Dear Parents and Carers

Registration

Today and tomorrow, Sts Peter and Paul is undergoing its 5-year registration exercise. This involves a number of system personnel (including a visiting principal and CE office staff) visiting our school for two days and providing feedback in all areas of school life. Teaching and Learning, as well as the Catholicity of the school are the main priorities; but all other factors are taken into account, as well as classroom pedagogies and class programs. Members of the panel will seek to engage in conversation with parents in the Community Council Wednesday afternoon. Panel members also speak with staff, students and the Leadership Team. The registration visit is a valuable opportunity to celebrate the successes of Sts Peter and Paul, and to collaborate with us in tackling our new challenges.

NAPLAN Results

All A.C.T. parents of students in Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 should have received their child’s NAPLAN results. Sts Peter and Paul Grades 3 & 5 cohorts did very well, with Grade 3 exceeding national, state and Canberra Catholic school averages in all 5 domains (Reading, Writing, Grammar and Punctuation, Spelling and Maths), and Year 5 exceeding all national, state and Canberra Catholic school averages in 3 domains (Reading, Writing and Spelling), and reaching state and national averages in Grammar and Punctuation. In Year 5 Maths, we were slightly below. A screen shot of the data below is an example of Year 5 achievement in reading:

Parents will notice that our students were 40 points above the National average, and 28 points above the A.C.T. average.

Our Year 3 students scored similar results in reading:

Again, parents will note that our students scored 37 points above the national average, and 19.5 above the A.C.T. average.

NAPLAN is one test on one day and it is important to see it in context of other assessments that the school undertakes. Schools are much richer educationally, socially, emotionally and spiritually than a NAPLAN test can measure, and such tests must be seen in that context. It is also important to recognize and celebrate student achievement and validate such efforts. Please see your child’s teacher, or me, if you have any questions.

Netball Success

Last weekend, a team of Year 6 students from our school who play in a team called ‘The Gang-Gang Gang’ achieved great success and are in the semi-finals for the South Canberra Netball Association. Well done to the girls – great teamwork and a wonderful effort. We wish you the best for the finals!

Father’s Day Breakfast

Last Friday, we held a Father’s Day breakfast for all of our fathers. Dads were treated to an array of pastries and other special treats, a coffee van, the school choir and a wonderful assembly from Year 3. Children were also given an opportunity to buy a present for their father at a stall, again organised by our wonderful parent organisers. My thanks to Tara Kuleas, Jordan De Smet, Erin and Will Frost, Tegan and Nick Ingold, Lisa Dogan, Dimity Walsh, Natasha Fenton, Claire Briant, Mary Roumanos and Katherine and Alistair Jones; and to Lisa Gill, Paul Jenkins and Sarah Walsh, for their great work with the choir and the Year 3 assembly.

Silver Jubilee – St. Mary Mackillop College

This Friday, I am attending the St. Mary MacKillop College Mass. It will be an important occasion that honours the work of the College and the work of the woman in whose name the College stands. Two Year 6 students, Stella and Charlie, will attend the Mass with me.

Farewell Mrs. Williams

Also, on Friday we farewell Mrs. Williams, our very talented and clever Assistant Principal, as she takes up her new secondment for ACARA. Anna will be writing assessment pieces, in the curriculum area of Mathematics, for students in K – 6. This is a task to which Anna will apply her considerable skills, with great aplomb. We will miss Anna and I wish all the best in her new adventures.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal