Deputy Principal - Term 1 Week 5

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have come to the halfway point of Term 1! It has been a hectic start to the school year. Students and teachers are now well settled into their new classrooms. Old friendships have been re-established and new friendships and connections between classmates and teachers are being shaped. We are continuing to establish our classroom routines, explain the procedures we must follow, and outline our expectations around behaviour, all in preparation for a harmonious and productive year of learning together.

During the first four weeks of term our school photos have been taken, the Year 4 and 5 swimming program has commenced, Year 4 classes have visited the Cairns Regional Council Waste and Recycling facilities and our very successful Parent Information Nights were conducted. I have had a lot of positive feedback about these presentations. Many parents spoke about how many of their questions were very often anticipated, and subsequently answered by the teachers during these information sessions. Please continue to keep these channels of communication between teachers and parents open throughout the remainder of the 2017 College year. 

Speaking with your child’s teacher demonstrates to your child that you value their education. It also helps the students to understand that together we form a team of caring adults, working together to support them as they learn and grow. You can keep in contact with what is happening at the College by reading our emails and accessing our newsletters and blogs through the Parent Portal. Teachers also place important items on the notice boards outside each year level. Have a look next time you are in!

Thank you to all the parents and carers that made the time to attend our recent Parent Information Evenings for Years 1-5. Each session was very well attended. During these meetings the teachers shared an overview of the year ahead and detailed the procedures and routines that relate to their particular year level. We know that our students tend to feel much more relaxed and organised when their parents and teachers are on the same page with expectations for behaviour and conduct. These evenings set the tone for the year, and assist parents and teachers to work together to support the students in their learning. My genuine thanks to all of our Junior Years teachers for organizing these very informative presentations – and a very special thanks to our specialist teachers who attended each and every session!

There was a brief time at the end of the meeting where teachers were available for a chat if you had any concerns. Very soon we will be contacting you about our upcoming Parent/Teacher Interviews. These interviews will be held from 20-24 March (Week 9). This interview time will give you the chance to speak in more detail with your child’s teacher about any questions or queries you may have about their academic, social or emotional learning.

Parent/Teacher interviews will indicate how your child is progressing to date. These interviews are also a good time to discuss any concerns you may have about your child. It can be a good idea to jot down your questions or concerns beforehand so you can refer to them during the interview time.

 If you do have a specific concern, please do not wait until Week 9 to make an appointment with the teacher. Contact your child’s teacher directly to arrange a suitable meeting time. This will ensure the teacher can give you their full attention, and prepare for a productive conversation. This is far more effective than rushing to catch the teacher for a moment before classes start or while walking the pathway before school. Open communication fosters a genuine and respectful relationship between parents and teachers. Positive relationships between our staff, students and parents are essential ingredients for improved outcomes in student learning and wellbeing.

It has been a fantastic start to the term. One of my favourite parts from the commencement of the year was our Commissioning Mass. This was a time to come together as a whole college community to celebrate Eucharist and to pray for God’s blessings throughout the academic year. We pray especially for our student leaders, as they began their new roles for 2017. In the weeks following, we have also had the opportunity to congratulate our House Vice-captains at recent assemblies. We wish these children all our very best wishes and our full support, as they perform their duties as student leaders.

Mr Lee MacMaster, Mrs Gerri Simpson and I also had the pleasure of speaking with the parents during the recent Prep Orientation sessions. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk with parents about our mission and vision for our college and, in turn, hearing how each family had made the decision to join our remarkable community. Here at St Andrew’s, we believe that our people are our best asset – and I know am blessed to be a part of a college where the staff, students and parents that make our College such a great place to be – each and every day.

We are now looking forward to the Year 4 and 5 Swimming Carnival (20 March) and our Junior Years Cross Country Carnival (30 March) during the final weeks of term. I hope you will be able to join us for these exciting events.

A quick word about hats! Our students are required to wear their hats as they enter and exit the college each day as part of the college uniform. We also require the students to wear their hat any time they are outside of the classroom. Please assist us by insisting that your child wears their hat as they leave the house to come to school each day. We understand that young children will sometimes make a mistake and leave the hat at home, or he/she may lose their hat at OSHC or on the oval during the school day. If this happens, please write a note or a quick email to your child’s teacher, informing them that you are aware that the hat is missing. Please also ensure your child’s hat is clearly marked with his/her name. This helps us to return the hat if it is found on the College grounds. It is very pleasing to see that most students are wearing their college uniform with pride.

Congratulations to Mackillop, Ozanam and Chisholm Houses for winning the House Cup for the first four weeks of the 2016 academic year. The results have been tight – sometimes only one point the difference. Keep up the good work, students! Come on Hollows…let’s see if we can change the ribbon to yellow at our next assembly.

Thank you for your continued support.