From the Principal's Desk
FROM THE SCHOOL HANDBOOK:
STAGES OF HOME-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
1. If you have any educational/behaviour concerns about your child always contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. Your child’s classroom teacher will always make contact with you if they have any concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour.
2. Grades and classes across the school are supported by Middle Leaders. You are asked to contact the Middle Leader/s responsible for your child’s class/grade if you have continued concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. The Middle Leaders will also contact you when and if necessary.
3. All academic and behaviour concerns made to the office will be directed to the classroom teacher in the first instance. This may be followed up by support from the Middle Leader responsible for the stage/grade.
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Stage/Grade |
Middle Leader |
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Early Stage 1: Kindergarten |
Mrs Trish Foster |
|
Amaroo & Learning Support Centre |
Mrs Christine Nunes (whilst Mrs Smithers is on leave) |
|
Stage 1: Year 1 Year 2 |
Mrs Sarah O’Donnell |
|
Stage 2: Year 3 Year 4 |
Mrs Shirley Jancetic (whilst Mrs Smithers is on leave) |
|
Stage 3: Year 5 Year 6 |
Mrs Natalie Shelley |
The Middle Leader represented in bold will be your first port of call beyond the classroom teacher.
Water Bottle Refill Taps:
During the holidays our playground sinks were installed with water bottle refill taps. Now students are able to refill their water bottles much more easily. Many thanks to our parents who, through the P&F, who supported the cost of these taps.
Keeping Children Focused in Term 4:
As this term progresses the children will become excited about the approaching Christmas season. It is very important that the children remain focused and settled throughout Term 4. When the children begin to bring Christmas cards, candy canes and the like to school too early they tend to ‘tune out’. It is for this reason, and the fact that waiting is a part of our Catholic Christian tradition with the season of Advent, that the children may begin to bring Christmas cards, candy canes etc for their classmates from the end of Week 9 – Friday 11 December.
Please begin to speak to your children about appreciating the card, gift or candy cane that they receive no matter who it is from and that when they give something they shouldn’t always expect something in return.
Semester 2 Reports:
Due to Covid-19, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has permitted schools to select the content that will form the basis of educational programs for Kindergarten to Year 10 students during 2020. As a result, not all syllabus content will be reported upon in Semester 2.
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Features of the Semester 2 Report: |
Why |
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Omission of an overall grade for each Key Learning Area (KLA) |
In line with the flexible curriculum requirements as outlined by NESA, schools addressed all Key Learning Areas, however, not all outcomes and content were taught, assessed and reported upon. Therefore, the overall grades in each KLA have been omitted from this Semester 2 Report for 2020. |
|
5 Point scale for Effort Descriptors |
Previous Academic Reports contained Commitment to Learning Descriptors, these have been replaced with a 5 point scale outlining the effort demonstrated by the student during learning activities. |
|
Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) Description |
The format used to report on PB4L has been modified to reflect a more comprehensive range of students’ social skills and behaviours. |
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Inclusion of descriptions for each Key Learning Area (KLA) and Content Strands |
Additional detail has been added to describe the knowledge and skills taught in each KLA. The purpose of this information is to provide parents with a clearer understanding of the teaching and learning taking place |
Semester 2 reports will be sent to parents on Friday 11 December via Compass.
Hard copies of reports are no longer distributed to parents.
Riding bikes to School:
It is great to see some parents supporting their children to ride their bikes to school. There are many benefits associated with riding to school including developingindependence. Students need to consistently demonstrate a mature and responsible attitude that ensures they are safe and that pedestrians they may ride near are also treated with respect and are kept safe.Parents are asked to remind their children about the importance of safe riding and adhering to teacher directions when entering and exiting school grounds on their bikes. The GSFM Bicycle Policy is attached for your reference.
Congratulations:
Hana Barnes who has been successful in selection to the 2020 NSW State Cross Country Running Team. Hana has been selected to represent NSW in the under 12 girls for this team.