Dear St John's families,

Earlier this week our school choir performed at the Cheif Minister's reading challenge awards. Once again they were simply beuatiful as they sang the very appropriate song 'Green eggs and ham'. It was a pleasure to join them for the award ceremony. We also won an award for our K-2 year group. Congratulations to our choir and to Ms Macdonald and Ms Alcock for their support of our students.

Boorowa Carnival

Today many of our Year 5 and 6 student headed to the Boorowa Netball and Touch Football Carnival. They left at 6.30am this morning and return later this afternoon. At the time of writing, reports from the event have been that the students have had a wonderful time...and are quite exhausted, along with the staff who took them.

Thank you to Ms Brown, Mrs Love, Mr Seaman, Ms Edwards, Ms Millband and Mr Biilmann for supporting the students today. Thank you to the parents who helped manage teams and thank you to the students and teachers from SFX who provided excellent support for each team. 

Grandparents Day

Today was the the initial Grandparents Day date and a small group of grandparents who had already organised travel plans visited the school today. Our choir performed for them and children had prepared some activities to do with them in class. Next week we'll post photos from both days. 

I'd like to say a big thank you to the grandparents who came today. They were encouraging, supportive, kind and smiled a lot to every child. We're all obviously very lucky to have them.

Class Allocations for 2024

During this term, we will finalise our staffing arrangements for 2024. When it comes to class placements for students we aim to ensure a fair, considered and just process in allocating students to classes for the next school year.

Teachers are in the best position to decide a child’s placement because they know all the children in their classes and have a view of the ‘big picture’ and what the lerning needs are for each child. However, I invite parents to inform me of any educational concerns that you feel need to be considered, for your own child’s well-being or development.

There are only two classes each year at St John the Apostle Primary School. One of the benefits if this is that every child is known across the school community. Every year we mix the classes to help children spend time with different people as well as reconnect with others they haven't shared a class with for some time. We do keep a history of previous considerations for the arrangements. When forming balanced class lists the following factors are taken into consideration:

• gender;
• diverse needs;
• work habits;
• personal plans;
• intervention needs and supports;
• friendships;
• behaviour;
• health considerations;
• religious identity(to assist in achieving a balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years) and
• common names;
• new students enrolled for the following year.

Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of all characteristics in a class. Where practical, parental requests based on educational concerns may be considered. At St John the Apostle, we will use the following principles and guidelines when considering the placement of students each year:

• Every care will be taken to ensure that each child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development;
• Teachers will ask students to name three people they would like to be in the same class as next year and teachers will endeavour to make sure that one of those is met;
• Parents who wish to raise particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in particular classes should put the concern in writing and email it to me directly (matthew.garton@cg.catholic.edu.au) by Friday of Week 5 of Term 4 (Friday 10 November);
• Parent concerns regarding educational needs of students will be considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental concerns. No requests for specific teacher will be accepted. All teachers work hard to provide the best possible learning opportunities for their students;
• Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Inclusion Teacher, School Counsellor and Student Welfare Officer alongside the current class teacher during this process;
• Considering all the factors listed above, the current class teachers compile class lists from mid-term, Term 4. These are then handed to me to confirm;
• Children will be informed of their class placement for the 2024 school year in December (usually the last week of school) and the opportunity will be provided for them to spend some time with their new class teacher;
• Throughout this process, after appropriate consultation, I reserve the right to make final professional decisions regarding the placement of children.

As you can see, these decisions are given very careful consideration and we look to balance the needs of all students. Every school does this. Once class lists are finalised we select the teacher best suited to each group.

Thank you for working together with us to provide the best possible learning opportunities for you child.

Matthew Garton

Principal