Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of All Saints, 

We are pleased to announce that from 2021, school fees at All Saints will be reduced by 15% per child, as part of the Catholic Education SA’s “Making Catholic Education more Affordable” initiative.

This decrease was approved by the School Board last week, as outlined by our Business Manager, Terence Corcoran. We hope this assists families to continue to access our quality Catholic education with an affordable and accessible fee.

With only 9 weeks in Term 4, we are commencing our planning for 2021. We are hopeful of a much brighter year after the uncertainty of 2020. With the NSW boarders opening this week, there is reason for some optimism. 

Early next term the staff will begin to consider classes and class structures across the school. Please ensure the school has been advised of any changes to your child’s enrolment by the commencement of Term 4. No forms will be sent out this year.

In addition, if there is anything you think the teachers need to consider in regards to your child/ren’s class placement as they prepare classes for 2021, please contact your child’s class teacher or communicate this to a member of the Leadership Team ASAP.

Our new Reception children commence their 8 week Transition Programme in Term 4 on Friday 16th October. Each Friday morning of Term 4 the new Reception children will attend All Saints for half the day. This will allow them to become familiar with the school, the staff and the environment.

Earlier this week you would have received a letter from Dr Neil McGoran about arrangements for Term 4. I have been seconded to work within the Catholic Education Office for the term, working with Principals within their schools. I have no doubt the Leadership Team at All Saints, Nick Wright as Acting Principal, Megan Lovering as Acting Deputy Principal, Tamara Smith as APRIM and Vivienne Fleming as Inclusive Education Coordinator, along with other key staff members will continue to care for and plan the learning and organisation needed for the school in Term 4. 

I will continue to be involved in a number of important planning meetings and decisions, as well as end of year occasions as we move forward into the 2021 school year.

Wishing all our families a more relaxed couple of weeks. I did hear at the All Saints Stars Milkshakes session of a number of families who were planning to travel, camp out and experience different areas of South Australia and maybe venture interstate where they are able. Safe travels to you all.

With warm regards,

Liz Keogh
Principal

Wellbeing and Engagement Survey
At the end of Term 1, Year 4, 5 and 6 children took part in the Wellbeing and Engagement Survey which All Saints has participated in since 2017. Young people’s sense of wellbeing is an important part of their development and how they learn at school. The purpose of the collection is to seek children’s views about their wellbeing and their engagement with school. 

Some of the highlights from the survey this year were:

• Children feel they have an important adult at school to support them.
• Most children feel they are rarely bullied – this includes physical, verbal, social and cyber bullying. In particular children have a high sense of wellbeing in relation to physical bullying, which has improved since last year.
• Children have a high perception of themselves as learners and are confident at school.
• Children’s friendship intimacy has improved – the quality of social support from their peers.

One area we will monitor closely is Nutrition – how often children eat breakfast during the week.  Whilst this has decreased since last year, it is still valued, as it is above the state average.

If you would like to discuss the results above, please do not hesitate to contact me.

A reminder that the children will return to school after the holidays in their full Summer uniform, including school hat. If we still have some cold weather in the first 2 weeks of Term 4, they may wear their full Winter uniform. 

It is important to note that children must wear either the complete Summer uniform or the complete Winter uniform.

The wearing of the correct uniform is a requirement of all children attending All Saints and we greatly appreciate your support in this matter.  Please see the School Uniform/Dress Code Policy for further information. 

Advanced notice of a 20% off sale on uniforms at Lowes next week, 8-9 October 2020.  To receive the discount you will need to have a Lowes Zero Card or Lowes Rewards Card.  If you do not already have a loyalty card, you can apply for one online or instore.

If you have a child born in 2015 or 2016 you may be able to enrol now for Term 1 or Term 3, 2021?  Children born between 1/5/16 - 31/10/16 are eligible for Term 3 enrolments.  For further information, please call Leisa Macey 8327 0020 or info@allsaints.catholic.edu.au

Last week our Year 5 children engaged in a reflection day themed ‘Servant Leadership’.

Through the Gospels Jesus teaches us the following about leadership:

Now that I have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
(John 13:12-17).

The children participated in a number of activities aimed at teaching them leadership skills, and a big part of leadership is working together as a team. They were given a number of team challenges and the teams that were the most successful were the ones where everyone communicated and encouraged each other and where everyone contributed and no, one individual dominated; exactly what Jesus teaches us.

The children also enjoyed lunch together in the Wirra, a performance by our choir and listening to student leaders from both our own school and from Cardijn College.

Our hope is with all this inspiration our Year 5s will become great leaders.

What a great term of learning we have experienced. Our favourite learning moments have been watching the short film ‘Make Joy Happen’ and creating a stalk puppet, inspired by the film. We then roleplayed acts of kindness.

Our second favourite part of the term was our excursion to Ayers House and The Botanic Gardens. The students loved learning about how children played in the past and the toys they used. They learnt songs and games from the past and created a peg doll to take home. In The Botanic Gardens students explored and discovered different plant habitats and how water is reused in the gardens. Students also compared and contrasted the different greenhouse structures from the past and present.

School Fees to Reduce in 2021
We are pleased to announce that in 2021 we will be reducing our school fees. 

We are mindful of the financial pressures being faced by many families and our new fee structure will include additional fee relief for families on lower incomes. 

Our 2021 fee for a single student will be $2,538 which is a reduction of $450. The fee for lower income families will now be $1,523. 

All discounts previously available, including sibling discounts, will still apply.  Extracurricular activities including excursions and camps are included in the school fees. Out of school hours sport is not included in the school fees and is completely optional. 

The fee reduction will not impact the quality of education at our school. We will continue our commitment to the care, wellbeing and academic development of our students

We wish to reassure all families that, where required, fee remissions will continue into 2021.

For more information, please contact me via email or telephone 8327 0020. 

At All Saints we believe in recognising positive behaviour.  Regularly Ms Keogh invites learners who have continually gone over and above, to share a drink and a chat together.

The All Saints Virtual Book Week Parade is being held on Friday, 23 October 2020.

All Children and Teachers are encouraged to come dressed on this day as their favourite book character.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 we are unable to have spectators on school grounds during the parade. Photographs will be posted throughout the day via Seesaw and Facebook.