Term 4, Week 7 Wednesday 30th November 2022

It is getting near the end of the school year and there are many events happening around the school. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Community Event tomorrow.  There is more information about this later in the newsletter.  It has been over 2 years since we have been able to celebrate as a whole school, so we can’t wait to see lots of families.

Staffing Updates
In week 9, all students will meet their teachers for 2023.  We are in the process of finalising classes and staffing.  I’d like to share some more staffing updates.  Teacher allocations will be finalised soon and announced during transitions. Maria Iovino will be returning to her role as Preschool teacher and coordinator in 2023.  Louise Ferris will be taking leave in Term 1 and Jo Cutajar will be taking on Louise’s teaching role during that time.  Ann Lang will be taking long service leave in Term 1 and Term 2, 2023. 

Gretchen Welch has been appointed as a teacher at Concordia College.  Gretchen has held many teaching roles at St Margaret Mary’s School and has been an important part of our School Quality Performance Team focussing on learning improvement, something she has continually demonstrated a great passion for.  We wish her all the best for her new adventure.  Our school community will have the opportunity to say thank you to Gretchen and other staff members leaving at our End of Year Mass Celebration (Friday December 9thn at 9.15am).

Green Grant
We are excited to announce that we have won a grant for $9290 to ‘adopt a verge’ from the Grassroots Grants program offered by the Green Adelaide Board. The Grassroots Grants program supports community-based organisations, volunteer groups and individuals who work at a local level on a not-for-profit basis to help in the management of the region’s landscape and natural assets. Sharyn Gromitsaris (a member of our school board, and Lily’s mum!) submitted the proposal to develop the space on the corner of Tungara Ave and Torrens Rd, the space outside the fence near our playground.  We propose to bring roadside verges back to life with a greenspace initiative (Adopt-a-Verge). It will accomplish more than just improving the environment but also allow opportunities for education and community engagement. We will create a new green space by planting native species to attract butterflies, birds and bees on a site which is currently unused/barren. This gives us an opportunity to increase the greenscape and link green corridors in this area and allow for outdoor leaning/education space for students at St Margaret Mary’s School and the local community. This project will complement our new playspaces!

Reports
On Monday of Week 9, your child will bring home their Semester 2 Report.  These reports summarise the assessment from Semester 2 in the Key Learning Areas.  The reports contain important information on your child’s strengths and challenges and are more than a list of ‘grades’. A ‘satisfactory’ result is what is expected at your child’s year level. I encourage you to carefully read your child’s report and come and speak with your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

2023 initiatives
Please read about the exciting initiatives outlined below that have been previously announced.  We have now employed some great staff to lead these areas.

1. Gifted and Talented program.  Greg Parker will be initiating a program for students for extension and enrichment.  This program will support students in a number of ways.  Firstly, teachers will develop their understanding of classroom-based extension within the existing curriculum and be supported to plan for this learning. Secondly, we are planning to offer some specific extension programs for selected students throughout the year.  As our policy and program is developed, we will offer some parent sessions with more information.
2. STEM focus.  Will Dacombe-Bird will work with our classroom teachers to develop a whole school approach to teaching STEM across the curriculum, as well as to ensure our students have a range of specialist STEM experiences.
3. Extended Reception transition.  Our Transition to Reception program will expand to a full day a week (in addition to Preschool hours) for 10 weeks prior to children starting Reception.  This program will be available for children in our Preschool as well as other children joining us from other kindys, ELCs, preschools or childcare.

2023 Enrolments
We have a few spaces left in our Reception class for 2023.  If you know of anyone who is interested in finding out more about a St Margaret Mary’s Education, please contact anela in the front office.

Thank you
Thank you for your ongoing support during the year.  The last 2 weeks of school are very busy, but a wonderful time to celebrate as a community.  I hope to speak with all of you during our events in the next couple of weeks.

Kelly Campbell
Principal