Dear Families,

Aimee and I thank the parents and student community for your best wishes on the news that we are both leaving the school to pursue new positions in 2025. It is my hope that our 2024 theme of High, High Hopes has inspired us all to be curious, learn from mistakes, make friends and be brave and proud of who we are. Aimee and I have taken on this mindset to aim high and try something new.

As communicated in the Operoo messages, although it is not ideal that Aimee and I leave in a short timeframe, we are confident that our school staff, students and strong school culture will continue to aspire to excellence. The arrangements for the role of Acting Principal and Acting Deputy Principal will be announced in due time.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating Aimee and extending every best wish to her as he takes up his new role which is a very positive and well deserved step in her career. It is an exciting time for Aimee as she embraces new learning opportunities as Principal and our MACS system will be stronger with her presence. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aimee for her outstanding work and for her incredible support of the St Leonard’s community.

My role as Senior Manager, School Leadership is an opportunity to work within MACS at regional offices, in the critical role of supporting Principals and school leaders in the important work of continuous school improvement, and in all matters pertaining to leading school communities of faith, learning and partnership. I believe that I will work with 13 schools, advise, coach and mentor the school leadership team.

Today

End of Year Reports will be handed to the students on Friday 6th of December. Reports contain personal information and must be opened at home. Instructions for accessing reports via our online portal will be sent to you via Operoo.

“Step Up Day” for 2025 class orientation will be held on Friday 6th December the children will spend some time in the morning with their 2025 teacher/s and classmates. Our 2025 Preps and new students will be in attendance too. Class allocations are final and will not be changed. Please model a sense of optimism and resilience when you find out your child’s teacher and their classmates as this will determine your child’s response and attitude to school in 2025.

Prayer for the Second Week of Advent

The second week of Advent is the candle of peace. This candle reminds us that the angels declared "peace on earth" at the birth of Jesus. Jesus offers us inner peace and peace with others. We can know and experience peace today only through the life of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father,

In this Advent season, we are especially in need of peace.

War rages on in our world.

It impacts the daily lives of millions in different ways.

This year, as much as ever, we need your saving peace and justice in our world.

This Advent, we pray that Jesus transforms our hearts and our world as we await His coming again.

We make this prayer through Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Amen

Welcome to Our Prep Nativity Play

Next Wednesday, 11th of December at 10am, the Preps will be performing the Nativity play. Please feel welcome to join us in the hall.

Welcome to Our End of Year Mass

Next Friday, 13th of December, we will be celebrating our end-of-year mass at 10:00 AM, immediately following the morning mass. Our Christmas concert is scheduled after recess and parents are again, very welcome to join us.

2025 Year 6 Leadership Roles

At St. Leonard’s we strongly believe that all staff and students are leaders and have the ability to develop their leadership skills. St Leonard’s has a strong history of student leadership. I thank our School Captains (Lori, Alessia, Nicolas and Luka), Sports’ Captains (Red this year’s winner: Faith and Blake, Green: Emily and Saniru, Gold: Maggie and Marco, Blue: Arielle and Abel) the liturgy leaders (Pahanya and Zara) and every Year 6 student because we believe that you all show leadership. We’ve had Library, Art Leaders, Choir, Child Safety Team leaders, Guardians of St Leonards and many other opportunities to express leadership.

2025 School Captains

Thank you: Alessia, Nicolas, Lori & Luka

Welcome: Lilian, Anthonio, Aaliyah & Marc

2025 Sport Captains

Blue House Captains

Thank you: Arielle & Abel

Welcome: Madison & Alfie

Red House Captains

Thank you: Faith & Blake

Welcome: Michaela & Isaiah

Green House Captains

Thank you: Emily & Saniru

Welcome: Ariana & Joshua

Gold House Captains

Thank you: Maggie & Marco

Welcome: Ava & Oliver

Twilight Sports

Our new look Twilight Sports were a huge success in engaging more students for more often. We thank the parent community for embracing the parent races, pre-school races and past student races. A special thanks must go to Frank Stokes, Anthony Adaman and the team of staff leading this event, as well as the 28 wonderful parent volunteers, whom shared their expertise in certain events. It has been a dream of mine since I took over the principalship of the school to have a barbeque at the sports and to enable families to mix and mingle to build stronger community connections. I am very thankful to Melanie and Justin, who spent many hours of their time to coordinate, set up, run and pack up the barbeque, and the PFA and many volunteers. This photo shows some of our volunteers who ran the barbeque.

On the PFA page, you will read that the spare sausages will be used to provide a barbeque lunch for the students on the 11th of December.

Congratulations must go to Red House for winning the Twilight Sports. the final scores were:

Red 391 points, Gold 350 points, Green 331 points, Blue 327 points

Home Instead Choir Performance

The choir put on a sparkly and beautiful performance for the Home Instead visitors. Thanks to Aimee, Cathy & Suzan for preparing for this event so well. The feedback from our visitors was overwhelmingly positive and expressed that it was a joyful way to start the preparations for Christmas.

Briefly

Vinnies Christmas Appeal: Last day today
To contribute to this appeal, each class will be responsible for providing a specific item for hampers that will be assembled by the St Leonard's St Vincent De Paul Conferences distributed to local families in need. The collection date is today Friday 6th December.
Best Chance Toy Drive:
We're aiming to collect 200 toys for 200 underprivileged children in the lead-up to Christmas. Last year, we had a fantastic response from the junior school, and this year, we're expanding the initiative to involve the entire school.
Please read the PFA page about the Christmas Stall on Thursday 12th December.
Book lists need to be finalised by Dec 11 or you will need to go into the store to opurchase the books. Otherwise you will incur a greater delivery fee.

My best wishes for a wonderful week ahead.

Robert Horwood

Principal

OSHC