From the Principal 

At St Mary's we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. 

We acknowledge the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boonwurrung – as the Traditional Owners of Port Phillip, the land where St Mary’s is situated, and we pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their Elders, both past, present and future.

Our Year Together 

Mrs Borgese our eLearning Leader has created a video of Our 2021 Year Together. We had hoped to show it at the final assembly, but we will now be outdoors, Thank you Mrs Borgese for your contribution to eLearning this year. Please use the password: smstkildaeast

Dear Parents and Carers,

I can’t believe that this newsletter is our last edition for 2021. What an extraordinary year we have all had, to say the least. Thank you for working with us as we have navigated many new challenges and for your flexibility as we have moved from onsite to Remote Learning, sharing learning spaces to enable the refurbishment of the main building and many many more challenges. In particular thank you for your support as we had to close the school last week, I am still recovering from receiving the DHHS text last Wednesday evening!

Most importantly it has been a delight working in partnership with your beautiful children, who never cease to amaze me with their insights and wisdom. The staff of St Mary’s are simply the best to quote a famous singer and all that we have achieved is due to their grit and perseverance and humour when it has been needed most. You, the families are the heartbeat of our community and I have enjoyed meeting you and really looking forward to all that we will create together in the years to come. 

Thank you to Father Jerome for his constant support, guidance and prayers for us all throughout the year. I would like to acknowledge the work of our Parents & Friends Association, led by Kasia and Rian.  Your enthusiasm for school events is fantastic and we look forward to actually being able to gather next year and have fun!

Finally thank you to our newly formed School Advisory Council: Richard Arthur, Ruth Callery, Mary Craven, Angela Clelland, Claude Lam, Donna Martin (Chair), Ben Merlin, Fr Jerome Santamaria, and Lisa Wheeler. 

I was really looking to our Thanksgiving Mass and seeing everyone getting their ‘Christmas on’ last Thursday, unfortunately this was not to be.   There is nothing like a santa hat or reindeer ears to make you feel festive. If we could ask that candy canes stay at home to protect the teeth of our children, it would be much appreciated.  

Shared Stories 

This year for the first time our students had the opportunity to participate in the Catholic School’s Shared Stories Anthology. The theme for 2021 was Chasing Happiness and students in collaboration with their teachers could create a written and/or artistic piece in response to this theme.  At our final assembly this Wednesday,  those students who had work selected for publication will be presented with a certificate and their own copy of Chasing Happiness, to celebrate their achievement of being a published writer and/or artist. A copy of each edition of  Shared Stories Anthology can be found in the Australian National library in Canberra. A special mention goes to Jemima Lucas,  our St Mary’s Primary School winner. 

Chasing Happiness 

 Written by: Jemima Lucas

Year Three St Mary’s East St Kilda

Happiness is two friends laughing together.

The sounds of joyful cries from children.

It tastes like a fresh slice of apple pie out of the oven.

It smells like freshly picked lavender from a garden.

It looks like the horizon rising up from the glimmering ocean.

It makes me feel a warm feeling.

Congratulations to all our students who had their writing or art work published in the Chasing Happiness Book for 2021. Well Done!

Congratulations to:

Year 1: Violetta Vatmanidis-Dando,  Jett Giles Magee, Mayumi Guzman, Greta Arthur, Marko Manic, Quennel Parisien and Maylissa Ronarongsanee

Year 2: Olivia Trevaks, Scarlett McLean,  Mia Hanic, Estella Christoffe, Davide Spina, Allegra Colonico, Willem Outjers, Anakin De La Garma, Alexander Kavelj, Andrew Liu, Siena Howse and Imogen Walmsley

Year 3: Jemima Lucas, Isabella Navarrete, Lewis Smith and Samuel Gordon, 

Year 4: Wilson Merrigan, Josephine Merlin, Isabella Vatmanidis-Dando, Leo Beardsmore, 

Year 5: Harriet Smith, Will Kaldor Bull, Xavier Navarrete and Cara Di Dio

Year 6: Rocco Paoli, Pascale Chamoun, Gina Tripolitano and Samuel Stephens

Monday 13th December 

Meet and Greet

On Monday the students met their teachers for next year. Please know that a great deal of work went into the class compositions for each year level. The children had the opportunity to select students they are friendly with and work well together with and the academic and social and emotional needs of each student are also part of the process. Working with different students each year is an important part of widening friendship circles and creating adaptive and flexible learners. 

Our senior students had their exciting Big Day Out at Gumbuya World and were at school at 8:20am sharp, ready for what proved to be a fantastic day. 

Our Year 5 - Foundation students also had a special day. 

They watched a G rated movie together in their classrooms and the students wore casual clothes, with a touch of Christmas. 

Reports went home today. As the Principal, it is always a pleasure to read each one and to gain deeper insight into each student, their learning, their achievements and their areas of growth for next year. Each student is to be congratulated for their work this semester, especially considering the complexities and challenges of Remote Learning. 

Tuesday 14th December 

We say farewell to our Year 6 students and wish them all the best for their secondary school journey.

The students will participate in Mass (9:00am sharp), Assembly (outdoors) (12pm), a COVID safe guard of honour, a special lunch in the hall and then a neon disco. We thank our 2021 Year 6 cohort for all that they have brought to our community and look forward to all they will achieve next year and beyond. I have especially enjoyed getting to know each student as we have prepared for and presented assembly each week and whilst on camp in Term 1. I love popping into both Year 6 classes in the mornings and having a chat. 

Wednesday 15th December 

We celebrate the end of term with a final outdoors assembly 12:45-1:30pm. We acknowledge the year that has been and farewell those members of our community who are leaving. Parents are welcome to attend, wearing a mask, socially distancing and showing their vaccination status on entry. This will be held on the main campus playground.

The term finishes at 1:30pm, with Their Care available if needed. 

Thursday 15th December & Friday 16th December

The staff together with helpers will move the stored furniture into our new rooms or into storage. 

Leaving Families

We would like to acknowledge those families who are leaving our St Mary’s family and thank them for all that they have given to our community. We wish them all the best for the future.  Peace and God's blessing to the following families: Caprion, Lloyd Smith, O'Sullivan, Paoli, Roberts, Rotstein, Scharper, Semmens, Tan, Tsirigotis, Zeng, Zheng, Bautista, Giannakopoulos, Guevarra, Handoko, Kelty, Morley, Serritiello, Wheeler,  Moore, Hutchinson, Magee,  Gavino, Lovelock, Parisien, Bates, Bonculescu, Redmond, Tran, and Williams. 

Important dates for Term 1 2022

Please note that students return to school on Monday 31st January next year. If you could please make sure that the correct uniform, including school shoes are worn to start our new year. 

Swimming Trails Year 3 to 6

Swimming trails for the Yr 3 to 6 students are on Tuesday 1st February at Prahran Pool 4:00-5:30pm. Please see the Operoo notice. 

2022 Staffing 

I am very pleased to announce our staff for next year. As we return to our new rooms, we also welcome several new staff members to St Mary’s Primary School. We look forward to working with this dynamic and enthusiastic team as they strive to find the light within each student and each other next year. 

Administration Team:

Erica Nastopoulos - Administration and Finance 

Janelle Adams - Library Assistance on Thursday & Office Administration on Friday 

Leadership Team: 

Deputy Principal: Anthony Speranza

Religious Education Leader - Anthony Speranza & Cathy Ferrari  

Learning & Teaching - Anthony Speranza 

Wellbeing Leader - Anthony Speranza 

Literacy Leader - Anna Heta

Maths Leader - Catherine Le Hunt

Learning Diversity Leader - Catherine Le Hunt 

eLearning & Marketing Leader - Daniela Borgese 

Classroom Teachers: 

Prep - Jacquie Fleming 

Year 1 - Maureen McDonald

Year 2B - Daniela Borgese 

Year 2R - Naomi Raffaele 

Yr 3C - Clare Curtis 

Yr 3M - Kieran McGuinness 

Yr 4M - Aoife McGuinness 

Yr 5M - Angela Mason 

Yr 5S - Ian Scott 

Yr 6P - Paula Incretolli 

Specialists:

Art Teacher - Sandra Renahan

Italian Teacher - Carmela Vozzo 

Physical Education - Chris Kidman (Wednesday): Prep - Yr 2 & Classroom support  

Physical Education Teacher (Thursday) - Simon Addicoat: Yr 3 - Yr 6  

Literacy Support Teacher - Anna Heta 

Maths Support Teacher - Catherine Le Hunt

Learning Support Officers:

Melody Caprio

Melissa Eyers 

Kate Rafferty 

Jeanne Bernard

Sarah D’Mello 

Katherine Reade

Music Specialist: 

Ian McCullock

Speech Therapist:

Fiona O'Donnell 

If you would like to seek advice or require Speech Therapy please contact Catherine Le Hunt, our Learning Diversity Leader catherine.lehunt@smstkildaeast.catholic.edu.au  Fiona has been working at our school for several years and is well versed in NDIS, Enhanced Primary Care packages and other options and will happily explain the process to you depending on your child’s needs 

Fiona is available on Fridays at school to support your child/children and looks forward to working in partnership with the Learning Diversity Leader Catherine Le Hunt and your child’s classroom teacher and yourselves  to best support each child. 

We thank Fiona for her work at St Mary’s Primary School and look forward to working with her next year.

2021 Staff 

Thank you to our Leadership Team this year and for several years previously. To Maureen McDonald Religious Education Leader, Paula Incretolli Literacy Leader and Anna Side Learning Diversity Leader & Maths Leader, we all thank you for your leadership, pedagogical knowledge, professional wisdom, guidance and friendship. 

To those staff moving onto different schools, locations, or professions, we thank you for your years of service to our community; Mary Craven, Anna Side, Chelsea Roche, Katie Bryan, Caroline Egan, Tania Thompson, Lataya Ferligoj and Liz Curtin. 

Building Update 

Whilst it is very exciting to be moving into our new classrooms and administration/reception area next week, we continue to ask for your patience and understanding. The builders have been working seven days a week to hand over the building, amidst many challenges. Due to COVID there has been a shortage of materials and contractors. The team will continue to work on the building the week after we finish and there may be some minor details being completed late January. There are some external updates that will need to be executed next year, alongside landscaping design and gardening. Next year with working bees and sharing our gifts and talents we will continue to work on the grounds to ensure engaging play areas for our students and create dynamic outdoor learning areas. 

Wishing you all a peaceful and prayerful Christmas and a well deserved relaxing January. I feel blessed to be a part of the St Mary’s Primary School Community and thank you for welcoming me and supporting me in my first year.   Cathy