Principal's News

Dear Parents and Carers,

It was our intention to build a new classroom and toilet block this year. Unfortunately as building costs have risen so steeply post pandemic we have had to pause these plans. At last week’s School Council meeting however, we have agreed to pursue the extra funding we need from the Diocese of Ballarat in order that we might still go ahead with this project, which is the next step in our school’s Masterplan.

A positive response from our Diocese will be very welcome news as we seek to further improve the facilities that we offer our students and staff.

There are other budgetary pressures upon the school, as we know there are across the world right now, and these will have some impact. Next year we will be splitting our current Grade One into TWO class groups of 25, rather than the current arrangement of 3 classes of 16-17. Twenty five children is still a very manageable number of students especially for our 2 experts, Ms Borgia and Mrs Miles. Rest assured we will be supporting these classes with lots of Teacher Aide time as well. 

This will mean 20 class groups next year which is the same as this year, so the extra room to be built can be delivered next year and the delay will cause much less disruption  than if we absolutely needed it this year.

Our three Foundation Teachers for 2023 are: 

Sharyn Newton, Maggie Eldridge and Hayley Everitt

Grade One Teachers will be:    Melissa Callahan, Megan Doyle and Lauren Campigli

Grade Two teachers will be:     Frances Miles and Raffie Borgia 

Grade Three teachers will be:  Katrina McGuane, Angela Hogben and Meredith Ryan

Grade Four teachers will be:    Deanne Cumming, Shantelle Finn and Rebecca Sayhoune

Grade Five teachers will be:     Jeremy Richardson, Rebecca O’Shea and Jayden Tebble 

Grade Six teachers will be:  Kate Tomkins, Lynne Garner and Tom Rieniets

There is still lots of work to be done in 2022, however as you can see plans for 2023 are well underway. We will be conducting our first Foundation BBQ since 2019 NEXT Thursday, November 17th commencing at 6:00pm in the Multipurpose room. This is an important step in the orientation of our coming Foundation Class of 2023.

We will be conducting our “Transition Day” for all students on Tuesday, December 6th. Year 6 students will be spending the day at their chosen secondary school, next year’s Foundation class will be with us from 11:30am until 1:00pm and all other students will spend this same hour and a half with their 2023 class and teacher. Please contact the school if you have not received your invitation to the 2023 Foundation BBQ.

TUITION FEES AND CHARGES At last week’s meeting School Council approved a very modest $15 fee increase to the family fee for the coming 2023 year, despite the financial pressures alluded to earlier. School Council and staff are very sensitive to the external financial pressures that many in our community are currently facing.  An email will be sent to each family detailing both the family and student fees for 2023.

MISSION FETE With no newsletter last week due to the Public Holiday, this is my first opportunity to report that our “Mission Fete” held on the 28th of October raised $2577.35 for 'Catholic Missions' charity work throughout Australia and the world.