Last week, we were delighted to host parents for morning tea following our assembly. During this time, we offered a glimpse into our daily routine by demonstrating a St Clare’s morning circle experience. This came from our staff's professional learning experiences with the Berry Street Education Model. This routine, as highlighted by Roffey (2006), is a nurturing classroom practice that significantly contributes to student engagement, builds wellbeing, and fosters positive classroom communities. The six steps of this routine include: Greeting and Welcome; Values and school rules; Expectations; Announcements (including birthdays and student news); a Positive Primer (like singing or games); and "What went well" sharing.

Our morning circle demonstration involved announcements and introductions. For our positive primer, Miss Carter led a fun game of "scissors, paper, rock," where participants aimed to progress from an egg to a chicken, dinosaur, and ultimately, a superhero. The accompanying photo captured parents engaged in this activity, with many successfully reaching the "superhero" level, while some made it to "dinosaurs," and others remained a "chicken." This interactive session was filled with laughter and provided a valuable opportunity for parents to connect and discuss classroom activities over a cup of tea. We extend our gratitude to all parents who attended, as it was a positive start to the day for everyone.

Additionally, during the Morning Welcome and Assembly, we addressed the potential introduction of a knitted jumper as part of our school uniform. Following feedback from parents at the gate and a brave Year One student who modelled the jumper (earning a spark award), parents overwhelmingly expressed interest in adding it to the uniform. This knitted jumper, featuring our embroidered emblem, will be available in three weeks at a cost of $60. It is important to note that this is an optional item, not compulsory. We appreciate the feedback from all parents involved in this decision-making process.

At the end of next week, parents will receive their child's Semester One Reports via COMPASS. This is an opportunity to celebrate their perseverance, achievements and most importantly, the effort they put into their learning. I wish to acknowledge the dedication of our teachers in preparing the Semester One reports. Their commitment to understanding each student's strengths and areas for growth is commendable and forms the basis of these reports.

Yours in partnership,