Principal's Message

Dear parents, students and the wider community,

Well - we have nearly made it. The first time that the school has been open for all of Term 2 since 2019. Something truly worth celebrating. It has had it's challenges with staff illness and isolation requirements, the lack of CRT's (Casual Relief Teachers) and the continuing stream of student absences! But we did it!

This has been a very full term. Some of the events have included Alleluia Day, School Photos, a variety of Cross Country events, District Track and Field events at Ballam Park, Mothers' Day Big Morning Tea, NAPLAN, Preparation Evening for First Eucharist, 3 students teachers here for a month each, First Aid staff training, Marine Ambassador Days, National Walk Safely to School morning, the Year 3-6 Swimming Program, the Living Culture visitors during National Reconciliation Week, Pentecost Celebration Day, Crazy Hair and Sock Day, Italian Day yesterday and of course Parent-Teacher interviews tonight. 

I have been in classes reguarly this week and found some very engaged students. The Year 1/2's have been designing ramps to see how far they can get a toy car to travel. This has involved procedural writing, measurement, design and production and a lot of collaboration. The Year 5/6 classes have been finishing off the space unit which has included much research, writing and creating QR codes to display their knowledge and Foundation have been busy using their word walls to create sentences. I know that next term the Year 3/4 sustainability study, as part of their inquiry unit, will be designing QR codes to display their learning in this area. So much integrated learning which I think is both beneficial and fun to be part of!

This week, reports have been sent home via email, and Parent- Teacher interviews will be occurring on-line. Please do not come to school as it will be a very empty place!

Our Year 5's spent a day at JPC on Tuesday 21st June learning a bit more about how Secondary Schools function and those I spoke to seemed to enjoy it greatly. As mentioned, Italian Day was held yesterday with a show, parade, a variety of activities, gelati and pizza. The costumes were great so thanks to parents for their efforts with these! Congratulations to Signora Morina who was very busy with the organisation of this. Many thanks also to members of our Parents and Friends who assisted with the supply of pizza to our students. It seemed to work very well and we thank them for giving up their time to support our school with this.

Our parent session with Georgina Manning has now been re-booked for Wednesday 13th July and those who have already booked will be able to attend this session. 

On Monday we formally fare welled Mr Bill Mitchell who has been a very regular CRT for our school since I first got him to come to St Anne's in October 2015. He had taught PE to my kids, Mrs Thomas' kids and both Miss Holmes and Miss Holst when they were in Primary School at St Macartans in Mornington and had also worked as a CRT for me when I was Deputy Principal at St Jude's in Langwarrin. We had a staff dinner to thank him for the joy he consistently brought to our school through the 310 days he was employed here from 2015-2022 including the camps he attended as well. Enjoy your second retirement Bill - you will be missed!

Dear God, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn through this wonderful teacher. We thank you for his wonderful knowledge and enthusiasm for passing on this passion to others. Come bless him now as he goes on to new things. Amen.

It has been a great last week and I wish everyone a safe and hopefully relaxing winter break.

God Bless

Rod Shaw

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on  9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with areason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.

If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school and collect a late pass.

If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.

As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:

Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.

If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.

If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.

Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.

This is a legal requirement.

Democratic Principles

 The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:

(a)   elected government; and

(b)   the rule of law; and

(c)   equal rights for all before the law; and

(d)   freedom of religion; and

(e)   freedom of speech and association; and 

(f)   the values of openness and tolerance