Dear Parents and Carers

On the weekend, our students in Year 3 who are to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this term were presented to the parish at one of our weekend Masses. I attended Sunday’s 9.30am Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Pat Power. Our children were joined by the students from Holy Trinity, Curtin, as well as children from the Parish School of Religion. My thanks to Veronica Hall, our wonderful REC, and our excellent Year 3 teachers, Paul Jenkins and Sarah Walsh.

Year 5 Camp

Our Year 5 students have returned from a wonderful camp at Berry, run by NSW Sports and Recreation. The students had a very good time, as the photos on Facebook attest, and took part in a number of activities, including archery and canoeing. My thanks to the students and to the staff who accompanied them: Fron Garrett-Rumba, Anna Williams, Josh Gereis and Sarah Walsh.

Swimming Carnival

Today is our annual Swimming Carnival, our first official carnival since 2021, as COVID denied us the opportunity to hold the event. The swimming carnival is for students in Grades 2 – 6. Like events such as the camp mentioned above, events like the swimming carnival afford our students a different way of belonging and contributing to the school. They are also good fun, and while the weather is still warm, it is a great time of year to hold them. My thanks to Sarah Walsh and Luke Gubler for their outstanding organization and preparation of the carnival.

Parent Teacher Interviews

This week, over Monday, Tuesday and today, we have held our Term 1 parent/teacher interviews. As we are now into the second half of Term 1, the class routines are well and truly established, and the school is well placed to discuss children’s learning progress and learning habits. If you have not booked a time to meet with your child’s teacher, I encourage you to try to make a time to meet, by emailing your child’s teacher directly.

School Wide Positive Behaviour

This week, Anna Williams, our excellent Assistant Principal, is leading the school through the beginning stages of a Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Plan. SWPB, as they are known, are comprised of a small team made of staff, students and parents and attempt to craft for the school a set of rules and practices that foster what the name implies: positive behaviours, throughout the school. Our wonderful school will further refine and enhance the excellent practices in place and continue to embed the very positive behaviours already existing. My thanks to Anna for leading us in this important work.

NAPLAN

Next week, over 3 days, our students in Years 3 & 5 are participating in the nationwide testing known as NAPLAN. Normally held early Term 2, the earlier timeframe means that schools will receive the data earlier, and thus be able to more effectively use it to inform teaching practice. My thanks to our Years 3 & 5 teachers, and to Anna Williams, for coordinating NAPLAN for our school.

Catholic Leaders’ Retreat

This week, from Wednesday to Friday, I am participating in the annual Catholic Leaders’ Retreat, held each year in Bowral, NSW. Wednesday is a system day, where all 56 principals gather together, along with senior personnel from Catholic Education, and Thursday and Friday are the retreat itself. During my absence, the school will be very capably led by our Assistant Principal, Anna Williams.

Have a wonderful week with your children and enjoy the long weekend.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal