Principal's News

Dear Parents and Carers,

The School Council met last Wednesday evening, in person, albeit in masks, for the first time in some time. An updated COVID-19 Safety Plan was tabled as was the school’s Annual Report to the Community. This report is available to all parents from the school office.

Council also approved a draft budget for 2022 that includes some small increases to Tuition Fees and levies in line with advice from the Finance Office of the Diocese Of Ballarat Catholic Education Ltd. (D.O.B.C.E.L.)

School Council also approved a small change to our school’s uniform, in that girls are permitted to wear their navy Sports Shorts and school polo shirt rather than the school dress as “Summer Uniform” please note this does not permit “Bike shorts”. These shorts are available for sale from our school’s uniform shop.

ALL SAINTS DAY/MISSION DAY FETE Last Friday Fr Michael celebrated Mass with our school community to mark “All Saints Day”. Due to COVID-19 restrictions parents were unable to attend. In fact only our Grade 6 students were able to attend in person. However our very clever I.T. leader, Jeremy Richardson ensured that the Mass was broadcast to every classroom in the school.

Thank you to Julie Leonard, our Religious Education Leader, for her work in planning the Mass with Fr Michael. As always, it was very nice to have our school’s spiritual leader back amongst us.

A very big “Thank you” to our Grade 6 students and their families for supporting our Mission Day Fete last Friday. Given the restrictions placed upon us due to the COVID-19 pandemic the day was compromised somewhat, however the Grade 6 children provided a wide variety of activities for the children to participate in. Throwing water balloons at the Principal proved to be unexpectedly popular? And there I was thinking none of them would be game enough to front up to throw water bombs at me!

Thank you to their teachers for assisting the children and to all of our staff who also volunteered to be on the receiving end of water balloons or help to wash staff cars (Thanks Lisa) etc etc.

We do very much appreciate the charity of parents in supporting our Mission Day. Money raised will go towards supporting the work of The Good Shepherd sisters who are running a kindergarten in Thailand.

COVID-19 SAFE PRACTICES Staff are busily trying to organise excursions and camps for classes where possible before the end of the year. These are always memorable experiences for students and a valuable resource in education. Last Friday our Foundation students enjoyed a trip to the Ballarat Wildlife Park, Grade ones are heading to Queenscliff next Friday, the 17th and our Year 6 students are going on camp to Halls Gap from the 24th of November. More details about other adventures will be released as they are “locked in''.

All parents who volunteer in any capacity at school, including on camps or excursions, MUST provide evidence that they have received both vaccination shots.

STAFFING NEWS FOR 2022 Planning for 2022 is well underway and as always there is some reshuffling of staff with departures and new arrivals. While not all staffing is completely settled I can advise the following class teachers for 2022:

Grade Foundation: Mrs Sharyn Newton, Mrs Megan Doyle & Ms Maggie Eldridge

Grade One: Ms Melissa Callahan, Ms Lucy Baudinette & Ms Maddie Searle

Grade Two: Mrs Frances Miles, Ms Raffie Borgia & Ms Lizzie Mc /Mrs Amanda Delorenzo

Grade Three: Mrs Katrina McGuane, Ms Angela Hogben & Mrs Meredith Ryan

Grade Four: Ms Rebecca Sayhoune, Ms Deanne Cumming & Mr Aaron Walters

Grade Five: Mrs Rebecca O’Shea, Mrs Kerry Eldridge & Mr Jeremy Richardson

Grade Six: Mrs Kate Tompkins & Mrs Lynne Garner

Ms Julie Leonard will be taking on the role of our Welfare Leader as Emma Rogers will be taking Maternity Leave at the end of 2021.

GRADUATION We are now permitted to hold a Graduation Ceremony for our Grade 6 students however COVID-19 protocols will apply. The details are as follows: The Graduation Ceremony will be held in the Jubilee Centre at Trinity College from 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 9th.

Given that we have a Graduating class of 71 students, COVID-19 restrictions dictate that only the two parents of each student will be able to attend.

All adults MUST BE fully vaccinated to attend the Graduation Ceremony. COVID-19 Marshalls will be in attendance.

We are making arrangements to “stream” the ceremony in order that grandparents and other family members will be able to watch the ceremony online.