Principal's Report
Dear Members of the St. Cecilia’s School Community,
As we enter another term, I want to remind you of the four value words that make our school unique: Faith, Acceptance, Compassion, and Excellence. These values are the foundation of our school community, and we should all be looking for ways to continue to contribute to this positive culture.
Faith is an essential value that we teach and nurture in our students. We aim to instill in them a strong sense of faith that will guide them through life's challenges. Our Catholic faith provides us with a moral compass that helps us make good decisions and become responsible citizens.
Acceptance is another crucial value that we promote in our school. We embrace diversity and encourage our students to respect and accept people from different backgrounds and cultures. Our aim is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
Compassion is an essential value that we encourage our students to develop. We teach them to be empathetic and caring towards others, especially those who are less fortunate. We want our students to become responsible members of society who will make a positive impact on the world.
Finally, we strive for Excellence in everything we do. Our aim is to help our students reach their full potential and achieve success in all aspects of their lives. We encourage our students to work hard, be disciplined, and develop a strong work ethic.
This is the stuff that matters.
As parents, you play a vital role in helping us promote these values in our school community. I encourage you to discuss these values with your children and look for ways to incorporate them into your daily lives. Together, we can continue to create a positive and supportive environment that will help our students succeed.
Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to another successful term.
New Gaga Pit
We are pleased to announce that we have a new Gaga Pit in our school ground! This has been purchased from a secondary school by our dedicated Parent's Association and installed on the SCG!
What is a Gaga Pit you might ask? A gaga pit is a circular or octagonal fenced-in area typically made of wood or other durable materials, where children can play a fast-paced, dodgeball-like game called "gaga ball." The game involves players trying to hit each other with a soft foam ball below the knees while trying to avoid being hit themselves.
Gaga pits have become a popular addition to primary school playgrounds because they provide a fun and safe way for children to stay active and socialise with their peers. The game is inclusive, as it can be played by children of all ages and abilities. It also promotes physical activity, hand-eye coordination, and quick reflexes, as well as teamwork and communication skills. A lot of the school camps will have one on site.
In addition to the physical and social benefits, gaga pits can also help with conflict resolution and emotional regulation, as children learn to manage their emotions and communicate effectively with each other during the game. Furthermore, having a designated area for gaga ball can reduce the likelihood of conflicts and accidents on the playground, as children have a specific space to play the game and can assist by providing another formal area for a team game. We are currently using an age appropriate playtime timetable to ensure equity of access.
We believe that this gaga pit will be a great asset to our school playground, providing a fun and engaging activity that promotes physical, social, and emotional development in our students. We are very grateful to our Parent's Association for their support of this project.
Parents Association (Maintenance Committee)
We are excited to announce a new initiative at our school that will require your involvement and support. We are forming a maintenance committee that will be responsible for various tasks to improve the school grounds.
Our first task is painting. We would like to paint the back of Father's fence on the bottom playground (SCG) and the new Gaga Pit.
We are hoping to have a parent responsible for coordinating this task with the support of volunteer parents. We invite all interested parents to complete this brief google form that will enable us to take this initiative further. Once we have some names, we can decide on when, how and who!
We look forward to working with as many parents as possible this year to create a beautiful and welcoming environment for our students.
Yoga Sessions
After trialling some lunchtime Yoga sessions last term, we are now excited to announce that we will be offering a 5 week Yoga Program for interested students commencing in week 5 of this term, depending on numbers.
F-2 Monday lunchtime: (25 minutes)
3-6 Friday lunchtime: (25 minutes)
Flyer below
Expression of interest form below.
Coffee Cart
Once again, we enjoyed a great morning on our first day back this term with a hot coffee outside the hall for parents. We will continue to host a coffee van once a term (and we'll try to rotate the days each term). It's a great way to commence the term and catch up with other parents and staff!
Second Hand Uniform Sale
When: Friday 5th May
Time: From 3pm (and after assembly at 3:30pm)
Where: Outside the hall (or in library if raining and freezing)
How much: Gold coin donation
Thank you to Janelle Cowan for coordinating
Social Media @ St Cecilia's
Another way of keeping up with what is happening at St Cecilia's is by following us on Instagram (@stceciliasgleniris). We often post photos of what learning has been happening in our classrooms, photos of events such as camp and reminders of what is coming up in our school and community. Thank you to two of our staff members (Fiona Walsh and Bella Lasscock) who have taken over coordinating our social pages. They are doing an outstanding job! Check it out!
Enjoy the rest of the week everyone,
Marty McKenna
Principal
St Cecilia’s School