Dear Parents,

 It is Reconciliation Week and we marked the event today by gathering around the aboriginal flag created from all our handprints, wrapped by a banner of this year’s slogan, In This Together 2020. Thank you to all families who contributed their own cut out handprint. Each class also completed an activity in their classroom and discussed the meaning of National Sorry Day. National Sorry Day (26 May) isn't about apologising for something we personally did. It's about acknowledging someone else's pain. It can be likened to attending a funeral and saying to a friend, I'm sorry for your loss. It builds empathy which brings us together to build respectful relationships with First Nations people. 

School Wide Positive Behaviour

Now that we are fully back into face to face learning our students are returning to the four principles of our School Wide Positive Behaviour-Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be a Learner and Be Kind. We had only started this system just prior to our move to remote learning. It needed to be put on hold as students attendance changed. Our four principles support students in navigating the 'life' of school both inside and outside the classroom. Some students have attained a gold token for their consistent approach to behaviour including Bianca Roberts from Kindergarten who gained her Gold token just yesterday. Gold tokens are accumulated within each class at the top of the whiteboard and contribute to a class reward. It is a simple system of reward, which is also high profile. It rewards individuals, but also rewards the group. If you would like to know more please refer to the token system below or contact your child's teacher or myself.

Student reports will be modified this semester due to the impact of the COVID 19 emergency on learning programs. Students will be assessed in English, Maths and Religious Education on the A-E common grade scale, and no comment will be written. Kindergarten students are assessed on a three point scale in their first year of primary schooling (Competent, Developing, Experiencing Difficulty) Reports will go home Friday Week 9. Parent/teacher interviews will be offered in Week 10 and more detail can be provided on student progress at this time. 

Student Attendance

Student attendance on every school day is expected and teachers are required by law to mark the roll accordingly. If your child is unable to be at school for any reason, then parents must notify the school in writing as soon as possible by either sending in a note to the classroom teacher or emailing the front office. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

On a final note, please know that Ms Anne Saunderson is still very unwell and will not be able to continue with us here at St Mary's in her full time role and she has made a decision to resign from her position. Please keep Anne in your prayers as she rebuilds her strength. We hope to see Ms Saunderson back with us in a casual capacity later this year. Until then, Ms Pribilovics will continue as LNAP Coordinator and REC. 

God bless and have a lovely week. 

Jannine