News from our 

Assistant Principal

Student Leadership 2023

Congratulations to the following student leaders for 2023.   We wish them all the best in their new roles promoting the school’s vision and mission and supporting teachers and students during the school year.

School Captains

Spencer M and Finlay K

Vice Captains

Oscar A and Felicity B

Sports Colour Captains

Bayada: Samuel E and Sienna L

Keller: Luca J and Isabella K

McAuley: Eneeki M and Elodie P

McGrath: Zac B and Allyra S                         

Our Year 6 Sports Captains, Year 6 Leadership teams and SRC from K-6 will receive a blessing and their badges at our opening School Mass on Friday 17th February at 9:30am.

Student Attendance

Systemic Catholic primary schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney must record daily student attendance. All student absences must be followed by an explanation from parents within one week of the absence. This can be completed using our school web based system – COMPASS. The functionality for parents within the Compass parent portal includes the ability to monitor their child’s attendance and enter explanations for late arrivals or absences.

If an explanation is not received within that time, the absence will automatically be recorded as an unexplained absence. Children who arrive at school after 8.50 am must report to the office before going to class where a late note will be issued stating the reason for the partial absence.

Parents are reminded that if your child will be on leave for more than 10 school days an ‘Application for Leave form/Application for Extended Leave – Travel form’ must be completed at least three school days before the absence. It is a legal requirement that a principal must grant an exemption from attendance prior to such leave being taken.

‘Application for Exemption’ forms are available at the school office. If an exemption certificate is not provided to the parent by the school before the absence, the absence will be recorded as unexplained/unacceptable.  Please contact the school office if you have any queries.       

Dismissal Procedures and Car Line

At Our Lady of Fatima, we value the safety and wellbeing of all our students. 

We remind parents of the following rules:

• It is important not to arrive too early in the afternoon at carline to reduce traffic congestion on Port Hacking Road
• Please have a clear display of your family surname to enable your child to be notified of your arrival - Parents are reminded to ensure that the sign is legible and clear
• Walkers leaving the school to go to Port Hacking Road are to exit via the school back gate and walk safely and quietly along the school pathway.
• Parents and visitors are to drive at a safe speed (not exceeding 5km) when on the parish and school grounds
• When dropping or picking up your child /children DO NOT exit your vehicle.  If your child is unable to leave or enter the vehicle unaided you are asked to park off-site and walk to the school to collect your child from the oval or school exit gates
• If your child is unable to undo or put on their car seat belt you are not to get out of your car to assist and may need to park offsite, walk in to drop off or collect your child. Spend some time at home teaching yur child how to put on and take off their seat belts
• DO NOT POP OPEN CAR BOOTS as this is a safety hazard. Please have your child’s/children’s bags in the vehicle
• Please remind your child/children not to walk between cars after exiting the car and to use the pedestrian crossing at all times. Please note that walking between cars is extremely dangerous
• Students in Years 4-6 may ride their bicycle to and from school only after their parents have completed the permission form and your child has attended a safety induction session at school.                                               

Parents, please be reminded that the school administration and staff car parks are not available for the morning or afternoon drop-off.  Please note: that the car spaces that are provided for the Fatima pre-school are NOT for our use.

Road Safety Fact Sheets

Parents, click on this link and please read the Road Safety Fact sheets from Sutherland Council to promote safe school travel for all students around our schools.

Meet and Greet Interviews

To assist teachers to provide an engaging learning experience to meet the needs of your child you are invited to attend a ‘Meet and Greet’ interview during Weeks Three and Four on the school site. A student information questionnaire will be sent to parents prior to the Meet and Greet interviews to assist teachers to learn more about their child’s interests and learning styles. Please return the surveys to your child’s teacher.

In Week Three on Wednesday 15th February interviews will commence at 2.00pm and conclude at 6.30pm.

In Week Four on Wednesday 22nd February interviews will commence at 3.30pm and conclude at 5.00pm.

The meetings will be ten minutes in duration and provide an opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher and share information about your child in relation to their interests and needs. Interviews will take place in your child's classroom.

If you wish to attend a ‘Meet and Greet’ interview please complete the interview booking portal located on our school online web system: COMPASS. If using the APP select: menu/conferences/2023 Meet and Greet. Please contact your child’s teacher if you would like to cancel or reschedule your interview time.

Parent Volunteers

This year the school would like to extend an invitation for parent volunteers to assist in the classrooms, sporting events and excursions. Sydney Catholic Schools is dedicated to upholding the values and practices that create safe learning environments for students. 

In accordance with the SCS’s Child Safe School practices the following is required for all school volunteers:

• Attend an induction session run by the school. This will include expectations for volunteers working in an SCS school/office
• You must complete the Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Child Safe Communities (CSC) Contractors and Volunteers Working with Children (WWC) Accreditation Process (WWC Accreditation Process). 
  
  As part of this online WWC Accreditation Process, you will be required to complete the following three steps:
  
  1. View an Induction presentation on Child Safe Communities.
  2. Read the SCS Volunteers Resource Kit.
  3. Provide your contact details and your Working With Children Check (WWCC) number (ending in V or E) and complete the Child Safe Communities Undertaking. 

Once the SCS People & Culture (P&C) Directorate verifies your WWCC number, you will receive written notification, to your registered email address, confirming your eligibility to commence volunteering at the school. 

You must notify the school once you receive confirmation of the verification from the SCS’ P&C Directorate. 

Once accredited, you will receive automated reminders, to your registered email address, informing you to complete the most recent undertaking (updated annually in the month of January) and to renew your expiring WWCC (when it is three months from its expiry), in order to maintain your WWC accreditation as a Volunteer with SCS.

Pursuant to SCS’ policies and procedures, you cannot commence volunteering at the school site until you have completed the WWC Accreditation Process and your WWCC details have been verified by the SCS’ P&C Directorate.   

Please note that volunteers are permitted to attend the school, and engage with students, only at the permission and discretion of the principal. We thank you for your support in ensuring a safe learning environment for our students and a safe workplace for our volunteers. 

The onsite Working With Children Induction sessions will be on the following dates: 

• Wednesday 15th February  at 8.00am and 6.00pm - Library
• Wednesday  22nd February at 8.00am - Library

Click on this link:

Homework Policy

At Our Lady of Fatima Caringbah, we acknowledge that the time children spend with their families and their involvement in extracurricular activities, are important components in the development of the whole child. Homework brings children's school experience into the home, allowing families to understand their progress and engage more closely with the curriculum.

Research from ‘Learning through Homework’, (Hattie 2008) states that short and frequent homework is more effective than lengthy homework. The effectiveness of homework is increased when homework is linked to learning goals, monitored and provided with consistent feedback. Homework tasks should reinforce learning and allow time for students to revise and reflect on their learning. Homework is quality, not quantity.

Organisation

Homework is to be communicated to parents at the commencement of the term via the Grade Bulletin and or a Homework Grid.

Reading for pleasure on a daily basis is encouraged across all year levels.

Suggested Homework Time Allocations: (3- 4 times a week)

Parents, please be reminded that family time and extracurricular activities are a very important part of your child’s development. Take note that reading is the most important aspect of learning at home with your child. These suggested times are a guide only and will vary for each child.

Media Consent

Upon enrolment, the enrolment process includes a Media Consent form to allow student photographs to be uploaded onto the school Newsletter, Social Media and See Saw. If you have changed your consent, you will be required to complete another consent form, please inform your child’s teacher by Friday 10th February.

School Uniform

It has been wonderful to see the students return to school looking so smart in their school uniforms. Please note that the new sports uniform is being phased in when the uniform needs updating for your child. Parents are reminded to ensure that their child wears the correct school shoes, socks and sports shoes ( white or black) daily. 

Our school has a ‘no hat no play policy”, students are required to wear their hat for all outdoor activities. Only Year 6 students are to wear the new school caps with students in Kindergarten to Year 5 wearing the traditional school hat. Students are to have neat hairstyles with any shoulder length hair tied back.

Louise Gordon | Assistant Principal