Issue 01/ 07 February 2014
Middle & Senior School News The start of the College year brings with it endless possibilities. At this time of year, I get excited about many things and one of them, is the anticipation of what lies ahead and the reconnection with students that marks the start of the school year. May our theme for the year; Educating Hearts, Minds and Hands remind us that Christ calls each of us to explore, grow and share our gifts with an open heart, an active mind and helping hands.
the College promptly so that information is accurate in the event of emergency and to ensure students do not miss opportunities for excursions. Regular contact with your child(ren)’s teachers helps to form strong partnerships for learning and supports the young people in our care as they grow, develop and learn. Teacher emails are easily accessible through Parent Lounge and the student diary is also a wonderful communication tool. Please sign the diary weekly. The Carpark Carpark congestion is a challenge for all schools, and we certainly experience congestion for a relatively short period of time each afternoon (3.10pm – 3.25pm). All members of the community are asked to be vigilant, patient and focused on the safety of the students while driving in and around the College grounds. (Stay focused, observe general traffic rules and don’t respond to messages or calls on mobiles.) Students should be collected from outside the Worship Centre and beyond the crossing. I strongly recommend a delayed pickup for our Middle and Senior school students. The afternoon bell goes at 3.10pm and, in general, it takes about 5 minutes for students to travel to the Worship Centre. All secondary students are also welcome to use the library (CRC) for purposeful study after school until 5.00pm daily. Afternoon tutorials and study assistance is available.
Partnerships for Learning It seems fitting at the start of the year to remind parents that my door is always open to you. As a College, we really value the partnership that exists between parents, staff and students. I encourage you to email me at virginiaw@salc. qld.edu.au or to call or stop by the office if you wish to talk about any aspect of your child(ren)’s College experiences. Reading the information sent home in the bulletins and newsletters, as well as visiting the College website regularly are also vital to ensuring you are up to date with events and news from the College. Last week we launched Parent Lounge, and if you are yet to logon, I encourage you to do so. As with all our new initiatives, we are very open to feedback as we continue to work towards improving the educational experiences on offer at St Andrews. I know in the first week we hit a few glitches, and I’d like to thank parents for their support and notifications. A gentle reminder to all families about accessing and submitting the electronic forms and permission notes to
Can I also ask parents to be cautious and considerate, by obeying the traffic rules around the College and in particular on Tallebudgera Creek Rd. We are blessed to be nested into a residential area and our neighbours have expressed concerns about cars parking too close to driveways, and illegal right hand turns and Uturns performed while exiting the grounds. Whilst I appreciate that we are all busy, maintaining a sense of cheerfulness and patience when congestion occurs is best for all involved. Ensuring the safety of our children is our collective responsibility. Parent Information Sessions Thank you to all of the families who attended our Parent Information Sessions this week. If you were unable to attend, the materials covered can be accessed through Parent Lounge.