Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the final "full" newsletter for the year. This week, we look forward to celebrating and remembering all the learning achievements and highlights of 2024 with students and our school community.

Parents' Association: Bunnings BBQ

On Sunday, 24th November, the St Simon's Parents' Association hosted a Sausage Sizzle Bunnings Scoresby. A big thank you to Emily Alisha, Thuong, Thi N Buddhika, Boris, Tanja, Michael, Rick, Tam and Matt for volunteering on the day. Thank you to the many families who donated goods for the BBQ including drinks, condiments and servettes.

All fo this hard work contributed to a very successful fundraising activity with an almost $2000 profit.

Thank you to Alisha Emily and Anita for overall organisation of the event.

School Reports: Semester 2

The Semester 2 report for each student will be available for download from Thursday, 12th December, via the Nforma Parent Portal. Please look out for announcements via Audiri as well as email notifications.

School Office Information

Please visit the Office page of the newsletter for important information about 2025 school fees, uniform shop trading hours and school hats.

End of Year events

This week, we commence our end-of-year celebrations. It is an exciting and memorable time when we come together to celebrate achievements and learning whilst also farewelling families and staff. All families and members of the school community are invited to attend.

2024 Thanksgiving Mass Thursday 12th December @ 9:15am in the Church:

During this celebration we will:

Acknowledge any staff leaving or not returning in 2025
Acknowledge any returning or new staff for 2025
Acknowledge any families leaving St Simon's at the end of the year, i.e. the youngest child in the family is in Year 6, or a family that is moving to another school.
Acknowledge volunteers in SAC members, Parents' Association, Canteen
Performing the “Passing on the light” ceremony - All Year 5 and Year 6 students

2024 Final Assembly Tuesday 17th December @ 9:00am in the Hall

During this celebration, we will:

Presentation of various Community based awards
Acknowledge of all Year 6 Awards presented at Graduation Mass
Formal farewell to leaving staff, inc right of reply speeches
Announce Student Leaders for 2025- 8 Action Teams

Season of Advent: Liturgies at St Simon’s

The season of Advent begins this Sunday. This is a time in our church calendar when we prepare for the birth of Jesus, ultimately celebrated on Christmas Day.

In the lead-up to Christmas, the four Sundays prior are marked as days to celebrate the Advent season. At St Simon’s School, we celebrate and enter into the spirit of Advent through four student-led liturgies during the final weeks of the school term.

On Friday, 13th December, our Year 4 students will lead the whole in the 3rd Sunday Advent Liturgy. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Monday 16th December

All members of our school community are encouraged to attend and join the students at these liturgies as this forms part of our end-of-year Christmas celebrations.

Staffing

I would like to inform the community that Khayla Seneviratne, Year 1 Classroom Teacher will be leaving St Simon's at the end of the 2024 year. Khayla has taken up a classroom teaching position at St Bernadette's, The Basin.

I would also like to inform you that Melissa Den Elzen will be leaving St Simon's and will be taking up a classroom position at Selby Primary School, Selby.

Our end-of-year events and celebrations will allow us to acknowledge Khayla and Melissa's contribution to our St Simon's School Community.

Key dates for the start of 2025.

To assist with your household planning for the beginning of the school year, please note the following 2025 dates for Term 1.

Term 1 Dates: Tuesday 28th January to Friday 4th April

Tuesday 28th January: Staff Return (No students)
Wednesday 29th January: Meet and Greet Session ( by appointment with your child's classroom teacher), Prep Assessment session (by appointment for current families with a 2025 prep child)
Thursday 30th January: Yrs 1- 6 Students return
Friday 31st January: Preps' First Day of School

Term 1 School Closure Days

Friday 28th February: Professional Learning - Literacy
Tuesday 11th March: School Review Staff Workshop Day

Term 2 School Closure Days

Monday 28th April: School Closure Day

St Simon’s Socials

Check in with Facebook and Instagram channels to see some of the latest activities within our St Simon’s community.

Beyond EduCare