For those who may not be aware students in Year Three and Five commenced Naplan testing this week. This year about 53% of all schools are completing Naplan testing online, and we are one of those. The testing environment has not been as smooth as we would have expected, and there have certainly been dropouts and locking up of the app used as part of this testing regime. Our children have handled the situation when it has occurred extremely well and have taken the disruptions in their stride. Currently, the national authority is reviewing the situation, and we will inform parents of the outcome when we are made aware.  Parents should feel confident that although Naplan does provide an in time assessment, it is certainly just one of the many aspects that we utilise to determine both the learning of the students and the areas of need and growth across our school cohorts, which we believe as most schools do, is of greater importance.

Next Friday evening our Year Three students will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the very first time. we wish all children receiving the Sacrament next Friday evening all our best wishes and prayers.

During the week we undertook an attendance audit by the Department of Education. We spent a large majority of Tuesday providing requested information around student enrolment, attendance and verification of reasons for absences of students. These are all requirements of the Education Act and it is why we will follow up absences seeking written notification in particular circumstances. The importance of this cannot be understated as it has a direct relationship to the funding the school receives from the State Government. Overall our processes and procedures were acknowledged as being appropriate as would be expected. As part of our processes, we will continue to work with parents where attendance or lateness impacts on student learning. 

A reminder to parents and carers that the only safe place to drop students off before school is in the drop-off line on Morgans Street. We are still having a small number of vehicles stop outside the Tyler Street gates either on the street or in the disabled parking bays. Not only is this dangerous for your child and others it is extremely inconsiderate of those for whom the bays are set up. The Servite gates near our library remain open until just before 9 am and we would much rather children enter the school via this way than being dropped off on a busy road.

Whilst on safety in our school we would also request that parents entering the Kindergarten/ Pre Primary playground, shut all gates behind them. We have to ensure that these environments are safe for all students and with a very busy Cape Street, we have become concerned with adults entering and exiting these areas and not ensuring the gates are closing behind them. Please do your bit to make our school safe.

Have a great weekend

Peter Cutrona
Principal