Term 1 2023 - Primary Matters
Welcome Back MacKillop
Quick update on important days for next week:
Monday 30 January – Pupil Free Days/Year 7 PAT testing and IT Connection
Tuesday 31 January Year 7 First Day
Wednesday 1 February Year 1-6 and 8-12 First Day
Thursday 2 February Kindergarten First Day
Primary Matters
Dear Community,
Welcome back to a brand-new school year to existing and new families. This year we commence with 634 students in Primary with our very first 4 streams in kindergarten. Joining us on the teaching staff is Mrs Karen Dacey in 6 Wattle and Mrs Jessica Maleszka in 4 Wattle.
As we begin the school year it is important that everyone is aware of some beginning of school year key dates and reminders.
Assessment Days
By now every parent should have made an online booking for every student to complete the Best Start assessments in kindergarten 30,31January and 1 February and MAI’s for Year 1 – 6, 30 – 31 January. If you have not done this, then you need to do so ASAP.
Starting Dates
Year 1 – 6 first official full day is Wednesday 1st February.
Kindergarten first official full day is Thursday 2nd February.
Some Key Dates
‘Tears n Cheers’ morning tea in the COLA @ 9:20am on 2nd February for the parents of kindergarten.
Welcome Mass Sunday 19th February 5 – 7pm for all new Kindergarten, Year 7 and new students of other grades and their families. The invitation is also open to any families who would like to join us for a beginning of year blessing, where the new students are presented with a gift, and all gathered will enjoy a lovely supper after the mass.
Parent/Teacher/Student Goal Setting Interviews will be held on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 February.
Ash Wednesday 22 February will be the first whole school liturgy where parents are welcome to be in attendance.
Open Afternoon and Kindergarten 2024 Information night will be held on Wednesday 8th March and Under 6 Fun morning Thursday 9th March.
NAPLAN for Year 3 and 5 students will be held much earlier this year between 15 – 22 March.
Athletics Carnival @ Mingara on Thursday 23rd March
Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held over three afternoons 28 – 30 March which mainly involves eligible students from Year 3.
ANZAC Ceremony 3rd April
Easter liturgy Holy Thursday 6th April.
These dates are subject to change so please ensure you have the COMPASS notification APP on your smart devices and consult community calendar found on COMPASS.
Reminders
There should be no reason for students to have mobile phones at school. If you need to communicate with your child, it must be done through the office and not texting and calling during school time. This has become a problem. If a student does need a phone for pre or post school day, then it must remain in his/her bag throughout the day. Any mobile phones seen will be taken and placed in a secure locked box for collection at day’s end.
APPLE Watches must be switched to school mode and under no circumstances are the children to wear air pods or have expensive items of any kind at school as we can never guarantee the security for each item.
Only one pair of earrings and one ring is allowed. We have a no nail polish or artificial nails policy at school. Children are to wear only their natural hair colour so no dyes please.
All hair must be neat, tidy and tied back with hair colour ties or school colour ties. Boys are not allowed to have mullets, under cuts or zip lines such as zig zags in their hair and parents will be asked to correct the hair style if a child comes to school presented in that way.
Children must wear only the uniform for our school which can be found on our website. It is an expectation that children wear white or predominantly white joggers for sport.
One of the differences between MacKillop and other local schools is the need and requirement to abide by school rules which includes such things as uniform, hairstyles, and jewellery. We expect all parents to abide by this when sending their child to school each day.
Term Overviews will be sent home by the class teachers no later than the second Friday of each Term outlining what is being taught and any key dates.
Parent Involvement and Information Sessions
Keep an eye out for information sessions which will happen each term. These will be at the school and via Zoom for those unable to attend. Each term I will hold a Principal Moring Tea and Chat with the first one scheduled for Friday 17 February @ 9am in the library.
This year you will be invited along to information sessions on Collaborative Teaching, Literacy, Numeracy and Social and Emotional Learning.
Parents will be encouraged after Week 6 this term to help in the classroom and only after attending a Safeguarding Information Session hosted by Mrs Kenney.
Afternoon Pick Up
Unfortunately, Mataram Road extensions have not happened in the time frame we had hoped, and we will begin the year with our usual bottle necks. Can you all please consider the following:
- Kiss n Drop for Kindergarten and their siblings who will be collected through the Primary Kiss n Drop will be brought out to this area @ 2:30pm starting 2nd February – Friday 10th All other students will remain in school till normal dismissal time.
- All walkers will now meet at the end of the school day on the Primary basketball court and will walk across the oval onto the Sparks Road footpath down to the lights.
- All children who live close to the school and whose parents feel are responsible are encouraged to walk or ride home.
- Parents waiting for children of an afternoon can do so outside the canteen or outside the school gate but are NEVER allowed to wait outside of classrooms at dismissal time.
- Parents collecting children in Kiss n Drop must display an A4 size sign with your child’s name on it on the passenger side windscreen.
Communication
Some class teachers, particularly the younger grades will make use of Seesaw and all teachers will use COMPASS to convey information to you. If you need to contact your child’s teacher do so via these tools or ring the office for an appointment. Please, no door stop, impromptu meetings when your child’s teacher is trying to organise or dismiss the classroom.
While some of you from time to time have the urge to send off early morning or late evening emails, please don’t expect instant replies and know that all emails will be responded to in a timely matter.
The school has its own social media and website for information and push out notifications happen all the time via COMPASS. Please be aware of these especially for key dates. Each Thursday look out for Principal Matters, which I send out with the emphasis on what is going on and highlighting student achievement.
Looking forward to a great year of learning and growing together as a MacKillop Community.
Yours Sincerely,
Frank Cohen
Primary Principal
