Back to school

Our foundation, year 1, 2 and 3 students have enjoyed a short week back at school, playing with friends and learning in the classroom. There have been lots of smiling faces and some tired ones as we all try to adjust back to some kind of normal. 

Classrooms are looking a little bit different with many items that usually adorn the walls or benches have been placed away to make cleaning easier. Tables and desks have been spread out to minimise contact. Junior classes have some personalised stationery and equipment so as less items are shared. I have instructed teachers to plan for more individual learning and less partner or group work, along with less instructional time on the floor. All these measures are precautionary and we continue to follow the advice from CECV that social distancing measures apply to adults not children.

Along with the additional cleaning measures in place during the day and after school, I have installed perspex screens and signage to maintain social distance in our office area. Any visitors or contractors to the school are required to provide additional information on signing in to our school. Only adults providing essential services only are permitted onsite.

Staff are following strict social distancing measures in classrooms, staffroom and all areas of our school. Staff continue to follow hand washing protocols. All our library books and readers are disinfected upon return, along with shared student devices. We will continue to take precautions to ensure the health and safety of our school community until instructed otherwise.

Year 4, 5 & 6 Students Return

We are looking forward to our years 4, 5 and 6 students returning to school on Tuesday 9 June.

We will continue with the same pick up and drop off arrangements. Students can arrive at school between 8:45- 9:15am. Students must go straight to classrooms and will not be allowed to play on the asphalt before school. At the end of the day students can be picked up from 3:20-3:40pm. Teachers will bring classes out onto the asphalt area. Parents can enter the school grounds and remain on the asphalt area. Students are not permitted to play on the playground after school and families must leave the school grounds promptly. Parents are asked not to socialise and congregate around the school. Parents are not to enter buildings, except the office area. 

Students are asked to enter and exit school buildings via a specific doorway. These doorways are labelled with the class name. Sanitiser is available at entry and exit points, as well as in classrooms.

In the case of severe weather at pick up time, students will line up outside their classroom in the corridor.  I will instruct parents to enter corridors via doors in the courtyard to collect students. Parents will be notified via the school app and school PA system. 

As our school population is small and our school grounds generous, we do not need to put in place separate play or lunchtime for students. Our recess and lunchtime breaks remain the same.

Thank you to all our foundation, year 1, 2 and 3 families who have been exemplary in following the guidelines.

If you are unwell please stay at home

We continue to give the message to all our school community. If you are unwell please stay at home. If children present sick at school, parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child.

School Review

Our School Review Process that began in term 4 last year is now completed. The staff spent time in term one reflecting, collating and presenting evidence for the external reviewer to assess.

The School Reviewer has composed a 31 page report for school staff and leadership to utilize in planning for the next four year cycle of school improvement. Maree Holmes from Catholic Education Southern office will work with our staff this term to identify direction for our school improvement plan.

The content of the report was very positive, highlighting many areas of strengths. I have included a number of these below:

• The school’s Federated structure provides opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, professional learning, dialogue and support for leaders, building teacher capacity and curriculum developments. This has been particularly valuable for St Catherine’s and will continue to support the school’s improvement agenda.
• Staff are energised and supportive of the school’s commitment to ongoing improvement. They are enthusiastic and enjoy the challenges of the school. 

• Leaders are respected and are committed to a strategic focus to support student learning and wellbeing. Curriculum leaders are clear in their intent and are open to exploring best practices across the federation and as recommended by the CEM regional teams.

• Students are happy and enjoy coming to school and enjoy the many advantages of the school’s small population. They expressed a sense of connectedness across the school and have good relationships with the teachers.

• The shared leadership structure within the school allows for the various curriculum leaders to provide direction and support to classroom teachers. The awareness and intent to develop more rigour, consistent approaches and expectations across the curriculum highlights the school’s shared commitment to continual improvement.

• Parents are mainly positive about the school. They are committed to positively contributing to the school’s improvement agenda and value the culture where they are respected to freely express their concerns. Clear and regular communication is an area for exploration for school and parent leaders. This could be aligned to, and supportive of, a strategy for targeted parent engagement in the life of the school.

• St Catherine’s leadership structure highlights its commitment to enhancing the school’s catholic identity.  A focus on staff and parent formation along with a strong commitment to building classroom teachers’ capacities across the Religious Education curriculum have been identified as areas to reinforce the leadership team’s vision for the school. 

Term 3- Parent/Teacher Phone Meetings

Conversations about semester 1 student reports will take place in term 3  on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 July.  Parents can book a time with their child’s teacher via the link below or via the szapp school app. 

https://scmoorabbin.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/6

The focus of these meetings is to discuss semester 1 reports. Conversations will be 15 minutes in duration. Teachers will call parents at the allocated time. 

A link to book PSG Meetings will be emailed directly to parents involved and will take place on Wednesday 15, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 July. Parents attending PSG meetings do not need to book a phone meeting with the class teacher. Please email Carmel Donlon if you require further information.

Arrowsmith teachers will attend either the PSG meeting or the parent/teacher meeting.

Student Reports

Student Reports will go home on Friday 26 June. 

Last Day of Term

Term 2 will finish on Friday 26 June at 2:30pm