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Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Term 4. I hope you managed to have a safe school holiday period where you were able to get into some energy credit. This Term is always busy with reports, parent-teacher interviews, Kinder Orientation, Christmas and end-of-year events, to name a few. This Term will undoubtedly go quickly.
We welcome back Anne-Marie Dimmock, Jo Grogan, Karen Jones and Antonietta Shean from LSL in Term 3 and also congratulate Ms Natalie Radanovich on her engagement over the holidays.
Easing of Restrictions for Term 4
From Catholic Education to All Principals- In Term 4, CECG Schools will not utilise a roadmap to inform the activities that can be conducted due to the removal of many COVID restrictions. Therefore, all CECG Schools, Early Learning Centres and Out of School Care Services will return to normal activities, subject to any adjustments that may be required to be made from time to time due to staffing shortages or any COVID requirements that are implemented.
Key points to note:
- A return to normal operations with the ability to make adjustments if required due to staffing shortages or Covid.
- Events may be postponed or cancelled at the last minute if school operations are compromised due to increased staffing needs of external events.
- It is requested that persons who are COVID-positive, have flu-like symptoms, or are unwell do not attend school.
Kinder Orientation
With the easing of restrictions this Term, we will be able to run a more 'normal' Kinder orientation setup this year. I am currently writing to all Kindergarten 2023 families to outline our approach to Kinder orientation for 2023. Parents will receive this letter next week via email.
ELC and building works
Our application for ELC funding is progressing well, with a successful site visit by the BGA panel in week 10 of last term. If successful, we would look to open the ELC in 2024. I will update you as we receive further updates. Plans are also progressing well for our building renovation in 'E' block (Current 2/3 classrooms) next year. I will have a community showcase of plans in the next couple of weeks. Details will be in the upcoming parent memo or newsletter.
Staffing
Debbie Cossettini, our school Librarian and ICT Coordinator, has been successful in a sea change to take on these roles at Holy Family Primary School in 2023. We congratulate Debbie on her appointment and will have the opportunity to thank her for her years of service to the community. These positions have been put out as an internal expression of interest to staff.
We congratulate Andrea Gatt on her successful transfer to Holy Family Gowrie next year. This is a part of a three-way swap, and we welcome Mrs Jess Lewis from Kaleen, who will join us in Andrea's place. This swap is for a year with the opportunity for an extension. We will have a chance to welcome Jess at the end of the Term.
We interviewed in Week 10 for several teaching positions and have appointed three new teachers for 2023. Please welcome:
- Barb McHatten, Amanda Stevens and Isabelle Johnson. Your children will know Barb well, as she has been teaching with us in a relief capacity since July. We will have the opportunity to welcome Amanda and Isabelle later in the Term.
We also welcome the appointment of our new Assistant Principal, who will replace Tiffany at the end of the year. Annie joins us from St. Benedict's in Narrabundah and brings a wealth of knowledge and varied experience from Numeracy, Literacy and Library roles. We will have the opportunity to welcome and meet Annie later this term.
Boorowa Touch and Netball
Unfortunately, the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival has been cancelled this year due to flooding and predicted inclement weather. Having spent time at the schools in Boorowa in recent years, I know this would not have been a decision taken lightly by the community. The Boorowa carnival is the primary funding source for the local school communities each year. Our school has donated to the community at Boorowa in place of the registration fees for our students attending the carnival.
New Counsellor
It is with sadness that I write to let you know Sharman Hampson, our School counsellor, will be moving on from the end of Week 4 this term. Sharman has accepted a management role with CatholicCare, where she will oversee all school counsellors. Please join me in congratulating Sharman on her new role. Our new Counsellor, Marie McKenzie, has been appointed, and there will be a thorough handover between Sharman and Marie before she finishes up.
Classes for 2023
Shortly we will begin the process of examining class lists for 2023. As you can imagine, this is quite a complex process, and I have included some of the considerations teachers as professionals consider when looking at placements. When forming the class lists, the following factors are taken into consideration:
- Additional Needs
- Work Habits
- Cognitive ability
- Friendships
- Behaviour
- Gender
- Health considerations
- Religion (to assist in achieving a balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years)
- Common names
Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Where practical, parental requests based on genuine educational concerns will be considered.
Parents who wish to discuss particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in specific classes should put their concerns in writing and address them to the Principal by Friday, 4th November, Week 4 (Term 4). All Parent concerns will be seriously considered during the process. However, it must be clearly understood that there is no guarantee that these can or will be honoured.
Blessings and best wishes
Sean Rutledge
Principal
Welcome back to Term 4!
This week my RE NEWS is being written to you from the Blue Mountains where I am a participant at the Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander State Education Conference alongside 30 other CECG teachers and staff.
I am privileged that this conference is also being held on Gundungurrah Land, which is the land of my Mob on my Grandmother's side.
I have spent the week connecting with my culture and learning how we can continue to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families.
I also had a bucket list moment when I was able to meet an Aunt Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann. (Aunt is a term we use in our culture to show our elders respect). Aunt Miriam-Rose is an Australian Aboriginal activist, educator and artist of the Ngan’gityemerri language group. Dr Miriam-Rose is the first Indigenous teacher to work in the Northern Territory. She teaches about Dadirri, a deep listening, and it was absolutely life changing to hear her speak as a key note at this conference, meet her and spend time with her. This experience was only made better by being able to share this with my own Mum, Kerry O'Callaghan, who is the Aboriginal Education Officer at CE, a moment I will remember for a life time.
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI FEAST DAY
On Wednesday we will be celebrating our Patron Saint, St Francis as a school and community. We will begin with Mass at 9:30am in the school hall and due to the lessening of restrictions, everyone is welcome! We will then as a school be completing a variety of activities and celebrations across the day including teacher swap and a variety concert where the students will be able to share their many talents and gifts. We will also be providing a special lunch for the children of pasta and sauce and/or cheese. The dietary requirements of gluten free & lactose free will be accommodated as will those children who are vegetarian as there will be no meat in the sauce. If your child does not like pasta, please send them to school with lunch as normal. The day will be a free clothes day, but no donation is required as it is in celebration of our school and patron saint. If you have any questions, as always, please contact me here at school or via email.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
A reminder to those parents of children in Year 4 who wish for their child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this year that Registration closes on Monday 17th October. Registrations must be made on the Parish QkR! platform, not the school one. There is also a parent formation session that needs to be attended by an adult (children do not need to attend) on either Wednesday 19th or Thursday 20th October at the Holy Family Church, Gowrie at 7pm. Only one session needs to be attended, not both.
Have a great week!
The canteen will be closed next Wednesday 19th October due to our Feast Day Celebrations. More information will be coming home soon.
If anyone is able to lend a helping hand and contact some books for our Kinder home readers, please contact Lauren via email on Lauren.Macdonald@cg.catholic.edu.au.
We are looking for parents who would like to join the St Francis of Assisi Vinnies Night Patrol Team.
Volunteers are rostered on one or two Friday evenings a year only depending on the number of people on the team. Our team runs the 1st Friday of each month. The volunteer role requires training and once we have names and contact details of people interested in undergoing the training we will be in contact with further details. The night patrol takes food and supplies (i.e. blankets, socks, toiletries etc) to the homeless in Queanbeyan and civic. The commitment is from approximately 6pm to 9pm on the evenings when people are rostered on.
If you are interested, please contact the front office for more information.
Thanks to our wonderful families that have sponsored the Colour Run
