Sacramental Preparation 2025

As some of you are aware, our MSC priests for St John the Apostle Parish, Kippax have been asked by the Archbishop to look after the St Thomas Aquinas Parish, Charnwood. Fr Tru is the moderator for both parishes. Fr Chung supports with the Kippax parish and Fr Gerard supports with the Charnwood parish.

Both parishes are discerning how they will work together in the coming years. This includes how we will work together to support the sacramental preparation of students in both schools.

Yesterday the parish and school teams for both parish schools met together to look at the shape of the sacramental preparation program for 2025. The dates and preparation sessions will be shared in the coming weeks.

If you are curious about your child being initiated in the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation please feel free to contact Stephanie Stewart, Religious Education Coordinator (Stephanie.Stewart@cg.catholic.edu.au), who is more than happy to share about what is involved.

Class Allocations 2025

During this term, we will finalise our staffing arrangements for 2025. 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 learning needs are for each child. I also 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 at each year level at St John the Apostle Primary School. 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);
• common names, and
• new students enrolled for the following year.

Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of all characteristics in a class. Where practical, parent requests based on educational concerns will 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 (it is not possible to have all three);
• Parents who wish to raise particular educational concerns regarding the placement of their children in a class should put the concern in writing and email it to me directly (matthew.garton@cg.catholic.edu.au) by Friday of Week 4 of Term 4 (Friday 8 November);
• Parent concerns regarding educational needs of students will be considered during the process. No definite guarantees can be given regarding parent 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 and School Counsellor alongside the current Class Teacher during this process;
• Considering all the factors listed above, the current Class Teachers compile draft class lists from mid Term 4. These are then handed to me to confirm;
• Children will be informed of their class placement for the 2025 school year in December (Week 9) 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. 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.