Dear families,
Winter well and truly arrived in Altona this week. While it appears that COVID-related absences have slowed, there does appear to be an increase in general illness within and amongst the community.
We are doing our best as a school and staff to accommodate staff absences with the least interruption possible, but as you can acknowledge, this is often a very difficult, if not impossible task. I thank each of you for your support and understanding as we navigate these challenges.
We were hoping to have uniform samples ready for viewing this week, but it seems that no industry is immune to illness and we will need to wait a little longer.
We will let you know via Operoo when the pieces have arrived and how you can have your say about our next uniform.
A reminder that our mid year Student/Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Monday 20th June (1.30 - 8pm) and Tuesday (3.45 - 5pm). School will finish at 1pm on Monday 20th June.
Next Wednesday 8th June at 7:30pm, we will host the P&F AGM. We encourage you to come along and see what it’s all about. Please read last week’s P&F Myths busted article to learn more about what we do. We’d love to get more members and our goal is to have at least one parent per class represented.
Parking around the school continues to be a serious issue. Not only are parents/carers parking in driveways, but we have also begun seeing people double park, park in disabled parking spots with no permit and drive the wrong way down Railway Street North. I again implore you to do the right thing for every member of our community and abide by the road laws surrounding our school. The last thing I want to spend my time doing is pulling parents up publicly for doing the wrong thing. I’d much rather spend time catching up with you all and having a great conversation. That said, if our students’ safety is at risk, I will be left with no choice. May I encourage you each to hold yourselves and your friends accountable, keeping our children’s wellbeing foremost in our minds.
This week we celebrated National Reconciliation Week. Students participated in a range of classroom activities that celebrated the rich culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also acknowledge the work we are doing and need to do towards achieving reconciliation.
I leave you this week with a link to the Aboriginal Our Father (sung). While very similar to the Our Father we have come to know, there is a beautifully simple line, “We talk to You”, which is not present in the version we know so well. What a comforting thought to know that He is always listening.
Have a wonderfully restful weekend,
Sonia
FOSTER CARERS NEEDED
If you have thought about foster care, please get in touch and
ask the questions you have always wanted to.
Ring: Key Assets 1800 932 237 or 1800 WE CARE
Email: info@keyassets.com.au
Web: canifoster.com.au or keyassets.org.au
We would also like to thank Mancini Real Estate for their continuous support to St Mary's Altona
I enjoy rollerblading, Japanese fashion, cross-stitching and trying out new places to eat around Melbourne.
I was born in the USA to British parents and spent most of my life growing up in country Qld and country NSW. I knew I wanted to be a teacher from the moment I started school and have been either teaching, working with and studying young children since I was 16, for the last 18 years.
I have a Bachelor of Education specialising in Early Childhood (0-8yrs) as well as a children’s yoga teaching qualification, children’s trauma and mental health, and am also a children’s dance instructor when I have time.
I’ve been teaching in primary schools for 10 years in Brisbane and Melbourne and cannot imagine doing anything else, ever!