Principal's Message

Good afternoon parents and carers,

Welcome back to all our families and staff after what I hope has a wonderful and restful term break. Two terms down with two big terms to go for the 2022 academic school year. It is hard to believe we are almost at the end of July already.

Term three commences with St Philomena's welcoming three new staff members to our professional learning community for the remainder of the 2022 academic school year. I would like to formally welcome:

Mrs Samantha Cosgrove
Miss Isabella McGrath
Mrs Melanie Miller

Sam will replace Mrs Melissa Crittenden as the new Year 3 Leader of Learning for the remainder of the 2022 academic school year. Samantha completed her final teaching practicum last term, working in the Year 5 learning environment and joins St Philomena’s as a recent graduate from the University of New England with a Bachelor of Education (K-6). Sam and husband Matthew, have been involved in the St Philomena’s learning community since 2021 and have twin boys in Year 1.

Isabella is no stranger to St Philomena's, (and sister to our wonderful Miss Phoebe McGrath) completing her final teaching practicum in Term 4, 2021 in our secondary school, leading learning in PDHPE and English. Isabella is a recent graduate from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Education (Health & Physical Education and English) and has been working in a number of secondary schools in Sydney in Terms 1 and 2, 2022. Isabella will work with Miss Anne Johnston and Mrs Anna Copeman to provide an additional Leader of Learning in Year 7, 8 & 9 English and Year 7 & 8 PDHPE.

Melanie will join St Philomena's in our K-6 school in a multi-faceted role ranging from Release from Face to Face (RFF) support, to providing targeted learning intervention for students. From Week 5, Melanie will also complete her final teaching practicum in Stage 2, until the end of term. Melanie is in the final stages of completing a Master of Teaching at the University of New England and also holds a Bachelor of Tourism with many years of experience in Retail Management. Since joining St Philomena's Melanie this week has enrolled her daughter Mahli in Year 2. Melanie's husband, Jesse, is currently working at the Moree Secondary College.

Although we are excited to welcome these three ladies to our learning community, I also acknowledge the resignation of Mrs Melissa Crittenden who will be leaving us at the end of July. On behalf of the St Philomena's community, I would like to thank Melissa for her commitment to leading learning in her many roles at school, and wish her family (Jason, Hamish and Sarah) all the very best in their new adventures in Tamworth.

Thank you to all of our families that joined us for the first of two Semester 1, Parent Teacher Conferences on Wednesday night. Appointment times are again open for next Wednesday evening and I encourage our families to take advantage of the opportunity to discuss your child's learning success with their Leader of Learning.

Again, welcome to Term 3 and I look forward to an exciting and engaging term ahead.

God bless,

Jamie McDowall

School Principal