WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

2020 has been a year like no other. While it has brought many challenges, there has never been a time when parents and teachers have been more united as partners in supporting the education of our children. We would love to hear your reflections on your family’s experience of home learning.

The short parent/carer survey should take no more than 10 minutes of your time but will provide your teachers and schools with the most authentic observations about your child/ren as learner/s during their period of home learning.  

Your insights about how your child/ren learnt best at home will help shape the “where to next” conversations at their school. We will also be asking students to give us feedback on their home learning experiences and what they have learnt about themselves as learners.

The findings from this survey will help our teachers in designing learning experiences that recognise the power of family involvement and build connection to students’ lives beyond school.

Please follow the simple guide attached to access the survey.

Thank you for all you were able to do to support your child/ren’s learning journey through this challenging time and for your ongoing trust and support of our Catholic schools.

PJ's & GUM BOOTS

A bit of a change in pace -- let's see those outfits that the children might have  stayed in during the lock down -- PJ's and Gumboots or Uggs -- We are trying to raise a bit of money for the St VInnie's Winter Appeal -- a gold coin donation and dress up on Friday. 

SEMESTER REPORTS

A revised and shortened report will be made available to parents for Semester One on Monday, Week 3 next term. We will only be reporting on Literacy, Numeracy and Religious Education. The amount of Assessments we can make on the work done during the lock down is limited and we just wish to connect with parents as to how your children have re-established their learning during that time.

The director of schools explains the background of this decision in the attached letter.

TEEN TALK

This week's scheduled TEEN TALK has been postponed. It will now happen on Thursday of Week 10 - 2 July as our restrictions ease.

OUTSIDE PROFESSIONALS

Because of our restrictions to adult access onto the school site we have not been able to conduct many of the sessions for our children who use Speech & Occupational Therapists, Music or Dance Tutors etc. We should see some easing of these restrictions on PROFESSIONAL VISITORS in the beginning of next term. Hopefully our restrictions on volunteers might ease as well -- but I will keep you posted as to when we can have parents and volunteers back into the school setting.

ST DOMINIC'S CENTRE

Want to find out more about St Dominic’s Centre?

 St Dominic offers two forms of enrolment:

 Kindergarten to Year 10 accepts enrolments for students with a primary disability of Moderate Cognitive Disability or who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Kindergarten to Year 3 for students with primary diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder we offer specific classes.
• Our class ratios are up to 7 students for 1 teacher and 1 LSA.
• We are a systemic Catholic School though we accept students of all denominations who meet our enrolment criteria.
• Each student has a Personalised Plan that is student-centred and focuses on goal-setting across various domains. These goals are then embedded into our program and teaching, both in and out of the classroom. We offer structured opportunities through our multi-disciplinary team for students to focus on social skills.
• Our team consists of specialist teaching staff, specialist learning support assistants, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist and a psychologist who adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to our student’s education.
• Our facilities are purpose built and include specialist teaching areas; spaces for self-regulation; prac room for teaching living skills and flexible learning areas. We have both inside and outside learning areas that are fully utilised for different purposes such as gardening for our Paddock to Plate program.
• Students enrolled at St Dominic’s are eligible for Assisted Travel, which is a government program that provides free travel by car to and from school within a 40km radius.
• For more information please watch the following clip - St Dominic's Centre - a snapshot

 We encourage parents and their children to attend to see our setting, speak with the staff and ask any questions you may have. Please phone 4968 1295 if you would like to attend or email admin@mayfieldsd.catholic.edu.au. We look forward to sharing our very unique and vibrant setting with you.

 Due to COVID-19 Open Days will be taking place early Term 3. Please contact us to register your interest.

 Warm regards

Veronica McLoughlin - Principal.

CHILDREN'S UNIVERSITY

REVITALISING SHORTLAND

The Newcastle City Councl is aking the people of Shortland how they might see their suburban Local Centre revialised. There  is a survey people can take to express their thoughts on how the area can be improved in different ways. Please visit this site to have a say in how things can be improved. Have a think about streetscape, pedestrian and bicycle access and safety, vehicular movement (speed and size), crime and antisocial behaviour etc.

https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Have-Your-Say/Projects/Shortland-Local-Centre-Upgrades