Week 10 Term 4 

Dear Parents,

As we move in to the final weeks we have the Grade 6 team working hard on Graduation activities and final farewell's. The Grade 5 team have been working with their students to assist with preparation's for Student Leadership Roles. Our 2024 Prep students have nearly completed their transition.
It is our intention to keep working up until the last days of the school year and ask that all Christmas headbands and decorations etc are worn for the last week of term only. This allows for students to focus on the learning that will continue to as close to the last day of school as possible.

The last day of school for students will be

Friday 15 December.

The staff will meet for planning on Monday 18 December, First Aid refresher and training courses will be held on Tuesday 19 December with Wednesday 20 December being a Time in Lieu day for all staff.

As I have mentioned previously, it is quite normal for students to feel a little anxious about what the next year will bring. Our children often take their lead from the adults around them, so it is important to reassure your children and talk to them about the positives that come with the next year and the next step of their schooling life.

We will not have a final newsletter in the final week of term but will send out a brief bulletin with reminders for the new year and a Christmas message.

Staffing News
We have a number of new staff members joining and returning to St Catherine’s in 2024 and also some leaving.

We extend a warm welcome to the St Catherine’s Community:
Mrs Samantha Johnstone
Mrs Kristie Coe
Mr Patrick Pawlowski
Miss Stephanie Mendes ( who I believe have just got married and is now Mrs Yates)
Mrs Deearne Mellor
Mrs Rhylee Webber
Mrs. Mihaela Horvat
Ms Milica Dragic
Mr Steve Smit

Miss Chloe Venville- ESO to teaching staff

We will welcome back to St Catherine’s:
Ms Laura Thorne
Mrs. Mandy Collingwood
Mrs. Rachel Long in term 2
Mrs Kirsten Andrews in term 2
Ms Gabby Mifsud in Term 2
We also have a number of part time staff increasing their hours for 2024, and you may see them in a different capacity.

At the end of the year we will also say farewell to:
Ms Kat Dullabh
Mrs Nicola Finch
Mrs Stephanie Jansz
Megumi Ichikawa
Miss Kathleen O’Leary
Mrs Chee Wan Yuen
Mrs Melissa Junkeer
Mrs Sigrun Hurren
Miss Jessica Ornsby
Mrs Samantha Smith
Miss Yu – Chun Wang

We wish to thank them for all their contributions to St Catherine’s and wish them all well with their future endeavours.

We will endeavour to have the classroom teachers for each level out to parents by the end of this week. I am just waiting on a couple of confirmations from new staff.

2024 Leadership Team

Language specialist subject
Due to the resignation of Megumi Ichikawa and the inability to hire another Japanese
teacher, we have decided to introduce AUSLAN as a language for the Grades prep – 3
classes. Japanese will still run and be taught by Marie Takahashi for Grades 4 -6. This is a new and exciting space for our languages program. This language will be run by the Teacher as a Co-Learner program meaning that the teachers run the program learning alongside the students.

Christmas Concert
Last night was our Family Christmas Concert.  We thank you all for joining us and hope you enjoyed the night.  We thank Mrs Claire Culpitt for all her hard work to ensure the night when smoothly. I would also thank all the staff for their assistance in particular Mr Rian Prestwich, Dom Velten and Collette Bond from St Francis Xavier for the use of the stage.

Athletics carnival
The athletics Carnival was held on Friday 24 November, I wish to say a huge Thank you to Justin Kenez for his efforts in making the day very successful. This was a monumental task to organise ensuring buses and tight schedules are adhered to.

2024 Planning 
Most students will get to meet their 2024 teacher on Monday 11 December,
unfortunately not all new staff will be able to join us but they will provide some information about themselves and their classes will be covered by other staff for this session.

I wish all those travelling, very safe travels and all a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Warm Regards
Anna

Congratulations to Abel in 3S7 on his great effort in the Doscel 2023 Christmas card design competition. 

See his wonderful Art work below.