Principals Report
Today is Remembrance Day, a day of national commemoration. On this day at 11 am, Australians pause in silence for a minute to remember the bravery and sacrifice of the people who lost their lives while serving Australia and its allies in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Today we met in The Learning Hub to remember and pray together. Thanks to Mrs Hills and selected students for leading this commemoration.
It is time to reflect and to silently remember all those who have served and died in war.
School Athletics Carnival- 9.00-11.00 Friday 15th November
Sue Pattinson has been working very hard with her sports leaders and students to prepare for this Friday. We are very excited and are praying for great weather. Remember to send the students with their school hats, snacks, water bottles and to wear their house colours. Please ensure you are at school by 8.50am as staff and students will walk down to the track just after 9.00am. We are very excited to use our new shade marques at the track.
24th December CHRISTMAS EVE CHILDREN’S MASS NATIVITY- 6pm ST CATHERINE’S
This year I’m assisting Sheelagh in the Parish to organise a Nativity at the 6pm Christmas Eve Children’s Mass at St Catherine's Church. Families that were involved last year really enjoyed the experience.
- If you would like your child/children to be involved please look out for an Operoo that will come out later in the week.
- You will need to come to a rehearsal at St Catherine’s Church at 4.30pm on Thursday, 19th December. At this rehearsal we will allocate roles & organise costumes. (These will be provided for all the children). This rehearsal should take about an hour and we ask parents to stay for the whole time. Children involved need to be school age.
- We will have a dress rehearsal at 4.30pm on Monday, 23rd December.
- You will need to bring your child/children to church at 5.15pm on Tuesday, 24th December to have a final rehearsal and get fitted into their costumes.
- Parents will need a Working with Childrens Check/Card to attend the practice sessions to work with children
Please let me know if you are able to help at either the rehearsals and on Christmas Eve.
Please contact me if you have any questions or need clarification.
FOUNDATION 2024 ORIENTATION SESSIONS & PARENT INFORMATION EVENING
7pm Tuesday 12th November- Parent Information Session
We look forward to meeting our 2025 Foundation families at the Parent Information Session on Tuesday, 12th November. This will take place in the Learning Hub.
2025 Foundation Classroom Transition Sessions 9.15-10.45am
Monday 18th November: First School Transition Session (Foundation Classroom) Morning Tea for parents
Tuesday, 26th November: Second School Transition Session (Foundation Classroom)
Wednesday, 4th December: Third School Transition Session (Foundation Classroom)
STAFFING- Foundation 2025 Teacher
Jaimee Hall will be the Foundation teacher in 2024. This year Jaimee has designed a t-shirt for her new students which they can wear to kinder, the transition days and during the school holidays.
Staffing Updates
There will be some staffing changes in 2025. These will be announced over the next few newsletters as appointments are finalised at staff members' new schools and our school. Maree Hills, Sandra Renehan and Dylan Knoll will not be returning in 2025. We will bid them farewell in true St Catherine's fashion at the end of the year.
Maree Hills will finish at St Catherine’s at the end of the school year. We will deeply miss her vast experience, unwavering dedication, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail. Throughout her time here, Maree has made significant contributions in various roles, including as a Foundation, Year 1, and Year 2 classroom teacher, Wellbeing Leader, and Religious Education Leader. She has been an integral part of our Leadership Team, bringing both insight and passion to everything she does. Maree has accepted a position as a Foundation teacher at Sacred Heart, Croydon.
Dylan Knoll has been successful in obtaining a teaching position at St Louis De Montforts in Aspendale. Dylan has been a valued member of our St Catherine’s community, and it has been a privilege to mentor and support him during his first year of teaching. He has brought fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to our school, enriching the learning environment for both students and staff. We wish him well as he continues his teaching career.
Sandra Renehan will finish at the end of the 2024 school year. She plans to dedicate more time to her family, pursue travel opportunities, and work as a Casual Relief Teacher while considering her next steps in education or exploring new opportunities in the Arts. Sandra has been a valued member of our school community for 11 years, during which she has served in various roles, including as a classroom teacher, Visual Arts Teacher, and Performing Arts Teacher. She has been a driving force behind our Environmental and Sustainability initiatives, and more recently, she has taken on additional leadership responsibilities. Her experience, creativity and multifaceted talents will be missed.
2025 Visual Arts Teacher- Joanne Carter
I have employed Joanne to teach Visual Arts in 2025. Joanne is an experienced teacher who currently works as a Visual Arts Teacher at St Roch’s, Glen Iris. Joanne will work across both schools in 2025. She is very excited to be joining our St Catherines’ family.
2025 Performing Arts Teacher & Classroom Teachers
I’m in the process of finalising these positions and will introduce the new staff members in the next few newsletters. When staff move schools we need to make announcements concurrently in both communities. Thanks for your understanding.
External School Review
This year we have undergone our school review. This occurs every 4 years and is conducted by an external reviewer. The findings and recommendations will guide our School Improvement agenda over the next 4 years. Planning for the Review began in Term 4, 2023 and preparation continued in Terms 1 and 2 of this year. The external reviewer engaged with members across the school community in order to verify the evidence which was presented. I have included ‘areas of strength’ and ‘opportunities for improvement’ from her final report.
Day 1 - Thursday 1st August
VRQA Compliance- Requirements for registration as a Primary school
- Review of the minimum Standards and Requirements for School Registration, and other
Commonwealth Requirements including Child safety Assessment
Day 2 - Wednesday 21st August
Meetings with:
- Acting Principal
- Learning Area/Class visits (Observe lessons and meet 1:1 with teacher)
- Sphere Leader- Learning and Teaching
- Staff Focus Group
Day 3 - Tuesday 27th August
Meetings with:
- Sphere Leader- Student Wellbeing
- Education Support Staff and Administration
- Student Focus Group (Year 4: 3 girls & 3 boys)
- Sphere Leader- Religious Education
- Sphere Leader- School
- Community
- Parent Focus group (2.30-3.20)
- Acting Principal
Day 4 - Thursday 10th October
- Feedback Report- Dialogue and Engagement
After Review Process
- Work with MACs (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholics Schools) staff to Develop SIP- School Improvement Framework for next 4 years
- Use SIP to develop AAP (Annual Action Plan) for 2025
Areas of strength
- Enactment of a clear and targeted improvement agenda.
- Capacity to engage students in the school’s religious dimension in ways that make sense to them.
- Instructional leadership through coaching and engagement with region to incorporate evidence-based practice to improve pedagogy.
- Capacity to ensure multi-tiered support for students across a range of levels
- Commitment to positive and respectful relationships and engagement that values and enables parent and student voice to build community.
Opportunities for improvement
- Effective faith formation for mission for leaders and staff that builds teachers’ confidence in their understanding of the Catholic faith and knowledge of the Catholic spiritual traditions and religious practices that would equip them to help students to grow in their own understanding of the presence of God at work in their lives.
- Supporting the potential of middle leadership to develop pedagogical expertise as well as the skills needed to lift the performance of colleagues.
- Focusing on the analysis and use of student wellbeing data to inform and develop practice that enables students’ readiness to learn, their active engagement in their learning and develops their personal and social capabilities, within a tiered system of support.
- Embedding the MACS Flourishing Learners position statement, Vision for Instruction and customising the new Mathematics Uplift Curriculum Resources and English Uplift Curriculum Resources to improve literacy and numeracy.
- Continuing to create opportunities to support families as partners in their child’s learning, whether face to face or technological.
MACSIS Surveys
The results from the surveys conducted at the end of term 3 (September) have just come in. This data will be used to guide school improvement in 2025. The data will be utilised to identify strengths and identify areas for improvement.
I have included the snapshot data which indicates St Catherine’s is above the MACS average in all 3 surveys.
Family Data: (35 families completed - 70 sent out)
- Overall positive endorsement of the school 70%
- Above MACS average school score of 69%
Student Data: (5/6 students)
- Overall positive endorsement of the school 73%
- Above MACS average school score of 64%
Staff Data: (16 staff)
- Overall positive endorsement of the school 84%
- Above MACS average school score of 68%
F-4 SWIMMING & 5/6 BEACH PROGRAM
An Operoo will go out next week with information regarding the F-4 Swimming Program. An Operoo will also go out with information about the 5/6 Beach Program. Please note that these are a compulsory component of the PE Curriculum. Please contact me if you need to discuss any aspects of the programs.
2024 TERM 4 SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS
- Friday, 29 November 2024 (Pupil-Free Day)
- Wednesday, 18 December 2024 (Days in Lieu for staff)
- Thursday, 19 December 2024 (Days in Lieu for staff)
- Friday, 20 December 2024 (Days in Lieu for staff)
Term 4 Dates
Week 6
Tuesday 12th November - 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 2025 Foundation Parent Information Night
Wednesday 13th November - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Parish Mass (Yr 1/2 & 5)
Friday 15th November - 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Whole School Athletics Carnival
Week 7
Monday 18th November - 9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. - 2025 Foundation Transition & family morning tea (Session 1)
Week 8
Monday 25th - 26th November - Yr 5/6 Beach Program (whole day)
Tuesday 26th November - 9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. 2025 Foundation Transition (Session 2)
Wednesday 27th November - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. St Catherine Laboure Feast Mass
Thursday 28th November - 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Year 6 Big Day Out - Luna Park
Friday 29th November - School Closure Day (no onsite care available)
Week 9
Monday 2nd - Friday 6th December - F-4 Swimming Program (Aquastar)
Wednesday 4th December - 9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. 2025 Foundation Transition (Session 3)
Thursday 5th December - From 5pm (Carols start 6pm promptly) Whole School Christmas Carols
Week 10
Wednesday 11th December - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. End of Year Mass & Nativity Play
Wednesday 11th December - 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 2025 Teacher Meet & Greet
Wednesday 11th December - 2:15 p.m. Whole School Class Kris Kringle (KK)
Wednesday 11th December - School Reports go home
Week 11
Monday 16th December - 9:00am Year 6 Big Day In
Monday 16th December - 3:10pm Year 6 Guard of Honour
Monday 16th December - 5:45pm Year 6 Mass & Graduation
Tuesday 17th December - 3:20pm Students & Staff last day of term 4 2024
Wednesday, 18 December 2024 (Days in Lieu for staff) (St Peter's OSH Club confirmed)
Thursday, 19 December 2024 (Days in Lieu for staff) (St Peter's OSH Club confirmed)
Friday, 20 December 2024 (Days in Lieu for staff) (St Peter's OSH Club confirmed)
Thursday 19th December- 4.30pm Parish Nativity Rehearsal 1
Monday 23rd December - 4.30pm Parish Nativity Rehearsal 2
Tuesday 24th December- 6.00pm Christmas Eve Children's Mass and Nativity