FAQs

Do I get a School Improvement Survey to complete?
Thank you to the parent who asked for a survey to complete. You may have noticed Marcia and myself approaching people all week with envelopes and clip board. It's that time of the year when we ask for feedback from Staff, Students and Families through the SRC INSIGHT School Improvement Surveys. The main aim of the survey is to identify strengths and areas for development of the school. It takes about 15 minutes online or can be done as a hard copy and returned to me by next Wednesday. We will randomly distribute approximately 100 surveys. The results benefit us all by providing valuable feedback about how Stella Maris can be improved. The results also help us plot our improvement based on the feedback from the past two years.

Will there be an evening session for more information about GAFE?
Initially I had planned that we would do a combination of day and night sessions but I always try and minimize evening commitments for the staff. I also know from past experience that numbers are normally very low at evening sessions. Overall, I believe it's a lot of personal time given up for very few to participate. We have a better idea! We will film one of the sessions and post it on our new Google Community giving access to parents. It's a perfect moment to introduce you all as parents to our new approach to sharing learning, all from the comfort of your own home!! We will send instructions home next week so that you can access the footage.

Is there a speed limit in the car park?
Yes all drivers must obey the 5km per hour speed limit for the safety of everyone in our community!

Steve, can you please explain to parents again about what time is best to meet with a teacher to discuss any issues?
Teachers are available from 8:30am to 8:47 am or after 3:15pm as a general rule. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights they need to be in meetings by 3:30pm. 8:50am is not a time to have an update. A number of teachers have asked me to remind parents to set up a meeting time for a chat and not be offended when a teacher CANNOT stand and talk during learning time. It is not that teachers don't want to have the conversation; the issue is that as soon as the music starts at the beginning of the day teachers need to be completing the set up for the day. They have their head in what they will be teaching, organizing prayer, where kids need to be, noticing individuals who are late etc, etc.

Why don't the seniors do kitchen garden?
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program in it's purest implementation happens in the middle community. This means that for the two years in the middle community the children will engage in the full process of propagating, growing, harvesting, cooking and eating our farm produce. This was a decision made to prioritise a quality learning experience for the middle community. Children in other communities participate in modified ways, usually in the propagating, growing and harvesting, but this will be dependent on timetabling. This strategy means that across the course of every child's time at Stella they will have a two-year intensive participation in the program.

Is the school policy, No hat, No play this term?
Yes, during terms one and four the children are expected to wear a hat outside at all times. If a child doesn’t have their hat they will be required to sit out from the recess or activity in the shade outside the foundation learning areas.

Was the term planner/calendar and term overviews sent out this term?
Yes they were all put on the school website but hard copies were not sent home. Normally the term planner/calendar is also attached to the first newsletter of the year. It appears it was not, apologies if this created any confusion. I have attached it to this newsletter but in future please check the website.

I was emailed last week with a question about whether children are using their art smocks.
Thank you for the email. Thank you to those parents who have ensured their children has a smock. Emma (our new art teacher) has been doing painting. She has been prioritizing participation so that everyone can enjoy and learn through the creation of Arts projects. Unfortunately, not all children have been wearing their smock and there has been paint on uniforms. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. First week next term Emma is collecting all smocks and keeping them in tubs in the art room. We will practice, a No smock, no paint! Some children have smocks, and some do not. If your child does not, please organize one over the holidays.

When is the parking area being upgraded?
Actually, with Parents and Friends funds raised recently being so successful the carpark structure and planting is being built up on this Monday, 4th May (and possibly Tuesday). It will prove to be another great achievement in our grounds development. Do not park or pick up in that area on the day. This will create some inconvenience on the day so please park safely and walk children in through the front of the school or the rear gates. I will have an extra teacher on yard duty at the entrance to the carpark overseeing pedestrians walking across the driveway.