Dear Parents

Welcome back for the 2020 school year! I hope you have all managed to have some time with friends and families. This week the staff have been busy engaging in professional learning and preparing their classrooms. Lots of excitement as they look forward to welcoming their new class groups on Monday 3 February. Enjoy the last three days before it all starts again!

I know for many, the start of 2020 has been challenging. Whether directly or indirectly affected, the recent bushfires have had a tremendous impact on us all.  Please let me know if you or your family require any additional support. We have a strong, supportive community at St Monica's that looks out for each other. Added to this was the recent hail storm. Thankfully the school was not impacted and our solar panels were not damaged. 

On the first day of term, the children will assembly under the covered area in the courtyard. The Kinder children have a delayed start and commence at 9.30am.  Our Kinder classrooms have moved; they are now located next to the Kinder play area and this is where the children will assembly. A cuppa will be available in the staffroom, for parents wishing to catch up following the morning bell, until 10.00am. For convenience, please enter by the side gate into the staffroom courtyard following the assembly. Kinder parents please drop in before you leave.   

Uniform Shop

Our uniform shop will be open between 10.00 and 11.00 tomorrow, Friday 31 January for last minute back to school items. Where possible please preorder via Qkr. 

No School Canteen for Week 1 & 2

With the departure of Mrs Sam Manning, our canteen manager, at the end of 2019 we are still in the process of recruiting for a new manager. As a consequence, there will be no canteen for at least the first two weeks; this includes all online orders. I apologise for the inconvenience. Due to the cost of running the canteen, we are planning to trial open for only three days a week. 

Chaplaincy Grant Successful

We have been successful in obtaining a grant to employ a Student Welfare Officer under the government Chaplaincy Program. This will enable our program to continue and extend Mr Bob Fletcher's contract for 10 hours per week for 2020. Mr Fletcher supports the teachers in connecting and engaging with students to ensure all feel safe, learn and are supported. 

Staff Professional Learning

This week all staff have been involved in MAPA Training. With a focus on prevention, MAPA (Management of Actual or Potential Aggression) program teaches management and intervention techniques to help staff cope with escalating behaviours in a professional and safe manner. It is important that staff are continuing to be upskilled to manage any situation that may present itself. Completion of the course will occur during staff meetings this term. The staff have also engaged with planning and will spend time tomorrow reflecting on our school theme and the parable of the sower. This parable is our scriptural reference for the year.   

Classroom Teachers 2020

Kinder 

Clare Battye

Natalie Currie (3 days) + Helen Houghton (2 days - Thursday & Friday)

Year 1

June Edwards 

Yvette Rosenfeld

Year 2

Emma Russell (3 days) + Monika Richards (2 days - Monday & Tuesday)

Sarah Corkhill (3 days) + Kirsty Price (2 days - Monday & Tuesday)

Year 3

Mira Lustica (4 days) + Cerryanne Kelly (1 day - Tuesday)

Susan Carswell (4 days) + Luke Donnelly (1 day - Thursday)

Kirsty Godschalx (3 days) + Melinda Brown (2 days - Thursday & Friday)

Year 4

Ryan Matchett (3 days) + Bob Fletcher (2 days - Tuesday & Wednesday)

Carmel Rheinberger

Year 5

Amanda Winne

Christopher Evans

Haley Stonham (3 days) + Michael McFadden (2 days - Thursday & Friday)

Year 6

Kathy Moir

Brendan Hague

Elizabeth Foster (3 days) + Miriam Hilton (2 days - Thursday & Friday)

We continue to keep Fr Loi in our prayers with the loss of his Mother over the break. 

I look forward to welcoming everyone back.

Carmel Maguire

Principal