Principal's News

As we conclude the end of the liturgical year with the feast of Christ the King this weekend may we continue to build bridges of peace in our world as Jesus modelled.

Lord Jesus, help to become builders of bridges

Bridges that link our parish and our school,

Our teacher and our parents, 

our hopes for our children and the realisation of these hopes

Above all, help our children to see the relevance of their faith, to everyday lives

Put on them, as God’s chosen ones

Compassion, kindness, patience and love

And let the peace of Christ rule in all of our hearts.

School News

At our recent meeting on Wednesday November 13, the School Board were presented with a report from Tony Dalton from our three Community Consultations conducted recently.

I have included the details as reported to the School Board.

The information has assisted the Leadership Team to plan for 2020.  We have listened, heard,   and planned for the 2020 school year with a focus on moving forward to continue to provide an effective educational design focusing upon our school values of excellence, respect, courage, compassion and inclusiveness.  

It is always exciting designing the structures for what is ahead.  This does involve a consideration of many factors.

balancing the educational, social and pastoral needs of all our children

the strategic placement of teacher resources

teacher growth and development

accommodating specific needs and adjustments for children 

utilising the contemporary learning spaces 

projected fees and charges 

curriculum priorities 

as well as the anticipated Commonwealth and State Grants.

 Can I thank the staff and School Board for their input to the 2020 decisions.

It was pleasing to read and digest the report with the School Board and earlier with the Leadership Team.

The library will be in place shortly after Mal Rademakker, a local builder, has completed the shelving.  This should occur in the next fortnight. The next Assembly will be on December 6th and fortnightly in 2020.  

The opportunity to be involved in a positive consultation has provided the Leadership and Staff team with some ideas for next year.  Planning is underway to engage parents in becoming aware of the teaching and learning process and I am confident that this opportunity to visibly see and understand the quality learning opportunities will provide some clarity to contemporary learning experiences.  

In the new year and throughout the school year  there will be information sessions to share what occurs in the craft of teaching for the needs of all children.  Interestingly the local excursion for the Year 4 students last Friday opened our eyes to the advances in technology and what a world awaits our children.  Preparation for this begins with having an initial focus on knowledge and skills in the early years and an extension of developing their capabilities across all areas of the curriculum.

I’m confident that with the right mix of teaching styles, a dedicated focus on building a Professional Learning Community (PLC)  amongst teachers that collaborates, shares and has an ongoing interrogation of teaching practices will allow St James to grow and develop. 

Our focus will always be on teachers taking a collective responsibility for all students learning and to look beyond the school for sources of learning, ideas and networks.  Whilst we have internal professional learning opportunities, our teachers engage in action research beyond the local system. Three teachers, Karlee Agnew, Olivia Quinlan and Nancy Ohlert recently travelled to St Pius Warrnambool to look at other teaching and learning practices. They will continue to do this. Yesterday we hosted a professional learning opportunity for 25 teachers in the Board Room with teachers from Catholic schools and the Independent sector.  Education does not stand still and to be static will leave us behind. 

In educating young hearts and minds, we need to be alert and sharp to the continual changing worldview and provide an education that is relevant, dynamic and in alignment with the Catholic schools context of improving humanity. 

Class Structures 2020

Foundation   

Year 1

Year 2

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Year 6

Dads in Tasmania

Every year our Dads have a special time in at Barnbougle with their annual golf trip.  The weekend had an added bonus with the gentlemen deciding that they could contribute to the Peter McCallum Institute with each player chipping in to support the Peter Mac.  Cancer affects many and we do have parents who are currently managing cancer. This was a beautiful heartfelt gesture which indirectly support our families. Thanks to Steve Williams who suggested that this be mentioned in the newsletter this week.

The golfers in their quest to raise awareness, all grew a moustache and in doing so the Barnbougle Golf Resort therefore matched the St James contributions.  Whilst the lads may have looked odd and prickly the intention to raise the funds was the major intention.

School Board

At the recent Community Consultations the structure of the School Board was raised.

School Boards in the Archdiocese of Melbourne contribute to the governance of the school through its establishment by the governing body, the Parish Priest.  It is part of the framework of rules, relationships, systems and processes that make up governance but is not the governing body. The School Board is there to support the governing body, the Parish Priest, and the Principal who is responsible, as the educational leader of the Catholic school, for the administration of the school, education and selection of staff, curriculum and pastoral care.

The Board is an advisory body that is strategic in its function, seeks feedback, advice and support.  The School Board meets on a regular basis and comprises the following members:

Fr Martin Dixon,  Peter Hodgson,  Carmelina Corio, Samm Steains, Donna Anderson, Mel Harrington, Fiona MacKenzie, Tria Lynch, Sally Burns, Helen Connell and Brendan Flanagan.

School Board Meeting dates for 2020 are:

February 12    March 25    April 29

June 3    July 29    September 2  October 21 November 25

Reminder

There is a Parent Helper afternoon tea tomorrow, Friday at 2.45pm in the Project Space.  We have many responses. The afternoon is an opportunity to acknowledge your partnership in our children's education. 

CEM Creative Arts Exhibition 2020

Yesterday we received information to indicate that St James school’s artworks by the children have been selected to be displayed at the Creative Arts Exhibition 2020 which is taking place from March 16 – March 21 at the Catholic Leadership Centre, East Melbourne.

This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the Visual Arts program designed by Carla Renaud and evidence of the quality Arts program that the children receive every week.  

School Opening - ‘St James School in the Sky’

Wednesday 4th December

The time has finally arrived for us to unveil the completed new and improved facilities of St James.   We are now operating as a school in an environment that has met our vision to be contemporary and purposeful for the families of St James.

Having sowed the seeds for the extensive upgrade of St James in August 2016 and working through a period of challenge, St James is now an exciting place to be.

The Learning spaces that have been created after much consultation, budgeting, proposals and numerous Board and Site meetings, are great examples of the collective spirit to reframe the educational environment.  We have much to be grateful for.

To celebrate our joint achievement, please see invitation on the Deputy Principal’s page. 

Brendan

Dear Community Members

We are pleased to provide this joint communication to community members of primary schools in our region which details the arrangements between Presentation College Windsor and CBC St Kilda to continue the proud tradition of providing quality Catholic education in our precinct. Both schools will operate as usual in 2020, however 2020 will be PCW’s final year of operation.  

In 2021, CBC St Kilda will offer a comprehensive and contemporary educational program for girls and boys for 2021 and beyond. Planning for this transition is well underway. As such, 2021 enrolment applications to CBC for girls and boys are now invited at all year levels. Enrolment information is available on the school’s website. Tours and enrolment information are available by contacting the Registrar Oonagh Caldwell  on 9529 6611 or registrar@cbcstkilda.com. For other enquiries, please contact Jenny Knox – jknox@stkilda.com. 

In preparation for next year, a Transition Working Party has been formed and is undertaking careful and collaborative planning to ensure arrangements are in place for the continued and seamless provision of high-quality education to students of both PCW and CBC in 2020. As has been the case for many years, senior students of PCW and CBC will continue to share VCE classes across both schools.

In addition, a separate group has convened to undertake planning for CBC in 2021 and beyond as it opens its doors to girls as well as boys. This is a far-reaching, consultative process that will involve extensive research and partnerships with a range of invested groups including Catholic Education Melbourne, Edmund Rice Education Australia, Parish Priest Fr Joe Caddy of St Mary’s Church as well as the schools and their communities.

We trust that this communication provides insight into the work currently being undertaken by both schools to ensure a sustainable future for Catholic education in our precinct. 

Yours sincerely 

Filina Virgato 

Principal

Presentation College Windsor 

Gerald Bain-King

Principal 

CBC St Kilda