Dear Families

Welcome to summer and welcome to the final stretch of the 2024 school year.

This newsletter is loaded with details for both 2024 and 2025. For the next few final weeks we have newsletters scheduled with updates so please take advantage of the information provided.  Also, please take up the opportunity to be involved in school, parish a community celebrations on offer.  We have our Art Expo and Year 5/6 Tech displays across the next week so drop by and admire the work that has been completed.  In all the busy chaos it may be easy to forget the importance of embracing the joy that the festive seasons offers us all.  Personally, I try to take the attitude of a four year-old into December.  

Most newsletters I write I try to add some information about our rich and beautiful Catholic traditions - trying to re-contextualise ancient wisdom for a modern, busy world.  To help I often use the beautiful thoughts of Jim Quillinan, a local legend, who writes a regular reflection piece for DOSCEL called Along the Track.  In the words of Molly Meldrum (sorry if you don't get that gag), do yourself a favour and read 'Christmas Cards' that I have included in this newsletter.

Yesterday we had our Transition Day for our 2025 Year Foundation  to Year 6 classes. This is an earlier date than usual which will help our children cope easier with the transition to a new teacher and/or space. I have included the staff listing for next year which lists the classroom teachers. We have only a few changes with the classroom teachers, with some new staff arrivals and departures.  Please take advantage of the next few weeks to casually drop by and make yourself known to your child's new teacher.  Yesterday we also conducted our 2025 Student Leader Speeches.  We plan on announcing our 2025 Student Leader Team at the End of Year Mass next week.

At the end of the year we bid farewell to Andrea Elgueta-Tokatlidis.  Arriving we have Kylie Yeates, Sharon Dortmans and Ally De Bono.  We welcome back our returning staff - Mikayla Milbourne. We offer a warm welcome to our new staff and wish our departing crew all the best for their exciting moves. New roles within the school include Brooke Burke taking up a new role in Mental Health in Primary Schools Teacher (MHiPS) and Kate Mitchell in a specialist role utilising the Library.  Sharon Dortman also picks up a new role in the school as our 2025 PE Teacher.  Some other roles within the school are still being finalised.

Finally, wishing all our 2024 Year 6 Graduates and departing families all the best for these final few days at St. Vincent's.  Today the Year 6's are in Melbourne a nice day out, soaking up the excitement that Melbourne offers at Christmas.

Wishing everyone a calm and peace filled final few weeks.

Dave

Congratulations to Ryder Azzopardi on his winning entry in this year's diocesan wide competition.   Thank you to all the students who submitted entries and to the staff that supported the classes to create entries.

Ryder not only went Back-to-Back as our 2023 & 2024 winner, he was also recognised this year with a DOSCEL-wide TOP 10 Award.

Each year our school supports our local Vinnies Conference by collecting items for Christmas Hampers which we handover as part of our End of Year Mass this Wednesday.

We invite school families to collect items such as Christmas themed items and food, as well as regular non-perishable food.

Each classroom will have collection boxes and we encourage families to start bringing in items.  Maybe consider inviting your broader network of family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to also contribute to this very important social justice initiative. 

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

PRINCIPAL: Dave Cooper

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: Rosie Van Den Broek

LEARNER DIVERSITY: Vanessa COULING

LEARNING ADJUSTMENT: Kathy MONACELLA

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Cameron GREENSLADE

MENTAL HEALTH in PRIMARY SCHOOLS: Brooke Burke

ADMIN TEAM

Alison ANSWER

Sonia MARINO

Stephanie VOZZO

JUNIOR TEAM

MIDDLE TEAM

SENIOR TEAM

SPECIALIST TEAM

TERM 1

Tuesday 28th January - Office reopens 11.30am

Wednesday 29th January - Assessment Interview Day 1

Thursday 30th January - Assessment Interview Day 2

Friday 31st January - Staff Development Day

Monday 3rd February - First day for all classes

Get out your Popcorn Machine - The concert video is almost here

Pre-orders are about to be released on CDF-Pay next week for $20.

Limited numbers only, order now so you don't miss out!