As I sit down to write this week’s newsletter I have a lot to reflect on and give thanks for. We have really the most amazing country, opportunities and people. Over the last two weeks I was lucky enough to enjoy some Long Service Leave in sunny Queensland. I was able to see Far Northern QLD at its very best, in between their extreme weather events, and had a very restful and wonderful time. I was very grateful to be given the chance to have this quality time and I was very confident that I had left the school in capable hands. I thank Mr Mooney and the rest of the Leadership team and staff for an exceptionally good job whilst I was away. It is good to be back, even though it is cold and wet. There is much to look forward in the remaining weeks of Semester 1.

One of our goals this year is to address the issue of attendance. It is obvious that students cannot learn effectively unless they are at school. They have a better chance of developing the skills and understanding that they will require if they are present in the classroom to utilise the expertise of the teacher and the classroom dynamics. We will be making contact with parents to discuss any continual absences (that are not related to COVID) that are impacting on their child’s learning and progress. We have some students who are regularly away to avoid certain subjects and certain events. If there are significant issues that prevent a student coming to school then we need to have informed conversations about what we as a school can do or need to be aware of in regard to the student. It is a legal responsibility to attend school for the majority of the year. Curriculum is designed to be sequential and consistent, and should take the bulk of the year to complete the required content and skills. If students miss too many days it is very difficult to master the content necessary to develop lifelong skills. Without regular attendance, levels of attainment suffer and opportunities are missed to obtain maximum benefit from education. So too, it is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that the child is encouraged to go to school every day and is on time and prepared for class. Again, if this is an issue please contact the school so that we can support you in making this happen. Lateness also compounds lots of different issues as well around consistency and a thorough understanding.

However, on the most obvious flip side, we also encourage you to keep students home who are sick, especially if they are showing COVID-like symptoms. Influenza A is rampant in many larger centres and there are already some cases apparently in town. We hope to remain relatively COVID-free over the troublesome winter months but we need students and families to abide by the COVID protocols and test close contacts each day and provide them with a mask if appropriate. There are some nasty viruses going around at the moment, that despite not being COVID, still require some convalescence before returning to school.  

Next week we hope to hold our annual Athletics Carnival if the weather is kind to us. Traditionally our carnivals are a wonderful day of community building and celebration. If you could assist in anyway by helping on an event please make contact with the front office. If you are unable to help we hope that you might drop into Albert Park to join us throughout the day. Surely it is O’Shaughnessy’s year!

Monday is hopefully the last day of NAPLAN 2022. It is always a logistical feat to manage all of the tests and all of the technology and all of the extra stresses for our students. Thank you to the staff for their smooth running of the testing program and especially to Mr Mooney and Mr Winsor for the preparatory organisation. Monday will be the final numeracy tests and any of the catch up tests that need to happen.

Next Tuesday night at 6pm we will be holding the P & F AGM where we will elect office bearers for the next 12 months. We will also be farewelling one of our longest serving members – Mrs Jody Miller who has been on the P&F for over 16 years – most of the time she has served as the Treasurer. We are very grateful for any parent who supports the P&F but Jody has given a continuous 16 years of dedicated service and we are appreciative and thankful for all that she has given to our school. The P&F is a lovely collection of dedicated and committed parents who want the very best for our school and work tirelessly to make sure our students have resources, facilities and opportunities to enrich their educational experience.

We continue to keep families who are struggling with illness in our prayers and hope that God continues to hold them in the palm of his hand.

“Be kind. Be fair. Be honest. Be true. And all of these things will come back to you. Remember what goes around, comes around.” Kindness is never wasted.

God bless

Ms Nicky Trinder