Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
And that was 2020!
2020 is not a year we will forget in a hurry. It has certainly been a year involving plenty of changes, adaptations and resilience, not just at school but in all aspects of our lives. I am very grateful to everyone in our community for the way in which they have worked collaboratively to support one another and in particular the children in our care here at Christ Our Holy Redeemer.
Thank you again to our amazing parents for the way in which you supported your children through the home learning period. This was quite a challenge and your willingness to support your children and work in partnership with our teaching staff was greatly appreciated.
Thank you to our amazing teaching staff who worked in a new and unfamiliar environment; one they were thrown into at short notice. They adapted their teaching, making changes along the way and making improvements to the way they delivered the curriculum. I am very grateful to all of them for their dedication to their profession.
A special thanks must go to our students; they have worked incredibly hard, adjusting to the changes, displaying perseverance, resilience, cooperation and collaboration. Given the lockdown they have achieved pleasing results. We are so proud of all of them.
As we approach the end of this unusual year it is a good time to reflect on our many achievements and to prepare ourselves for the important work to come. As we await the coming birth of Christ, let us remember that 2020 has also given us much to celebrate. Our students have continued to grow and flourish despite the challenges they have faced through the year.
I am of course, very sad that I won’t be able to thank all of you in person for your cooperation and support this year and that, due to current restrictions, we are not ending the year in our usual manner. However, this year has been extraordinary and we have all had to adjust our lives accordingly.
I look forward to 2021 with hope that we can again enjoy the community spirit that we all enjoy here at Christ Our Holy Redeemer.
Tonight we acknowledge 53 Year 6 students who will be concluding their primary school education at Christ Our Holy Redeemer. It is a time of mixed emotions for these children. Some are happy to be moving on while others are sad about leaving the school they have felt so connected to. There are also feelings of excitement and anxiousness about moving onto secondary school in 2021. This evening we will hold a Graduation ceremony in the hall which will be livestreamed to families at home. Families are welcome to join the ceremony using the following link;
http://www.turbo360.com.au/cohr
Tonight we will also acknowledge 29 families who have their youngest child in Year 6 and will be moving on in 2021. I am very grateful to them for the contribution they have made to our school community in the time they have been with us.
Class Teachers 2021
Our classroom teachers for 2021 will be as follows;
Prep Mrs Jill Palermo/Mrs Emily Stafford
Year 1/2 Mrs Kim Goddard
Year 1/2 Miss Rachael O'Halloran
Year 3/4 Mrs Clare Inwood
Year 3/4 Mrs Tanya Ticca
Year 3/4 Mrs Karen Gosling/Mrs Elise Rimington
Year 5/6 Miss Kristy Sly
Year 5/6 Mrs Ilona Cetrola
Year 5/6 Miss Emily Faela
Year 5/6 Ms Sarah Counihan
A full staff list will be included in our first newsletter in 2021.
This year we farewell three staff members at COHR;
We farewell Sarah Den Elzen and Sam Cannizzaro- Sarah has been a valued staff member in the 3/4 Level, while Sam has been working part-time in the 5/6 classrooms. We also farewell Emily Leckie at the end of this year. Emily has been teaching Year 1/2 at COHR and will be taking up a Year 1 teaching position at St Patrick's Mentone in 2021.
We thank Sarah, Sam and Emily for the contribution they have made to our school in the time they have been with us and wish them all continued success and happiness in their teaching careers.
Transition Day
On Monday 14th December the children will informed of their 2021 classroom teacher. They will also meet with their teacher, spending time with their class and sharing lunch together.
Term 4 Dates
Thursday 10th Dec - Graduation
Friday 11th Dec - Year 6 Fun Day
Mon 14th Dec - Going Up Day
Tues 15th Dec - Term 4 concludes 3:30pm
Start of the 2021 School Year
The 2021 school year will commence as follows;
Wednesday 27th Jan Staff Commence
Thursday 28th Jan Preps 9:00-1:00pm
Year 1 - 6 assessments
Friday 29th Jan Prep 9:00 - 1:00pm
Year 1 - 6 assessments
Monday 1st Feb All children commence
Student Testing 2021
Bookings for 2021 assessments days can be made following the instructions sent home with the reports tomorrow. This link will be active from Monday 14th December.
May the peace of Christ be with your family as together you celebrate His coming.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
May your life be filled with joy and love.
Wishing you and your families a blessed and safe Christmas.