Principals Update

Key Events - Term 4

Term 4 - Week 10

• Monday 9th December - Year 6 Graduation Ceremony 6.00pm in MPR
• Tuesday 10th December- Transition Morning 9.15-10.45am- Casual Clothes Day. Assembly @ 3pm (Presentation of Year 6 2025 jumpers)
• Wednesday 11th December- Prep Excursion
• Thursday 12th December- End of Year School Mass @ 9.15am & Carols Night 6pm
• Friday 13th December - Orange Tree Music concert @ 9.30am. 

Term 4- Week 11

• Tuesday 17th December - Whole school Advent Liturgy / Final Assembly in the MPR, 11.15am. Students Conclude at 12pm
• Thursday 19th December- PFA Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

2025 Term Dates

Term 1, Week 1 

• Tuesday 28th January 2025 - Staff PD - No students attend
• Wednesday 29th January 2025 - Prep - 6 Students commence

Dear SJV Families,

This is our final newsletter for the year and what a year it has been. 

As the conclusion of the school year approaches it is a time to stop, reflect on the year and give thanks for what we have. 

This year we have shared some challenging times and celebrated some amazing successes. It is not always easy and there have been a number of challenges throughout the year for some of our families, staff and students. Through it all, there remains an overwhelming gratitude that we are a part of this incredible SJV community. Our community is full of families who are incredibly giving, supportive and caring. It is a community that is blessed with school staff who will always go the extra distance for our children. The SJV community is also blessed with a wonderful group of students who try hard to look after each other and are willing to work to make themselves and our school better.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the wonderful staff we have here at SJV. I am extremely proud of all the staff and their commitment to each and every student in the school, whether they work directly with them or not. The staff  here always ensure that our students continue to have the best opportunities possible. I am grateful for their generosity and positive mindset. As Principal and a colleague, I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful community. 

To the members of the School Advisory Council, the PFA and the Fete committee, class reps and uniform shop members I would like to thank you for all your time and energy to help make our community the best it can be. It is through your tireless work that we are able to support each other, socialise and provide fun and worthwhile endeavours that enrich our daily lives at SJV.

We farewell the Year 6 students of 2024 who have displayed such great leadership and resilience. We wish them well on the next phase of their learning journey as they move onto various Secondary colleges.

On behalf of the staff, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the school community for their continued assistance and support throughout the year.  I hope all families have a very happy, safe and holy Christmas and we look forward to working in partnership with you next year in 2025. 

Important Reminders

• Staff resume on Tuesday 28th of January, 2025
• Students will begin on Wednesday 29th of January 2025
• School Uniform - Please remember that the correct full school uniform is to be worn on the first day back next year. The school hats are also to be worn outdoors from the first day back in 2025.

School / End of Term Assembly

• Students will conclude the school Year on Tuesday the 17th December at 12pm. 
• There will be an assembly at 11.15am in the MPR on this day. The Preps, Years 1 & 2 will be presenting the Nativity play starting at 11.20am. We will then have final messages for the year and farewell our Year 6 students with a guard of honour. All parents are invited to attend.

School Reports

School reports will be available on the nForma portal on Wednesday the 11th of December (2pm onwards).

A reminder to year 6 parents, it is highly recommended that you download your year 6 child’s report, as later in the new year access to the portal will no longer be available.         

Staffing News

We also farewell staff members who are moving on to new endeavours. Vicki Dagher has just informed SJV that she will be taking 12 months leave to live with her family overseas. This has been a challenging time and a heart breaking decision for Vicki and her family. We will hopefully see Vicki return in 2026. I would like to announce that Rebecca Middleton will be replacing Vicki in the Library/Learning enhancement role in 2025.

In other staffing news, Daniella Cortese has also just decided to leave SJV at the end of this year to pursue new challenges at either a different school or do some CRT work. This was also a challenging decision for Daniella to make. I would like to announce that Elise Fisher has accepted the position as Year 5/6 teacher for 2025.

On behalf of the SJV community, I would like to thank Beth Wallace (LSO), Pip Cahill (Japanese), Vicki Dagher (Library / Learning Enhancement) and Daniella Cortese (Year 5/6 teacher) for their wonderful contributions to the SJV community and wish them well for the next phase of their journey.

Staffing 2025 

I am very pleased to advise the class teachers and staffing for 2025. CAN I PLEASE ASK THAT THERE ARE TO BE NO REQUESTS FOR SPECIFIC CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

PREP (FOUNDATION)

Deb O’Shannessy (3 days) & Jill Hannan (2 days)

Catherine Osadnik (4 days) & Fiona Lee (1 day)

YEAR 1

Gary Kruger 

YEAR 1/2

Fleur Peppard (4 days) John James ( 1 day)

Kylie Kostense

YEAR 3/4 

Luke Brownhill 

Kerry Slater (2 days) & Laura Heiberg (3 days)

Year 4/5

Taigan Evans (3 days) & Chloe Lawlor (2 days)

YEAR 5/6 

Elise Fisher

PHYSICAL EDUCATION  - Dominique Monotti

VISUAL ARTS / STEM - Gabbi Davoren 

PERFORMING ARTS - Catherine Weekes

LIBRARY & LITERACY - Rebecca Middleton (New)

JAPANESE - Lauren Koziol (New)

NUMERACY & LITERACY SUPPORT & EXTENSION (DATA ANALYSIS) - John James

LEARNING DIVERSITY - Mary Moor

LEARNING SUPPORT

Julia Mascali

Melissa Hanson

Chloe Saultry (New)

Lyn Saunders

Kath Murley

Susan Birell

Lina Greco

Phil Daidone

Sophie Mackey

Maddie Bortoli (New)

OFFICE MANAGER

Nicole Davies

PRINCIPAL

Mick Schinck

LEADERSHIP TEAM 2025

TEACHING & LEARNING  / ICT LEADER - Laura Heiberg

NUMERACY LEADER - John James

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LEADER - Kerry Slater

LEARNING DIVERSITY LEADER - Mary Moor

WELLBEING LEADER - Catherine Osadnik

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL / LITERACY LEADER - Jill Hannan

PRINCIPAL - Mick Schinck

Moving Up Session / Transition 2025

Next Tuesday the 10th of December we will be having our Transition to 2025 classes where children will meet their 2025 teacher and classmates. We will notify parents of their child’s classroom teacher on that day. As we will have a number of students from other schools visiting, EVERYONE is free to wear casual clothes on this day so no one stands out as being new.

Year 6 Graduation

Next Monday the 9th of December, our Year 6 students and their parents will have the opportunity to celebrate their Graduation. Please keep these students in your prayers as they conclude their time here at SJV. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion.

Year 5/6 Camp - Portsea

Just over two weeks ago students from Year 5 & 6  attended camp at Portsea. This camp was very successful with all of the students being very well behaved and encouraging towards others. I thank the following staff Kerry Slater, Laura Heiberg, John James, Daninella Cortese, Sophie Mackay and Kath Murley, for giving up their time and planning these wonderful opportunities for the students in years 5 & 6. I would also like to thank staff not attending camp who are covering extra yard duties etc while staff are away. What an amazing team we have here at SJV.  Please see the 

End of Year Mass

On Thursday 12th of December at 9.15am we will be celebrating our end of year Mass in St. John Vianney’s Church. This is a special mass to celebrate our school year as well as having our senior students share the Light of Leadership for the 2025 school year. Parents are welcome to attend

School Fees 2025

The School Fee Structure for 2025 has been emailed to all families. If you have not received the email please check your spam or call Nicole on 9580 5812 for any queries

Prep 2025 Transition Sessions

Over the past few weeks, we have had our 2025 Preps attend their transition sessions here at SJV. It was wonderful to see so many students wearing their SJV Super Preps T-shirt.  The 2024 Preps joined the current Prep cohort for morning Tea which was rather exciting. We look forward to them all joining us here next year at SJV.

Christmas Carols

We look forward to hosting our SJV Christmas Carols on Thursday 12th December 6.00pm. Please come wearing a touch of Christmas and be ready to singalong with some traditional carols as well as some fun new ones too!

SJV Facebook Page

Reminders

• Dogs - Please note that for the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community, no dogs are permitted inside the school grounds and they must not be left unattended tied up at the gates. Adult supervision and holding of the leash is so important around vulnerable places such as schools.  We love dogs but we do have to take care of all members of our community.
• Bikes and Scooters - Please walk bikes and scooters when moving through the school grounds.
• Punctuality - It is expected that all students are to be at school by no later than 8.45am and not any time up to 9am. From 8.45am to 9am is crucial for students to get themselves organised, start the day with prayer, take the roll and ready to commence their day promptly. Formal lessons begin at 9am. Any child who arrives at or after 9am is to be signed in at the office by a parent/guardian. I ask all parents to make sure that you adhere to these times.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR!

Regards

Mick Schinck

Principal