Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to all at Saint Helena's Catholic Primary School in 2023. A warm welcome to all our new students and families at the school. It has been wonderful to see everyone settle in to the new year. We are very impressed with our students in the way they have conducted themselves on their return to school, and how they are settling in to new routines, getting to know their new teachers and peers. It has been wonderful to meet many of you in the last of couple of days. I look forward to catching up with you all as the term progresses and getting to know all the students that come to Saint Helena's.

We have welcomed many new staff this year. We welcome Miss Melissa Myles (Assistant Principal), Miss Abbey Lamb (Social Worker - Term 1), Mrs Rebecca Millar (Kindy Bilbies Teacher), Mrs Alison Newman (Year 1 Kangaroos Teacher), Miss Nika Velebir (Year 2 Echidnas Teacher), Miss Bianca Hearn (Year 4 Geckos Teacher), Mrs Christine Norman (Year 4 Koalas Teacher), Mrs Shannon Howard (Year 5 Bandicoots Teacher) and Mrs Eva Viola (Year 6 Brolgas).

All our staff have been amazing in ensuring we were all ready for our first week and I sincerely thank all of them for their efforts. Our Administration Staff, our Leadership Team, our Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff. You have all been awesome! As our Staff Team forms for 2023, we become even stronger as we work together for the best interests of all our students and school community. I know parents and carers will continue to support the staff at Saint Helena's Catholic Primary School to ensure our Home/School partnership strengthens even more in 2023!

"It takes a village to raise a child". Let's work together, respecting each other's roles and ensuring that the best interests of all our students are at the forefront of all that we do.

There has been some important information shared over the last week and I remind everyone of the importance of keeping up with the communication that we share with you. Remember to keep up to date with links to our website and other documents, as well as the updated calendar on our website, under Parent Hub.

On Tuesday 14 February we come together as a school community with staff and students in Pre-Primary to Year 6 to celebrate our Welcoming Mass with Fr Bona. We will also have our Year 6 Captains formally installed to their positions at the conclusion of Mass. Parents/Carers are all welcome to attend and join us in celebrating the commencement of the year.

Parent Information sessions are going to go ahead this year at the school, with 2 repeated sessions running at 6:15pm and 6:45pm on Tuesday 21 February. I hope that all our families can save the date and come and learn more about what is happening in your child/ren's class in 2023 at St Helena's. I would like to introduce myself personally and welcome you to the new school year at 6:00pm in the Undercover Area on this evening.

Keeping our students and school community safe when we all strive to do the right thing and follow procedures we put in place will continue to be our number one priority. I thank you in advance for your cooperation! We will continue to share information with you as the year progresses.

We are all looking forward to the year ahead and want to keep those smiles we have seen this week on all our students faces as they discover new things this year in their learning and always strive to do Something Beautiful for God in all that they say and do.

Peace & Happy Days!

Santino Giancono

Principal

Connie's Column