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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
| Principal | Mrs Anna Viney |
| Deputy Principal | Mr Rian Prestwich |
| Learning Adjustment Leaders |
Mrs Rebecca Cox Grades P -2 |
| Curriculum Leaders | Mrs Rebecca Cox and Mrs Victoria Donlan |
| Early Years ( P-2) Curriculum support | Mrs Debbie Carpentier |
| Grade P-2 Level Leader | Mrs Debbie Carpentier |
| Grade 3-4 Level Leader | Mr Gavin Balzary |
| Grade 5-6 Level Leader | Miss Alexandra Bland |
| Specialist | Mrs Vanessa Jennings |
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.
| Thursday 7 December | Prep Orientation session 3 |
| Monday 11 December | 2024 new families yrs 1-6 orientation and meet the teacher |
| Wednesday 13 December | Graduation activities |
| Thursday 14 December | Graduation |
| Friday 15 December | Students Last Day - End of Term 4 |
| Monday 18 December | School Closure Day 2024 Planning |
| Tuesday 19 December | School Closure Day 2024 Planning |
| Wednesday 31 January | First day back for all students |
| Wednesday 31 January | Year 6 Camp Parent Briefing - 4.00pm |
| Monday 5 February - Thursday 8 February | Year 6 Urban Camp |
| Wednesday 7 February | Prep Day off |
| Wednesday 14 February | Prep Day off |
| Wednesday 21 Febraury | Prep Day off |
| Monday 11 March | Labour Day Public Holiday |
| Friday 22 March | School pix photos |
| Thursday 28 March | Last day of Term 1 |
| Tuesday 16 April | Beginning of Term 2 |
| Thursday 25 April | ANZAC day - Public holiday |
| Friday 26 April | Student Free Day |
| Monday 29 April | St Catherine of Siena Feast day |
| Thursday 9 May | Mother's day and special person stall |
| Friday 10 May | Mother's day and special person afternoon |
| May 17-24 | Catholic Education Week - "I am making all things new"- REV 21:5 |
| Monday 10 June | Kings Birthday Public holiday |
| Tuesday 11-12 June | Year 4 PIAR Camp |
| Thursday 27 June | Last day of Term 2 |
| Monday 15 July | Beginning of Term 3 |
| Monday 19 August | School closure Day |
| Thursday 29 August | Father's day and special person stall |
| Friday 30 August | Father's day and special person afternoon |
| Friday 20 September | Last day of term 3 |
| Monday 7 October | Student Free Day |
| Monday 4 November | Student Free Day |
| Tuesday 5 November | Cup day public holiday |
| Monday 16 December | 2025 Grades and new families- meet the teacher for grades |
In Term 4, students will be looking at the Life and Mission of Jesus through different lenses. They will use the scripture from Mark 1: 1-8 where John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus.
Our whole school inquiry question is “Preparing and Waiting”. Students will engage with this question through dialogue and incorporate their experiences, perspectives, cultures and backgrounds. By relating this to their life, and the life within our community and world, they will be able to engage in rich and meaningful discourse.
The month of October is devoted to the Holy Rosary in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We are reminded to pay graditude for the protection she give's the Church in answering our prayers through the Rosary. We also recognise the important work of the lay people and missionaries who dedicate their lives to the calling of Jesus, much like Mary. We are called on the last Sunday of the Liturigical year to honour and recognise Jesus and respond to the world by emulating his total gift of self by serving others. Advent is the first week in the new Catholic Liturgical calendar and the four weeks before Christmas where we celebrate the birth of our infant Saviour, Jesus Christ. Its name comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming." Whilst it is easy to be distracted by the gifts and glamour at the shops, we are reminded to prepare and wait for the second coming of Christ and look inward on ourselves to be the best versions of ourselves.
The school community will integrate the following important days into lessons:
December
- Friday 8 - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Monday 11 - Friday 15 - Christmas
Have a great final term for 2023.
Rian Prestwich
Acting Deputy Principal: Religious Education Leader and School Operations
St Catherine’s Sports Day
On Friday 24 November, we ventured out to Casey Fields athletics carnival for the first time. The stands were a sea of red, blue, green and gold. The students competed in sprints, discus, shot put, long jump and mini hurdles. It was a joy to watch all the students competing to their best abilities and enjoying themselves on the day. The day concluded with our year 6 400m championship race which was a highlight.
The day couldn’t have happened without the support of the entire St Catherine’s staff and parent volunteers. I thank you all for your enthusiasm and assistance. We look forward to heading back to Casey Fields in 2024!
Well done to all the students in Regan Red who won the St Catherine’s sports day for the second year in a row!
Yesterday 8 St Catherine’s students from year 6 and one from year 5 represented the school at the All StAR Girls State Finals for Hooptime. The girls got off to a brilliant start winning their first game and worked together well in all areas. The next few games the girls came up against some tough opposition which made things difficult for them. To the girls’ credit they rebounded for the last game to go down narrowly.
I couldn’t have been more proud of how far the girls have come. Making the State finals means that they finished in the top 20 of 300 schools in Victoria! What a fantastic achievement by the girls! It was great fun coaching them and watching them develop as a team. A big thankyou to all the parents that came and helped with scoring and photos. I’m sure Hoop Time will be a great memory for all the girls involved.
Mr Kenez
To register please follow the following link Quickcliq registration, then once registered you can login to Quickcliq. When registering if your child is in Prep you will need to click foundation. Your UID (student ID) number can be found on the home page of your Simon App. For further information please see the attached flyer. Ordering cut off times will be the day before at 8pm, to receive your child's order the very Our next day, any orders placed after 8pm will automatically be placed with orders placed the following day, this allows for time to purchase any extra items needed on the day. For those children with dietary requirements there will be a folder placed in the school office outlining ingredients of certain items. Please see the attached Menu, which will also be available when ordering through Quickcliq.
