APA News

Dear Parents

The halfway mark of term 2 is here and the cold weather has not left!  I am hoping this is the last cool blast we get prior to the weather warming up for Spring!!

Over the last two weeks at school our community has been heavily invested in our MTSS journey, striving to bring consistency and predictability in routines, expectations and communication.  We know that children thrive in environments where they feel safe, supported and know what to expect.  Our leadership team has spent time in all classrooms across the school participating in Welcome Circles.  Each morning students gather as a class community to greet each other, pray, discuss the day, identify areas for continued focus, and connect with each other on a human level.  Welcoming students to begin their day in a calm, predictable way sets them up for learning.  Watching how teachers and students engage and connect with each other is testament to the fact that our school value of Compassion is lived everyday in our school. 

Welcome circles are a part of our tier one practices that support student learning, setting students up for success in their day.   When students arrive late, they are missing out on this crucial connection piece that brings consistency and predictability to their day.  Our school day starts at 8.30 each morning.  Sometimes this can be a challenge in busy families who have multiple demands on their time; however, I would encourage you to create some consistent, predictable routines in your family’s before school practices to ensure that students are at school on time.   

In the media there has increasingly been reports of students struggling to attend school or what can be known as school refusal.  We are not immune to this issue at St Saviour’s. Across this year we have worked with a number of families who struggle with this issue.  This time of the year is often a time when illness can take hold, and we know many students have had prolonged days off school due to this. However, if you are finding it difficult to get your child to school, please reach out and speak with us around your concerns.  We have a number of strategies that we can offer and support we can provide to help your child work through what is going on for them. It is also crucial that we tackle this problem quickly, so as to avoid compounding the issue, as the learning and socialising that is missed can create further anxiety for students.  If you are interested in more information about this topic please follow the link.

Our goal is to ensure that all students feel welcomed, connected and a valuable part of our school community, and that we work in partnership with you in the best interests of your child.

Stop, Drop and Go Etiquette 

Thank you to everyone who use this daily ( and waves or has a chat!) and make sensible and respectful decisions in its use.  I often can see when people make a decision that impacts others and the flow on effect of raised emotions.  I would encourage you to be patient, which I know is not always easy.  Teachers are not police officers or law enforcement - our role is to ensure safe collection of students, rain, hail or shine.  How drivers act upon the road is dependent upon them, however the points below are important reminders for our community:

• Turning right into the driveway across Lawrence St is not the expectation.
• Access to the driveway should be by turning left, heading down Lawrence St towards Ruthven.
• Only begin lining up in Lawrence St once the gate has been removed ( which generally occurs at 2.55)
• Only cross the zebra crossing when there is space for your whole car in the driveway, so as not to  block the footpath or be waiting in the 'no standing zone' that faces the driveway.

Mrs Katie Hauser