Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you found this week’s Parent Teacher meetings to be valuable. As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter this is a new model for our school. The intention is that the meetings enable a conversation which explains the Semester Report which will be forwarded home this Friday. Our intention is that the Report, which will be grades only, will not contain any surprises but rather a confirmation of the conversation you had earlier in the week.

Thank you to our teachers for their thorough preparation of these meetings.

Ms Lauren Ogden
We were saddened to hear of the passing of our Year Six teacher, Lauren Ogden’s mother on Monday evening. I know you will join with me in wishing Lauren every blessing during this very challenging time.

Year Five Camp
Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday our Year Five children will be attending Camp at Birrigai which is situated nearby Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. We are delighted to have this opportunity, especially given the ever-changing circumstances surrounding school events during the past two years.

The children will be accompanied by their teachers, Mr Hornby and Miss Levi as well as Miss Murdock and myself.

I know that the children are counting down the days to attend their first ever camp.

Building Project
I am sure that many of you would have noticed during your visit this week that work has begun in earnest on Stage One of our building refurbishment. Last weekend and this coming weekend, asbestos was and will be removed from the site. Obviously, this stage of the Project is necessarily subject to strict compliance regulations and completed without any staff or students on site.

During the school holidays the demolition of the Years Four, Five and Six classrooms will commence. The timing of this stage is perfect with children being spared the noise.

Confirmation
This week many of our Year Six children received the sacrament of Confirmation. On behalf of our school community. I would like to congratulate those children on reaching this important milestone in their faith journey.

Thankyou also to their classroom teachers, Mr Payne and Ms Ogden for their preparation of these children.

Thankyou also to Mrs Mitchell for her organisation of the beautiful ceremonies

Final Newsletter for Term Two

Just a reminder that next Thursday and Friday are Pupil Free days. As mentioned in previous newsletters these days have been sanctioned by the Catholic Education Office in response to the challenging circumstances which have confronted school during this Semester. The ongoing absentee rate amongst all staff has resulted in teachers sharing classes and forgoing release time for planning. Next Thursday and Friday will be used to compensate staff to allow them to plan and evaluate.

For that reason, this will be our final newsletter for this term. A final reminder that school recommences on Tuesday July 19^th.

Finally, I hope you have an opportunity to rest and spend some time with your family over the break. If you are travelling drive safely.

May God bless you and your families.

Graham Pollard

Principal