Principal's Message Term 4 Week 1 2024
Dear Parents,
Welcome to our final term for 2024. As this is only a nine-week term plus one day, it is going to be a busy term as we finalise all the end-of-year events.
Please keep Jake Rawlins, one of our CSAs, and his family in your prayers as his Grandmother passed away during the holidays. The family gathered in Brisbane this week to share special family memories.
- Emma Ryan is resigning to head to Brisbane with the family, to be closer to extended family.
- Geoff Howarth, our PE teacher, is moving overseas with his family as his wife take up a three year posting.
- Rebecca Cartwright, after seven great years at MTS, has decided to resign to explore another school and further develop her teaching skills.
- Teri Rodda, one of our wonderful CSAs, has decided to resign to take up a Public Service position. Teri has taken LSL for this term to visit family overseas.
- Kieran Russell has resigned to explore life teaching in the middle school setting from 2025. We will miss his contribution to our community.
- Liana White, who has been on LSL since February has formally resigned to enjoy her family and travel.
- Carly Snowdon, who is returning in 2025 has elected to take another 12 months leave and will be available to do casual relief.
- Janet Williams, who has been on leave for the last two years will not be returning as the family is moving to Cairns for the next two years.
- Maryanne Hawes and her family are moving to the Gold Coast. Maryanne is taking twelve months leave to explore teaching opportunities and enjoy the warmer weather.
- Alice O'Brien will be joining the MTS school staff for 2025 via a transfer systems offered by the CE. Ali who works in our ELC, was keen to experience life in the big school!
This term I will continue to work reduced hours to ensure I return to full health by the end of the year. Craig Hart will continue as Acting Principal when I am not in attendance. I intend to be at school most days, except when required to attend various Principal meetings throughout the term. This will enable me to meet with staff and parents as required and action planning for 2025.
Class Groups 2025 Concerns
Much care and deliberation occurs when forming our class groups. Teachers are highly professional and have the main responsibility for placing their current students in the most appropriate class for next year. For the first two weeks of Term 4, the teachers will be observing friendships to assist with class groupings. Children will be asked to identify five learning friends. Every endeavour is made to link a child with a friend in their class, however, the staff will also consider the best learning placement.
When forming class groups we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Every care will be taken to ensure that your child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development.
Confidential concerns should be brought to my attention in writing, by Friday 25 October, even if you have raised concerns in previous years. Please email directly to carmel.maguire@cg.catholic.edu.au. General concerns should be raised with your child's teacher. As Principal, I will make the final decision on all class placements. Late requests are very difficult to consider, once groups are finalised.
A teacher's grade allocation will not occur until there is certainty regarding staffing, which may not occur until Week 7 of this term.
Art Competition
Congratulations all our students who submitted entries. Entries are on display in the attached document.
Bring Your Own Device Program (BYOD - Chromebook) Year 4 - 6
Attention Year 3 Parents
Following a lengthy conversation with the Year 4 teachers, we will continue our BYOD program from Year 4. We weighed up all the pros and cons and how they are used in class and the access to a device is vital, particularly for publishing work, Essential Assessments, research, and coding strategies. We will also continue to increase our bank of devices, for school use only, across the school as the budget allows. The children will need to be ready with a device by Term 1 Week 5. This gives parents time to access sales in December and January.
Canteen Trial - 5 days a week
Commencing on Monday 21 October our school Canteen will offer their lunchtime service every day. Orders placed via the Flexischool app.
MTS Dance Club
Cassie is running her dance club on Wednesdays, commencing next week.
Register via the link below:
Boorowa - Friday 25 October
Next Friday, close to 150 children are heading to Boorowa for the annual Netball and Touch Carnival. All the best to our teams. Accompanying the teams will be the following staff: Kieran Russell, Craig Hart, Geoff Howarth, Catherine Blackwell, Kathleen McGuire, Jodie Tancheski, Lauren Maher, Michelle Young, and Alice O'Brien. For supervision purposes, we must have a student:teacher ratio of 20:1, not including parents.
Code Camp Term 4
Code Camp will commence on Monday 21 October. Parents are to meet their child in the Kinder courtyard areas, outside the library, at the end of the session.
God Bless,
Carmel Maguire & Craig Hart
Principal & Acting Principal