Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Every school in our diocese uses a framework that helps us to get better at what we do. This tool is called School Improvement Tool (SIT).  It is a framework which outlines what schools should be doing in order to achieve excellence in a variety of areas. Schools use this framework and data to prioritise goals for each year.  

This year at OLHC, we have three main improvement areas that incorporate learning, faith and community. We look forward to sharing with you our progress via the school newsletter or at P&F meetings throughout the year. To achieve these goals we have committed to the following strategies: -

ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT GOALS 2023 

Goal 1: Teachers will develop their knowledge of writing curriculum content and implement research-based teaching practices so that student writing will improve. 

Teachers regularly meeting in Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) with a focus on student learning to collaboratively assess data, identify the immediate learning needs of all students and develop whole class learning goals

• teachers engage in classroom observations and feedback conversations about improving teaching practice

• teachers engaging in Professional Learning including developing understanding of  assessing and improving student writing

Goal 2: All staff, students and the OLHC parent community will renew their shared commitment to the vision and mission of our school.  

• Staff will have the opportunity to engage with and learn more about where the vision and mission of the school stems from and how we live out this mission on a daily basis
• Students will have the opportunity to develop and deepen in their knowledge and understanding of the OLHC school vision and mission

Goal 3: Teachers will nominate and refer students to the Case Collaboration team to discuss and implement strategies with a knowledgeable other in order to cater for the diverse range of student learning needs.

• Staff will identify students who require additional learning support through a range of data assessments
• Students that require learning support and interventions will have this regularly monitored and reviewed
• Teachers will identify students that continue to require learning support and refer these students to the Case Collaboration team for additional support strategies

The Importance of Staff Professional Learning 

Crucial to the impact that our Annual Improvement Plan has on improving students’ faith, learning and wellbeing is rigorous professional learning for our staff. Professional learning that leads to effective teaching that in turn results in improved student learning outcomes is crucial. We have a highly effective professional learning plan for our teachers including staff meetings after school and before school, Staff Development Days, onsite professional learning (half days and whole days) as well as offsite professional learning days. 

I am very conscious that teachers’ participation in professional learning will require them to be away from face to face teaching. I want to stress that continuity of learning for students will remain regardless of who is teaching them. 

When teachers attend professional learning, they plan the day's work and communicate with the casual teacher regarding the needs of students. With research confirming that teacher quality is the biggest in-school factor responsible for improved student outcomes, professional learning is not a choice.

Staff benefit greatly from attendance at professional learning meetings both at school and facilitated by the Catholic Education Office Wollongong.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS FOR 2023 (PUPIL FREE DAYS) -

• Monday 24th April
• Friday 16th June
• Monday 18th  and Tuesday 19th December

An additional day in Term Three will be shared at a later date.

NATIONAL CONSISTENT COLLECTION DATA (NCCD) 

Please see the attached letter below that provides further information for parents and carers about the National Data Collection for Students with a Disability. This provides information provided to the Australian Government on an annual basis. The NCCD collection provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability. This data collection happens annually each August.

If you have any questions about this collection of data, please do hot hesitate to contact either Mrs Cameron or Mrs Webb.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS AT OLHC

The school has a legal responsibility to keep accurate records of student attendance and all absences must be explained. Absences will be followed up and school staff will make contact when students are absent from school for more than 3 days.

Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained to the school the same way as other forms of absence. Parents are required to attend the school office to sign in students arriving late.

Parents and carers are encouraged not to withdraw their children from school for family holidays. Families should try to arrange holidays during school vacations so that students do not miss out on important learning. If the family holiday is planned during school time, the family needs to inform the Principal and complete an Application for Extended Leave. Proof of travel is also a requirement.
Every minute matters - Parents are asked to please have your child/ren at school by 8:30am so that they can be ready for learning. Being on time sets students up for a successful day.

STAFF NEWS

Please keep Mrs Judy Azzopardi - School Support Officer in your prayers. Mrs Azzopardi’s father, Emmanuel Vella recently passed away. May he rest in eternal peace and enjoy his heavenly reward.

We also continue to keep Mrs Winnie Cameron in our prayers. Winnie has recently returned to her homeland of Scotland to attend the funeral for her brother, James McVittie. May he rest in eternal peace and enjoy his heavenly reward.

Jane Webb