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Dear Families,
Firstly let me extend my best wishes to all our St.Vincent's mums as we celebrated Mother's Day this past Sunday. I enjoyed looking at a range of different social media posts of different dedications on Mother's Day. In the end I couldn't choose just one so I've included both for you to reflect on. One acknowledges all the different names, situations and roles women take on that are Mums while I was personally really emotionally connected to 'Thinking of You'. This graphic acknowledges the challenges, stresses and trauma that families have to deal with and even though Mother's Day is generally a positive experience it may also be confronting on a variety of levels. So I simply extend by thanks and blessings on our beautiful St.Vinnies Mums in both the good and bad times.
The term is flying by and the calendar is popping with a wide variety events both in and out of the classrooms. The senior students will no doubt claim the most important happenings have taken place at District Level sports where we had a clean sweep at the Football and Netball day, while we have also had a number of superstars dashing around Cross Country courses. Congratulations to all these participants and thanks to our staff, especially Mrs.Stevenson.
Included in this newsletter is an exciting example of the media work we are now able to create because of the building project. Please enjoy the Week Four Sports Report and stay tuned for more content. I would love your feedback and we hope that the staff across the school are willing to channel their inner-Spielberg and get busy with our streaming and pod-cast room.
Tomorrow night marks the beginning of Catholic Education Week. The opening event is a Mass and Dinner with representatives from across Gippsland - Orbost to Cowes and Narre Warren. I am thrilled to be accompanying Mr.Greenslade to the event to see him recognised as a new Religious Education Leader in our school. I am truly blessed to have such a diverse and capable staff group to work alongside, with Catholic Education Week giving me the opportunity to say thank you to them. Next week on Thursday we have scheduled our Annual Open Day so we look forward to showcasing our school to new and existing families. On the day we are also having a visit from the new Director of Catholic Education Mr.Paul Velton. Paul will walk into our new facilities and will certainly be impressed by not only the building, but in the capacity and hospitality of our students and staff. Hopefully the senior school journalists get the chance to interview him in our new streaming room.
Included in this newsletter is a Building Project Report from me, and I've taken the opportunity to cheekily say it is the last one. The project has been an equal mix of excitement and exhaustion so I'm glad to not only have it finished but more importantly throw open its doors to our students and staff. While the students have enjoyed the new building since September the staff have worked in cramped and sub-standard facilities displaying resilience and patience. Can I acknowledge the staff who haven't had heating or cooling in our staffroom the past six months, or even consistent electricity, and especially note the Admin Team who have kept the school functioning out of what could only be described as a telephone booth. A tremendous effort that I am so appreciative of and it certainly did not go unnoticed.
Across the school we have seen many quiet and generous efforts of volunteers which I would like to also acknowledge. The P&F group worked tirelessly to offer the Mother's Day stall to students as a fund-raiser while I have also had an enthusiastic bunch of student landscapers establishing an area under the new shade structures. Once the retaining walls are installed at the front of the school we are going to need many hands to quickly shovel in mulch so that the pile isn't a pedestrian or traffic hazard. Many hands do make light work so please jump in once you see the need. I'm also looking for some gardeners to express their interest in supervising the establish of some yet to be determined plantings. Exciting times for green thumbs.
While acknowledging the work ethic of volunteers can I also recognise the work of our school leaders and staff. While the crazy pace of school-life could place learning at risk, I continue to be impressed by the teaching staff's consistent approach to student learning and professional development. We continue to have a busy professional learning schedule and more recently have addressed writing across the school while also hosting a session from Peta Murray, A&TSI Education Officer, which assisted in raising teacher capacity as we prepare for National Reconciliation Week.
Finally, I would just like to ask families to raise their awareness of local COVID infections. As always, please keep away from work/school if you have sympotoms .... and feel free to pickup some RATs from the office or foyer.
Wishing everyone a lovely finish to an exciting week at St.Vincent's. Friday is National Walk to School Day so try to 'stroll & roll' your way to school!
Take care,
Dave
Each year staff, Year 3-6 students and parents are offered the opportunity to participate in a School Improvement opportunity each is primarily based around a non-compulsory on-line survey. As a school we seek and value the opinions of our broad and diverse community. We have a small number of unused parent surveys that can be collected from the office.
The on-line survey portal closes on Friday afternoon so we ask all parents to log on to lodge their opinions and views about our school.
We extend our thanks to the staff, students and parents who took the time to take advantage of having their voice heard.
Building Update ..... the last one??
Across my time at St.Vincent's I have always had the pleasure of having RJ.Low Builders onsite completing our extensive building program. The build is the most significant in our school's history and the outcome has left us with a safe, efficient and professional site that will drive school improvement and impact student learning.
Overnight the final paperwork was issued which signals the end of works. Apart from a few cosmetic items outside, the building is ready for action and we look forward to moving in to make it operational. The operational changes will be noticed very quickly by students and we will take each class on a walk through to rehearse routines. Already some senior students have assisted with the move and are becoming more familiar with the safety features of the building. For parents, staff and children there will be some changes that we all will need to adapt to. We look forward to sharing these exciting changes with you and adapting procedures to find solutions to obstacles as we establish best practices which will always prioritise student safety and learning.
STUDENT Arrivals and Dismissal will continue happen through the existing sliding doors. Once the new steps and fencing is in place the junior students will not be escorted to the bottom of the ramp but be instructed to wait in the much safer zone we have extended closer to the sliding doors.
STUDENT Late Arrivals and Early Dismissals will arrive via the new front office
All deliveries and other visits during the day will also take place in the new office which is accessed via the new Rowell Street ramp.
On Monday 22nd May St Vincent's selected Grades 5/6 students will be competing in District Soccer.
We are desperately seeking referees to assist on the day, if you are available can you please contact the school.
Monica and Rose from the The Legion Of Mary presented our reconciliation children with a book to congratulate students on their journey through the reconciliation program last term.