Principal's Message
Dear parents, students and families
Last Friday our instrumental students studying music through Kids on Key had their yearly concert. Congratulations to all who participated and I have only heard great things. I have seen a couple of performances on video and was absolutely thrilled with what the students had achieved.
On Monday we had our annual refresher training for our Emergency Management. We had a practice at a lockdown drill and staff and students did very well. You hope to never have to put this practice into reality but if we have to at least we will be prepared!
On Tuesday our Foundation 2023 students had their final experience of school. They all seem very settled in their school. Tomorrow they will have the chance to spend time together at their Teddy Bear's Picnic on Friday 2nd December at 2pm which from previous reports is a great experience.
Tomorrow we will be having our Annual House Sports as well as our Lapathon. The Lapathon raises funds for our local St Vincent de Paul chapter to help Seaford Parish families in need have a more enjoyable Christmas. I thank grandparent Peter Vyverberg who spoke to the students at this week's assembly about the work St Vinnie's do locally and for offering up his time and sharing his passion. When I questioned the students at line up on Tuesday morning the 1/2 classes must have listened very well as they offered up fantastic answers as to what Peter had shared. Great listening 1/2's!! For those parents who can join us for our House Sports tomorrow morning and/or helping at the Lapathon we greatly appreciate your attendance.
This weekend we celebrate our second Sunday of Advent. This week Matthew writes of John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. Maybe you could have a think at home of what is happening so Jesus is part of your preparations for, and experience of, Christmas because we all know as parents there is a huge focus on the man in the big red suit!
Next week we really start to swing in to the 'busyness' of our school's lead up to Christmas. On Monday morning between 9-10am we will be having a writing celebration morning to share the growth we have made, as a school, in this area. Every class will choose particular areas of the curriculum to work on improving during a year. We have chosen writing and under Mr Sullivan's leadership our students have made great growth. At 12.30pm we will hear our Year 5's share their applications to be selected as part of our Year 6 Leadership Team in the Hall. Good luck to them all!
On Tuesday our Year 6 students attending JPC and Kilbreda will spend the day at their new schools. Hopefully they will greatly enjoy this taste of what is to come for their Secondary Schooling. On Friday 9th and Monday 12th our students will have two changeover sessions with their class teacher for 2023. These will occur between 12.10-1.50pm to give our students an opportunity to get to know both their teacher and their classmates for 2023.
Thursday evening is our Christmas Concert under Mrs McArthur's leadership. Staff and students are busy learning their routines to share on the evening. With Christmas Carols, our Foundation lead nativity and some fun Christmas songs I hope it will be enjoyed by all. Don't be shy on joining in with our choir as we sing a selection of carols together!!!!! Pray for good weather as we will be performing outside the junior block and parents and families will be seated (bring your own) on the asphalt where the students line up each morning.
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