Dear Parents and Staff
Fortunately, the temperature didn’t fall to the expected minimum of 11° last night with the cloud cover ensuring a very comfortable 14° and above. This meant that it was only the windy conditions and the hard floor that we had to contend with. David Shumack and I felt like we were on an episode of Big Brother when an intruder, Brother Stephen, joined us with his dilapidated cardboard box. It was an uncomfortable night for all of us but, it was only one night and we, and I hope all of the children, were made acutely aware that sleeping arrangements such as these are still very prominent within our community. Thanks to the very generous support of our community, we were able to raise $700 which will be passed on to the local chapter of the St Vincent de Paul Society at an Assembly over the next couple of weeks. I was particularly pleased to hear from some parents that their children had donated their gold coin from their own savings which makes the gesture even more rewarding and certainly reinforces the message.
During Pyjama Day, I visited the Kindy classes to read them a “bedtime” story and in the Pre-Primary to Year Two classes we made up our own story using the Setting, Character, Complication (Problem) and Resolution format. The children in each class were the characters and they provided all of the other information to create some very unusual complications and resolutions. During these sessions I asked the children whose parents read to them regularly and only about half indicated that this happened. I’m not sure how accurate their responses were but I encourage all parents to take the opportunity to read to their children as this modelling is so important in instilling a love of reading that will hold your children in good stead for the future.
Our Leadership Team has recently taken on this challenge to read to the children with Mrs Bradshaw reading Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl to the Year Three classes, Mrs Boyle reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio to the Year Fours, Brother Stephen reading The Grand Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler by Lisa Shanahan to the Year Fives and I am reading Two Wolves by Tristan Bancks to the Year Sixes. The children appear to be really enjoying these sessions and look forward to us coming to the class a couple of times each week.
IS IT WORTH THE RISK?
There appears to have been a significant increase in the number of vehicles dropping and picking up children by stopping in the street. I have written about this practice a number of times in the newsletter and acknowledge that it is not part of our jurisdiction. The safety of the children, however, is and this practice is placing them at significant risk of injury or perhaps even death. I have had reports from parents over the past week or so of very near misses when children have alighted from cars and almost been hit by other cars. I implore you to stop this practice as the potential consequences are unthinkable. Please make use of the drop off and pick up facility near the church. The few seconds you save are definitely not worth risking your children’s safety.
NOTRE DAME CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
