Dear Families,

As we creep closer to Christmas and the end of the school year I have my annual dilemma of mixed emotions.  On one hand I am dreading saying goodbye to our Year 6 cohort but balancing that out I am so excited about all the opportunities that 2025 present - especially welcoming in a new crew of Foundation students.  In our next newsletter we will be in a position to announce our staffing for 2025 as a lead into our St.Vincent's Transition Day.  By offering an earlier opportunity for everyone to know about next year we will help reduce anxieties around changes that a new school year brings.  

This week we have concluded the final element of our swimming programs and hope that the skills and confidence that has been developed over the past month ensures all our precious children are a little safer around water this summer.  We thank Mrs.Stevenson for coordinating the program as well as all the staff for their flexibility across the swimming weeks.  Thanks must also go to the parents who were busy doing laundry each night to get the swimming kits ready for the next day.

Planning for 2025 is moving along at speed behind the scenes.  Beyond organising obvious things like classes and staffing, constructing the teaching and learning programs while adding to the 2025 school calendar is certainly keeping us busy.  The teachers have begun to collaboratively develop strong plans for the academic aspect of the school but also spend considerable amounts of time considering the well being of our students.  We will be in a position to further strengthen our efforts in this area and we look forward to announcing some exciting news in this space.  

Exciting changes are coming to our school in 2025! We’re thrilled to announce the construction of a brand-new playground, designed to provide our students with an even better space for play and creativity. The project is set to be completed very early next year, promising an environment that fosters both fun and physical exercise.

In addition, we’re introducing a new system for Our Patch bookings, making it easier for families to manage and book activities. This system will be streamlined for convenience, ensuring a smoother process for everyone involved.  We have also been advised that we will be rolling out an updated CDFPay platform, which will make school payments faster and more secure. 

As we move towards the new school year, students will be settling into their new classes, ready to take on fresh challenges and opportunities. Along with this, we’re excited to welcome new staff members who bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm.

Change is always exciting, but it’s also important to stay resilient as we navigate these updates. Together, we’ll continue to grow, learn, and thrive as a community. Let’s make 2025 an amazing year!

But we still have some work to do in 2024 so please take note of the information and events listed across this edition of the newsletter.

* Thanks to the Icy-Pole Parent Volunteers.  Feel free to pack a spare 50c in your child's school bag in case we have a bonus day if we have a hot day.

* On Wednesday 27th November we are having a professional photographer coming for a photo-shoot for our 2024 Year 6's as well as photos of our 2025 Preps when they visit on that morning for Transition.

* Remember to order your Concert USB Recording on CDFPay

Wishing you a positive finish to the week as we enjoy some beautiful hot days.

Dave

Get out your Popcorn Machine - The concert video is almost here

Pre-orders are about to be released on CDF-Pay next week for $20.

Limited numbers only, order now so you don't miss out!

Jim Quilinan provides our Diocese with an article once a month.  Please enjoy Jim's most recent reflection titled "HAPPINESS"

Each year our school supports our local Vinnies Conference by collecting items for Christmas Hampers which we handover as part of our End of Year Mass this Wednesday.

We invite school families to collect items such as Christmas themed items and food, as well as regular non-perishable food.

Each classroom will have collection boxes and we encourage families to start bringing in items.  Maybe consider inviting your broader network of family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to also contribute to this very important social justice initiative. 

Schools are required to maintain accurate attendance information for every child.  Parents are obligated to ensure that schools are informed about their child's absences.  To assist parents communicate with school we have the online PAM system, while some parents choose or email the school directly.

We remind parents that if your child is absent, you must notify the school on the morning of the absence.  The school will meet our child-safety obligations by following up with parents, then emergency contacts for any unexplained absences.

We thank you for your continued support in this critical area of our student management.

St.Vincent's encourages good practices around exposure to UV.

Our key strategies involve wearing hats, encouraging the application of sunscreen and providing shaded play areas. We encourage families to apply and supply their chosen sunscreen to their children, as the school does not supply sunscreen.

School hats must be worn during Term 1 and Term 4, although we actively encourage students to wear them in times of increasing UV ratings.  Having your hat at school from Father's Day to Mother's Day is a great guide.

TERM 1

Tuesday 28th January - Office reopens 11.30am

Wednesday 29th January - Assessment Interview Day 1

Thursday 30th January - Assessment Interview Day 2

Friday 31st January - Staff Development Day

Monday 3rd February - First day for all classes

Assessment Interviews are a critically important feature of our teaching and learning program.  These sessions are scheduled to last for approximately 30 minutes and allow teachers to conduct some simple literacy and numeracy tasks to judge each child’s current knowledge and understanding.  

Families are asked to log into PAM to select one Assessment Block for each of their children.  This is the same system as last year and the same system we used to make Parent-Teacher Interview bookings.  If you are having difficulty making a booking please contact the school.  We will also be contacting new families to assist those without bookings.

The 2025 booking system will become live on Wednesday 18th December once the 2024 school year concludes.