Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you are all travelling well as we enter Week 9 of the term and the Winter season. With the new season comes some new staff members. We welcome Beth Southall to the role of  LSO for further support in Prep and Year 3. In Week 10, we welcome Jade Collier who is replacing our beautiful Miss Bryony who is heading off on maternity leave for her first baby. Miss Bryony is in her second year with us and has been a magnificent staff member who we all adore. The children will miss her greatly. We wish Miss Bryony all the best and look forward to hearing her baby news in a few weeks time.

Congratulations also to the Year 3 students this week who will be receiving their first sacrament since baptism, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We wish them well and thank Fr Darien yet again, for being our wonderful Parish Priest and engaging so well with the staff and students during this time. Across the school our students have been learning about saying sorry and forgiveness. Teaching primary school-aged children the importance of saying sorry and forgiving aligns with Catholic values by promoting accountability, empathy, and reconciliation. It instills in them the virtues of humility and compassion, fostering a sense of responsibility for their actions and a willingness to seek forgiveness. By emphasising these values, we help children develop into morally and spiritually grounded individuals who contribute positively to their community and embody the teachings of our faith. Our Restorative Practices approach to behaviour management also supports these values and has the underlying principle of building positive relationships. You can read more about  Restorative Practices at Our lady Star of the Sea  in our Student Wellbeing Handbook

Reports and 3 Way Conversations: Teachers are completing written reports to parents, which provides an opportunity to acknowledge your child’s achievements for Semester One and proposed future learnings for Semester One.

The teachers’ written comments outline achievements that students have demonstrated with skills and tasks completed during Semester One. Students have been involved in learning, investigating and the presentation of information that supports the development of new understandings. Teachers have also included future learning suggestions for your child in areas where they need support to achieve their best. Teachers make comments on your child’s social development. This aspect of the report will enable you to gain an understanding of how your child relates to others at school and some of the social skills and work habits they are demonstrating. 

Parents and Carers have been offered the opportunity to attend a Student, Parent, Teacher Conversation in person or virtually. Please book a time via Operoo if you have not already done so. 

This is a great chance for your child to share aspects of their learning with you, for you to ask questions, find out how you can support your child’s learning and to establish a closer working relationship with their teacher. Before you attend the Student, Parent, Teacher Conversation talk to your child about their report and look through their reflection via Seesaw or Google Classroom. If you have a question, write it down and have it ready.

Reports will be released via PAM this coming Friday.

Version 2 Mathematics Curriculum: As communicated previously  Mathematics Version 2 Reporting Update

Winner: Congratulations to Amara Gauld. An incredible achievement.

The Sustainability Through Your Own Lens Photography Competition

After Amara was shortlisted she was invited to attend the awards ceremony at the  MCG where she was given the wonderful news that she had come first.

Title: Shine the Light ( see image below)

Description: We need to keep our planet healthy and clean for future generations. The sun comes up and sets every day. We have a responsibility to keep the planet liveable for all the creatures. This photo was taken from the point of view of a creature not a human and shows how the earth is important for everyone.

Camp Rest Days: Our Year 3-6 camps are coming up during Term 3 and you may be aware of the rest day following camp for Year 4-6 and the preparation day the day prior to camp for Year 3. This was introduced last year, in line with the new award for teachers. Teachers accrue Time in Lieu for outside school hours events and, for camps,  we have again endeavoured to ensure this happens with the least disruption to our student's education. These rest days are on the parent calendar for each particular year level. Please note, if you have no way of caring for your child on the rest day or preparation day for Year 3, they are able to attend school and will be supported by another teacher or member of leadership for the day. Please email your class teacher letting them know your child will be attending school on the rest day.

McCluskey Baby Welcome: Congratulations to Miss Miranda, Michael, Ivy, Mason and Noah on the safe arrival of their beautiful daughter and baby sister Emmy Daisy. Please see Miranda's sharing of the joyful news below. 

Best. Day. Ever.

On Friday June 7th at 1.21am we were blessed with the arrival of our darling baby #4

Emmy Daisy McCluskey


7 pounds 4 oz
51 cm long

Wishing you a fortnight ahead filled with spreading kindness, understanding and harmony.

Kerryn