From the Principal

• Prayer
• Welcome to 2019
• Your son's classes and timetable
• Staffing Changes 2019
• New Staff
• Positions of Responsibility
• ISA Sports this weekend
• Performing Arts Parents Association (PAPA) Meeting
• Major Upcoming Events in Term 1, 2019

Prayer 

St Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians 12:12-14

As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body,

though many, are one body, so also Christ.  

For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body,

and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.  

Now the body is not a single part, but many.

This reading from last Sunday’s Mass gives us great inspiration as a community and this year’s theme of Unity in Community was determined by our 2019 Year 12 leaders, and with the catch cry, “Get Amongst It”.  This theme is very rich and I look forward to writing more about it as the year continues.

Welcome to 2019

On behalf of the College I warmly welcome all students, parents and staff to the 2019 school year. We look forward to welcoming the students to school tomorrow (Thursday 31st January).

This early edition of Woodchatta aims to provide information regarding the start of the school year and the many events that will occur early in the term.

I look forward to the year ahead with great promise and energy. In next week’s Woodchatta I will include more information about the holiday events and the work completed during the holidays but enough for now to advise the community of the happenings in this first part of Term 1.

Your son's classes and timetable

The student timetables and classes are available on the Portal and for all students in the Junior school and new Year 7 students, this will be explained on the first day.

Staffing Changes 2019

The College has had a number of changes to staffing from 2018 and I warmly welcome staff new to the College.

During the holidays there were a few late changes to staff and I advise the community that Mrs Joanne Raheb-Mol (Learning Support Coordinator) has accepted a position at St Andrew’s Cathedral College. We welcome Mrs Annabel Gunns to this position and she joins us from St Aloysius College. Ms Tracey Bates (Performing Arts Coordinator) has taken Long Service Leave and, following this leave, will conclude her time at the College. I am pleased to advise that Mrs Pip Waters has accepted the role of Acting Performing Arts Coordinator.  Mrs Deb Cummins (Junior School Year 6 teacher) has accepted a position at CBHS Lewisham and Mr Chris Ure has been appointed to this position.

I sincerely thank and acknowledge Mrs Raheb-Mol, Ms Bates and Mrs Cummins for their contribution and service to the College and wish them well for the future.

New Staff

In this Woodchatta I welcome all the new staff for 2019.  In next week’s Woodchatta I will give more introduction to new staff, and staff new to their leadership position.

• Mr Nathan Mulheron - Assistant Principal, Mission & Identity
• Mr Paul Ticli - Year 8 Coordinator
• Mr Justin Varjavandi - Science Teacher
• Mr Paul Donovan - PD/H/PE and RE teacher
• Mrs Jacqueline Loughman - English, HSIE
• Mr Antony Horan - Mathematics, Science & STEM
• Mr James Quinn - TAS
• Mr Fernando Mendez - TAS
• Ms Felicity van Riet - HSIE
• Mrs Annabel Gunns - Learning Support Coordinator
• Mr Nathanael Primrose-Heaney - Music
• Mr Chris Ure - Year 6 Teacher
• Mrs Sarah Panozzo - Student Office
• Mr Jack Gruber - ICT Trainee

Positions of Responsibility

Attached below is the list of staff who hold specific positions of responsibility in the College in 2019.

Traffic Arrangements for Kirk Street

Parish Rotunda Site (Cnr Archer and Kirk Streets opposite the OLD Church)

During the holidays Mercy College and the Parish have installed a number of demountable classrooms and parish offices/meeting rooms on what was known as the Rotunda Site, on the corner of Archer and Kirk Streets opposite the Church.  The work at the site is close to completion but there will be tradesmen and trucks in Kirk Street for at least the next couple of weeks which may impact the flow of traffic to the Kirk Street school drop off/pick up zone. 

The Diocese has strongly recommended that for safety reasons any students walking along Kirk Street stay on the SPX/Church side and cross Kirk Street at the corner of Archer Street where there is a pedestrian crossing. Parents picking up their children from Kirk St will also need to exercise caution and patience.  Please see the flyer below for details.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation while this work is finalised.

ISA Sports this weekend

The ISA Sports Competition (Senior School) re-commences this Saturday 2 February. Please see the Senior Sports page for relevant details.

Junior school sport commences the following week on Saturday 9 February and NSTA Tennis on Saturday 16 February.

Performing Arts Parents Association (PAPA) Meeting

Attached below is an invitation to the Performing Arts Meet and Greet Evening which will be held on Thursday 31 January at 6.00pm in the College Band Room.  Please see the Performing Arts page of this newsletter for details of the meeting and a full outline of what is happening in the Performing Arts Department this year.

Major Upcoming Events in Term 1, 2019

• Years 5, 6 & 7 Parent Information Evenings Monday 4 February
• Swimming Carnivals - Tuesday 5 February (Senior) and Wednesday 6 February (Junior)
• Opening School Mass Tuesday 12 February
• P & F Commencement Mass 5.30pm Saturday 16 February
• Junior School Parent/Teacher Meetings Monday 18 February
• Ash Wednesday 6 March
• First P & F Meeting Monday 18 March

Please refer to the 'Upcoming Events' page of this Newsletter for the 2019 College Calendar and Term Dates. 

Detailed information on how to download the College App is also included so that you can stay up to date with College news and events.

Mr John Couani - Principal