February 27th 2025

Dear Families,

Thank you to all of our families who attended our welcome event last Thursday. It was a great opportunity for all within the community to continue to develop positive relationships with each other. Families and schools are in partnership for every child's education and it is integral that families have the opportunity to gain an insight into what is happening in the classroom and across the school. Thank you to our staff at SBW for their work in organising the afternoon. Afternoons such as this, support other communications including, feed up on SEESAW and class/ school announcements whereby we are sharing the journey with all in our community.

Late last year, we finalised our Mission and Vision statement (below). Over the coming weeks, our staff will be working dilligently as we continue to plan on what we want our school to look like in the future. Families and students (from selected classes) will also have the opportunity to provide feedback. This feedback will inform our next strategic plan and annual plans for the next period of time. As a school, this is in alignment with our mission as we work together to build a future where all children thrive and succeed. The school will be sending out more information regarding this survey and process on COMPASS prior to the end of term.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Nic Saltmarsh

During this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Pope Francis. 

Loving and Merciful God,

We come before You in prayer, lifting up Your servant, Pope Francis, in his time of need. You are the Source of all healing, and we ask You to surround him with Your loving presence, granting him strength and recovery. May Your divine grace rest upon him, restoring his health and filling him with renewed vigor to continue leading Your Church with compassion and wisdom.

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.”
(Jeremiah 30:17)

We place Pope Francis into Your hands, trusting in Your eternal care. May he be comforted by the love of the Church and the prayers of all the faithful. We ask, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that his recovery be swift, and his spirit be strengthened in Your peace. May Your will be done in his life, O Lord, and may Your healing power be with him always.

We offer this prayer in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

As mentioned in our last newsletter, we have welcomed Fr Jessie into our Parish and school. Fr Jessie led us in a beginning of the year Mass in Week 2 and will work with classes on a weekly schedule across the year. Fr Jessie will go into a particular class to get to know the students and teach them about our faith and the church. The following week, that class will then attend Mass celebrated by Fr Jessie. We are also inviting all families to a Mass on Saturday 22/3 at St Brigid's Church, commencing at 6 PM. Next Tuesday, we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Please see COMPASS for more information.

In P-2, our students particpate in daily InitiaLit lessons. InitiaLit is an evidence-based literacy program that aims to provide students with essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. 

Why InitiaLit Works:

The program incorporates key elements that have been proven to be highly effective in early literacy development:

1. Phonics-based Approach: Students are explicitly taught the relationship between letters and sounds.

2. Systematic Instruction: InitiaLit follows a carefully structured sequence of lessons that build upon each other. This approach ensures that students master each concept before moving on to more advanced skills.

3. Engaging Materials: The program includes a range of books and resources that appeal to young learners, motivating them to practice their reading skills in a fun and engaging way.

How Can I Consolidate Learning at Home?

One of the most effective ways to reinforce what your child is learning at school through InitiaLit is by reading together at home. 

• Read Daily: Make reading a daily habit. Set aside time each day to read together, even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes. Consistency is key in building strong reading skills.

• Model Fluent Reading: Read aloud to your child, demonstrating fluent reading and expression. Let them see how you pause for punctuation, emphasise certain words and make the story come alive. 

Last Thursday, our school community came together for a Welcome Back event. Families enjoyed classroom visits, a delicious barbeque and time connecting with one another. Thank you to everyone who made the afternoon so memorable! 

We are excited to announce our partnership with UTAS to offer the Children’s University Program. Children’s University is an innovative program that encourages students to explore learning opportunities beyond the classroom. The program is designed to help students broaden their knowledge, develop new skills and foster a love for lifelong learning. By participating in extracurricular activities including, sporting clubs, workshops and visiting local destinations, students will earn ‘hours’ in their Learning Passport. As students accumulate hours, they work towards earning awards which acknowledge their dedication and achievements. The program culminates in a graduation ceremony, where students are invited to wear an academic gown and cap after they reach various levels of hours.

All students in Grades 1-6 are invited to participate and there is an upfront cost of $15 for your child to take part. This cost includes the special Learning Passport that your child will receive. We are pleased to inform you that this cost has been subsidised by $10, thanks to contributions from the school and other generous donors. If your child is participating, please complete a consent form and return it to the office along with the $15 registration fee. 

We are thrilled to be offering this opportunity to our students. Please contact us if you have any questions about the Children’s University Program.

Rachel Donnelly and Michelle Wells (Children's University Coordinators at SBW)

Dear Parents,

In today's digital age, equipping our children with the knowledge and skills to navigate the online world safely is crucial. Here is a student-friendly guide to digital safety that you can share with your children:

• Set up parental controls on devices and use safe search options.
• Stay informed about the apps and platforms your children are using.
• Regularly check your child's browsing history and have open conversations about their online activities.

Remember, online safety is an ongoing conversation. Keep the lines of communication open with your children and encourage them to come to you with any concerns or questions about their digital experiences.

By working together, we can help our children enjoy the benefits of the digital world while staying safe and secure online.

Madison Hope 

Our Setup for Success sessions are held every Thursday during Term time, from 9-10:30am. Please note that we have students in Kindergarten who are Anaphylactic to dairy, nuts and egg. We are seeking the support and cooperation from our Setup families to teach preventative allergy aware practices, including only eating on our mat space and washing hands before/after eating. 

As part of our Positive Behaviour approach, students may receive a Heart Reward card for demonstrating our school values - Care, Connection, Courage, Curiosity. Every fortnight, Heart Reward cards are drawn out and students are invited to participate in a special activity. 

Congratulations to our Week 3 Heart Reward Students: Lila, Emerson, Morgan, Harriet, Rhett, Matilda, Jaxxon, Maya, Peter, Olive, Anakin and Luca. 

We’re ready for another wonderful year of student participation in sport! We encourage parents to get involved and support our students in any way they can.

Parent volunteers play a vital role in coaching and umpiring our sporting teams. Without your help, our students wouldn’t have these opportunities to participate and grow.

Information regarding netball and basketball teams will be sent out soon, so stay tuned!

Thank you for your ongoing support – we look forward to another fantastic year of sport!

If you’re interested in volunteering, please ensure you have a current Working With Vulnerable People card. Fill out this form along with a copy of your card and return to the office.

Please see below information about uniform requirements. It is an expectation that all students are wearing the correct uniform. 

Please see below the Adult Behaviour Policy. This policy applies to all adults within the CET community- staff, visitors, contractors, parents, volunteers, family members, etc.