Dear Parents

The term is moving quickly with all of our students working productively with our teachers. While the term has still had it’s challenges with COVID outbreaks the end result is still a fantastic quality of work in supportive flexible environments. We are very proud of our new building and quality of resources that are included. The last remaining job to complete is finishing off the landscaping on the Duke Street side across the road from the tennis courts. This will hopefully be completed early next term.

Our swimmers finished off a very successful campaign last week which concluded with the Gippsland championships in Sale. A great effort by Ella and Jack who now sit in the top handful of swimmers in their retrospective age groups in backstroke and freestyle. Thanks to the helpers and parents who have supported all of our children. 

This year St Mary’s will be undertaking a School Review and the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). The School Review Process is aimed to support our school in identifying its priorities for the next improvement cycle in line with the Diocesean Strategic Plan. For example, one of our goals could be to improve the learning goals for all children at St Mary’s. The VRQA Compliance Review supports each school to ensure that they meet the minimum standards and other requirements for school registration. For example, we will need to demonstrate that all staff here at St Mary’s are aware and understand all policies around Child Safety and how they are implemented. The entire process of Review and VRQA is to reflect on what is being done well at school and to make recommendations on how we can improve.

After being cancelled last year NAPLAN will be completed in 2021. The whole process now for our school will be online. Practice tests and log on sessions will be completed over the next month before the NAPLAN full online tests are underway in the month of May. NAPLAN for primary students is for those boys and girls in Year 3 and Year 5. Information about the assessment has been sent home today. To compliment the online testing component the school has purchased a large number of Chrome book computers out of our technology budget. If any parents have any questions regarding NAPLAN please contact Liz Coleman.

We wish our Reconciliation candidates all the best as they make this sacrament next week. Thank you for the support of the parents in preparing them along this journey. We also wish our Grade Four campers well for school camp which is next Monday. A great itinerary is planned for Forest Lodge in Jack River over the two day program. It was so disappointing not to have camps last year. Please make sure you keep up to date with our photo board on the school website.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Jason