PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

the way they were.... Prep, 2017

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

What an amazing evening we all enjoyed last Thursday.  

*THANK YOU to our star performers - our students!

*THANK YOU to our staff for their support on the night and the preparation of the students!

*THANK YOU to our families who attended the evening and created such a wonderful atmosphere!

*THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Sarah Coffey for all the work she put into coordinating the evening - from assembling the performances, to organising costumes, to teaching the songs and dances... THANK YOU!

STAFFING 2024

CONGRATULATIONS to Ashlyn Keane who is expecting her second child.  I wish Ashlyn, Alex and Hazel all the best as they await the arrival of their newest family member.

Ashlyn will return in 2024 and commence parental leave in Semester One

This year we are farewelling four staff members:

*Laura Irons - In the short time that Laura has been with us she has certainly made a great impression.  Laura replaced Kirsti O'Brien (who is on parental leave) at the commencement of term 3, and has managed to secure a teaching position closer to home.  We will miss her terribly, but I don't think she will miss the long commute to work!  We will miss her gentle nature and I applaud her for building such strong relationships with our students over two terms.  

*Mandy Jin - Mandy has decided to take some time-out from teaching.  In the 12 months that Mandy has been with us she has breathed new life into our Mandarin Language programme.  I thank her for the positive energy she brought to St Joey's and the vibrant programme she offered to our children.

*Olivia Dullard - Olivia has been working as an LSO (Learning Support Officer) predominantly in the middle and senior classes.  Unfortunately, Olivia's university commitments mean that she is unable to continue into 2024.  Olivia has been a great asset to our staff and we wish her all the best with her studies.

*Lauren Greenlaw - Lauren is not leaving us but is commencing Parental Leave.  We wish her and Nick all the best with the impending birth of their first child and look forward to photos in the first newsletter next year!

Peter Zammit has decided to reduce his hours in 2024, and will be working two days next year.  Tori Greer has also reduced her hours, and will be working three days.

Next year we will move from 150 enrolments to 178 enrolments.  We will have two prep classes, and three middle classes.  

We welcome to our Staff:

*Bella Zacharioudakis - will be returning from Parental Leave.  Bella will be teaching Digital Technologies which will replace the current STEM programme.  (More about this change in the first newsletter next year!)

*Kate Velden - Kate will be joining us in Preps next year.  Kate is an experienced teacher who is relocating to Australia from New Zealand.  

*Jessica Thwaites - Jess is an experienced teacher who will be coming to us from St John's, Clifton Hill.  Jess has been teaching in the grade 3/4 area at St John's, and will join us to teach in the Middle Team.  

*Jessica Mason - Jess is also coming to us from St John's, Clifton Hill.  Jess has been working at St John's for the second half of this year, and will be joining our team of Middle's Teachers.

*Aoife O'Flynn - Aoife is an experienced teacher who has been working in the 5/6 area at St Fidelis, Moreland.  Next year she will join our Senior Community.

*Jaclyn DeVincentis - Jaclyn will be joining us for three days a week and will be teaching Performing Arts.  Jaclyn comes to us from St Anthony's, Alphington and has a plethora of experience working in the field of performing arts.

*Joshua Howarth - Josh is an experienced teacher who will be joining us for two days per week teaching Physical Education.  Josh comes across from Our Lady's in Sunshine.

*Ivy Bo Wen - Ivy comes to us from The Victorian School of Languages, and Brandon Park Primary School.  Ivy will be working two days per week.

*Franca Montagna - Franca is a Learning Support Officer who has been working at St John's, Clifton Hill for many years.  Franca will be joining the LSO team next year, working three days a week.

*Josh Dans - Josh is also a Learning Support Officer who will be joining us from St John's.  Josh will work two days a week.

*Lucy Rutten - will be joining our team of Learning Support Officers, working two days a week.

We welcome our new staff and look forward to working with you all.  We are excited about what you will 'bring to the table' and contribute to the life of St Joseph's.

STAFFING 2024

Principal                                                           Mary Kearney

Deputy Principal/                                         Kate Lynn

Learning & Teaching Leader

Wellbeing / Learning                                   Ashlyn Keane

Diversity Leader

Religious Education Leader                      Bernadette Harney

PREP                 Myanna Goetze   

                            Kate Velden

JUNIORS          Abbey Arbon

                            Georgie Finnigan

MIDDLES        Julia Koot

                            Jessica Thwaites

                            Jessica Mason

SENIORS        Brittany Symons

                           Aoife O'Flynn  

SPECIALISTS

Visual Art                           Louise Keys

Performing Arts              Jaclyn DeVincentis

Physical Education        Joshua Howarth

Mandarin                           Ivy Bo Wen

Digital Technologies     Bella Zacharioudakis (2 terms per year)

POL (Positions of Leadership) release                   Peter Zammit 

& Gifted and Talented Education 

LEARNING SUPPORT OFFICERS

Maya Muxlow (full-time)

Jacinta Murphy (full-time)

Tori Greer (3 days)

France Montagna (3 days)

Lucy Rutten (2 days)

Josh Dans (2 days)

ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

Kathryn Coventry 

MOVING UP DAY

Tomorrow we will be having our 'Moving Up Afternoon' at which the children will be meeting their 2024 teacher and classmates.  On this day your child will bring home a note detailing their teacher for next year.

End of Year Mass & Christmas Eve Mass... we are in need of a family to volunteer

Everyone is welcome to join us for our end-of-year Mass which will be held on Wednesday December 13 at 9:15am.  At this Mass we will be farewelling any families who are leaving our community, apart from the grade six graduating class families who will be acknowledged at the Graduation Mass on Thursday Dec 14.

Each year the Parish hosts a special Christmas Day Mass on Christmas Eve and we are asking for parents (or older teenage siblings) to volunteer to assist on the evening.  This involves helping with the activity in which children dress as characters from the Nativity scene and process into the church during the Gospel.  There is normally one practise session in the week before Christmas, in the Church.  All the costumes etc are provided by the school.  If you are able to assist with this please let me know.  Thank you in advance!

FINAL THANK YOU...

I would like to thank each and every member of the St Joey's staff for their professionalism, their dedication to the craft of teaching and their commitment to the children in their care.  Their patience is unending, their enthusiasm contagious and their desire to provide the best education for our students is to be commended.

I would like to acknowledge the core Leadership Team this year...

Thank you to Kate Lynn, whose ongoing support and camaraderie are invaluable.  Kate stepped into the role of Deputy Principal this year and in this capacity has proven to be outstanding.  Her organisational skills are second to none, and her ability to consistently be one step ahead of everything amazes me.  She is the 'go-to' person for everyone, and she has earned the respect of every staff member and student, and is held in the highest regard by the community as a whole.

Kate is also our Learning and Teaching Leader and in this role has guided our teachers and assisted them in implementing a dynamic, engaging and personalised curriculum.  Kate’s passion for education is infectious and her hunger to constantly continue to learn is to be commended.  

This year we were fortunate to have Ashlyn Keane return to us from parental leave.  She has assumed the role of Learning Diversity and Wellbeing Leader and works closely with our staff and parents in supporting our SWANS (Students with Additional Needs) and genuinely cares for the wellbeing of all our community.  

Kate and Ashlyn are enthusiastic and energetic people who make a very strong positive impression on me as a leader. They support the future directions of our school and I feel privileged to work alongside them.  

To the members of our School Advisory Council (SAC) - thank you for your commitment to St Joseph's and your advice and support throughout the year.  A special thanks to our retiring members; Candice Becroft, Christina Scibilia and Jo Hadjistamatis.  Candice has held the role of Chairperson and I thank her for her friendship and for the personal support she has provided me.  Her sage advice and level-headedness have been greatly appreciated.  I would like to thank Raffaela Arico who has stepped-up to the role of Chairperson, I look forward to working closely with Raffaela in 2024.

I welcome to the SAC; Joseph Sturrock and Christina Rodighiero who will be joining us as Parent Representatives and Olivia Triandos who will be taking on the role of Social Club Representative.  We look forward to you joining us in 2024.  

Thank you lastly to you, our most wonderful, most vibrant, most supportive school community, especially those who have volunteered to be Class Reps and members of the Social Club.  On behalf of all the staff, I thank you all for your support throughout the year. We are privileged to work in a school where families work together with us to create the brilliant community that is St Joey's.  My heartfelt thanks to you all for another highly successful year.