Dear Parents

As we come to the end of another exceptional year, I thank our staff for their dedication, expertise and support. So many of you have consistently commended our staff on the high quality learning and support they have provided to you and your children throughout this year, whether your child is learning at school or at home. I cannot speak more highly of this talented and committed group of educators and the way they engage with each other and with our families.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate you, our wonderful parents, for the dedication and love you give to your children, supporting them through difficult times and celebrating their successes. As a staff we all appreciate your support and the way you have so patiently accepted and understood the many challenges you have faced this year.

This final newsletter for the 2021 school year also gives me an ideal opportunity to thank our wonderful students whose resilience, perseverance and teamwork have enabled them to shine and thrive throughout this unique and ever evolving way of learning. Your children should feel so proud of all they have achieved and the way they have been so flexible, patient, understanding and open to the various changes this year has brought to their schooling experience. ‘We thank our Year 6 leaders who are leaving us and moving on to secondary school. We thank them for all they have brought to our school throughout their primary school journey and wish them all the very best for the future. We will never forget this year and all it has meant to each one of us and our hope is that when we look back on this year we will recognise the growth, friendships and unique ways we have been able to maintain and build relationships, whether it is together at school, through google meets, phone calls, See Saw communication and a range of other means of keeping in touch and providing support. We have learned so much and will forever be richer for the experience.

It is with appreciation and thanks that we farewell some of our staff. Although Kelsea Timmers and Jordan McMahon have only been with us for a short time, we thank them for the people they are and all that they have brought to our school. I also thank Mersina Gelagotis who stepped into the role of Physical Education Teacher with enthusiasm and sparkle. We appreciate all Mersina has brought to her role and wish Mersina, Kelsea and Jordan all the very best in their future endeavours.

It is with great sadness and such gratitude that we say goodbye to Helen Procak. Helen has been a valued and dedicated member of St Mary’s staff for many, many years. Helen always brings her very best to her role and nothing is ever too much trouble for Helen. She embodies so many qualities that St Mary’s stands for: kindness, generosity of spirit, teamwork, collaboration, mixed in with a lot of fun and friendship along the way. We will miss Helen and we wish her and her husband Peter every joy and happiness in the future.

On behalf of the staff of St Mary’s, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday time. May God continue to pour out God’s blessings on you and your family and we look forward to seeing you again when school resumes next year.

Kind Regards,

Lisa Broeren