Newsletter Term 3 Week 6

Dear Families

As you know, this term, we have started work on developing our 2022-2024 Strategic Plan.

We held the last of our community involvement meetings that are the key to developing a successful plan and we thank the parents who came along and shared their thoughts.  We have also completed the process with staff and students.

If you missed out and would still like to contribute, please do so via the following survey link which will be open for one week…

https://forms.office.com/r/KVKJF82UbF

In today’s newsletter, we have published the results under two headings:

• What people have experienced that they like
• Future considerations

School Strategic Plans are developed using four broad categories:

• Being a Catholic School
• Being a School focussed on Learning and Wellbeing
• Being Community
• Being a well-resourced School

See links below regarding the four broad categories.

The next step in our plan is to prioritise our lists to find out what our community wishes to be our foci.  The School Board, P&F and staff will do this formally at their coming meetings.  Senior SRC students will be involved in the process.  Parents will have the opportunity to be involved in this step via a community survey.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

As parents have not been able to access the school, you may have missed the following improvement…

Oval Maintenance

The grass is in as dormant stage at the moment so it’s not growing at the moment. It is still having fertiliser and nutrients applied to help its growth moving forward into the warmer months. As most would have noticed the area where the cricket nets were, have deteriorated. We have noticed that in this current climate and the position of the sun the Norfolk Island pines along Marlborough Street block the grass from getting any natural light. The root system still seems strong in this area and we expect it to come back strong once we have some warmer weather.  It also has had a pro-core to help aerate the soil.

Nature Play Maintenance

Most of the nature play area has had a revamp. The trees and grasses finally were installed and new irrigation put in. We have fixed some of the concrete haunches that were exposed due to kids digging in some areas. The area that was compacted sand has not held up, so we have changed it to mulch. The first few weeks of school has shown this was a good option as there has been no digging. All the timber in the entire nature play has been oiled to preserve it so it lasts longer. The broken water pump has now been fixed. The soft fall been topped up as well as the river pebbles either side of ramp.

Front Office Maintenance

We have been slowly upgrading the office area and all walls have now been painted.  You may have noticed some of the upgrades in the entrance area, new lights and a display screen showing photos of what happens in our school.

Plumbing

Two new toilets were replaced in staff female toilet with an extra one put in where the shower was. The existing toilet in the male one was also replaced.

Tamper proof taps have now been installed in all toilets to prevent kids changing them.  The drinking fountain on the courts also had repairs and replacement of broken spout.

General Maintenance

• Aircon Filters Cleaned and Sanitised
• Clean Air Filters replaced (Air-works)
• Ceiling fans sanitised
• Projector filters cleaned
• Clean Whole School
• High pressure convent porch / pavers
• Light Globe replacement where needed
• Emergency exit lighting testing
• Adding wiring and installation of two new ovens for tuckshop

COVID UPDATE

There has not been a lot of movement in the restrictions since our last newsletter and parents are still asked to remain outside the gates where possible. We are adapting events where possible and Book Week, while different, was a lovely celebration.

Two events are on the horizon, Fathers’ Day and the Opening and Blessing of our new buildings.  At this stage, both events have restrictions that will limit what we are able to do and CESA have made it clear that we cannot have a breakfast or a large gathering.  We will wait until next week, to see if we can hold some sort of event for Fathers, possibly like we did for Mothers’ Day.  The Fathers’ Day stall however will be able to go ahead.  We will wait until next week to see if we can hold some sort of event for Fathers, possible like we did for Mothers’ Day (a gathering of Fathers from the Reception year level).

Regards
Damian Weeks

Hello Friends

Welcome to the middle of Term 3 - it is hard to believe how fast this term has flown by. I trust you are enjoying the intermittent sunshine and early signs of Spring.

Seaview Road 
This term I have been completing Seaview Rd duty in the morning and in the afternoon and unfortunately, I have to report that motorists’ behaviour in this area needs to improve to maintain the safety of our students.

I understand that I have written about this many times in the newsletter however I have to continue to remind motorists about their responsibilities in this area.

I ask parents and caregivers who are picking up their children to refrain from:

• Parking on any yellow lines, as these lines indicate a clearway zone
• Stopping on the pedestrian crossing
• Leaving your vehicle to collect a child from the Seaview Road pick up area
• I also encourage independence for students entering and exiting the vehicles. 

Can this information please be passed on to family members or friends who may not read the newsletter, who collect and drop children off in this area?

Father’s Day Stall
Next Thursday the Father’s Day Stall will be available to year levels for purchasing a Father’s Day gift. Please use the QKR app for your voucher and remember to press the ‘submit’ button to make sure your transaction has been processed. A huge thanks to our P & F Committee for putting this wonderful opportunity together. I extend a Happy Father’s Day to everyone for next week.

School Disco
Our School Disco has been moved to Friday 15 October 2021. This will be a daytime event and more details will be available closer to the date. Many thanks again to our P & F Committee.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. Helen Keller

Thanks and Blessings
Matt Perry

Please see attached