To Our School Community,

Welcome back to the 2025 school year!

We hope you had a wonderful holiday. Our staff have been preparing for the new school year, returning a week early to engage in professional development. As part of the Catholic Special Schools, we had the honour of hearing from the Executive Director of Catholic Education, who shared insights on the future of Catholic Education in South Australia and the vital role our schools play within the system.

Additionally, our staff contributed to the development of the school's strategic plan. In the coming months, families will have the opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions for this plan.

We have also made some changes to our newsletter, and we hope you enjoy the new format. The newsletter is now easily accessible on your phone!

In accordance with the School Operating Procedure - Child Safeguarding, it is my responsibility to provide you with information regarding Child Protection practices within Catholic Special Schools, Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) and Nationally.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is a top priority at Catholic Special Schools. We uphold rigorous Child Protection policies and procedures aligned with CESA and National guidelines to create a secure environment for every child in our care.

In adherence to South Australian Child Protection policies and practices, we maintain a proactive stance in safeguarding our students from all forms of abuse, including bullying, harassment, and neglect.

Our schools operate as mandated child-safe environments, adhering to legal, policy, and procedural requirements for both staff and volunteers. As mandated by the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS), our institutions are obligated to implement comprehensive child safety policies and practices, which include providing child safety education to our community.

For your reference, please find below a list of essential Child Protection resources:

They are also available on the CESA website: Safe Environments for All | Catholic Education South Australia (cesa.catholic.edu.au)

Please come to see any member of the Leadership Team if you require more information around Child Protection.

Kind regards

Shannon Correll

Principal

Catholic Special Schools - St Patrick's Special School Newsletter -

In partnership with families and parishes our schools offer high quality education for students in a specialised setting responsive to their individual needs as an integral part of the system of Catholic schools in South Australia.

Issue 1 · 07 Feb 2025

In this issue