During the last two weeks, the students in Year 3 and Year 5 have taken the NAPLAN tests.  Each year, these tests are conducted across the country for all students in those year levels as well as Year 7 and Year 9.  The students have acquitted themselves well across the testing days and should be proud of themselves.  We now have to wait for the results which are normally with us towards the end of Term 2.  When they are made available to us, we will carry out an analysis of the data and combine it with our own ongoing data collection and analysis to ensure that the best teaching and learning decisions are made for the children.

This week, as a school community, we have recognised St Joseph's Day with an opportunity to join together to participate in a picnic and House Games.  As always, this collaboration between younger and older students was well received and resulted in much fun.  

Thank you to those parents who have taken the time to meet with teachers across recent weeks. I would also like to thank the teachers for their time in preparing for the consultations as well as conducting them.  We view these as an important way to build relationships with families so that we can work together to support the children.  Please do let us know if you have any concerns going forward, as these are always best discussed as soon as they occur.

Next week, we will be hosting a parent information session about reading.  This is an important skill and one which does not occur naturally, unlike speaking.  Reading needs to be taught effectively and in a way that reflects the current research.  This information session will explain how we are teaching reading at St Joseph's, how it links to writing development and how parents can support their children at home.  Parents of children in Prep - Year 2 are invited to attend one of the sessions which will be held on Tuesday 25 March and Wednesday 26 March at 8:40am.  Both sessions will cover the same information.

We are now almost two weeks into our trial of swapping Play with eating time at morning tea and lunch.  So far we have seen the students returning to class in a much calmer manner than before, having had the opportunity to settle themselves while they are eating.  I have also received some positive feedback from parents including the fact that children are going home with empty lunchboxes for the first time ever.  We are aware that some children are a little hungry with the new arrangement, but we do encourage them to take a snack with them on to the field as they go to play.  We will continue this trial until the end of term and then review it.  If you have any feedback, we would love to hear it.

With only two weeks left of this term, a reminder that school finishes for the Easter holiday on 4 April and this day is also the annual cross-country carnival.  

We know that we will pack a lot into the next two weeks because that's what we do at St Joseph's!

With God's blessings

Sarah Yates
Assistant Principal Primary & Teaching & Learning