Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of St Catherine’s,
What a start to 2022! Whilst not the start we were hoping for, I am extremely grateful to our staff, parents and students for the flexibility and resilience demonstrated to get the school year underway. I know that many of our families faced a variety of changes and challenges caused by Covid during the Christmas holiday break. I hope amidst this, that you found time to relax and recharge with your loved ones and that you are ready for an exciting year ahead.
This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of St Catherine's School and in this milestone year we welcome twenty-two new students to the St Catherine's community. Willow, Alexander, Isla, Maeve, Tess, Thomas, Henry, Isabelle, Ziggy, Mia, Lalia, Georgia, Harry, Vivienne, Sienna, Hugo, Maddison, Lila, Finn and Banjo join us in Reception, Raphaelle joins us in Year 1 and Matisse joins us in Year 3. We hope that they have enjoyed their start and we look forward to getting to know them and their families throughout the year.
We also welcome Mrs Genevieve Jong to our teaching staff. Mrs Jong has most recently been teaching at St Joseph's School, Murray Bridge and last year achieved certification as a Highly Accomplished teacher. Mrs Jong is teaching Year 1/2 in our Early Years neighbourhood and is enjoying getting to know the students. Welcome back also to Mrs Lauren Fox who is teaching Year 3/4 with Miss Katie Kasperski and Mrs Andrea Williams who is teaching Reception with Mrs Gaby O'Dwyer.
Remote/ Online learning
The first couple of weeks in the school year is usually the time that teachers work alongside their students to get all the relevant ICT devices set up and students familiarised with the various applications that will be used throughout the year. This is an important time, particularly as students enter Year 3, as they have access to a MacBook for the first time. The hybrid start to this year has presented it challenges in this respect and so I thank our teaching staff for the incredible job they have done in supporting students and their parents to get set up remotely. For the first time, teachers engaged students in Teams meetings on a daily basis, enabling face to face discussions and teaching to happen. I understand that there were a few challenges across the first day or so, but by all accounts, all students are becoming familiar with and able to access all the appropriate applications for their learning. We are in a good position should we need to return to remote learning at any point in the future.
2022 Leaders of Learning
This year we have three Leaders of Learning who will be working closely as a Leadership Team with Krystina Dawe and myself, as well as with our CESA system coaches in Literacy, Numeracy, Wellbeing and Inclusion. The following teachers have taken up these important leadership roles:
Narelle Brine - R-2 Curriculum and Assessment Leader of Learning
Corey Lewis - 3-6 Curriculum and Assessment Leader of Learning
Kerry Cornelius - R-6 Wellbeing and Inclusion Leader of Learning
As always, your child's class teacher is the first point of contact for any questions, queries or concerns about your child's learning and wellbeing. Each teacher will liaise with our Leaders of Learning should they require additional support or information that will support your child.
2022 Learning Theme
As a staff this year we are focusing our professional learning on being a 'Collaborative Culture of Learning'. This theme aligns with the professional learning we are engaged in based on the research of Professor Lyn Sharratt, that will support our efforts in ongoing school improvement. We will begin to integrate this as part of our culture of learning at St Catherine's throughout this year and beyond.
Building works
The front of the school already looks very different to the end of last year. After a very productive January, demolition works are complete and on Monday we will have a concrete slab poured ready for the construction of the new building spaces. Our architects from SwanburyPenglase and builders from Harrold and Kite have been working seamlessly together to ensure the works are on track and progressing as required. This project has been enabled through support from the Commonwealth Government and South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools providing us with a Capital Grant of $700,000.
One Uniform Activewear
After a great deal of time and effort invested by the members of our uniform committee in 2021, it has been wonderful to see a number of students arriving to school in their new 'one uniform activewear' clothes. We are working closely with Hills Schoolwear with regard to the new items and will keep families informed of when new stock is available.
Please remember that students are required to wear their school hat when playing outside this term. Children without hats are required to remain under the verandah by the hall or on the steps below the Treehouse.
School Board
St Catherine's has a School Board consisting of the Parish Priest and Parish representative, School Staff and parents of the school. The School Board lies at the heart of a Christian community where all share in rights, dignities and responsibilities. The Board works towards this vision of community, striving to build a place where all people feel supported and valued. The School Board meets twice each term and members hold their position for two years. In 2022 we have a vacant position on the Board. If you are interested in joining the School Board, please contact Sam Ellul (sellul@stcaths.catholic.edu.au) for a nomination form. Nominations are due by Friday 25th February with elections to be held at the AGM on Tuesday 8th March.
Carpark
A huge thank you to our families for the way you have been navigating the carpark in the morning and afternoon. As our year 3-6 students return to school, this will become a busier space and so it is important to note the following:
We aim to keep the courts free of cars so that students can safely use the courts before school, at recess and lunch. This means that the car park will have limited spaces available for parent parking during our build period. During weeks 1-4, the Kiss and Drop lane should be used for all students arriving and departing school. We will monitor and review this following updated information from SA Health regarding parent access to the school.
The carpark at the front of the school belongs to the Adelaide Hills Council. Please note that the parking spaces in the carpark are a variety of shapes and sizes, with a number of spaces being suitable ONLY for small cars. Please exercise EXTREME caution and patience when using this carpark.
Unfortunately, parking in the streets around the school is also limited and we ask that all drivers are considerate of the neighbouring residents. This will be an exercise in patience for us all over the next five months. Please plan your timings to allow for these changed arrangements.
Drop Off
Drivers should move forward to the second STOP sign where children can exit the car. Up to 3 cars can stop between the two yellow crossing areas. On arrival, students make their way onto the courts and put their bag at their class meeting point and play on the court area until the morning bell sounds. (In the event of wet weather, students will be directed to make their way to their classrooms on arrival).
Pick Up
Students will be walked by their teacher to the green gate at the end of the day where they will wait to be picked up. We have a staff member on duty until 3.30pm each day and so staggering pick up times helps with the traffic flow. Generally by 3.15pm there is little or no queuing taking place.
For the safety of all, please note the following:
- Drivers should not leave their car to get their child out, or put their child in the car. If your child needs help with this, you should park and walk them to the front of the school.
- Only 3 cars at a time should be between the pedestrian crossings.
- NO PARKING on yellow lines.
- Cars should enter the school driveway by making a left turn, rather than turning right across traffic. This may involve driving down to the roundabout at Avenue Rd and coming back up.
- If you are unable to enter the school driveway, the safest option is to continue along the road to the roundabout, head back down Ayers Hill Rd to the Avenue Rd roundabout and approach again.
Parent Teacher Student Learning Conversations
Parent Teacher Student Learning conversations will take place in week 5 this term from Monday 28th February to Friday 4th March. Unfortunately, at this stage the meetings will need to take place via phone. Information about booking a time will be sent to parents via Skoolbag early next week.
COVID Safe Procedures
The ongoing safety and wellbeing of our students and staff continue to be our highest priority and so ask that all families note the following:
- Parents should not be entering the school buildings at this time. This is likely to remain the situation until Monday 28th February.
- Do not send your child to school if they are unwell, no matter how mild the symptoms.
- If your child tests positive to COVID19, please communicate this as a matter of urgency via the school absence email address - info@stcaths.catholic.edu.au or via phone (8238 8238).
- Students who are COVID positive must not attend school, and follow all SA Health advice (isolate at home for 10 days). Any students that are deemed ‘classroom close contacts’ (to a COVID positive case at school), will be notified and provided with advice about any required action. We will continue to work closely with SA Health and CESA to ensure that all necessary health advice is closely followed. While we recognise that COVID safety measures can be disruptive and inconvenient, it remains vital that we take all necessary precautions to minimise the risk of transmission within our community.
75th Anniversary Facts
- When the school began in 1947, it was known as Mt St Catherine.
- The Mt St Catherine Convent was named in honour of Mother Mary Catherine Kavanagh and her outstanding work for the Dominican Congregation. She came to Adelaide from Ireland in 1875, seven years after the Dominican Sisters from Cabra, Dublin, had set up a community in Adelaide.
We look forward to seeing our year 3-6 students back on site next week. Thank you again for your continued support as we navigate this complex start to the school year.
Warm regards,
John Low
Principal
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