From the Principal - Greg Parker
Dear Parents,
Welcome and/or welcome back! We particularly welcome new students from these families - Agostino, Alford, Arun, Badiei, Bajaj, Barros, Begg, Berbec, Brar, Caught, Cawthorne, Chan, Chauhan, Cho, Colagrossi, Cundy, D'Antonio, Donato, Ellis, Fidock, Flavel, Gao, Gil, Groves, Habonimana, Harmer-Raines, Ho, Holmes, Hunt, Jankovic, John, Jorgensen, Kalivaci, Kamburugamuwa, Kaur, Koleff, Lanfranco, Le Poidevin, Mach-Peters, Marotti, Marshall, Murillo, Nayee, Niraula, Nuttall, Pantzikas, Parekh, Patel, Peressin, Pham, Prakash, Rawat, Reeves, Rositano, Safos, Sharma, Smolski, Somani, Spiby, Spyrou, Tang, Taylor, Terminello, Thekkeniyan, Tiwari, Todd, Van Heeswyk, Wen, Williams, Zhou.
Thank you for choosing our school for your child. We commit to forging a strong, respectful and positive relationship with you as parents and caregivers and being the best we can be for your child. Each child is a precious gift to you, and to us.
This year we welcome many new staff -
Teachers:
Jhovana Fenu (Year 1F/S)
Grace Todman (Year 1T)
(Welcome back) Chris Hyde (Year 5H)
Laura Villani (LOTE)
Rose-Marie Villano (SHIP)
ESO’s:
Grace Maroma
Kerryn Dempsey
Stephanie Ellul
We are excited about our new and enthusiastic staff members. Their positions have come about due to the growing needs of our school and our ESO’s taking up further education and teaching opportunities. Late last year Anna Worden (Inclusive Ed Coordinator) informed me of her wish to retire and enjoy time with her husband in leisure and travel. Anna has been at St Pius X for more than 40 years as a teacher and coordinator. We wish you well Anna, you have given us so much over these years.
We have been very busy preparing for the school year ahead. Back in December teachers met with the 2021 teacher of their students and presented a ‘handover’ which included information about strengths, interests, friendships, challenges and goals. They also met with our parents and caregivers in ‘book a chat’ last Thursday.
Teachers came together last week to engage in wonderful Professional Learning in Mathematics, Physical Literacy and met with their Year Level partners to ensure a consistent approach for their students. I feel our teachers and staff are well set to really get to know your child, gain confidence and respect and build relationships. This will be a major focus in coming weeks.
Each fortnight I send a Newsletter and from now on, we won’t provide a paper version. You will be sent a link via our School App ‘SZapp’. You will be alerted when information comes to you. ‘How to download app’ instructions are included in this Newsletter. Please download this as it is now our main form of communication between home and school, including letting us know if your child is sick or absent. You will also need the App in order to give consents for excursions and camps.
Last week I had a look at the first Newsletter in 2020. This was included ..
“We share the great concern of the outbreak of coronavirus that has spread to several countries, including Australia.’
My goodness, we had no idea how this news would transform our lives in February last year. We continue to pray for all of those affected, those who have lost loved ones, those who are being kept apart when they need family and friends. I will keep you updated on any changes to our routines due to COVID-19. The 2 square metre distancing rule applies to adults when visiting the school, though parents are welcome to come into the school site, just not classrooms at the moment.
In a few weeks you will get the chance to visit the classrooms at our Classroom Information Evening, February 9th. Also held on this evening, in the DeMazenod Hall, will be a Cyber Bullying presentation for parents that you are welcome to attend, but one parent from each family in Year 5 and 6 must attend if they wish their child to have home access to a school MacBook computer. We make this stipulation to ensure that parents are fully informed about privacy settings, parental controls and safe practices. This is a new presentation company than the last 3 years so will be different and very helpful to you. Children will also have a presentation earlier that day. We trust that these presentations and discussions will set the scene for safe and respectful use of technology for 2021.
Year 5 and 6 parents please place February 9th from 7:00- 8:30 pm in your diary-bookings may be made by visiting - www.schoolinterviews.com.au and entering the event code 6r7hb. We look forward to your participation.
Yesterday I awoke to the news of the fruit fly outbreak and new restrictions for schools. We spent time yesterday putting together an information brochure for you to help you understand these restrictions. This is so unfortunate as our children had developed really healthy brain food habits. Fortunately our canteen is unaffected and I will work with Nev to find ways of providing fruit each day.
Included with this Newsletter
Our 2021 Parent Handbook and other information, the Student Residential Address Collection Notice and the IT Acceptable User Agreement Form for 2021 - please return this form asap so school devices can be allocated - thank you.