I am writing today from the annual Principal's Retreat where we have been working with Professor Peta Goldburg to reflect on the representation of women in the Bible. It has been fascinating, refreshing and empowering.

It has also been an excellent opportunity to speak with many other Principals and hear about what is happening at their schools. We enjoy sharing the joys, challenges and exciting initiatives and learning from each other.

I am always so appreciative that St John the Apostle Primary School is part of a strong, wider system of Catholic Schools in our Archdiocese with a focused, strategic direction and commitment to students, staff and families. I have also been reminded of the hardship experienced by our families in NSW Catholic Schools as a result of drought. These schools become an important place of hope and support for families. We are very fortunate.

Catholic schools are safe schools 

One Principal shared how a parent had been challenged by a concerned friend about why they would send their child to a Catholic School in light of recent events with the Royal Commission. I wondered whether this happens for our own families. It is understandable that the schools of today and many other Catholic organisations can be tarnished by the actions of those in the Church of our past.

I would like to reassure you that our school, along with all Catholic schools in our Archdiocese, is a safe place for children. The safety and welfare of students is a high priority.

Our staff undertakes training on a regular basis in areas of child protection such as:

• reportable conduct
• mandatory reporting
• privacy and confidentiality
• detecting and responding to trauma
• conducting investigations and identifying signs of harm
• facilitating child-friendly ways for children to express their views, participate in decision making and raise their concerns.

The commitment to child safety in every aspect of school life will continue.

New School Bus Routes Term 2

Please be aware that ACTION have new school bus routes to and from school beginning in Term 2, Monday 29 April. 

I would encourage all parents and students to find out how they can use the new services from Term 2 by:

• Planning their journey to and from school in the improved Transport Canberra journey planner at www.transport.act.gov.au, which includes dedicated school services for the first time; or
• Using the school pack that shows all the different services available for your school at www.transport.act.gov.au/getting-around/new-network/schools/schools-a-z-listing.

You can also find other information about the changes at www.transport.act.gov.au to help parents and students understand how to use the new integrated public transport network, including information about student safety, fares and ticketing and maps.

Playground development

In the first stage of developing our outdoor play and learning spaces we recently undertook a playground safety audit and received quotes for suggested changes to the existing equipment that will make them even more engaging as well as remain compliant with relevant safety standards.

We are also now receiving quotes for re-structuring and marking out our black top area and ovals. It is exciting to begin the process of transforming our outdoor spaces.

Our school is abuzz with growth and change in many areas. It's an exciting time to be a part of our community. Let's keep working together to be the best possible place of learning for our children.

Matthew Garton (Principal)