Across Oliver's Desk 

Dear parents/guardians, 

We can finally let you know where all our teachers have been placed for 2024. Students will find out who their teachers are and which children are in their grade on Tuesday the 12th December, “Step Up Day”. Our class sizes next year are smaller in the 1/2 and 3/4 areas than they are this year. The class size in 5/6 will be the same as they are this year but unfortunately will be bigger in the Prep area. Which, is why we are placing an extra teacher in Prep. 

Staffing 2024

Prep Class Size,  20-21

Prep A - Rach Cantwell (Team Leader) 

Prep B - Jess Lowe

Prep C - Sophie Young                                                                               

Libby Bemrose will also work with the Prep team as a fourth teacher due to the larger than normal Prep class sizes for us. Jess Howe will also work with the Prep teachers for the first month before she goes on maternity leave giving us plenty of hands at the start of the year to set the team and the Preps up for success.                                                                                             Grade 1,  Class Size 21

1A -  Amy Cleary (Team Leader)

1B - We are currently recruiting for this position and I will let you know in the newsletter in a fortnights time who is the successful applicant.

1C - Elyse Newman

Grade 2,  Class size 22

2D - Casey Runco

2E - Danielle Marnock (Team Leader)

2F - Vix Barnard

Grade 3/4,  Grade size - 24

3/4A - Jess Wallace (Team Leader)

3/4B - Katia Koskarti

3/4C - Sara-Jane Vaughan

3/4D - Penny Trueman

3/4E - Deeon Toogood

Grade 5/6, Class size 26-27

5/6A - Jess Banfield (Team Leader)

5/6 B - Ash Shanks

5/6C - Ben Eaton

5/6D - Lisa Syme

We believe that our exceptional academic results are achieved because we invest heavily in teacher development. Therefore, some of our teacher leaders are released a day a week to coach teachers in the school. There are also some other teachers that only work four days a week. Those extra days will be taken by our exceptional experienced part time staff:

Zena Earsman

Katherine Clark

Stephanie Verhoef

Lucy Derix

I will let you know which staff will work in which grades before “Step Up Day”.

Specialist Classes

Natalie Telpuk             ART

Sandy Walter               GERMAN/COOKING

Fiona Eckhardt           SCIENCE

Ash Gibbons               P/E

Katie McDonald         TUTOURING

Mary Menta                 READING INTERVENTION

Office Staff               

Jacqui Eycken           Business Manager

Ellen Largue              Administration

Libby Martin              Administration

School Leadership

Oliver Thockloth      Principal

Flick Curnow            Assistant Principal

Rachel Ward             Leading Teacher (Coaching)

Jess Wallace       Leading Teacher (Coaching and School Data)

Jess White                Leading Teacher (Coaching     and Senior School Leader)

Jess Howe           Leading Teacher (Coaching and Junior School Leader)

Welfare

Andre Campbell      Welfare team leader

Sally Marshall          Chaplain

Teacher Aides

Carol Gerrard, Shelly Holt (4 days), Robyn McMurray (3 days), Steve Taylor, Cheryl Sinclair (4 days), Kristy Malcom, Bree Valentine, Kylie Brandenberger (4 days).

New Staff for 2024

We are lucky that the highly experienced Amy Cleary and Danielle Marnock return to the classroom after their maternity leave. 

Casey Runco – Has had experience working in the junior school at Pakenham Hills Primary School over a number of years. Casey will be a brilliant addition to our highly talented teaching staff. I have something in common with Casey as I started my teaching career at Pakenham Hills P.S. 25 years ago!

Congratulations Katherine Bolton

You may have noticed that Katherine Bolton is not on the list above. Katherine has been a brilliant teacher in her four year stint at Woori Yallock Primary School and we are going to miss her dearly in 2024. In fact I’m sure quite a lot of our parents reading this will be sad that they will not have Mrs Bolton teaching their children. Having said all of that, I would like to congratulate Katherine on being successful in gaining a promotion as a Leading Teacher at Launching Place Primary School. Katherine leaves us as a much loved teacher and staff member. I know Katherine will sprinkle a little Woori magic at every school she goes to in the future. I can’t thank Katherine enough for her dedication and devotion to our school and the students she has taught. 

Welcome 

Nat Potter finished up last week to go on maternity leave (we will keep you updated when the new bundle of joy arrives). I would like to give Jacqui Eycken a warm Woori welcome. Jacqui will be our Business Manager while Nat is on maternity leave. Jacqui comes with lots of experience, and we know she is going to love being in the best school in Victoria. 

Editor Note:  Nat & her partner Corey welcomed a healthy baby boy "Colby" on November 15th.  (Just made it) .

Grade Six Graduation Dinner

When – Tuesday 19th of December

Where – Killara Winery Seville East

Time – 5:15pm

We have again been lucky enough to secure Killara Winery as our graduation venue. It is probably the best venue for a graduation event in Melbourne. The manager at Killara, Kevin looks after our school and only does this for us. Thanks Kevin we do appreciate it so very much. 

Prep transition activities and dates

We are looking forward to our fantastic new preps coming to have more visits to the school. 

Wednesday 29th         9:30 – 11am

Tuesday December 12th (step up day)     9:30 – 12:30pm

Reports

Teachers are currently finishing off a few assessments and will be busy writing reports over the next few weeks. Reports will be released to parents via compass on Friday 8th of December. 

Please make sure you look after yourself over the next few weeks as it is such a really busy period for everything! I’ll see you at the kiss and drop. I know that it’s scary but there is 4 weeks and 1 day to go in this school year.