Welcome back for the start of the 2019 school year. I hope the children had a great holiday and that you all got to spend quality family time together throughout the Christmas/New Year period.

We are very excited about this year, with some new initiatives added to the curriculum.

Music

Music will be taught to all students as part of the specialist program and I welcome Ms Elizabeth Keitner to St Andrew’s as the music teacher. For a number of years we have offered Creative Arts and will continue to do so but music will enhance the focus on the Arts in the school.

Italian

Italian returns to the school. As I mentioned last year, we are using a different approach to how it will will be taught. We are using an approach based on the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) -  The use of high-frequency vocabulary, introduced with gestures and contextualized in stories, drama, songs and dance, allows students to rapidly achieve levels of oral and written proficiency. Ms Natalie Milanese will co-ordinate this program supported by an Italian Language assistant. Italian will be taught in all classes most days in short lessons. These lessons will usually be held after lunch.

Assemblies

Assembly time is moving from Monday morning to Monday afternoon at 2.30pm. The morning is an optimal learning time and teachers felt that a morning assembly, especially Monday morning, interrupted the opportunity to set the learning up for the week. Our goal for the past few years has been to establish an environment that has the students ‘present, centred and grounded’ for learning each day and assembly was not contributing to this. I acknowledge that this will affect the ability of some parents to attend the assembly but parents are still welcome to join us from 2.30pm. It has been suggested for us to investigate ways to make photos and other highlights from assembly more broadly accessible, which we will do. This will take effect from our first assembly, next Monday 4 February.

There are seven new staff beginning at St Andrew’s this year.

· Ms Beth Henry - Year 2 Teacher and F-2 Learning Leader

· Mr Daniel Cook - Year 4 Teacher and Numeracy Leader

· Ms Lisa Black - Year 3-6 Learning Diversity Leader & Year 1 Teacher

· Ms Amy Casley - F-2 Learning Diversity Leader and Foundation Teacher

· Ms Aimee Boyd - Year 2 Teacher & PE for Years 1 & 2

· Ms Elizabeth Kietner - Music Teacher

· Ms Bianca Corvo - Speech Pathologist

We wish them the very best for their time here at St Andrew’s School.

 

DO NOT PARK on the reserve in Mortimer Street outside the Office area and main gate. This is a ‘NO STANDING’ area and signs are displayed. If you park there, you do so at your own risk and may incur a fine.

For the safety of all - use the designated areas for parking and dropping off your children.

Police and Council patrols happen randomly and parents can and will be caught and fined.

Parking around St Andrew’s School Respect the road rules and parking signs

Parents please observe ALL ‘No Standing’  ‘One Way’ and ‘Bus Zone’ signs in Stawell Street.

The Stawell Street Bus Zone is for BUSES ONLY. Parents can use the 5 minute drop off zone which is located outside the Stawell Street gate right next to the bus zone. If you continue to park in the Bus Zone you do so at your own risk and may incur a fine.

 

Speech Pathologist at St Andrew’s

For 2019, St Andrew’s has engaged the services of a speech pathologist to enhance our Language program & practice, particularly in the junior are of the school. Bianca will be available to teachers to assist with implementing effective strategies for communication, oral language acquisition, etc. She will also advise individual learning programs for students experiencing communication difficulties.

 

3 Way Conversations

On Wednesday 30 January 3 Way Conversations were held for Years 1-6 classes. These conversations are highly valued by the staff as a way to begin the crucial teacher/student/ parent relationship. If you have not had the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher, we are providing the teachers time over the next few Thursday afternoons to catch up. Please engage in these conversations when contacted by your child’s teacher.

 

Parent Involvement

I invite parents who are interested in the social and fundraising elements of parent involvement to attend a meeting on Monday 18 February at 7.30pm. The purpose of the meeting will be to finalise events for the 2019 Year and to organise responsibilities.

 

School Captains

At the End of Year Mass of 2018, we announced the 2019 School Captains.  

I’d like to congratulate these students and look forward to working with them in capturing the student voice in the day to day running of the school. We had many students apply and most would have made worthy captains. We are fortunate to have a Year six class with such a strong level of interest in leadership.

 

Building Project

We were hoping to return to school and see evidence of a building project but there were some minor hiccups over the January period that are almost ironed out. We hope to sign a contract with a builder for the building works to commence in the very near future. It is coming!

As I said at the beginning of this newsletter, we are very excited about the possibilities for this year , and we look forward for your support.

Michael Gavaghan
Principal

 

School Hats are compulsory in Term 1 & Term 4 and are available from the school office and Rushfords

Legionnaires Hats  $10.00   Slouch Hats  $11.00

Hats are to be worn during outside play and activity. ‘No hat, no play’ children can sit in a designated shade area.

 

Stay in  touch with Alerts through the St Andrew’s School ‘Skoolbag App’  simply download the free Skoolbag App from your ITunes or App store : St. Andrew’s Catholic Primary Werribee  SACPSWerribee)

 

Newsletters & School Website     www.sawerribee.catholic.edu.au

St. Andrew’s School has it’s own website and parents can receive the E-News - our electronic copy of the newsletter.

Register by filling in your name and email address, then submit and you will receive your copy.

 

School Fees 2019

FAMILY FEE $1530 per family MAINTENANCE LEVY  $50 STUDENT FEE  $365 per child       

We offer the following payment options: Direct Debit, EFTPOS, Cash/Cheque & Credit Card either over the phone or via tear off slip from statement.

First instalment  Student Levy    $365 due Friday 15 February

Second Instalment  Family Fee   $530 due Friday 15 March

Direct Debit Forms for payment of Student, School and Maintenance - (not Camp) ‘weekly, fortnightly & monthly’ withdrawals are available from the school office. Withdrawals will commence Friday 15 February 2019

 

Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund (CSEF)  $125.00

Parents who currently hold a valid Healthcare Card are eligible to apply for the Camps Sports & Excursion Fund (CSEF).

The CSEF forms are available from the school office. You need to complete the form and show your card to the office staff for verification. Payment will be credited to you account against the Camp Levy, Swimming Levy or relevant expenses.