Principal News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

My experience in schools has taught me that school culture is influenced most by the actions of the quiet achievers who make up the vast majority of the student population. Schools certainly need high achievers and good school leaders. However, it is in the middle ground of achievement where the majority of the students are placed that the greatest improvement can be made. Small improvements in a large number of students make for a significant gain across a year level, a house group or a cohort of students. A positive and enriching school culture is grounded in the majority of learners who do the little things well day in and day out. They are the children who do the right thing when nobody's watching. They may not be the learners who achieve first place or the gold award but they are children who strive to  do their best and seek ongoing improvement.

ACARA CEO David de Carvalho said overall students’ literacy and numeracy standards have not significantly suffered, despite the major disruptions of COVID-19 and remote learning.

“Generally, the average trend is positive, with improvements for Year 3 and 5 reading and Year 5, 7 and 9 numeracy, showing gains equivalent to a term’s worth of learning since the base year. The overall decline in writing has begun to flatten, and achievement in Year 5, 7 and 9 has begun to reverse and show signs of an upward trend,” he said.

“The results suggest that persistent effort to improve outcomes pays off. It is testament to the resilience of students, teachers, parents and carers, and school and system leaders during these challenging times.”

In May this year, NAPLAN was successfully undertaken in schools across the country. More than 1.2 million students took part across more than 9,000 schools.

Education Matters September, 2021.

Following are our 2021 NAPLAN results which reflect our vision of all learners to strive in their learning and in life.

Congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 learners on their NAPLAN results.  Parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5 should have received their paper reports earlier this week.

Thank you to the staff across the school for preparing our students and the high quality of teaching and learning that has supported these students leading up to these National tests.

Members of the Leadership Team will meet with our Year 3 and Year 5 teachers to analyse the learners' results.  This information also assists our school on prioritising resources in each of the areas.

Our results show that in both Year 3 and Year 5 our learners are well above the State Mean in all areas.

YEAR 5

YEAR 3

Are your child/children’s circumstances changing in Term 4 or beyond?

The school’s financial planning for the delivery of services in 2022 is approaching completion and as such, we draw your attention to the processes relating to withdrawing a student.

Recently, parents were asked to complete a Microsoft Form indicating a change in enrolment for 2022.  Thank you to those who have responded and let us know of any changes. 

As with many schools, we require a full term's notice to withdraw a student without penalty. Should the notice be given in a shorter period closer to the end of the year, unnecessary pressures are applied to the school and to the broader parent community to absorb the current and future costs of planned services.

Please email all withdrawal notices to ssps@twb.catholic.edu.au for the attention of the Principal.

RADII SURVEY

Thank you to all parents, staff and students for engaging in the school survey earlier in the Term.  Late last week we received the feedback which includes both commendations and recommendations.  This information is a valuable source that assists us as a school for future planning in all four areas across our school: Faith and Mission, Teaching and Learning, Continual Renewal and Stewardship and Sustainability of Resources.

Overall Satisfaction: Students Year 5 and 6

Overall Satisfaction: Parents

Overall Satisfaction: Staff

REMINDER - CAR PARKING:

Parents, a reminder to you that you need to obey the road rules around our school to keep our children safe at all times. Remember the following:

1. No parking in the bus stops.
2. No parking in driveways.
3. Look before you back out of a park.
4. No parking at the crossing on the grass in Lawrence St.
5. Avoid yelling obscenities at other drivers.
6. No entering off Neil St and parking at the Mercy Centre.
7. Stop at the Stop sign in Prep Driveway.

The parking situation is going to become even tighter as we begin the building project in the next week. So please, please, please be responsible around our school and keep our families and staff safe.   

Building Project

• STAGE 2A : 4 General Learning Areas and refurbishment of the administration and staff facilities will take place. STAGE 2B: 4 GLAs and PREP playground will not go ahead at present due to funding. 
• The prep playground will not be disturbed/excavated now as reported last month. Due to funding restraints this will be on hold for when STAGE 2B comes about in the future.
• Tender process is complete. IQ construct were the successful tenderer; subcontractors are all Toowoomba based to ensure the build continues if there is a COVID lockdown. It is expected that this work will begin in Week 10 of this term.    
• Four GLAs will be built first in the ‘old’ tuckshop and Year 1 area. This will also involve work in the staffroom for plumbing of new staff facilities.  Staff will need to use the college facilities; this could possibly mean a change in break times throughout the school day to avoid cross over with the College staff.
• Administration will start renovation in Week 7 of Term 4. Administration/School reception will relocate now to the Library as this is the only free space at present. Graduation and end of year celebrations will take place in the St Patrick’s Cathedral Centre.
• Presently, a stop, drop and go facility is being investigated to alleviate the parking congestion around the school. This is a combined project with St Saviour’s College.  If the quote is favourable this work will likely take place over the Christmas break.
• Parents are urged to please follow the road rules and be patient around our school to help keep our children safe.
• Discussions are underway with the builder and architect in relation to the possibility of the PREP CARPARK reverting back to a staff and builder car park for TERM 4 due to the building taking place. Prep parents will be informed once this decision has been made and asked to park in Lawrence St or make use of the Cathedral Centre carpark and walk to collect the children.
• This is a very exciting time for our school to accommodate our class groupings and ensure our Year 6 students for 2022 will reside in our school setting.
• Thank you to Ms Sharon Collins and St Saviour’s College for their support and generosity in accommodating us on many occasions.

Click here to see 3D images of the interior of the classrooms and school administration and staff facilities.

Last Wednesday, we welcomed close to 70 Prep children for their first morning experience here at St Saviour’s Primary School.  Our Early Years staff and Leadership Team enjoyed getting to know our 2022 Preps and introducing them to our school environment.  The children engaged a variety of activities and we look forward to welcoming them back next term on the 20th October (9a.m. to 11:30a.m.) for a longer period of time.  Thanks to the brave parents who entrusted us with your little ones and special thanks to our school admin staff, Early Years staff and members of the Leadership Team in making this morning such a great experience for all involved.