Principal's Page 

Dear Families,

This week Megan and myself attended the 2022 National Catholic Education Conference.

'The Future is Listening,' was the theme and we heard from  a range of high calibre speakers on topics including:

  • Ensuring young people are heard, seen and valued in schools
  • Focusing on student learning and lifting educational standards
  • Family engagement
  • Catholic identity
  • Developing high, performing leadership teams in schools

I look forward to sharing my learning with you in future newsletters.

 

Child Protection/ESmart Week

This week is Child Protection Week which  raises awareness about the community’s collective responsibility for the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people. This year, the focus is ‘Every child, in every community, needs a fair go’. It is an opportunity for us to acknowledge our strong commitment to the safety and wellbeing of young people, and the important role schools and families play in creating safe and nurturing environments at school, online, at home and in the community.  

Keeping children safe online is a particular area of concern that we all need to be extremely aware of. The eSafety Commission has an informative section for parents on the website that I encourage you all to become familiar with.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Students have been completing eSmart activities at school this week.

NAPLAN

Individual NAPLAN Student Reports were sent home on Tuesday to families in Year 3 and 5. If you have any questions regarding you child's NAPLAN Report, please contact their class teacher. We complete our own assessment data throughout the year through which we measure growth and progress and use to plan our learning tasks from. Our School NAPLAN Report has not been received yet nor our comparative data to other schools.

 

Father's Day Breakfast

It was fantastic to see so many dads, grandpas and father figures attend our Father's Day Breakfast. Thank you to the mums that cooked the egg and bacon rolls and the Moore's for the fine coffee.

 

The Western Boundary Wall

An ongoing task this year has been investigating the western boundary retaining wall that has become unstable over time. Plans are in place to repair the wall next term which will reopen this much loved area of the school. 

 

Before School Supervision

With the warmer weather on its way next term, students will be supervised once again in the adventure playground and top oval before school. Valet will still operate from 8:45am. All students arriving early to school will need to wait in the office until 8:45am.

 

School Improvement Surveys

Last week I sent out emails asking parents to complete a quick survey regarding St Joseph's School and your perceptions. Thank you to the 10 families who have already completed the survey. The more families that complete the survey, the more accurate the data is so could you please seriously consider completing it. The survey closes on Friday 16 September. 

Working Bee

We will be facilitating a working bee for tidying, weeding and planting of our green spaces around the school. The working bee will take place on Saturday 8 October at 9:00am followed by morning tea. If you are able to come and assist, please bring along your gardening gloves and tools.

 

Open Door

Next Thursday 15 September, we are inviting families into the learning spaces to view students learning from 2:30 onwards. It is another way that we invite parents to engage with their child's/children's learning from this term.

 

Footy Colours Day

On the last day of school for this term it will be Footy Colours Day. Students will be able to wear their team colours and we will have special lunch orders for the day. 

 

Term Three will finish for all students Friday 16 September at 3:20pm. I hope everyone has an enjoyable, relaxing break. Term Four will commence on Monday 3 October.  

I look forward to the AFL finals. Good luck if your team is still left in the finals - Go Pies!

 

Enjoy your week,

Monica

moshannassy@sjsorrento.catholic.edu.au