

Teachers will post some FUN activities that children may choose to do.

It will be a day to celebrate the great work we have done together!!

So Friday 3rd and Friday 10th are FUN Fridays!!

School Review

We completed day 2, really Day 3 of our school review on Tuesday 24 August. Christine Wakeling was unable to visit our school but we ensured we gave her the best possible online opportunity to visit our school and see all aspects of learning we provide. 

Christine was kept busy all day attending Google Meets to see reading, writing, numeracy, Religious education and Inquiry and even Specialists classes. She was provided with options to select junior or senior classes and she attended both. We were very impressed by her attention to every opportunity to observe our teachers teach, talk to students about their learning and to further dialogue with the teachers individually.

Christine also attended session with teams to see how our teachers use data to plan for learning and she even stayed with us to attend a Professional learning Team PLT meeting with the entire staff after school on Numeracy. 

It has certainly been a very thorough review of our school. We have been very impressed with Christine and the time and effort she has taken to gain a clear perspective and understanding of our school. 

Christine was very impressed by our staff. I take the opportunity to thank everyone staff, students and parents for their participation in the very constructive process of review.

We look forward to the 16 September when Christine will participate with our leadership team in a Dialogue and Engagement session. Maree Holmes from MACS - Melbourne Archdioceses Catholic Schools will also participate as we discuss our key goals for our next School Improvement Plan. Continuous improvement is something for all our school community to embrace - staff, students and parents, so that we each do our part to celebrate the many aspects that make our school an amazing place of learning and continue to learn, so that we keep improving and developing in areas to ensure our growth and progress.

Evaluation of St Francis de Sales 1:1 Device Program - 2021 Trial!

This week all parents of Year 3 students have been asked to respond to an Operoo eform so that we can gain parent feedback regarding our 2021 trial of a 1:1 device. 

They have been asked to consider the benefits we stated and give us their feedback on the following:

We have found that the 1:1 program has been of benefit for our child.

Yes

No

Please write and let us know the advantages or disadvantages of the 1:1 device program.

Cost of the device

$475       Dell Chromebook 3100 2 in1  

$34         Licence CS Chrome Education 36 month license/ support term (Authorised                            Reseller ONLY) - perpetual 

$45         11-12'' ContegoTM 4.0 Armoured Slipcase

$18.60   GoGuardian 

$572.60                 Total

Year 3 parents have also been asked to consider if they will opt in to a 1:1 device program in 2022 by 

1. paying an annual levy of $143/year or
2. get a $97.60 discount by paying upfront.
3. Alternatively they can opt out and return the device.

The feedback from parents, students and staff will help us determine if the program will continue to be phased in 2022 and beyond. If it does not continue the current devices will all be returned and form part of devices to be shared while children work at school. If it is phased in, we will have both Year 3 and Year 4's having their own Chromebook device next year. In 2023 all Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 students will have a 1:1 device and in 2024 we will have full implementation with all seniors Year 3 to Year 6 with their own personal device.

Multipurpose Hall

Plans have now been submitted and we await our permit to proceed. We expect the tender process to commence in early November and construction to commence in early 2022!! Here is an updated visual of the building.

Christine White

Principal