Principal

Karen Jagers

This is the last school newsletter for 2015. I sincerely thank the staff, parents, friends and students of St Philomena’s School for a year blessed with opportunities and successes. To the families who leave us at this point in time, we wish you well in life beyond St Philomena’s School. The many volunteers, parents, grandparents, relatives and community members, who have contributed to our great school, deserve recognition and heartfelt thanks. Our school has benefited from a bank of great achievements, created by small and large deeds, contributed by our volunteers.

At the midpoint of 2015, we saw the completion of our building project, delivering to our school community, contemporary learning spaces that offer boundless opportunities for learning and teaching. We have just commenced on a journey of contemporary learning in our school. Schools have served society well, but, new times demand new models of schooling. We are taking small steps on this journey as we cultivate and grow contemporary learning environments at St Philomena’s School, to prepare students for their future and not our past.

2015 sees staff farewells from a variety of roles across the school. The 2016 line up will reflect maternity leave and those moving on. I would like to thank and acknowledge the contributions of all staff who are leaving. We are saying farewell to Niela Darrough, Alisha Eke,      Terri-Anne O’Brien, Joanne Elliot, Rhonda Farrell, Phillipa Morris, Christine Collins and Fiona Chisholm. In early 2016, Lauren and Murray Connor and Catherine and Brendan Moylan will welcome their babies. The school community looks forward to some of these staff returning in a casual employment capacity in 2016. We thank each of those leaving St Philomena’s School for their contribution to our school community. The first newsletter of 2016 will provide the opportunity to inform you of new staff.

Yesterday, students received their Semester Two Report and The Anchor 2015, our annual school magazine. Should you not have received these via your child/children please contact the school office. The opportunity to discuss your child’s progress will be accommodated by parent contact to class/subject teachers. Such opportunities are available from now until Wednesday.

This point in time marks a special point for Year 6 and Year 10 students who have reached milestones in their educational journeys. Tomorrow, we share the celebration of the Eucharist together at the Graduation Mass, followed by our Prizegiving Ceremony, to which the community is warmly welcome to attend.  

The work of the School Board and Parents and Friends Association in our school is a vital part of our existence. As like each year, I am extremely grateful for the collective work of these groups of parents. I encourage all parents to be open to the opportunity at some stage to be involved at the level of School Board member or Parents and Friends executive member.

As a Catholic community, the celebration of Christmas is clear in our mind; that being the birth of Christ to the very ordinary people of Mary and Joseph, chosen for this special role. To all our families, I wish you love and peace, which is Christmas, and a great new year!

May the Infant Jesus

fill your hearts with the gift of Love,

encourage you with the gift of Hope,

and bless you with the promise of Peace. Amen

Christmas Day Mass

9.00am Thur 25th Dec

Christmas Eve Pageant Mass

7.15pm Wed 24th Dec

(Shade sail area of the school)