Principal's Message
Dear Parents
This is Catholic School’s Week
‘Faith and hope into the future’ is the central theme for Catholic Schools Week in 2021.
The theme this year describes the desire for our Catholic school experience to be one of engaging, of inspiring minds and of creating strong communities that will build a strong future built on faith and hope. To embrace this, Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn are places filled with hope, and joy, where the fullness of life is experienced and where Christ is found at the centre of all that they are and all that they do.
Hope is found at the centre of all that they are and all that they do.
As Pope Francis writes: “for Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that does not lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow. Hope is the door that opens onto the future. Hope is a humble, hidden seed of life that, with time, will develop into a large tree. It is like some invisible yeast that allows the whole dough to grow, that brings flavour to all aspects of life. And it can do so much, because a tiny flicker of light that feeds on hope is enough to shatter the shield of darkness. A single individual is enough for hope to exist and that individual can be you. And then there will be another “you,” and another “you,” and it turns into an “us.” And so, does hope begin when we have an “us?” No. Hope began with one “you.” When there is an “us,” there begins a revolution.
As part of a Catholic community, our schools are called to celebrate the gifts and diversity of all its members, inspire the minds and spirit of all those in our midst and help shape the youth to care for and serve those most in need.
During Catholic Schools Week this year, all people involved in the endeavour of Catholic education are invited to consider how they are being called to shine their light on and lead others to hope in the truth, beauty and goodness of God for a future.
The formal enrolment period for Catholic schools in Canberra has commenced. I encourage families with siblings, due to start Kindergarten in 2022 to lodge their enrolment as soon as possible. Enrolments are to be submitted online and can be accessed via our school website.
Reporting - Semester 1 2021
Our teaching team has begun the process of creating each child’s Semester 1 2021 report.
In Semester 1:
For Kindergarten students:
- Achievement in each subject will be reported using a four-point scale (Well Above Expectations, Above Expectations, Meeting Expectations and Working Towards Expectations).
For Year 1 to Year 6 students:
- Academic grades for each subject using a five-point scale from A-E will be reported using the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards.
For all students:
- Strand Achievement will be reported in English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, and The Arts using a five-point scale (Excellent, High, Sound, Basic, Elementary).
- Engagement with Learning statements, which are taken directly from the Australian Curriculum, will provide specific information about your child’s Critical and Creative Thinking, and Personal and Social Responsibility, using a three-point scale (Beginning, Developing, Consistently).
- Individual student comments will not be used in the Semester 1 Reports.
Dialogue is an important feature of reporting. The Semester Report in this format encourages parent engagement and conversation about student learning. We want the report to be the entry point for parent-teacher interviews so we can engage in a genuine conversation about your child’s strengths, challenges, effort and areas for growth.
You are encouraged to keep in touch with your child’s teacher should you have any concerns as our next formal parent-teacher meetings will occur in Term 3 Week 1.
The new approach to Academic Reporting is a developing process. Further work will be undertaken in the coming months to determine how progress and achievement is best reported based on what we know to be important information about a student’s learning and progress.
For Our Mothers
Loving Lord,
You have created mothers in love and blessed them with children.
As they work tirelessly to support their families may they be showered with your blessings.
Give mothers strength to exercise compassion as they live each day under your care.
May those who are joined in your love, support mothers by their fervour of spirit and devotion to prayer.
We thank you, O Lord, for the gift of Motherhood.
May those blessed with children be granted the gifts of courage, perseverance and good health.
May they face each new day with faith and hope in your abiding love.
May all families find in the strength of your love
The priceless gift of peace and so bear witness to your glory.
As Mary was the model of prayer, of love, and of obedience to the will of God, by your grace make mothers holy and rich with your gifts.
Bind families together in the bonds of peace and safety so that mothers will feel nurtured by love.
May all mothers enjoy good health and spiritual well-being to enable them to care for their families.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen
Wishing our mothers and carers a very special day on Sunday and every day.
Continue to stay safe and healthy and may God's blessing be with everyone.
Carmel Maguire
Principal
