Principal Talk with Mrs Lowe
Greetings from ACSP Conference!
Each year I aim to attend one conference to broaden my knowledge and experience. This year the Association of Catholic School Principal Conference was recommended to me as one of the 'not to miss conferences'. So, this week I have been fortunate enough to join over 500 other Principals in Sydney to take part in the ACSP conference.
So far I've enjoyed keynote addresses and masterclasses by Ben Walden, Simon Breakspear, Lana Turvey-Collins, Donna Cross and Rob Edwards. Some of the topics covered have included agile leadership, faith and the church and wellbeing. I have also enjoyed Mass at St Mary's Cathedral and the social functions. I look forward to the Conference Gala Dinner, held tonight at the Australian Museum.
Student/Parent/Teacher Conversations
Our Three-Way interviews will be held next week on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 May. These conversations are a chance for your child and their teacher to share with you some of their achievements and educational goals. Conversations last for ten minutes and will be held in the Multipurpose Hall. Please be mindful of families waiting after you for their interview. If you feel that your conversation is not finished within the allocated ten minutes please arrange another time to meet with your child's teacher. This year bookings will be done online by using the following link.
Student/Parent/Teacher/Conversation Bookings
Our website also has a link to the Three-Way Interviews booking site on the top navigation menu bar. Please note this link has now been fixed.
Currently, there have been only 63 interviews booked. If you need assistance with this process please contact Belinda tomorrow.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2019
NRW commences on Monday 27 May. This is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The 2019 NRW theme is Grounded in Truth: Walk Together in Courage.
To commence NRW, Troy Allen will perform "Wadjiny" for our students on Monday at midday. Troy Allen, a Bundjalung Goori (East Coast), grew up in the Mount Druitt community and his totem is Wadjiny, the platypus. The Bundjalung Nation of aboriginal people is the only one whose Dreamtime stories talk about arriving in Australia from elsewhere. They came from a land “at the centre of the world” after it was destroyed by a massive catastrophe. Troy uses song, music and didgeridoo, dance, artefacts, examples of ancient rock and cave paintings and fire making demonstrations to tell the stories of his people.
This cost has been covered by the school.
The School Explorers - School Readiness Program
Our School Explorer’s Program will commence on Friday 31 May. Our school readiness program aims to increase the children's familiarity with the primary school setting. A copy of the program can be downloaded here or picked up from the School Office.
Enrolling Now
Enrolments can now be placed online. Go to https://enrolments.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrol/ to enrol now.
Enrolments packs have been sent home with students who have siblings commencing in 2020. If you did not receive your bag please contact Belinda in the School Office.
Information can also be downloaded from our website http://www.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrolment.html
School Photos- Further Change of Date
Due to St Mary's having our largest ever number of MacKillop Hockey Representatives, we have had to change our photo date again so as not to clash. Please note that our school photos will now be taken during Week 10 on Monday 1 July. Ordering can be done online by inputting the 9 digit code AN3 WE9 3JZ on the Advanced Life website http://www.advancedlife.com.au/ . Envelopes were sent home last term.
NAPLAN
Over the past nine days our Year 3 and Year 5 students have participated in the NAPLAN Online tests, with the exception of Year 3 Wriitng, which was completed on paper.
I would like to offer a huge thank you to Nicola Spackman who coordinated the testing, and to Mrs Skelly & Mrs Hewitt for assisting with the supervision of the online tests. Thank you also to Mr O'Kane and Mr Collinge for preparing and supporting their students. Also, thank you to our dedicated students for your enthusiastic participation!
The online testing has certainly proved to be a new experience. I believe that the students seemed less nervous facing these tests than the usual paper tests. In the sessions I was supervising I noticed that many students were very quick to click through the questions, some finishing with half the time still on the clock. I wonder if the student's speed and confidence with using technology made the test feel more like a practice drill or game?
Next Tuesday will be the last of the NAPLAN Online tests, with four Year 5 students opting to re-sit the Writing test that experienced many connectivity disruptions on the first day.