Dear Families

After the past two short work weeks, it has been great to have a full week of school so that it feels like I am getting into bit of a rhythm.  Across the school it has been so pleasing to walk past classrooms filled with students busy at work.  I wonder if it is that these 'children of the pandemic' have got their mojo back?  This time last year I was busy getting my head around social isolation and quarantine rules, while now I am overwhelmed with trying to fit so many learning and fun events into our school calendar.

Successful schools are built around the people: staff, families but importantly the students.  At St.Vincent's I am so lucky to have such a diverse and generous community to work alongside, in particular our students.  I have been impressed with the number of students engaging with me across this past fortnight to discuss their ideas, attitudes and aspirations about improving our school.

Next week we have our first Parent & Friends Meeting on Wednesday evening at 6.45pm.  Please feel free to come along or reach out if you want to contribute across the year in some capacity but can't make the meeting.  As always, many hands do indeed make light work, so all the extra things that can happen in schools can really be driven through this parent group.

This Thursday and Friday I am attending some Gippsland Catholic Primary Principal network days so I leave the school in the capable hands of Mrs.Van Den Broek.  I offer my apologies to families as I will not at the Sacrament Meeting scheduled for Thursday night at 5pm at Sacred Heart.  Mrs.Van Den Broek alongside our new REL Mr.Greenslade will be there as well as some other staff.  We look forward to a COVID free year of Sacraments and engaging with the Year 3 students and families participating in the Reconciliation program during Term 1.

This newsletter is loaded with new and old information, while the content on PAM and the school website continues to grow.  Having the free Smartphone App (the security PIN is 6358) and having notifications enables ensures you have immediate access to important school information.  If you are reading this newsletter you probably have these subscriptions under control but please reach out to other families you know that might not be in the loop.  Feel free to call by and ask for assistance from myself or the Office staff.

On Monday we conducted our first Assembly as well as the first virtual Morning Meeting.  The morning meeting is a quick on-line presentation beamed live into classrooms designed to build community and to assist with communication.  Once we establish a more polished product I hope we can record the broadcast and share it on-line with families.  Our Afternoon Assembly (Monday 2.20pm) is open for families to attend and we also have a few tweaks planned to make this weekly event more informative and an opportunity to reinforce our shared school Positive Behaviours - Respect, Responsible, Resilient and Safe.  Congratulations to all students who were recognised at this week's assembly and a shout-out to our new student leaders in their new assembly roles.

Around the school we have a few minor gardening tasks that the students have been working on, but I really do need to some adults to get a few things done.  If you are available to help out please drop by to volunteer.

Two key events across this week have been Safer Internet Day and our first visit to the church for Mass. I strongly encourage parents to make themselves aware of the information shared around cyber-safety.  This is such a tricky area and is well and truly now an issue for primary aged children across the globe.  

Wishing everyone a great finish to the week, enjoy the sunshine.

Dave