Principal's Report
Dear Members of the St. Cecilia’s School Community,
As another incredible year draws to a close, I write to thank you all for your continued encouragement and support for all of us here at St. Cecilia’s.
On behalf of all the staff, we hope you all have a safe, restful, holy and happy Christmas and we look forward to walking together with you and your sons and daughters as we move into a year full of hope and promise in 2023.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Father Kevin for yet another year of continued support, sound advice and a tremendous partnership between school and Parish.
It has been so rewarding that this year we have been able to resume our normal and relatively uninterupted schedule without disruption. The previous 2 years have taught us a lot. As we close this year out we are grateful for the resilience of our students, the support and patience of our families and the dedication and tenacity of our staff.
This year we farewelled one of our beautiful parents - Alicia Tucker. We will always remember the joy and happiness Alicia brought to our school community. It is comforting that we continue to enjoy Alicia's spirit and life through her amazing daughter Charlotte. We will continue to wrap our collective hands around Charlotte and her family.
Farewells
Yesterday, we said goodbye to many of our Year 6 families: We say farewell and thank you to the following families who are leaving our school from Year 6:
The Birnie, Hoy, Sutherland, Hitchcock, O’Hara, Hogan, Alberts, Foster, Wilmot, Papoulias, O’Doherty, Davies and Merigoux families. Thank you for all you have done for our community over many years.
At a special assembly today, we bid farewell to some families who have students leaving our school from other grade levels such as Year 4.
These are the students of our departing families: Olivia Gallagher, Milana Dimitrovici, Estelle Duff, Liam J Santoso, George Kyriacou, Edward O’Callaghan, Charlie OCallaghan, Thomas Wilmot, Abbey Schleiger, Joshua Bourke, Millie Grainger, Jenna Nugent, Max Alati, Sophie McKenzie, Gabi Maxwell, Alice Gallagher and Ava Huggins - as these students are the last child in their family leaving St Cecilia’s today.
We also farewell a few other students, who still have siblings attending St. Cecilia's therefore we will continue to see these families around our school. These students leaving us are Ivy Manly, Oscar Barrett, Thomas Zanoni, Gus Lethlean, Essie Hase and Rose Blood.
All of these families and students have made wonderful contributions to our school community over many years and we deeply appreciate all their support and thank them for their friendship.
We wish our departing students all the best at their new schools and hope that they will come back to visit and always keep a special place in their heart for St Cecilia's!
We have also announced some significant changes to our staffing for next year.
As you all know, we have farewelled both Hollie French and Clint Johnson who will both be working at different schools in 2023. Hollie is commencing a classroom teaching position at St. Joan of Arc in Brighton and Clint will be working full time at his other school, St Justin’s Wheelers Hill.
Whilst this provides an exciting new opportunity for Hollie and Clint, it also brings to an end an enormously successful relationship that our school has enjoyed with both of them. Regardless of distance or postcode, Hollie and Clint will always be a significant part of the St. Cecilia’s story and we fully support their decisions and wish them every success in the future.
Hollie joined us in 2019 as a Graduate Teacher. How lucky were we! It was not long before we all realised what a truly special educator and staff member Hollie would be. Those fortunate enough to have been connected with Hollie in her time at St. Cecilia's will know of her incredible capacity to form relationships with students, parents and staff. Hollie’s understated and highly professional approach to her career has never been unnoticed. St. Joan of Arc Brighton will benefit greatly from Hollie’s compassion, knowledge of the curriculum, her connection with her students and her humour. Hollie is a truly remarkable young teacher and her impact on our school community has been simply amazing.
Clint commenced his role as PE teacher with St. Cecilia’s in 2018. Clint shared his week between 2 days at St. Cecilia’s and 3 days with St. Justin’s Wheelers Hill. Clint has added such an incredible amount of value to our school in his 5 years - as an experienced educator, a role model to young people and a highly valued and much loved colleague and friend. Clint’s input to the fabric of our school will be missed terribly. St Justin’s will certainly be greater with him working amongst them full time. It is certainly rare to find and work alongside the likes of Clint - and we are all eternally grateful for having the opportunity to do so.
I take this opportunity to thank Hollie and Clint for being such a vital part of the St. Cecilia’s School staff and wish them both the very best of good health and luck for their future.
Grateful
We are so grateful to have been able to proceed with some significant school events during this final term. Just a year ago, we were in a very different situation. We have an amazing staff of kind, generous and talented teachers. Their positivity and dedication has been one of the reasons we have enjoyed a wonderful year. I cannot thank them enough.
Term 4 events that we have been lucky enough to run with with include:
- Foundation Information night
- Confirmatiion
- School Camps
- Foundation Orientation sessions
- Sports Carnival
- Excursions
- School Fair
- Year 6 Graduation
- Well Being Week
- Landscaping Masterplan commencing
- Twilight Christmas Carols
- Graduation
The St. Cecilia's Parent's Association has produced another fantastic year of support for our school community. Our exiting PA Coordintor, Andrew Maxwell, has prepared a report on the following year. I would like to thank all members of this years PA team and the manner in which they have continually been available and proactive in providing inclusive opportunities for our students and their families and raising valuable funds for the good of our school, in particular our Landscaping Masterplan. Please click on this link for Andrew's report.
I would like to make special mention of the organising team behind the success of our School Fair. Led superbly by Jen McGrath (Andrew Maxwell, Chris Knott, Bridie Andriske, Dries Swerts, Sarah Styring) and all of the many parents who contributed. Their tireless, behind the scenes, positive commitment allowed this amazing day to take place. Easily, one of the highlights of the year!
A note from our Fair Coordintor Jen McGrath:
This year the Fair was held on Saturday, 22nd October and after a few years break, it was great to see this long standing event back open to the parish and broader community. Highlights of the day included a wonderful performance from the junior and senior choirs, a spirited live auction and lots of smiling faces enjoying the rides, food and even getting to hold a snake! It was fantastic to see so many families, past and present, enjoying the day. Additionally the Fair managed to raise $30,000 in direct money to the school to assist in the Landscaping Plan. Many thanks to all of the families, community sponsors and everyone that helped out on the day. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Fair in 2023.
This amazing community day raised just over $30,000 for our students and community and will go a long way towards directly supporting our
Landscape Masterplan and new STEM CENTRE/ART ROOM
Staffing 2023
So next year we would like to introduce and welcome:
Mrs Julie Drum: our new Visual Arts Teacher
Mrs Katherine Aldcroft: our new Physical Education Teacher
Mrs Fiona Tyrell: teaching on a Wednesday and Friday in Grade 1
We will share more information about our new staff early next year.
We have had minimal changes to staffing once again, allowing the consistency and confidence in our teaching and learning to continue to thrive. With Jacqui Chalkley stepping back from both her Visual Arts and Religious Education roles to return as an experienced Grade 3 teacher, we are able to welcome some different staff into these roles. Mrs Annmaree Hoy will commence as our Religious Education Leader next year and Mrs Julie Drum will begin her role as our new Visual Arts Teacher. Mrs Katherine Aldcroft will commence in 2023 as our new Physical Education Teacher.
We are enormously excited about these new roles and very much look forward to next year.
Please look on the following page of this newsletter for a breakdown of all 2023 classes.
Class Selection
As you could imagine, we have been involved in a very thorough process of classroom placement for all students. We ask that parents trust this process and understand that many variables are considered when making these important decisions.
ST CECILIA’S ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
What a fantastic Sports Carnival we had on Monday 28th November! This year was a day event and allowed many students to participate in events they had not attempted before. Our weather was kind and the enthusiasm levels were high! This was Mr Johnston's last Sports Carnival with us at St. Cecilia's and as usual, it's organisation and smooth running was perfect!
Thank you to staff and parent helpers for their assistance on the day as well as the many parents that were able to attend on the day.
The following students served as fantastic captains for their house colours this year:
O’Connor (Red) House Leaders: Bez Chieng, Lucy Reed, Lilly Hogan, Isabella Pititto, Thea Styring, Archie Sutherland & Hamish Walker
Mackillop (Green) House Leaders: Hugh Davies, Leo Distefano, Jack Gallagher, Sabrina Porto, Samson Story, Lucy Wilmot, Michael Alberts & Mietta Mason
Wurundjeri (Gold) House Leaders: Laila Harris, Will McKenzie, Jack Birnie, Charlie Campagna, Ivy Foster, Finn Hase, Stephan Merigoux, Louis Papoulias
Joseph (Blue) House Leaders: Ben Hitchcock, Alice Hoy, Chloe Moss, Sarah O’Doherty, Millie Moss & Laura O’Hara
Here are some sports reports from our Grade 1 students:
At the school sports I won 4th and third. First I did relays with my colour house. Next I had a vegetable sausage. Then I did a sprint. My favourite part was high jump and eating a zooper dooper. I also enjoyed going on the school bus. I felt energetic.
Amelia 1J
At the school sports we went on a bus. First we did a chicken race. Next we ran with the batons.Then we threw the bean bags. My favourite part was the long jump. I felt exhausted.
Evalina 1J
On the school sports we went on the bus. First I watched the preps. Next I won a race,just.Then I felt as proud as I could feel. I felt sweaty.
Eddie 1J
At the school sports I won the running races.First we went on the bus. Next we did our relays with our colours. Then we got a sausage with Isla. My favourite part was when Sarah picked me up at the end. I felt scared and proud and happy and relieved.
Ava 1J
At the school sports, first we went on a bus. Next we did the chicken race. Then I got a sausage. My favourite part was doing the long jump. I felt exhausted.
Isla 1J
At the school sports I went on a bus to get there. First we did the chicken race. Next we got a sausage. Then we did high jump. My favourute part was getting ribbons. I felt sweaty.
Jack 1J
Thank you Mr Johnston for another wonderful and well organised Sports Carnival!
Christmas Puddings for St Vincent De Paul
Miss Mustey has once again this year liaised with St Vincent De Paul to organise a Christmas Pudding Drive. Families were invited to purchase and bring in a Christmas Pudding to donate to St Vincent De Paul who use them to make Christmas hampers to give to those families in need. It was a very simple way we can give to those in need at Christmas time. This year we very kindly donated an incredible 87 Christmas Puddings!
School Fees
School Fees in 2023:
1 child $2,860.00 $715 per term
2 children+ $4,300.00 $1075 per term
Capital Levy $200.00
Per family per annum payable in Term 1
Curriculum Levy $850 per child
Per child per annum payable in Term 1
Voluntary Parish Levy $390
Drama Club
For a number of years now (prior to our Covid interuption) we have been very lucky to have been able to provide Drama Club at lunchtimes for students. This has been introduced and facilitated by Jannah Davies from Dance and Drama Directions (mother of Hugh).
The students from our junior and senior classes would meet each week on a lunchtime and be immersed in drama activities such as theatre games, character development and role play. Jannah is a Dance and Drama Teacher with extensive experience in both the education and performing arts sectors. We experienced an enormous level of interest and involvement from many students during this time.
Sadly, as Jannah has now completed her time as a current school parent (Hugh graduated last night) combined with her increased workloads at Lauriston, Jannah will be unable to continue this program into 2023.
I would like to thank Jannah, on behalf of all the students who enjoyed her program, for the fantastic experience she provided for many within our community.
We will continue to explore similar options into next year.
Graduation Night
One of the highlights of this year has been our Year 6 Graduation Night. Not only were we so grateful to be in a position to host this event, we could not be more proud of these remarkable students. Year 6 Parents sat together surrounded by a large number of staff bursting with pride and wonder at how these young people have matured before our eyes. Many thanks to the incredible staff of Louise Jury, Fiona Walsh and Trish Revere for their care and tireless dedication to this awesome night. Thank you also to Luisa Moss and Sherryn Hogan (and their crew of helpers) for their fantastic organisation and coordination of the dinner and celebrations. It was a truly unforgettable night!
Our 2022 Graduating Class enjoyed an unbelievable day yesterday. Commencing with a beautiful mass (supported by year 5 Leaders and Prep Buddies), followed by an impressive whole school assembly performed and led by our Year 6's - and finally a most memorable Graduation Dinner surrounded by classmates, parents and staff.
Those attending were fortunate enough to experience a remarkable speech delivered by Justin Foster (father of Ivy) on behalf of the Year 6 parent group. If you would like to watch, please click on the following link. https://youtu.be/GxUgP8OL6WY Thank you Justin!
And to our Year 6 Graduating Students of 2022 - we hope your years at St. Cecilia’s, with the help of outstanding teachers and staff, have given you just that, the courage to follow your own heart and mind. We feel confident that our future has never looked as bright. May your future continue to be surrounded with gratitude, empathy and mindfulness. You are curious, you are kind, you are brave and you are ready to take on the world and all that it has to offer. Class of 2022, we wish you all the best for the future.
Merry Christmas everyone,
Stay safe,
Marty McKenna
Principal
St Cecilia’s School