Newsletter Term 1 Week 5

Dear Families

Suddenly we find ourselves in the middle of the term! Where did that five weeks go!

MATT PERRY – ACTING PRINCIPAL POSITION
I would like to announce that Matt will be taking up this position at St Joseph's School, Clare.

Matt will be in Clare from Tuesday 9 March until Friday 2 July 2021. We are currently organising Matt's replacement with CESA. Congratulations Matt and all the best in the wine country!

PUPIL FREE DAYS
Just a reminder that on the first day back of each term there will be Pupil Free Days and staff will be involved in professional learning. On Tuesday, April 27 (the Monday is a public holiday) staff will be attending the Mary MacKillop Precinct. Students will return to school on Wednesday, April 28.

BOARD TALK
Following this month's Board meeting we would like to update the community on some of the matters at hand.

MAINTENANCE
We celebrated the great success of the oval resurfacing, this area has really lifted the look of the northern part of our school. There were also a number of other minor projects completed over the holidays:

1. Stage areas by the basketball courts

2. Garden redevelopment by the basketball courts

3. Concrete pathing around the sport sheds

4. Slat work around the seating area on the edge of the oval

Coming soon will be the planting of mature trees in the Nature Play area.

ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN - EDUCATIONAL FOCI
We have received a report on the draft plan for our school for 2021. This plan will be finalised by our next meeting and then shared with the whole community. The plan is based on our directions for:

1. Catholic Identity

2. STARS Literacy Program

3. CESA Numeracy Strategy

4. Student Wellbeing

LOCKING OF GATES
With some new students in our younger grades, it has been necessary to have our gates locked by 8:45am. One thought is that we could develop a volunteer roster to monitor the gate between 8:45am and 9am on Seaview Road. If you would be interested in assisting on a particular morning, please drop me an email (dweeks@star.catholic.edu.au)

AGM
Following our COVID effected meeting last year, we are going to look at new ways of running our AGM. This year all our reports will be delivered electronically in week 2, term 2 (May 6th). Then on May 24th we will be holding a "Town Hall" style meeting at 7pm, where our community can come and ask any questions of the Board, that relates to the published reports. There will be an opportunity to nominate for positions on the Board in the lead up to our electronic-based reporting. In our next newsletter, we will have a further explanation of the process and a call for nominations for the School Board.

Regards
Damian Weeks

Over the year Catholic Education encourages us to share summaries of specific documents.  Below are this term’s documents.

Bullying and Harassment Procedures and Concerns

The school will provide a positive culture where harassment/bullying is not accepted, and in so doing, all will have the right of respect from others, the right to learn and to teach, and a right to feel safe and secure in the school environment. At Star of the Sea School we celebrate our individual talents, skills and differences. We will all try to live as God wants us to...

“Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:36

• To reinforce within the school community what bullying is, and the fact that it is unacceptable
• Everyone within the school community to be alert to signs and evidence of bullying and to have a responsibility to report it to staff whether as observer or victim
• To ensure that all reported incidents of bullying are followed up appropriately and that support is given to both victims and perpetrators
• To seek parental and peer-group support and co-operation at all times.

Policy for the Care, Wellbeing and Protection of Children and Young People 2017

South Australian Catholic schools place the highest priority on the care, wellbeing and protection of children and young people.  In South Australia Child Protection policy and practices support a proactive role in the care, wellbeing and protection of children and young people, the provision of child safe environments and intervention procedures for responding to abuse and neglect.

These responsibilities include:

• a duty of care to students
• responsibilities as mandated notifiers of child abuse and/or neglect the provision of child protection curriculum for every student
• a code of conduct to promote respectful and caring relationships

The full document can be viewed on the CESA website

Re: Wellbeing Initiative - Classroom Pulse ‘Check In’

The shifting dynamics of these unprecedented times continue to highlight that your child’s relationships, identity, belonging, and learning are essential to their happiness and success at school.

This Term every student in a Catholic School in South Australia will participate in a simple online Classroom Pulse Check In. This Check In has been developed to ascertain how students are currently feeling about their experience in school. It is tailored to allow your child’s teacher(s) to check in and provide immediate feedback and support to them. The Check In will be carried out during the school day.

I am conscious that life in school has its’ ups and downs, but I am also confident that your child’s teachers want to understand how they are feeling so they are able to support you and your child in meeting any social, emotional, or learning needs that they may have.

To enable this, your child’s teacher and I will have access to their responses to facilitate follow up and support as required. Please be assured, as your child’s prime caregiver that any support required will be communicated and discussed with you in advance.

A reminder that all sporting information will come out through the Skoolbag app and registrations are made through QKR!.  If you do not have either of these apps please feel free to see the office staff for support with downloading the apps or to ask any questions.  Once you have registered using QKR please ensure that the registration has gone through by checking the receipts section in the app.  If you do not have a receipt, then it hasn’t gone through. 

Registrations for Football and Soccer will be coming out very soon.  Football registration will be a little different this year so keep your eyes on the Skoolbag app. 

SACA are running a Junior Blasters Cricket for Rec – Year 3 students on a Wednesday afternoon, 3.20pm – 4.20pm.  Further information on Skoolbag app.  If you would like your child to give it a go before registering, you are more than welcome to attend prior to signing up.  Please note parents must be there to supervise their own child.  If your child attends OSHC please speak with the OSHC staff.

Sports Co ordinator
Kristen Victory