~ Do all that you do with love ~

Dear Parents and Friends of St Therese's Primary School,

This is my last newsletter as Principal of St Therese's school.

I started at St Therese's in 2018. I remember my first day. It was exciting, I was nervous and wondered what it would be like. And then, I met the students, families, and staff and knew instantly that this was a wonderful place to be. When my family and friends asked me what it was like, the words that I used to describe the community of St Therese's were nurturing, kind and generous.

We have done a lot together over the past four years. Some of my proudest moments have been leading a building project that has resulted in facilities and classrooms that every member of the school can be proud of. Being part of the 30th celebrations of the school when all the past principals came along to share in the achievements of the school and families shared food from their countries, and establishing the Community Hub to give back to the local community.

There have been some challenging times too. 2020 and 2021 were filled with uncertainty as together we navigated the global pandemic of COVID-19. School closures, rules about masks, visitors, and vaccine mandates were tough to navigate and keep up with as they changed, sometimes on a daily basis. Those couple of years meant that it was my responsibility to work and support families who found themselves in financial and emotional distress as they lost jobs, lost loved ones, and lost homes.

Together, we have laughed and cried together and I will be forever grateful for the lessons I have learned from working with the many different staff, parents, and students over the years. I know that I will be able to draw on what I have learned at St Therese's as I begin the next leadership stage in my life as principal of St Agatha's.

I need to acknowledge the amazing people that I have worked with over the past four years. Thank you to the teachers and education support staff who have worked tirelessly in their quest to provide the best for all students. Thank you to the administration staff who helped to keep me organised and on track each and every day! Thank you to the Leadership Team who worked with me to shape and guide the direction of the school in the areas of learning and teaching, religious education, student wellbeing, learning adjustment, child safety and much more. I am grateful for everyone's humour and passion for the school. Without each and every one of you we would not have been able to achieve what we have.

Thank you to the families for trusting in my leadership and working with the school for your children. And above all, thank you to the students of St Therese's school. Without each of you the school would not be what it is today.

My greatest hope is that the students continue to be proud of who they are, work hard, take all opportunities that are presented to them, trust in their teachers and be the best people they can be. I encourage all parents to continue to advocate for their children and all staff to continue to provide the best educational opportunities possible to each and every child.

On Wednesday, June 8, Felicity Broughton will come to visit the school and I will introduce her to all the students and staff. I will spend time with her explaining what a wonderful community she is stepping into. Please welcome her from June 14 just as you did when I started four years ago. I know I leave the school in good hands.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and best wishes for the future.

Michelle Bruitzman

Principal

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