Here we are in the final week of Term 1 and it’s a great feeling to know that we have not had to shut down and resort back to remote learning from home. We have completed a full term of school whilst managing the rigours of COVID-19 and as a learning community, I couldn’t be happier.

I want to thank all our kids for their efforts this year reconnecting and building on their emotional and social skill sets. The last two years have been very challenging for all our kids. There have been many times when they have had to miss out on different events and things happening at school. The one positive that we can take away from all this, is that it has supported our kids to build resilience and a positive mindset when faced with tough or difficult situations.

The teaching staff of St Ita’s continue to go above and beyond to support our students learning by adapting and targeting their teaching to the specific needs of their students. They have worked really hard to keep things as normal as possible in a landscape where the goal posts are being constantly moved.

And to you the parents, I say a heart-felt thank you. I know through the many conversations we have had over the journey, the challenges, the frustrations and the setbacks you have had to face over the last two years. It has been anything but easy and the way you have stayed positive and supportive of the school is to be commended.

Please take the next two weeks to have a safe, happy and holy Easter break and use this time to reset, relax and spend time quality time with your family and loved ones.

SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE

As we slowly get back to normal I’d like to get the wheels in motion to get our school board and our Parents and Friends back up and running.

The School Advisory Committee operates as the principal consultative and advisory body in the school. The School Advisory Committee is advisory to the principal. This body acts as an adviser on strategic planning, support to the principal, school improvement and development, policy and general leadership, the sole purpose ultimately being to serve and work toward the mission and vision of the school

The purposes of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• act as an advisory body to the principal on matters concerning education in the school
• act as a forum for discussion on matters concerning education in the school
• provide a link between the parish priest, principal, teachers and parishioners in relation to the provision of Catholic education in the parish community
• promote community development by fostering a strong inter-relationship between the parish, the primary school and Catholic secondary colleges.

School Advisory Committee Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• promote the Catholic ethos of the school
• provide feedback on and review of school policies
• plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
• provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
• contribute to the selection process for the school principal
• provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
• promote child safety in the school

Membership

The School Advisory Committee shall be composed of at least eight (8) members who appreciate, value and share the educational mission and ethos of the Catholic Church. It shall consist of:

1. the school principal (acts as chair, unless the Principal nominates a chair)
2. the parish priest/priests (if they wish to be on this committee)
3. four (4) parents of children attending the school elected by the parents of the school, including a nominee of the parent and friend’s association
4. up to three (3) parishioner representatives nominated by the parish priest
5. other persons co-opted by the principal for a period of time to serve a particular need on the School Advisory Committee

Membership Requirement

All members of the School Advisory Committee must hold a current Working with Children Check or current Victorian Institute of Teaching registration and under the Vaccination Mandate Orders have recieved 3 doses of a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Ordinary Meeting

The School Advisory Committee should meet at least five times per year and at least once in every two months.

A quorum comprises a majority plus one of School Advisory Committee members at the time of the meeting and members must be present at all times during a meeting.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the School Advisory Committee shall be held once a year.

A school annual report is to be presented at the AGM and communicated to DOSCEL.

Office Bearers

The chair of the School Advisory Committee is the principal, unless nominated otherwise by the Principal.

School Advisory Committee Executive Committee

The School Advisory Committee shall form an Executive Committee which may comprise:

1. a) Principal
2. b) chair (if this is not the principal)
3. c) deputy chair
4. d) parish priest (if on the committee)
5. e) non-ex-officio member of the Committee

The School Advisory Executive Committee provides support to the principal and the School Advisory Committee.

If you or someone you know would like to nominate to be a part of the St Ita’s school board we would love to hear from you. Please contact me via principal@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au or via admin on 5623 7222.

END OF TERM ASSEMBLY AND EASTER RAFFLE

Thanks to all our students who participated in our plain clothes day Easter Raffle. We have made many hampers through your generosity and we look forward to the big draw at this Friday’s whole school assembly on the top basketball court.

The Assembly will start at 1.45pm. Parents please feel free to come and join us, you will be asked to sign in at the gate and you will need to show staff your current vaccination status (two shots, of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid exemption). BYO deck chair if you please and remember to socially distance whilst onsite.

KINECT2DANCE PERFORMANCE

Kinect2Dance have been choreographing and teaching student’s new dances and songs to share with families at our end of term concert.

The performance will take place this Friday 8th August at 12.30 outside on the top basketball with parents invited to come along to watch, you will be asked to sign in at the gate and you will need to show staff your current vaccination status (two shots, of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid exemption). 

CHURCH CARPARK ON MASS TIMES TUESDAY AND THURSDAYS

Could I please ask all parents and teachers to limit parking in the top tier of the Church Carpark on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Mass is on between 9.30am and 10.30am. Please park on the bottom tier carpark on these days.

NAPLAN ONLINE

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will take place on line this year between Tuesday 11th May and Friday 21st May 2021.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

The assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.

NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum. All government and non-government education authorities have contributed to the development of NAPLAN materials. Students are assessed on the same literacy and numeracy curriculum content, regardless of whether they complete the tests online or on paper. Results for both formats can be reported on the same NAPLAN assessment scale.

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in the annual NAPLAN assessment. Students with disability may qualify for adjustments that reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments. You should discuss the use of any adjustments for your child with your child’s teacher.

A student with a disability that severely limits their capacity to participate in the assessment, or a student who has recently arrived in Australia and has a non-English speaking background, may be granted a formal exemption. Your school principal and your local test administration authority can give you more information on special provisions or the process required to gain a formal exemption.

If a child is absent, schools may arrange for individual students to complete missed tests at another time during the school’s test schedule but not outside of it.

NAPLAN TIMETABLE