Term 4 Week 10
The last newsletter of the year is always a time for reflection and celebration. We know that it has been a challenging year full of twists and turns but throughout we have had a sense of hope and confidence that we could adapt, change and continue to remain connected. I congratulate everyone on your resilience and support of each other as we kept our spirits high and where there for each other.
The end of the year can also brings journeys to a close as we look for new opportunities and adventures. This year we sadly say goodbye to some valued staff member. We say goodbye to Lana Gusak who will be working in Gisborne next year and to Rachel Allan who will be working in Point Cook. Thank you to both of you for readily stepping in as prep teachers half way through this year and accepting all theta challenges thrown at you. We say good bye to Mrs Sharon Lee who will begin a new journey in retirement. Thank you for all you have given to Catholic Education over the past 35 years and especially the work here at St Augustine’s. We say goodbye to Vanessa DalSanto who after fourteen years at St Augustine’s will be moving to a school in Templestowe where she will be closer to home and undertaking a role as a leader in Maths and PE. We say goodbye to Ms Ashleigh Gunn who has been with us as a student, then LSO and then as a PE and classroom teacher. Your association with St Augustine’s has been vast and with a lasting impact on so many. Thank you and good luck to you all.
With ending come new beginnings! We welcome Ms Gemma Peasnell for Yr 5/6, Sarah Curtain to team teach with Jo Crawford in Prep, Jess Taylor and Kristina Costello who we welcome back from maternity leave to work together in Yr 4/4, Bridget Tadic who we welcome back as our PE teacher and Carol Curcic who we welcome to our very skilled team of Learning Support Officers. We also welcome Partick Smith who will be working at St Augustine’s one day a week as our ICON Business Manager. Thank you to all the 2021 staff who have shown great support and passion towards their work and to their children this year. It has been a pleasure to work with these wonderful professionals and I look forward to great things in 2022.
Last Friday our school was abuzz with activity and excitement. Our Prep children were arriving early for their prep breakfast morning while the Yr 3/4 children were getting ready for a day of camp activities. They have missed out on camp for two years so the teachers organised activities around the school including and ice cream truck, hotdogs and an inflatable obstacle course. Both groups of children had a fabulous day with great weather. Thank you to the teachers for organising this for our children.
Next Monday will be the premier of the school production, ‘4 Minutes’. The children will enjoy watching the movie during the day with their school friends and teacher. A link will be sent home Monday afternoon so that families can then watch together in the evening.
A reminder that the term finishes next Wednesday 15th December at 1pm. We will be meeting outside to farewell our Yr 6 children at 12.30pm. You may wish to be present for this in Linear park. Yr 6 parents will be allowed onsite but are asked to stand behind the students in a designated areas We will also announce the school captains and vice captains for 2022 at this assembly. Children can wear casual clothes on this day with a gold coin donation for St Vincents Christmas appeal.
We also farewell our leaving families, particularly our Yr 6 families where this is the last child at St Augustine’s. We thank you all for your support and wish you all God’s blessing as you leave our St Augustine’s community. Farewell to these families: Amorim Borg, Bonavia, Bridges, Callahan, Cipriano, Delija, Healey, Kelly, Pixton, Playfair, Rodier, Spehar, Srour, Vukovic, Wijeratne, Rogic, Cappello and Stavrou-Mitris.
Our Prep children have been practicing the end of year Christmas liturgy. This will be filmed for all families to watch. A link will be sent home son.
I take this opportunity to thank the 2021 Education Board for their ongoing support this year. While most of our meetings have been online we have still achieved many things including the renewal of policies, review of school finances, discussion and representation in meetings for the proposed new runway at Tullamarine Airport, a review of the new MACS policy for the School Advisory Council, and a discussion on school data. Your support has been greatly appreciated. It has been a difficult but rewarding year. Knowing I have the support of the Education Board in the many decisions needed to be made has given me ongoing energy and conviction. We say goodbye and thank you for your two year tenure to Michelle Ivkovic, Chris Zammit, Rob Patterson and Rachel Egan. The members of the 2022 School Advisory Council (Formerly known as the Education Board) are: Maria Fraietta, Trevor Goodison, Nicole Carland, Andrew Collins, Melissa De Nardis, David Toy, Lauren Kitchener, Trish Walsh, Fr Peter and myself. Andrew Collins will remain in the role as Advisory Council Chair. I look forward to working with you all next year.
The children will be finding out their teacher and classmates on Friday morning. Class lists for 2022 have been diligently and robustly worked on over the past months with every child looked at and considered.This is a careful and rigorous process. Please trust that the staff has spent many hours ensuring we place students in classes after having factored in many, many elements. Things such as gender balance, academic balance, balance in types of learners, friendships etc. are all taken into account when working on these lists. Your child may not have the teacher you or they hoped for or all the friends they have been working with this year . However, let me reassure you that all staff at St Augustine’s are excellent practitioners who always have the child at the heart of what they do regardless of styles of teaching. This time of year and through the process of generating classes for the following year, is a great opportunity to have conversations with your children about resilience and accepting things that are beyond their control.
I wish you all a restful and happy Christmas. I hope that you have time to spend with family, friends and loved ones and that the joy of Christmas brings you peace, hope, joy and love (and warmer weather!) Thank you for your support this year.
Cathy
