It has so exciting to welcome a new cohort of students into the school. Interestingly, we have been welcoming new students at all Year Levels across the school this year. In addition, it has been exciting to have children from the Early Learning Centre in and around the school. At School Assembly the ELC children…Continue Reading What a great start to the school year at Holy Family
Announcement and visit by Dr Neil McGoran to Holy Family School
When I read the Director of Catholic Education, Dr Neil McGoran’s announcement that the ELC at Parafield Gardens would be under construction shortly, my Professional Assistant asked me if I was in tears or in a state of exhilaration or both? Kelly was right! The news was slightly surreal after waging a four-year campaign on…Continue Reading Announcement and visit by Dr Neil McGoran to Holy Family School
Scope of my work as Principal in 2017 and beyond..
As Holy Family positions itself to move into the next phase of our development. I have attached a “popplet” view of the extent of my work. Please click on the link eFolder-28mc5ej Three Pillars: Catholic Identity Ecological Conversion Evolving Pedagogy Core Values: Positive Relationships Sharing (Trust) Support Drivers of Pedagogical Change: Negotiating the curriculum with…Continue Reading Scope of my work as Principal in 2017 and beyond..
Getting down to the details of our PLCs
Professional Learning Communities #1 100 Languages This fascinating group is exploring at the outset what the children in their classes understand by the phrase “100 Languages”. What a great start, pedagogically, in going to the children first! As a sidelight discussion, Ms Battifuoco was telling us how in their double class with Mr De Palma…Continue Reading Getting down to the details of our PLCs
Professional Learning Communities at Holy Family 2017
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES 2017 Rationale: Commensurate with our image of ourselves as educators we are excited to undertake professional learning at Holy Family utilising the five drivers of educational change and embracing our image of child as intelligent citizens from birth and possessing 100 languages. These PLCs are one highly effective…Continue Reading Professional Learning Communities at Holy Family 2017
Everything about education is special and adaptive…
This week our Special Education/Adaptive Education teacher, Ms. Quigley is away from school. As Principal I thought it would be an opportunity for me to visit the children usually supported by Miss Quigley in their classrooms and catch up with their learning. Consequently, I have programmed myself in with the children over the next ten…Continue Reading Everything about education is special and adaptive…
Catholic Schools in Northern Adelaide Embracing Positivity
As a Catholic School, Holy Family embraces pastoral care as a key tenet in our philosophy. We believe everything in our school begins and ends with our personal relationships. Our other key values are sharing and support. We try to live out our philosophy to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. Holy…Continue Reading Catholic Schools in Northern Adelaide Embracing Positivity
Be open and creative and good ideas can flow
I was chatting to LibrarianSarah M. in the Library recently about the Mass furniture in the Sanctuary in The Centre. I told her that I noticed she did not push the Altar Table or the Lectern into a corner when school resumes each Monday. She told me that she leaves it in place and the…Continue Reading Be open and creative and good ideas can flow
“Magic” Screens, new ways of presenting and sharing learning
Ten years ago when we were installing the latest form of presentation technology at the time, the so-called “interactive Whiteboards” we were removing the “old” fixed static White Boards. When the staff were lifting off the White Boards from the walls, in some places lo and behold they found their predecessors ..blackboards. As it happened, we…Continue Reading “Magic” Screens, new ways of presenting and sharing learning
Speaking of feeling at home in Church….
Recently there was a meeting of generations in my home Parish when my youngest son acted as Sponsor for my oldest grandson at his Confirmation. It was lovely when our Parish Priest Fr Michael welcomed the whole family casually but warmly as we assembled in a pew near the front of the Church. “G’Day boys”…Continue Reading Speaking of feeling at home in Church….