Principal message

Dear community of St Monica’s,

 

As I reflect on 2023 it amazes me the amount of work we have to celebrate. In 2023 we completed the NSIT review which gave  us a clear direction for our strategic plan for the next four years. Recently we completed the Catholic identity Review. You will find the final report here. We will develop an awareness of our school story and the role that the Mercy sisters had on our school charism, prayer  and the implementation of Catholic Social teachings. Our students will know our story and the story behind the names of our houses- Augustine, McAuley, Backhaus and Mercy.

We started the year as a staff discussing our purpose, setting expectations and shared understandings. We will finish the year looking back on our achievements and making new plans.

Our student leadership program began with the introduction of school captains and house captains. In 2024 we will introduce social justice and sustainability captains.

We explored ways to introduce our fire covenant and inducted students fire carriers.

We introduced AusLan and welcomed Sherrallee Artis to support our program.

Junior school staff have been trained and trialed the implementation of THRASS and UFLI phonics programs using an action research approach.

5/6s went to Camp Weekaway, participated in sports events across the year and run club on Friday mornings with their families. Thank you to Jarrod Epps for  getting so many families involved. We welcomed grandparents into our classrooms and families to share their culture on St Monica’s feast day. We celebrated mass each week with the parish,

We supported families  through our parent support group meetings and parent, teacher, student conversations. We ran parent workshops on cyber safety, prep information, sacramental formation, prep information. We offered coffee in the mornings with the coffee van on site.

Staff were involved in Professional development in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy, Indigenous Education, Religious Education, a spirituality retreat, Discovery learning and Inquiry learning.

Our students worked really hard to produce a wonderful school production of Joseph and his technicolor dream coat. Students were involved in the Sacramental program for Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation.

The School Advisory Council met throughout the year and were very pleased to complete the first stage of the oval project. Thanks to Dave McWilliams for the management of this project. Thank you to members who are stepping down after many years- Anna Bennalack, Bodie Scullie and Chris Novak.

The P&F supported the Marong cup fundraiser, the mothers and fathers day activities and the upcoming carols, promoting school projects such as the oval development through their fundraising. Thank you to Kim Sheldon who is stepping down from the role of President but will continue to support our new executive in 2024.

 

The consultative committee met on several occasions and determined out structures and the implementation of the new agreement with changes including scheduled class time and Time in lieu.

We had multiple changes to our administration staff and I thank them for their patience and flexibility through these many changes.

We have been audited on NCCD and OHS and have had a playground review.

 

I thank all our staff for their care of our students at St Monica's over the year. I thank Fr Brian and Fr DJ for their ongoing support. Many thanks to all members of our community who have shared their time through volunteering on committees or at school events. Our school does not function without the dedication and professionalism of all who work here.

 

We farewell Martyn Dillon, Lauren Adcock and Leah Hargreaves and welcome Kerri Bowman and Leonie Wolfe. In 2024 we welcome Nicole Knight and Rachelle Collins back from parental leave.

Mr Max Lamb is on leave until the end of the year and Mrs Tanya Balcke will be Acting Deputy Principal for the last two weeks of term. I wish to thank the leadership team for their support of me this year and for their support of staff and students and families.

As we wind down for the year let us reflect on the new season of Advent.

 

Advent is with us once again and with it comes the call of St John the Baptist to re-gather our energies, refocus our plans, re-visit our hearts, re-engage with the wonderful story of salvation revealed to us in Jesus. The color purple appears in the churches as a reminder that we are in a time of change, transition, that something is afoot here. There is a certain restlessness in the readings of Advent. This is a good time to take a good look at things we might change in ourselves and among ourselves. It is a chance to believe again that love can indeed be the energy that shapes all the decisions, all our relationships and all our hopes.

Happy Advent to you all. May you and your families find the joy that Christmas brings.

 

We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday 30th January 2023