Last week was a week of celebration at St Mary’s. Our events really highlighted the wonderful school community we have and the positive culture we have created together, ensuring every student in our school is growing, shining and flourishing. Thank you to Natalie Dullard for preparing a wonderful End of Year Mass and to all students who were awarded with recognition for the way they have been shining and flourishing throughout 2023.

Today is our final newsletter for 2023. As we come to the close of 2023, a most wonderful year at St Mary's, it is time to reflect on the year and to give thanks for all the wonderful learning and growth that has occurred. Our vision of growing together in Faith, Hope and love guides all that we do as we strive to ensure our students make meaning of the world around them, know and understand themselves and feel passionate and motivated to take action and put all their wonderful learning into practice.

Thank you to our dedicated staff for all that you have done over the year. I have every faith in our staff and know how committed they are to ensuring the best learning and teaching occurs for all of our children. It is a privilege to work alongside such a committed and talented team of educators. A special thanks to my wonderful leadership team - Sue, Lisa, Amanda and Natalie. Your work and dedication is second to none and I appreciate all that you do to assist me in leading our school.

It is with both sadness and congratulations that we will farewell Mr James Corkhill at the end of the year. James has taken a position at St Bedes, Mentone in 2024. We congratulate James on this exciting journey into secondary teaching and thank him for all he has done in our school over the past two years. James has been such a wonderful staff member, always jumping in and helping in any way possible and our students, staff and parents will be sad to see him go. James will be replaced by Steven Robinson.

We also will sadly farewell our Deputy Learning and Teaching, Sue Jackson, who will be heading back to St Joseph’s full time in 2024. Sue has been instrumental in leading our wonderful school in so many ways. Sue is a highly skilled expert and brilliant leader, working tirelessly with staff to ensure we have the highest of standards in learning, teaching, professional practice and much, much more. The work she has done in policy development along with raising the standard of our curriculum design, particularly in the area of Maths, has not gone unnoticed. Sue plans with teachers each week and has also led much of our professional development. She will be sadly missed on our leadership team and we thank her wholeheartedly for all she has done over the past four years. Sue will be replaced in her Deputy role by Naomi Corfield and we will continue to ensure our school goes from strength to strength.

Thank you to the parents for working in partnership and for all of your help and support. It does take a village to raise a child and we have a truly sensational village to do this in. We could not be more appreciative of our parents in 2023 for working in partnership with us.

A special mention to our wonderful School Advisory Council. They are a magnificent team leading our parent group and ensuring there is parent voice and involvement in the school.

Thank you and congratulations to our children – we are blessed with magnificent children who inspire us all on a daily basis.

We farewell the Graduating class of 2024 this Thursday in what will be a beautiful ceremony in the Parish Activity Centre. I congratulate our Year 6 graduates and thank them for the wonderful contribution they have made to our school community. I trust they will take the St Mary’s spirit with them and always know they are a valuable part of our school community.

We have a number of families with their youngest child graduating from St. Mary’s after a long association with the school. We thank the following families for all you have done throughout the years and hope you have many wonderful memories to take with you.

The Baird Family

The Burnett Family

The Hovancek Family

The Jones Family

The Nissen Family

The Coillet Family

The Davidson Family

The Lothian Family

The Monahan-Smith Family

Congratulations to the following students from our year 6 2023 who have gone on to win awards at Padua College including Holly and Alisha receiving 7 awards and Jess, Jed, Blayke and Sierra for their wonderful awards.

We will be sending home holiday challenge packs this week. We are encouraging all students to continue to be learners over the summer break and keep practising their basic skills while they are away from school. It is important that students continue to read and practise their Reading and Maths skills. Students will be encouraged to bring their booklet to their beginning of the year interview and share their learning with their new teacher.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this year and feel privileged to be Principal of this wonderful school. I look forward to all we can create together in partnership to ensure every student in our school shines, grows and flourishes.

Students will finish for the 2023 school year on Friday, 15th December at 3.15pm.

Have a happy, peaceful and safe Christmas with your family and friends and I look forward to continuing on our journey together in 2024.

We commence our school year in 2024 on Monday 29th January. Students will be required to come to school for an individual conference on either Tuesday 30th or Wednesday 31st January. Students will then commence formal classes on Thursday 1st February, 2024.

Yours In Partnership,

Gab Espenschied

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