Playground upgrade – I am thrilled to announce that the plans for our Naturescape Project and playground upgrade, outside of the Kindergarten classrooms, has now gone to tender. We are hopeful the project will begin by the end of this term, with most of the excavation and importation of heavy rocks to occur over the Summer holidays. I will have the plans for the project available for viewing next week. I wish to reassure our lovers of the Monkey Bars and Parallel Bars, that they will be relocated to the West Playground Area!

2025 Class Placements - We are currently working on finalising our staffing arrangements and class allocations for the 2025 school year. We endeavour to ensure a fair, transparent process in which the needs of all students are carefully considered when forming class lists, including:

• Gender balance
• Diverse learners
• Work habits
• Cognitive ability
• Behavioural dynamics
• Health needs
• Religious background (particularly in Sacramental years)

Our aim is to achieve an equal distribution of strengths and challenges within each class. As educators, we firmly believe that teachers, who have in-depth knowledge of the students in their classes, are best positioned to make placement decisions. They understand both individual students' needs and the bigger picture across the school. While we strive to accommodate educational concerns raised by parents, it’s important to note that not all requests can be guaranteed.

At St Monica’s, we use the following principles and guidelines when considering the placement of students each year:

• Every care will be taken to ensure that each child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development.
• Parents who have concerns regarding the placement of their children in 2025 should put this in writing and email it to me (lisa.harris@cg.catholic.edu.au) by 5.00pm on Wednesday 20 November. It is important to note that requests from previous years will not be carried over or considered for 2025.
• Parent concerns regarding educational needs of students will be considered during the process. No definite guarantees will be given regarding parent concerns.
• No requests for a specific teacher will be accepted. All teachers at St Monica’s work hard to provide the best possible learning opportunities for their students.
• Where appropriate, advice may be sought from the Classroom Support Teacher and School Counsellor, alongside the current Class Teacher during this process.
• Children will be informed of their class placement for the 2025 school year in December (Week 9) and an opportunity will be provided for them to spend some time with their new class teacher.

Please note that, after careful consultation, I reserve the right to make final professional decisions regarding class placements to ensure the best outcomes for all students. Thank you for your continued support in making this process smooth and successful for your children.

BYOD Information Session

Parents of students who are currently in Years 3-5 are invitied to a Parent Information Session about our school Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program at St Monica's in 2025. The session will run from 6.00-7.00pm in the Library on Monday 11 November. 

We will cover the following:
- Specifications for devices
- What we use them for and the educational benefits
- Management and security
- Policies and procedures
- Responsibilities of School and Students

Please contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you on the 11th.

Ryan Matchett- Digital Technology Teacher