Dear Parents and Carers,

Introducing the Catholic Education Catalyst Professional Learning Program for Teachers:

At St Patrick’s Primary School we are committed to Catalyst and as part of the Catholic Education Canberra & Goulburn Archdiocese we have adopted two bold goals:

1. Every student is a competent reader.
2. High Impact Teaching Practice is visible in every classroom.

To reach these goals, in 2021 we will be investing in our teachers to enhance our teaching and curriculum.  This will entail our teachers taking part in a world class professional learning program called Catalyst that is informed by the latest research into how best children learn.

The program will support our dedicated teachers to transform student lives through learning by providing

• Professional learning in exemplary High Impact Teaching Practice, and how to apply it in the classroom.
• Best practice literacy instruction.
• Professional learning aligned to the curriculum.
• Online library of evidence-based learning resources aligned to the curriculum.
• Enhanced knowledge of formative assessment, use of data and intervention through professional learning.

Our teachers will undertake a series of online units over 2021 and beyond, and will continue with in-classroom coaching and mentoring. 

If you have any questions about how Catalyst will be implemented at our school, please get in touch with us as the new year commences and we will share with you the scope of the program.

For more information on Catalyst including resources relating to the foundational research that underpins the program, visit catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au.

Student Leadership:

This week one of my greatest joys has been listening to and speaking with our aspiring school captains and sport captains. We are so proud of the Year 5 students who prepared and presented their speeches to the Year 3-6 student body, and / or the Sport House groups, and more importantly we want our students to be proud of themselves.

Each of the students showed great courage to present with confidence their ideas about student leadership in our school for 2021. Mrs Ferris interviewed all of the nominees with me and it was great to hear the recount of their school journey and contributions to date as well as their hopes and dreams for their Year 6 year. At the end of each interview I asked each student to consider what they would do and say if they were successful, and also what they would do and say if they were unsuccessful. Every student acknowledged the happiness they would experience if successful, and every student had a thoughtful response regarding being unsuccessful noting that their Year 6 year would be a year of leadership with or without a captain badge.

We look forward to announcing the leaders at next week’s final school assembly. We will video the announcement and make it available to all families.

Behaviour and Engagement:

We are happy to see a steady increase by the day toward our hope of 100% of students demonstrating the expected St Pat’s Kids behaviours all day, every day. We are working diligently to focus on the high impact strategies that Ian presented to us, and we are using his ‘script’ (see at end of newsletter) when directing students to our expectations. This change in language has had a reasonably swift result. You may be interested to use the script at home when giving instructions to your children. The 95%, who embrace the expected attributes of students at our school, have readily and easily adjusted and responded, I thank them for continuing to model and support their peers to be successful. Our morning assemblies are giving voice to the wonderful St Pat’s kids attributes that are being displayed every day.  

From Ian

Hello all.

Mr Scott Pegum asked if I would introduce myself to the St Patrick’s community as I will be a familiar face there in 2021. I started up my business, BehaveAbility, about 5 years ago, after I left my Principal’s job of 15 years at Redbank School in Sydney. Redbank is a joint Health and Education Department facility for the treatment of children from preschool-school to year 12 who have significant behavioural or emotional difficulties. I work in schools across Australia. Schools engage me to review their behaviour management procedures and student welfare policies and give practical advice to teachers on how they can best support children in their classes who might be having behavioural or emotional difficulties.

I started my work at St Patrick’s school a couple of weeks ago and will continue next year.

In Term 1 I will run a parent workshop for anyone who is interested in attending. Details will be available early next year. I hope you can make it.

Thank you to the wonderful staff and lovely children who made me feel so welcome. All the best. Ian

We look forward to the last days of term being happy and successful for all.

Blessings,

Jo