FROM THE PRINCIPAL

To the St Nicholas School Community

TERM 4 - WEEK 5

KINDER 2022 ORIENTATION DAY 1

Please enjoy the short video below highlighting an enormously successful first orientation day for our Kindergarten cohort for 2022. Kindergarten staff are eager to welcome our children back for their second orientation day on Friday. I trust your children are just as excited.

The children’s smiles, curiosity and zest for adventure reminds me of the fortunate position we are in as educators.

STAFF NEWS

Mrs Lisa McSweeney

Recently I received the resignations of Mrs Lisa McSweeney and Miss Jess Harris.

Lisa played an integral role in the leadership and direction of St Nicholas School for many years. In 2020, Lisa accepted a secondment as co-principal of St Edward's Primary School, South Tamworth, before taking leave in 2021 to study. Lisa has decided to pursue her studies, thus resigning from her position as Assistant Principal of St Nicholas School.

While Lisa will be sorely missed, it is refreshing and inspiring to watch someone follow their dreams.

Lisa's position of Assistant Principal will be once again filled in 2022 by Katie Daley. Katie's Acting Assistant Principal position has been extended for another 12 months and is a reflection of the exceptional job she has done in a challenging year. A formal recruitment process for a permanent Assistant Principal will commence in approximately Term 3 of 2022.

Miss Jess Harris (6H)

Jess joined us in 2021 after 4 years at Ascham Ladies College. Jess has been a wonderful addition to our staff and an extremely valuable member of the Year 6 teaching team. Jess is returning home to Barraba to be closer to family and loved ones. Again, Jess will be sorely missed, though I am extremely grateful for the quality of education she has provided to her students in her year with us.

Jess' position has currently been advertised and we look forward to bringing you news of her replacement in coming weeks.

A REVIEW OF L.I.F.T.-OFF LEARNING

With double dose vaccination rates in the state of NSW now at 87.8% (as of Tuesday 2.11.21), there is a sense of optimism that the worst of the COVID pandemic is behind us. We have hope, though also pray, that lockdowns are a thing of the past.

Even with this optimism, it was important for the school community to evaluate and critique the last round of remote learning. There is plenty to learn from this experience. 

The following report provides answers to two simple but crucial lines of inquiry:

What did we do?

St Nicholas response to the COVID-19 LGA lockdown in Tamworth, whilst following the direction of NSW Health, CSNSW and the Armidale CSO, was based upon our Cornerstone document. With the virus determining the timeline, St Nicholas Primary School Continuity Plan was developed to provide our school community some form of clarity and direction for an uncertain future.

St Nicholas platform for remote learning was titled L.I.F.T-OFF Learning, encompassing St Nicholas culture of working together and ensuring that our children were being supported in their learning whether on or offsite. A L.I.F.T.-Off Learning Rationale and LIFT-OFF Learning: One Stop Shop were shared with the School community through the Compass portal.

With a focus on Literacy and Numeracy through a Catholic context, where our students felt connected with their school, L.I.F.T-OFF learning never aimed to replicate a school day, rather provide quality learning opportunities to our students. Our communication to the school community was consistent, during the stay at home orders, the most important thing we can do as parents is to love our children. While our L.I.F.T-Off Learning platform supported our children’s learning, we were able to assure our parents that once students returned onsite, our teachers would be expert in assessing where each child was currently situated with their learning. Teachers would be able to recognise gaps and implement teaching and learning opportunities to help each child reach their potential. St Nicholas’ COVID-19: St Nicholas Primary School Continuity Plan also clearly articulated the plan, resources and support to be put in place on the day we welcomed all our students back onsite.

With no timeline for the LGA lockdown, the school was committed to developing the remote learning platform’s sophistication over time. The response was deliberate in starting slow with learning grids, before evolving to daily slides, videos and ZOOM’s as key components to L.I.F.T-Off learning.

Did our students find L.I.F.T-OFF Learning effective?

In the final stages of L.I.F.T-Off Learning our students in Years 2-6 (274 respondents) completed a survey. The survey used the following scale: Always, mostly, sometimes, rarely, never

Results of the survey supported the schools aim to focus on Literacy and Numeracy through a Catholic context, where our students felt connected with their school. Of particular note:

75.8% marked ‘always’ or ‘mostly’:  L.I.F.T.-Off Learning slides were easy to follow

71.9% marked ‘always’ or ‘mostly’:  ZOOM’s helped them to understand tasks

72.9% marked ‘always’ or ‘mostly’:  Felt connected with their teacher each day

80% marked ‘always’ or ‘mostly’:  Had someone to help them with their learning

78.5% marked ‘always’ or ‘mostly’:  Found feedback given by their teacher helpful

PARENT SURVEY

Thank you to the parents who completed the short survey, as  communicated on the 19th October to provide feedback on our school. I look forward to sharing with you the results in coming weeks.

'FOOD FOR THOUGHT' - BRAIN TEASER OF THE WEEK

Congratulations Erica Holzigal who was our 32nd student to provide Mr Unwin with the correct answer to last week's riddle, “what can be seen once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in a thousand years?”     Answer: The letter ‘m’.

Term 4 - Week 5 Mathematical Brain Teaser:

When Ashley was 15, her mother was 37. 

Now, her mother is twice her age. 

How old is Ashley?

The 3rd student to see Mrs Dunst (after 8.30am) tomorrow with the correct answer will win a canteen meal voucher to be used on the day of their choosing.  

Have a great weekend.

John Clery

PRINCIPAL