Last Friday the students from Years 3-10 completed the Annual School Improvement survey online and all parents should have received an email link to the survey for them to complete by 14 August. Please take some time to complete the online survey as it helps inform future directions and priorities for our school in terms of resourcing and policies and procedures. As previously noted, the information we receive is very valuable when parents, students and staff provide comments to support their ranking. We would hope that if there were serious issues that parents and students would like addressed that they have spoken with the relevant staff and made us aware of anything that causes concern. I am always very grateful when parents bring any issues that they have to my attention, either through direct contact or through other staff members. Strong communication between school and home is imperative as we work together to provide the best learning experience possible for every child. We never claim to be perfect but we do work hard to ensure that we are providing the best education for the students in our care.

Today students will have received their payment envelopes for the upcoming school photos on 8th September. This year all photos will be taken in WINTER UNIFORM regardless of the weather. There will be an expectation that students will adhere to the correct uniform policy in terms of hair and makeup and all of the elements of the winter uniform including the tie. Payment envelopes and online orders need to be returned/completed by photo day and this includes the payment and orders for family photos.

It is also a timely reminder about general expectations of uniform and school rules. We are very proud of our uniform and regularly get positive comments about the impressive manner with which our students wear the uniform in public. However, we do get students who take a bit of license with the uniform and don’t wear the correct uniform on the correct day or do not wear all of the elements of the winter uniform correctly. All secondary students are made aware of the days when they are permitted to wear the sports uniform and are expected to wear the winter uniform on the other days. If for any reason this is a problem then we ask the parent/guardian to write a note explaining the reason. So too, when wearing the tie we expect that it is worn correctly when it adds to the overall neatness of the uniform. Likewise we have high expectation around the language and manner with which students speak to each other in the playground. We try to encourage positive and affirming language and there is no place for swearing at school on any occasion. Students will be challenged about their language when it is found to be offensive and inappropriate.

Don’t forget to return all tickets in the 600 Club $5000 in the hand. This is the only fundraising venture that the P&F has been able to organise in these COVID times. We hope that our school community supports this by returning the tickets sent home. All tickets must be returned regardless of whether they have been sold or not as a legal requirement. We will draw the raffle in week 1 of Term 4.

As we strive to be COVID-SAFE and keep adults socially distanced, we require parents and all adults collecting students from the Morris St Infants gate to be patient as we strive to manage a smoother, safer and better system for releasing all students into your care. Adults are discouraged from gathering in groups around the gate but it is quite difficult to identify who is collecting children. Please do not stay seated in your car across the road as it is a very busy and dangerous road and we would not like students to navigate crossing the road by themselves. It may take a little longer to release the students but this is in the interest of safety. Please be patient.

Remember if you can be anything…. Be kind!

God Bless

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal