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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
Well, we are almost there. This week students get a chance to meet their teachers and classmates for 2022. We do try to get it right but I know with my own children one of them would always come home in tears about missing out on a certain friend. From my own experience once the year gets started they are generally fine.
Staffing News:
At the end of the year we always welcome and say goodbye to some staff.
Angela Pezzano: Angela is taking a year's leave to take up a position at the Royal Children's Hospital in the allied Health Team. Angela is a long serving member of staff and knows the story of St Mary's as well as anyone. We wish her all the best in 2022 and hope to see her back in 2023. Melissa Edmunds will be teaching Italian in her absence.
Teresa Prismall. Teresa is taking a step back from full time teaching, but we will continue to see her as a relief teacher. We thank Teresa for her work as classroom teacher and music teacher, but we do not she is not going very far, so it is not really goodbye.
We welcome back Laura Barker, who returns part time after a few years living in Western Australia. Many families will remember her as an excellent teacher.
We welcome James Howat as a new Teacher at the school in 2022. James had very good referees and we look forward to him joining our community.
We welcome back Rebecca Backman from maternity leave. Rebecca will be our Tutor for the Covid Tutoring Initiiative.
And of course we welcome back Laura Graham our Deputy from maternity leave, who has been here so often, I sometimes forget she is on maternity leave.
Reminder of end of year events
Last day of School Thursday the 16th of December 1:30 pm Finish
Graduation Year 6: Wednesday the 15th of December 5pm to 7pm
Guard of Honour for Year 6 Students. Wednesday the 15th of December at 1:30pm. Students from Year 6 can leave school at this time. The school will do the traditional Guard of Honour, however, we will space the students out more and we anticipate it will continue onto the Basketball court. School for Year 6 Students is optional for Thursday. They have graduated, but they are welcome to attend Thursday.
End of Year Awards: Outdoor morning assembly on Wednesday the 15th of December. Christian Leadership awards and the announcement of 2022 School Captains. We will do this as a morning assembly at 8:50am.
End of Year Mass. This will now be done as a para-liturgy inside the school. This will take place in individual classrooms to avoid the mixing of students indoors. This will be students and staff only.
Staff List for 2022
Prep LR | Charlotte Lipnicki(4 days) Brittany Rickman(1 day) |
Prep S | Danielle Salpigtidis |
1RM | Michelle Riskovski(3) Lucy McCarthy- Hill (2) |
1K | Stephanie King |
2CG | Melissa Cowan(4) Kerri Gunn (1) |
2 M | Danielle Mahoney |
3 E | Michelle Ebinger |
3S | Jenny Sutton |
4D | Jessica Daaboul |
4SB | Stephanie Streets (3) Laura Barker (2) |
5C | Kieran Condon |
5H | James Howat |
6M | Daryl Marmion |
6B | Laura Banks |
Art | Stephanie Streets |
Dance | Gina Coetzee |
PE | Jordan Lovett |
STEM | Brittany Rickman |
Italian | Melissa Edmunds |
Tutoring | Rebecca Backman |
Instructional Coach | Lucy McCarthy-Hill |
Lego Therapy/Sustainability | Melissa Cowan |
Learning Diversity | Hannah Power |
Faith Formation Leader | Charlotte Lipnicki |
Maths Leader | Brittany Rickman |
Deputy Principal 1 | Laura Graham |
Deputy Principal 2 | Michelle Ristovski |
Principal | Anthony Hockey |
Learning Support Staff | Donna Scerri |
Learning Support Staff | Ana Nikolic |
Learning Support Staff | Michelle Dunn |
Learning Support Staff | Cathy Serovski |
Learning Support Staff | Catherine Anicic |
Learning Support Staff | Kylie Neilson |
Learning Support Staff | Liz McNamara |
Learning Support Staff | Isabella Everington |
Learning Support Staff | Mimma Cutroni |
Admin | Gemma Marshall |
Admin | Madeleine Grace |
Bursar | Sherralee O'Reilly |
Psychologist | Ebony Puopolo |
Speech Pathologist | Violetta Bassovitch |
Cleaners | Chamara/ Chathuni |
Handy Man - | Stephen |
IT | Nick Falkenburg |
IT | Tony Jewers |
LIbrary | Helen Tucker |
Library | Deborah Styzinski |
A reminder also for students to make sure they students hand in their phones and phone watches at the office of a morning
God Bless and Stay Safe
Anthony
“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.”
James 5:7
This week we light the candle of love. For God so loved the world, that a Child was given; a Savior in the form of love incarnate. As we light these candles of hope, peace and love, Let us give thanks for God’s enduring love.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Wednesday 8th December
Contrary to what many people seem to think, it is not the conception of Jesus. That feast is on March 25th – the Feast of the Annunciation. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception commemorates the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.
In order to become the mother of Christ she was conceived free from the burden of original sin.
Saints Joachim and Anne prayed for a child for a very long time. Just when they had begun to lose hope, Saint Anne became pregnant with Mary. In order for Mary to become the mother of Christ, her soul never suffered the effects of original sin.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the children who received their First Eucharist last weekend, it was truly a beautiful event for allEnd of Year Liturgy
An event that many of us look forward to at the end of the year is our school Mass. Unfortunately this will be unable to go ahead as a whole school in the church due to restrictions on numbers. Instead, each classroom teacher will run an end of year liturgy in the classrooms with the children on Wednesday 15th December..
Another highlight at the end of the year is the announcement of the recipients of the Christian Leadership awards. This year we will gather together as a whole school community in the playground for this ceremony. Here, recipients of the Christian Leadership awards will be announced by classroom teachers. As this event is taking place outside, you are invited to join us at 9.00am on Wednesday 15th December.
Upcoming Liturgies
At this point in time, we are still unable to gather as a whole school group in the church, we will continue to provide liturgies of important feast dates and occasions over the loudspeaker and in classrooms.
Celebration |
Date |
Year Level |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception liturgy |
Wednesday 8th December |
Year 1 |
3rd Week of Advent |
Friday 10th December |
Prep |
Christian Leadership Awards 9.00am |
Wednesday 15th December |
Whole School Line Up Area |
End of year liturgy |
Wednesday 15th December |
Classroom teachers |
ST MARY’S PARISH CHRISTMAS MASSES
Friday 24th: 9:00pm (Vigil - 8:30pm Carols)
Saturday 25th: 10:30am
Sunday 26th: 10:30am
You should have received your Christmas cards designed by your children and we hope that they bring you a lot of joy in sharing wishes during the festive season. Thank you for all the lovely feedback on this initiative.
We are looking forward to 2022 but to continue to support our children and the school we do need your help. Our lives are busy and with many commitments it can be hard to see how to make time for joining and participating in the P&F but we welcome all support big, small, short term and long term. Our kids love seeing us involved at school, in their world. We will shortly be sharing information on volunteering in 2022, we hope that you will be able to find some time to join us in any capacity.
Prep 2022 Morning Tea
Thank you to those parents that have been able to help with the Prep Morning Tea on 31st January 2022. The Prep Morning Tea is a get together in the School Hall after the children have been farewelled in the classroom. Jacinda Davies will be coordinating, if you are able to help please contact secretary@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
Secondhand Uniforms & Donations
Reminder to parents that Secondhand Uniforms will be on sale in the School Hall on Friday December 10th (please note the error of date in last week’s newsletter) as part of Prep Orientation, 11.30am – 12.30pm, if you wish to make a purchase in person. Alternatively you can order for click-and-collect by emailing uniformspf@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
We are also seeking secondhand uniform donations are greatly appreciated and can be left at the school office. Please ensure items are clean and in a sellable condition.
Maclean Reserve
Roster details for next week are below, if you are unable to make your shift please endeavor to organise someone to take your shift.
Monday 13 December – Thursday 16 December
- Monday – Michelle O’Mahoney
- Tuesday – Maria Butterfield
- Wednesday – Mireille Constantine
- Thursday – Rose Beilby
Jemima Bowen
P&F President (president@smwiliamstown.catholic.edu.au)
St Mary's School is a Child Safe School and as such complies with all aspects and legal obligations that relate to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (VIC)