Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of Saint David’s School,
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! I imagine that the excitement has started in your homes as we enter the festive season and all that it brings.
Advent, the Christian season of self-reflection, and the time of anticipation for the birth of the baby who would change the world, has now commenced. To be part of a Catholic school community as a student, parent or staff member, is to be part of the grand story that began in a stable in Bethlehem. I encourage you to make space to weave this story with your own!
Year 7 Graduation Mass
On Monday evening we farewelled our Year 7 students with their Graduation Mass. During this Mass we honoured two Year 7 leaders, Sean K and Isabella O, who each received the St Mary MacKillop of the Cross Leadership Award. Their commitment to serving the school community has been outstanding.
I remind you that our last day of the school year will be Thursday 14 December at 3pm. Staff will return on Friday 15 December for a Pupil Free Day. The Front Office will reopen on Monday 22 January and students will return to school on Monday 29 January 2018.
Student Leaders 2018
I would like to congratulate the following students on their selection as School Captains for 2018: Year 7 Molly Brooksby and Kane Halfpenny Year 6 Makeeley Jones and James Crockett. I also commend all applicants for these positions, as the process was very competitive.
Farewells
We offer our best wishes and prayers for a fulfilling and happy future to all those families who are ending their association with Saint David’s. We also farewell a number of staff this year, representing many years of experience and dedication across the life and history of the school.
Our best wishes go to Ms Frances Dello, who is leaving the school after fifteen years. We thank Frances for her enthusiasm and dedication to her teaching, particularly with our younger students. Farewell and thank you also to Tameka Angrave, Dr Sarah Quinn, Mr Matt Drader and Ms Fiona MacDonald, whose contracts are concluding this year. We thank Tameka, Sarah, Matt and Fiona for their outstanding contributions to our school and wish them well in their future endeavours. We also wish Ms Kim Chenoweth and Ms Kim Gilchrist a wonderful break as they take twelve months extended leave for 2018; they will return in 2019.
OSHC Director 2018
We welcome Mrs Jessica Harmer as the new Director of OSHC for 2018. I wish to sincerely thank Mrs Peta Jordan – Payne for her role as Acting Director this term. We are truly blessed to have a committed team of OSHC workers.
New Teaching Staff
Next year we welcome three new members of staff. Miss Lia Arman will be joining us in Year 6, moving from Saint Theresa School Brighton, Mrs Jenny Everuss will join Year 4/5 from St Margaret Marys School Croydon, and Ms Tess Corcoran will join Year 1/2 from Pulteney Grammar School.
Furthermore, thank you to all the outstanding staff of Saint David’s for your dedication and hard work throughout the year. Your care for each child really endorses our system’s ethos: in Catholic Education, “every child matters”.
Finally, on behalf of the staff, I would like to thank you for your support for our school and your children throughout 2017. My special thanks go to the many volunteers who work with LAP students, work on committees, the Board and P&F, wash and sell second-hand uniforms, run school banking, hear reading, attend excursions, coach sporting teams, and generally make a positive impact on the lives of our students.
I look forward to the children’s return on Monday 29 January 2018, and wish you all a peaceful Advent, holy Christmas, and a relaxing holiday break.
Regards,
Leanne
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