News

It's nice to be back into the swing of things here with the restrictions easing to the point where normal life at school can resume.

We are missing the interactions in the mornings and evenings with parents. 

Over the next few weeks, the staff will be making phone calls, sending emails or Seesaw messages to each family to ensure we can stay connected.  It seems in the short term at least these restrictions on adults on site will continue, so we want to ensure that we keep those connections strong during this time.

Basketball Carnival/Choir Rehearsal

Next week is a hugely busy week with the revised SAPSASA Basketball Carnival being held at Minlaton on Wednesday and the 5/6/7 students travelling to Loreto College on Thursday to practise with other schools who will be sharing the stage with us in Week 10 in Adelaide. At this time of writing, we have been asked 

Details on tickets and travel arrangements for the Week 10 performance on the 23rd of September will be released shortly, as they are currently finalising tickets due to COVID arrangements.

Home Learning Review

Last week in our Home Learning Review we brought together the feedback from teachers, students and parents and tried to synthesise our approach moving forward. It was a lively session as we worked through what it could look like moving forward. We are still putting together the finishing touches on a modified version of our Learning @ Home document. This tries to encompass the myriad of possibilities that may exist over the duration of the year.

Staffing

We are excited to share that Molly Flanagan will be joining our staff family for the next few months as she completes her placement. Molly is studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts specialising in Dance and Movement. We are so excited about the range of skills Molly will be able to offer our students, and how she can link in with both our work in preparing the concert and using dance and movement to help students emotionally regulate at school.

Here is a little bit from Molly about her previous experience:

I grew up near Meningie and the Coorong and then lived on the Fleurieu Peninsula, I have only recently moved to the Yorke Peninsula. My experience caring for and working with children began as the eldest of four and developed through my work as a Dance Teacher and Childcare Worker. I studied Psychological Science at Flinders University, travelled as much as I could and then worked for Centacare as a Youth Support Worker in homelessness and parenting support and for Anglicare as a Dance Worker in parent-infant attachment groups. This has all led to my current studies where I am learning how to best combine my love for dance and art making with my skills in psychology and community work. I have a special interest in emotional literacy and regulation as pathways to strong relationships and wellbeing. I work using dance as a really easy way to let the body and brain find and practice these skills.

Other Staffing News

This term we have also welcomed Jorja Warwick to our school as an ESO. Jorja has joined us on a short-term contract while Deb Walford takes some personal leave from our school. Jorja is currently nearing the end of her teaching degree and has been welcomed by the staff and students here.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to personally congratulate Dane and Amy on their wonderful news that they will be expecting a new addition to their family next year. It's an incredibly special time to share this journey with them both. Amy will take leave from the end of the school year.

This combined with Brittany's departure to St Pius X next year has left an incomplete staffing jigsaw puzzle for 2022. 

After a few moments of stress, I was reminded as we celebrated St Mary Mackillop's Feast Day on Sunday of one of her most beautiful quotes 'Remember, we are but travellers here'. Both Amy and Brittany have made exceptional contributions to our school over the past four years. While Amy will continue to make these upon her return from leave, we have new opportunities for new travellers, old travellers or return travellers to be with us in 2022.

We will be advertising shortly for some school positions so if you have people in your network who you think would be suited to joining our family here, please let them get in touch with me.

God Bless, 

Scott