Principal's Message
Dear Parents, students and the wider community,
I hope that you enjoyed the extra day of last weekend for Labour Day on Monday. Unfortunately due to a positive case of coronavirus we were informed of after the camp it meant the majority of students and all staff who were on camp had to enter a 7 day isolation. I'm sure that has not overly dampened the enjoyment of the students about their camp experience which from all reports was incredibly positive. With those 4 staff out due to being on camp and another 3, including myself, either in isolation due to a close family member of having the virus themselves, it has certainly made staffing a challenge at school this week. I thank each and every one of the staff in attendance for doing that bit extra to ensure students were cared for, duties were covered and a curriculum provided.
During the Liturgical Season of Lent our students are focusing on the messages of prayer, giving up something and taking up something over the forty days. Thank you for your family support in helping the students to create the butterflies that will be delivered to the Oncology ward at Frankston Hospital as part of our Social Justice outreach. I thank School Advisory Council member, school mum and nurse, Kristin Rowell for suggesting this very worthwhile activity.
Over the past three weeks School Diversity Leader Sally Thomas has been chairing our Term 1 Programmed Support Meetings (PSG's) for all of our students with additional needs. These meetings between parents, staff and sometimes Allied Health Professionals allow all of the adults around each student to work better together for the student's benefit. Thank you to the parents who were able to make these meetings and to the staff for the in-depth knowledge they show of their students in creating the Personalised Learning Plans (PLP's).
Our school closure days last week were very beneficial to our on-going development as Educators. Teachers and staff are expected to be lifelong learners at St Anne's. I thank Michael Sullivan for his leadership of our Curriculum Development Day on improving our staff's teaching of writing and ensuring best practice is shared throughout the school. Having Nicole Jane, a Curriculum Development and Diversity Leader from the MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) in attendance really supported our staff to make the most of the day. On Friday we worked with Mr Paul Fumei on retreat with a focus on maintaining our very strong Catholic Identity and looking at how we may further it. Again, thank you for making alternate arrangements for your children.
Today our two School Captains and Miss Hannah O'Donnell have been to St Patrick's Cathedral to share in the great occasion that is the St Patrick's Day Schools' Mass. It is a truly wonderful occasion as banner after school banner processes into the Church and all things Catholic schooling are celebrated. It is a very humbling and proud moment to be part of.
Tomorrow, Mrs Rikki Winduss is hosting our first coffee morning after drop off. It is great to see so many parents and grandparents in the yard each morning and we thought we would provide an opportunity on sight for people to spend a bit more time together getting to know one another.
Also, tomorrow our classes will participate in the National Day of Action About Bullying. This is something we at St Anne's feel very strongly about and help to educate our students around.
Next week we have a number of school tours. When I ask the prospective families why they are doing a tour almost unfailingly they tell me they have heard great things about our school or know current parents who speak highly of us. Thank you for all that you do in promoting our school-nothing beats positive word of mouth!
May God bless you and happy St Paddy's Day to you all!
Slainte
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 a reason 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