Dear Parents and Carers,

We are at the end of week 9. I hope you are looking forward to a break over the holiday period. A reminder that school finishes for all students next Thursday, 25^th September. Staff will be offsite on Friday, participating in our annual spirituality retreat. Congratulations to Elliot Reid and his family, who yesterday shaved their heads for Cancer before they head off next week on the Lunchbox Rally. The Reids have raised almost $6000 for cancer research, a much-needed cause. If you would like to donate to their trip, details are included below. 

Remembering Bishop Pat Power

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the recent passing of Bishop Pat Power, a devoted leader who served the church and the wider Archdiocese for more than sixty years. His unwavering commitment, compassion, and vision have left a lasting legacy, not only within the church but throughout the entire community. Bishop Pat’s funeral will be held next week, offering us the opportunity to reflect on his extraordinary contributions and to pay our respects.

Casey Crescent – Parking Reminder

We have received several complaints from local residents regarding congestion and blocked access on Casey Crescent before and after school. The main cause has been parents parking in the ring road between 8:30–9:00 am, and queuing for Pickers before 3:15 pm. To ensure the safety and convenience of all, please avoid parking on the ring road during these peak times. Over the past few days, I have been asking drivers to move along or loop around as needed. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Our New Digital Sign

We are excited to announce that our new digital sign was installed yesterday! This sign is expected to be operational at the start of next term. It will provide timely reminders for parents and serve as an additional platform for communication, complementing Compass, our newsletter, and social media. We look forward to using this new tool to keep our school community informed and engaged.

NAPLAN Results & Analysis

Our recent NAPLAN analysis has been completed, and we will be running follow-up sessions with staff next term to discuss the insights. As with previous years, our students continue to perform at or above national norms. Notably, Year 3 Reading saw 76% of students achieving in the Strong or Exceeding proficiency bands, and an impressive 86% reached these bands in Writing. Year 5 Numeracy results were also strong, with 73% of students performing in the strong band. Our targeted interventions in Literacy and Numeracy continue to have a positive impact, as evidenced by a low proportion of students in the Developing and Needs Additional Support bands.

NAPLAN is just one indicator among many; when combined with other standardised assessments, it gives us a well-rounded understanding of our students’ progress. As we look toward our 2026–2028 strategic plan, increasing data literacy and sharing these insights with parents in meaningful ways will be a focus for our school.

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Principal