Principal News
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome all to the 2019 school year. I hope you had a chance to unwind and relax with those closest to you during the summer holiday period. I look forward to another productive year of working in partnership with you as we continue to challenge ourselves to make our community a place of educational excellence for the students.
We have a current enrolment of 386 students. Our Preps started school for the first time this week and we have some new children commencing in other year levels. We also have some new staff. I would like to welcome the following staff joining us in 2019:
Jen Moore – Teacher of Year 1M
Maddy Parkes-Moller – Teacher of Year 3P
Lesley Jarrett – Team teaching with Brendan Luck in Year 5
Sarah McHugh – team teaching with Siobhan Grundon in Year 2
Kristie-Lee Hall – School Cleaner
We warmly welcome all our new staff and families who have joined our community this week.
In 2019, we continue the mission of serving, supporting and educating our students here at St Saviour’s Primary. Our dedicated team of teaching, support and administrative staff are committed to providing high quality, Christ-centred, inclusive education to our students. We understand the great responsibility entrusted to us to shape the minds and souls of the students in our care and welcome you as parents to become a part of our great school, where we engage daily in the important work of teaching, challenging and transforming the citizens of tomorrow.
Playground Works
Thanks to the generosity of our P & F we have a revamped Early Years playground for our Prep and Year 1 students to explore and play. The installation of artificial turf, new shade cloth and new guttering on the walkway will help save the continual wash from heavy downpours, in this area. Although heavy downpours seem to be a rare sight these days!
Professional Development Days
Prior to the children commencing school, the teachers at St Saviour’s Primary have engaged in five excellent professional development days. The focus for these days was on the following:
- Planning and Implementing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the delivery of curriculum.
- Behaviour Support Plan and Procedures
- School Routines and Processes
- Teaching and Learning expectations
- Administrative Information and Training –Workplace Health and Safety Training, and Mandatory Student Protection and Code of Conduct training. The beginning of the year is an intensive time ensuring that all staff receive the correct training in order to provide a safe learning environment for children.
- Importance of communication – schoolzine training, email etiquette.
- Mercy Spiritual Formation Day focused on the theme: Knowing Mercy… Living Mercy… Being Mercy…
Below are a few points that all families need to be aware of:
- Parent Teacher Night (Prep – Yr. 6) is scheduled for Monday 4th February commencing in your child’s classroom. There will be two identical sessions offered to parents. The first session will begin at 5:10p.m. – 5:30p.m. Then all Parents are invited to Mercy Centre to hear from the Leadership team. The second session will be a repeat of the first session and will begin at 6:10p.m. in your child’s classroom. Parents will have the opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers and receive a brief outline of plans for the year. It is hoped the evening will conclude by 6:30p.m. All year levels (including Prep) will make presentations on the night. Please note that this night is intended for adults only.
- School commences at 8.30am each day. Please do your best to ensure your children arrive at school prior to this time? Supervision commences on the playground at 8.10am. for all children. Children arriving prior to 8.10am should be enrolled into Outside School Hours Care which commences at 6:30am. Children arriving after the 8.30 a.m. bell need to report to the office to collect a ‘late slip’ before going to class.
- Bell times for School
Session 1 8:30am – 10:45am
Morning Tea 10:45am-11:15am
Session 2 11:15am-1:00pm
Lunch 12:45pm - 1:30pm
Session 3 1:50pm-3:00pm
If you are needing to schedule appointments for your children, please refer to the morning tea and lunch time break times.
- Have you downloaded the St Savour’s Primary School Schoolzine app to your smart phone? It is updated weekly with news, dates and important information.
- The first few weeks of school often bring very hot weather. While air conditioning makes a huge difference, children are encouraged to bring water bottles to school to keep hydrated. Please ensure bottles are clearly marked with your child’s name.
- Please ensure that children are dressed in correct school uniform and have a school hat (clearly marked with your child’s name) each day to protect them from the sun. The application of sunscreen before coming to school is strongly recommended. Please ensure all uniform items are clearly marked with your child’s name.
- Assemblies take place on a Monday afternoon at 2:30p.m. in the Mercy Centre. All are most welcome to join us at this time. The purpose of assembly is to set the scene for the week. We pray together, affirm children with awards, focus on our weekly behaviour and share important news and information.
- Tuck Shop will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. This will commence in Week 1 (Wednesday 31st).
- All are encouraged to come along to P&F meetings. 7p.m. Monday 11th February in the room off the library will be the P & F AGM followed by a general meeting. All parents are welcome to attend.
- Term 1 School Fees will be issued next week. Included with these fees will be a letter outlining the various ways fees can be paid and information about concessions for families experiencing financial hardship. Our preferred method of payment is Direct Debit.
- School Photos will be held on the 12th of February. All children (Year 1 to 6) are to wear their formal uniform on this day. Prep students will be wearing their sports uniform. Information for school photos will be sent home from Owens Studios via email early next week.
- P&F Welcome BBQ will be held on Friday the 15th of February (5 to 7pm). A sausage sizzle will be provided and BYO drinks. Further information will be sent home at a later date via CareMonkey for confirmation of numbers for this night.
Enjoy the start of the new school year. It is a special time as children settle into new routines, make new friends and get to know their teacher. If you ever have any concerns or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to the year ahead.
Thanks for reading.