Dear Parents,

As we approach the final days of the school year we have so much to be thankful for.  We have successfully moved back into school following remote learning in a new environment.  On Wednesday night we celebrated the graduation of our Grade Six students.  It was a wonderful night where the students together with their parents attended Mass and had dinner back at the school.  Thanks to the senior teachers who organised the evening and well done to each of the children.

Included in this newsletter is a full staffing list for 2021.  Next week all children moving into the following year's grade will come together to talk about 2021.  We are looking forward to hopefully having a full year at school in our new learning areas.  Our learning PODS have been designed for point of need teaching.  This is the most important responsibility of the teacher.  The teacher creates the conditions for success.  This includes how collaborative learning is effective with noise in the room, the use of furniture and space and the types of group work that stimulates the student.  This together with technology is easily linked and administered in flexible spacing.  This has been a learning process for all staff.  It has been measured and involved hours of learning over the last four years when the concept was introduced.  Teachers who have been employed at St Mary's in recent times have applied with the experience of working in such an environment.  One of the great benefits I have seen is the smile on the children's faces who have adjusted to the space and enjoy the freedom to move with their learning and have the assistance of more than teacher and teacher aide during the day.

We aspire for our children to work independently and have high self-esteem and positive social interactions.  Our staff is confident this will be evident within our building refurbishment.  To gauge the feelings of the children I encourage parents to talk about the experiences thus far at home.  I think you will find the children talking positively about the spaces. 

Next week we will take the opportunity to say goodbye to the Grade Six children as well as three families where children are moving to other schools.  We also give thanks and good luck to Kate Donald who moves to Catholic College Sale in a full time capacity.

Have a great weekend.

Jason.