Thursday, 2 November 2017

Principal's News Term 4 - Week 3



Dear Parents and Friends,

A warm welcome back to the final school term for 2017!

 The following weeks will bring great excitement as we prepare for our new learning spaces following the building project.  Our new school will ensure that the teachers have the resources, space and inspiration they need to realize the full potential of every student.

The estimated date for completion of the building project will be January 29th which will allow the St Mary’s staff the necessary time to move in before school commences on Wednesday January 31st. Once all classes are settled we will be inviting all families to be part of a special tour to see the classrooms in action.  As you can imagine all staff members and students are looking forward with great anticipation to working within the new spaces.

During the Spring vacation I had the opportunity to visit a number of progressive schools in Toronto, Canada. These schools have been established to provide an education where young people can be successful as individuals through magnificent teaching and leading where there is a focus on high-quality relationships, pedagogy and belief in children’s competence. These schools are deeply rooted in their communities and foster innovators, nimble problem-solvers and engaged citizens, boosting math comprehension, cultivating creativity and using technology to broaden the parameters of learning. They are exploring why the role of schools is expanding to nurture students’ social-emotional skills and growth mindsets, and how vital this broader definition of education is to children’s long-term health, happiness and success. I could see strong links between the Australian schools and of those in the province of Ontario in the realisation of this vision and how we as parents and teachers work closely together.


It was a delightful experience to participate in Mrs Kate Crisp’s Year 2 class liturgy this morning. The children spoke about the significance of the values of love and compassion in our world today and how as children they respond to each other in the class and in their own families. These opportunities where children can focus on their faith through the scripture stories and relate it to everyday living where they themselves can make a difference is a powerful means of learning. It was very encouraging to see our beautiful children reflecting in this positive way.

Enjoy a relaxing weekend.

Beverly Coffey