NEWSLETTER 2023 - 23 November - Term 4 Week 7
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NEWSLETTER 2023 - 23 November - Term 4 Week 7
In looking at the recommendations from our previous School Review and taking into account parent forum contributions and data, we are drafting Annual Improvement Plans in the areas of Data and Assessment, Numeracy – Maths, and Behaviour. We will share goals and strategic plans when we have finalised them.
We have already begun on behaviour and ask your help with this. We realise it is the end of the year but are finding a significant increase in dealing with behaviours. They almost all involve the way the students are treating each other. Mr Burns, the Leadership Team and Mrs Rolfe are all spending a lot of time on this which is helping us build trusting relationships with parents and students. We also need your help. Can you please ask your children to report all behaviours that worry them to a teacher. They are often taking matters into their own hands and retaliating which is making incidents worse. If they don’t feel like they were listened to or the teacher hasn’t dealt with it, they can always report to another trusted teacher they know to follow up. You are also welcome to check in. When we ask at interviews why parents want their children to come to a Catholic school, the most common answers are the Catholic Values and the discipline. If you reinforce those things with them at home too, we will get better faster. We don’t want to have to give serious consequences but will do so for ongoing behaviour that persist despite support.
I received confirmation that the blessing and opening of the new school buildings will take place on Wednesday 21 February. It will, I have found out, be a big day. Please note it in your calendars.
We are all very excited that Kara V 5 Gold placed second at the Diocesan Public Speaking finals! It is an incredible honour for her and we are very proud to know her!
You will see that our beautiful choir helped to raise $36,000. Many thanks to the staff who gave up their own time, the students and of course all of you parents who also gave your time too, to get the students to the venues.
We wish Mrs Del all the very best as she continues her leave in 2024. We look forward to her return in 2025.
We are beginning to plan for the Swimming Carnival which will be held in early 2024.
In last Sunday’s Gospel, the parable of the talents reminds us that we are expected to use what God has given us and grow our gifts, not hide them away. If we do so, we show we are worthy of God giving us more. If we can be trusted with little things, we will be trusted with big things.
In looking at the recommendations from our previous School Review and taking into account parent forum contributions and data, we are drafting Annual Improvement Plans in the areas of Data and Assessment, Numeracy – Maths, and Behaviour. We will share goals and strategic plans when we have finalised them.
We have already begun on behaviour and ask your help with this. We realise it is the end of the year but are finding a significant increase in dealing with behaviours. They almost all involve the way the students are treating each other. Mr Burns, the Leadership Team and Mrs Rolfe are all spending a lot of time on this which is helping us build trusting relationships with parents and students. We also need your help. Can you please ask your children to report all behaviours that worry them to a teacher. They are often taking matters into their own hands and retaliating which is making incidents worse. If they don’t feel like they were listened to or the teacher hasn’t dealt with it, they can always report to another trusted teacher they know to follow up. You are also welcome to check in. When we ask at interviews why parents want their children to come to a Catholic school, the most common answers are the Catholic Values and the discipline. If you reinforce those things with them at home too, we will get better faster. We don’t want to have to give serious consequences but will do so for ongoing behaviour that persist despite support.
I received confirmation that the blessing and opening of the new school buildings will take place on Wednesday 21 February. It will, I have found out, be a big day. Please note it in your calendars.
We are all very excited that Kara V 5 Gold placed second at the Diocesan Public Speaking finals! It is an incredible honour for her and we are very proud to know her!
You will see that our beautiful choir helped to raise $36,000. Many thanks to the staff who gave up their own time, the students and of course all of you parents who also gave your time too, to get the students to the venues.
We wish Mrs Del all the very best as she continues her leave in 2024. We look forward to her return in 2025.
God Bless,
Mrs Michelle Rolfe and Mr Lindsay Burns
Principal and Acting Assistant Principal
Principal and Acting Assistant Principal
All students in Years 3 - 6 will be attending. It was one of the things many of you asked for at the parent forum. There may be the opportunity to include the younger students in the future but we are starting with Years 3 - 6 first. There will be events for non swimmers too. We will share the details with you closer to the time including a request for parent helpers.
Happy Birthday to the following children who will be celebrating their birthdays in the following week:
Harper E 3 Gold, Koby P 6 Gold, Anthony T 2 Blue, Marta S 3 Gold, Poppy W 4 Blue, Jax W 4 Green, Matilda R 5 Green, Benjamin F K Green, Penelope K 1 Green, Ryder H 3 Blue
One month ago on 22 October, we were all in the Sydney Town Hall for our Celebration Sing Out! 2023.What a great concert! The students sang so beautifully!! Congratulationsto everyone who worked so hard to get us to concert day. As a result of all your efforts, Westmead Children's Hospital was presented with $36,000 last Monday.It would have been great if Warren could have been there but COVID hasn't left us unfortunately.Some students from St Patrick's at Campbelltown stepped in at short notice and sang the Taylor Swift song, Love Story.We had a first hand experience of the healing power of music then and there. Young patients and their parents appeared from everywhere at the sound of the music. Everyone loved the performance. Some young teen patients joined in on the sidelines and even the youngest in prams enjoyed the performance with their drips and oxygen attached. It was wonderful to see. Students from St Bernadette's Castle Hill presented the cheque and the Music Therapy team were delighted with the great amount raised.There are photos now available from Otto Khoo who was our photographer at the Town Hall on concert day. There's a folder with photos from the Westmead presentation and the Town Hall. The concert folder is in four categories - Performance, Rehearsals, Children, Crowd.Here is a link to the photos:Thank you to all the students, teachers and parents for all the work with choir this year. You should be feeling very proud of yourselves and your students have had an amazing experience because of your dedication and hard work. Many very sick young patients at Westmead Children's Hospital will be the beneficiaries.
