It is time to focus on plans for continuing to provide quality education and a happy and nurturing learning environment for next year.  I am very pleased to announce that our staffing allocation for 2022 will allow us to continue to operate seven class groups. St Mary’s will also maintain the high level of learning support that we currently provide.

As you can see below our student enrolment numbers are not consistent across stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6) and I believe there are still advantages of having staged classes in the older years.

In consideration for our InitiaLit English program from Kinder to Year 2 and the above class sizes the class structure for 2022 will be:

Educationally, the combined classes will be just as effective as stand alone classes as the NSW syllabus is organised in Stages: Years 3 and 4 are Stage Two and Years 5 and 6 are Stage Three.

In organising the Year 3 to 6 class groups the focus will be centred on creating a positive learning environment for all students.  The classes will be of mixed academic ability and attention will also be given to placing students with peers that they work and cooperate best with.  The year levels will be split evenly.  If families have two siblings in the same stage group they will be placed in separate classes, however if parents would like siblings together that can be arranged.

In Years 3 to 6 the school will continue the process implemented last year. This Thursday 25 November, students will be given the opportunity to nominate, through secret ballot, 4 students who they consider would be positive class mates for 2022.  The peers the student nominates can come from their year group or the year group they will be partnered with.  The school will ensure that at least one of these students will be in the same class.  I encourage all parents to discuss this process with their children and to emphasise the importance of identifying class peers who will be a positive influence on their learning.

I invite any parent who has concerns about the placement of their child in a particular class to contact myself by Monday 29 November 2021. All requested will be considered and provisions made where possible. Please ensure all requests are communicate by next Monday, as once classes are published in week 11 it will be extremely unlikely that students will be moved between classes.