30 August 2017
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s Report
Dear Parents/Guardians
Great Teachers
Last week we had a special visit from the crew at 7HO FM who came to our school to promote their “AppIe for the Teacher” campaign, a program which celebrates and acknowledges the great work undertaken by teachers throughout the state.
In my short time as Principal at St Cuthbert’s, it is my observation that we are blessed to have an outstanding group of teachers who are committed to providing a quality education for all of our students on a daily basis. Anyone of them would be worthy of a nomination for an “Apple or the Teacher Program”.
Having all attended school, college or university we all have opinions and of what it takes to be a great teacher. In his weekly newsletter, our Director, John Mula, shared an article he came across recently on Twitter called, “Things That Principals Know About Great Teachers”. I have included some of the key statements for you to peruse. I would be interested to know how these statements compare with your experience!
- Great teachers don't always have the best lessons. But they always have the best relationships with kids.
- Great teachers understand that developing the right classroom climate is a prerequisite to teaching the right lesson.
- When a lesson does not go as planned, great teachers are not looking around the room... they are looking in the mirror.
- Great teachers always come to class ready to teach... but they are mindful of the fact that not all students come to class ready to learn.
- Great teachers don't show up for WORK... they show up for KIDS! It's a passion -- not a job.
- Great teachers understand the "Golden Rule" for educators: Teach every child the way you would want your own child to be taught.
- Great teachers are not intent on winning "battles" with the students. They understand that if there is a battle in the classroom, nobody wins.
- Great teachers define their success by the success of their students. They understand it's not about the teaching... it's about the learning.
- Great teachers are in it for the kids. It's not about the lesson plan, the rules, or the massive paycheck. It's always about the kids.
- Great teachers are not driven by courses of study... they are driven by the faces in front of them.
- All teachers have bad days. Great teachers never lose perspective, and they refuse to let their personal drama undermine the positive energy in the classroom.
After school pick-up and parking
A reminder to parents to abide by our parking and pick-up protocols when dropping off and picking up students from school.
- Please ensure that the NO PARKING zone that is sign-posted outside the school on Corinna Road is strictly observed. This is a drop-off/pick-up zone only.
- Cars must not be left unattended in the zone.
- Parents are asked to drive around the block if they cannot see their child ready to be picked up.
- At pick-up time could all drivers please enter Corinna Road from Lincoln Street and exit at Lowanna Rd. (essentially making Corinna Road one way at this time of the day)
- There is no parent parking in the cul-de-sac in Moirunna Road near the Kindergarten and Grade 3/4 classrooms.
- Please be respectful and courteous to our neighbours by not parking over driveways.
Drivers risk receiving an infringement notice if they park illegally. Your cooperation with this matter is greatly appreciated.
Marcus Donnelly
Principal
Principal Awards
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Congratulations to the following students who received Principal Award’s last week and this week: Leeah Gard-Spaulding, Alice Wright, Larissa Carlyon, Madison Glass, Madeleine Marr, Joel Vallerine x2, Zackary Oates, Darcy Goodwin, Angus Mann, Will Cooper, Chelsea Burdon, Brianna Downham, Isobel Mitchell, Jessica Smith, Katie Simpson, Dani Diaz-Nevarez, Taylah Jenkins, Hamish Upton, Sian Daley, Hailee Shea-Bloomfield, Olivia Burnett, Charlie Balzer, Jerome Pollard, Lucinda Coutts, Madeline Burnett, Jorja Hopkins, Hannah Smith, Eamon Lawler, Harry Vermey, Lachlan Amey, Oliver Stuart, Angus McKenzie, Fadi Alskal, Madison Downham, Eden Willcock, Izak Szkup. |
Kinder RE News
Attendance information
Parents/Guardians are responsible for ensuring that they notify the school to explain the absence of their children on any particular school day. Notification may be provided via email, skoolbag or phoning the school office, and should be made prior to the start of the school day.
Families wishing to take their child/ren out of school during term time are required to write to the Principal to confirm the absence. The school will reply with a written acknowledgement.
The legal obligations regarding enrolment and attendance, as stipulated in Education Act 1994 (Tas) ss 4-11 are:
- s 6(3) A Principal must ensure that a register is kept, recording the daily attendance or absence of each school-aged child.
- s 10(1) A child is excused from attendance if he or she is prevented from attending because of a reasonable cause approved by the Principal, and the parent has given notification.
- s 10(2) If requested by the Principal, a parent must provide a medical certificate for a child who is absent because of sickness.
- s 10(3) The Principal may require a student to not attend a school on any day on which the student has an infection or is suffering from an infectious disease.
NAPLAN ONLINE – TRIAL OF THE NEW ONLINE ASSESSMENT PLATFORM
You may have heard that NAPLAN online is being introduced across Australia over three years from 2017. Tasmanian Government and Catholic schools will be administering NAPLAN online from 2019.
NAPLAN online will provide better assessment, more precise results and a faster turnaround of information.
Our school has opted to trial the new assessment platform (the computer system the test will be taken on) and assess our readiness to participate in NAPLAN Online from 2019. This trial is called the School Readiness Test (SRT).
The SRT is not a test of student achievement and results will not form part of a student’s overall assessment.
Participating in this trial is important as it will help us ensure we have adequate internet connectivity, and whether students have access to a sufficient number of devices for NAPLAN testing. During the trial, our school will have the opportunity to practice managing the classroom logistics for an online assessment and the new test administration processes.
Feedback from schools participating in this trial will inform transition to the online assessment as well as provide valuable feedback to shape the final development of the NAPLAN online platform.
The SRT has not been constructed to assess curriculum knowledge, but rather to provide students with an opportunity to experience the types of questions that will be included in the new online assessment.
During August-September 2017, students in Years 3 and 5 will participate in a trial of the assessment platform, by undertaking two online tests that include examples of the new NAPLAN online questions. Each test will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Our school will be taking part in this trial during the week of September 4th-8th.
Participation in this trial is a key step to ensuring a successful NAPLAN online experience. If you have further questions, please contact Mrs O’Rourke at the school.
Important Dates
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Friday 1st September |
Banjo’s lunches |
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Wednesday 20th September |
Athletics Carnival, Domain |
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Thursday 21st September |
Board Meeting |
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Tuesday 26th September |
P&F Meeting |
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Friday 29th September |
Term 3 ends |
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Monday 16th October |
Term 4 starts |
John Wallis Memorial Lecture
INVITATION TO
The John Wallis Memorial Lecture 2017
given by FR FRANK MOLONEY
SDB
“THE WORD OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH”
HAVE WE FAILED?
A priceless opportunity to re-examine our Christian life in the light of the Scriptures and help us to envisage the future of the Church
When? Thursday, 21st September
2017, 7.00 pm
Where? Guilford Young College, Chapel, Hobart
Campus
Lecture followed by supper
RSVP: By 14th September 2017 Contact: Eva on 0417734503 or eva.dunn@gmail.com
Donation: $10 with Concession: $5
MacKillop College - Masquerade
