Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back or Welcome to 2024!

It has been a wonderful almost two weeks welcoming everyone to COHR in 2024! The first week is always so full of news and story and welcome that the energy from the holiday time just bubbles over to the beginning of the school year. The enthusiasm of all our new students and families, especially those in Prep gives joy to us all.

One special welcome is to our new Lead Principal Mr. Brian Martin. Brian is sharing his time each day between COHR and Sacred Heart Primary, Oakleigh, just for this year, whilst Brendan and family set off on the adventure of a lifetime, travelling around Australia. We wish the Welsford's only joy, happiness and good weather on their journey. They are chasing summer and avoiding winter!

Jo Cowan will still be at COHR 5 days a week, continuing in the roles of Deputy Principal and Religious Education Leader. In the parts of the day when Brian is absent, Jo will assume responsibility for the school.

A Flexischools 'Welcome Letter' was sent out by Brian this week. It shared his gratitude for the warm COHR welcome that has been extended to him and his excitement in looking forward to the contributions he can make to our school community over this year as we travel our own journey of 2024. It is attached if you missed it.

Staffing 2024

2024 sees some changes in levels of many of our teachers and a welcome back to Sarah Counihan and Jo Hunt from Parental Leave. Sarah will not only be teaching Visual Art this year, but also Technologies. Technologies has always been a part of our classroom curriculum, and Sarah will give it an even stronger focus in 2024.

Our staffing for 2024 will be as follows:

Prep PH Jill Palermo/Jo Hunt

Year 1/2 G Kim Goddard

Year 1/2 H Maya Howard

Year 3/4 G Rachael Goldring

Year 3/4 I Clare Inwood

Year 5/6 C Ilona Cetrola

Year 5/6 G Karen Gosling

Administration Staff

Rachel Bernardo

Sandra Counihan

Specialists

Resource Centre & ICT - Karen Wakeling

Physical Education - Sue Tobin

Performing Arts - Millie Hutchings

LOTE (Italian) - Silvana Pansino

Visual Arts & Technologies - Sarah Counihan

Learning Diversity

Suzanne Neil

Learning Enhancement

Nicole Russell

Jo Hunt

Learning Supports Officers

Lorraine Hill

Isabelle Georgalas

Anna Giannikos

Carolyn Heil

Catherine Colonnelli

School Closure Days

Please note our School Closure Days set for 2024 are:

Monday 19th February
Friday 26th April
Friday 2nd August
Monday 9th September
Monday 4th November
Monday 2nd December

Details of the purpose of each one we will shared in following newsletters.

School Review

During Terms 1 & 2 this year we will be undergoing our whole school School Review. This occurs every 4 years and is a great opportunity for us as a school to reflect on and measure our impact of improvement and create new goals and plans for the next four years. It is also when we ensure that COHR meets the external regulatory and legislative requirements.

On Monday 19th February the pupil free School Closure Day staff will be focused on writing our Review documentation, ready for our external Reviewer, Christine Wakeling.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

After such a successful 2023 our SAKG Program is back in 2024! As always we need volunteers to ensure the success of this program. Thanks so much to Stella for her leading us all on this tasty journey. Karen Gosling, who has always been deeply involved in the SAKG Program will now be our staff leader. This will enable us as a school to really explore all the great Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden resources available to us. Please refer to the SAKG page for details on this Term's Program.

School Fees

The 2024 Annual School Fee Statements were sent home yesterday. If you require the CSEF or Concessional Fee Application Form. Please see Sandra or Rachel in the office.

Chess Sets in 1/2G

If anyone has chess sets at home that they no longer use, we would greatly appreciate them in 1/2 G

Lost Jacket

Chloe in 1/2G has lost her jacket. It is named Anabel. If anyone finds it at home, could they please return it to the office. Thank you

Finally, both of us are really looking forward to a year with a difference, but still with the same COHR Community warmth, care, celebration and fun. A year of watching our students continuing to grow, learn and flourish.

Take care,

Jo Cowan (Deputy Principal) &

Brian Martin (Lead Principal)

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