Principal's News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Second term will wind up this Thursday, June 22nd , at the normal finishing time of 3:15pm. There is no school for the children on Friday as our staff continue their training in the ReLate program that aims to train us in dealing with some of the welfare and mental health issues that present in a school such as ours.

Third term will commence on Monday July 10th.

FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART  Thanks to Fr Michael, our staff and pupils for our fantastic celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart last Friday. Thanks especially to Ms Leonard for organising the Mass, to Ms Lynch for organising the ‘Jump Rope For Heart’ activities and to Mrs Daffy who deputised for me as I was required to be at a meeting in Warrnambool all day.

ASSESSMENT CONVERSATIONS Assessment conversations continue this week. Mid-year reports will be distributed at this meeting and discussed with parents and students. 

I’ve been using my Morning address to the children this past week to explain to the children that one of the two reasons that we come to school is “to learn stuff”. This simple and obvious notion, is based on the learner feeling a little uncomfortable, because good teaching SHOULD be encouraging the learner to do something that they can’t already do.

Sometimes I think this can make children feel a bit worried before they begin as they are led from the “unknown” into the “known”. From darkness into light, from ignorance to understanding. 

It is very common that this can feel a little uncomfortable for adults and children when we are in a place where we don’t really understand something. (Think back to when you learnt to drive)

I’d say this “uncomfortableness” is perfectly normal. 

Some of us will want to retreat from the new to feel safe only in what we know, while some will be eager to learn and see what possibilities this can open up for us.

The latter position should be what happens in a good school, don’t you think? So a bit of nervousness is OK. In school it is usually followed by the thrill and growth that comes with learning something new or mastering a new skill.