Tuesday 22nd November 2021
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Term 4, Issue 23 Tuesday 22nd November 2021 Dear Families, WOW! What a busy few weeks we have had here at St Mary’s! I would like to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for the way in which you have dealt with the challenges we have faced together. I have been so impressed with the calm way in which people have followed the processes we have put in place and been so willing to work together as a Community. At St Mary’s, we talk about Community all of the time. We always talk about how wonderful it is to work together and how great it is to be in a tight knit community, but lately, we have actually seen the actions beyond the words that make this community so great. I am also very aware of the trust that people are putting in us when they send their children here in the mornings. It is humbling to say the least, and it is not something we take for granted. We thank you for your continued support and we will do our best for you and your children. Its great to have our Community up and running again! Prep Orientation 2022 - SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Lovely! This morning, we had some of our 2022 Preps come in for their first transition session. As I said to the parents, it is one of the highlights of my calendar year. I love to see how the children come in and make the transition to school and I love to meet our new parents as a group. We had Sabrina, mother of Florian in Prep/1, talk to our families this morning, and it was lovely and very affirming to hear her perspectives on St Mary’s. We are indeed a special community, and I can’t wait for our Preps to start next year. Wow...can’t believe I am saying that already... Staffing News - 2022 As always, there are some changes happening in our staffing next year. We bid farewell to Hannah Nevins at the end of 2021 and are very sad to see her go! Hannah began her teaching career here as a graduate in 2015 and has been very heavily invested in the school and the St Mary’s Community ever since. Next year, she is teaching at St Anne’s Park Orchards and they are very lucky to have her. Hannah will be greatly missed and has had a huge impact on the children in her care. Hannah, for all of your work, commitment and years of service to the people of St Mary’s Dandenong, we say thank you. We also bid farewell to one of the most loved people in just about any Primary School I have ever worked in. Our beloved custodian, Jean-Claude Radegonde has decided to retire at the end of 2021, finishing his 29th year of employment at St Mary’s Dandenong. Jean-Claude’s children came to school here and he has been part of the furniture ever since. Every staff member who works here has a Jean-Claude story, and he is usually the first person they meet when they arrive. He has done an extraordinary job over his years here and is very special to many people. He is a big part of why St Mary’s is such a special place and his always smiling face and easy going nature will be sadly missed. We wish you all the very best in your retirement Jean-Claude. Orevwa frè mwen... Denise Ryan, our intrepid Intervention Teacher, will be taking an extended Long Service Leave for the first six months of the year with retirement in sight at the end of her time away, and again, will be very sadly missed. Denise has been at St Mary’s since 2001, a MONUMENTAL effort when you consider all of the children she would have taught in that time! Her dedication and commitment to Catholic Education has been a labour of Love, and she has always worked her hardest for the children in her care. Denise, all of the children who have benefitted from your caring tutelage will be far better off for it. We hope your Long Service Leave is particularly peaceful and we look forward to hearing all about it.
Page 2 St Mary’s News Term 4 Issue 23
Which brings me to the teaching positions for next year!
Level Teachers
Prep Mrs Faye Canty
Year 1/2 Mrs Dora Swan Miss Claudia Ferreira and
Miss Samantha Isaacson (sharing a classroom)
Year 3/4 Mrs Rose Stapleton Mr Jack Ross To Be Confirmed...
and Mrs Yvette Silva
(sharing a classroom)
Year 5/6 Miss Jordyn Gray Mrs Jennifer D’Souza Miss Alana Hanney
We are currently in the process of confirming our third Year 3/4 teacher and look forward to making an
announcement about that in the coming weeks. We are delighted to announce that we have employed Miss
Alana Hanney to our wonderful Year 5/6 team to work with Miss Gray and Mrs D’Souza. Alana did a
voluntary teaching placement in Year 5/6 this year and we were just so impressed with her that we had to
offer her a position. She did an amazing job adjusting to the online world of teaching and is a welcome
addition to our school and we look forward to starting her off on the best foot in her teaching career in the
best school in the world!
Mr Steve Carter is moving into the world of intervention next year to continue the wonderful work which has
become so much more important after the past two years of multiple lockdowns. Steve is an amazing one-on-
one and small group teacher, so we look forward to seeing the improvements the children make under his
guidance.
As we head towards the end of the year, we are grateful for the hard work of everybody here. We hope and
pray that you are all going ok...
Have a wonderful week,
Terry
Mr Gardiner’s Rib Ticklers…
Mr Gardiner: Mrs Edgar, did you hear about the teacher who was a vampire?
Mrs Edgar: Um...no...I didn't, but I’m sure you’ll tell me about her...
Mr Gardiner: Yeah, there were a LOT of blood tests in her grade!!! Get it? Blood Tests...a vampire? And a teacher?
Blood tests??? Bahahahahahahahaha….bahahahahahahahahaha
Mrs Edgar: Oh no...did you really just make that joke??? That is sooooooooo bad!
Mr Gardiner: Bahahahahahahahaha….bahahahahahahahahaha...aaaahhhhhh....
Important Dates
November
Tues 23rd—Prep Orientation! Welcome New Preps! 2022
Mon 31st January
December
All Students Return
Thurs 2nd—Prep Orientation!
to School!
M-F 6-10th—Swimming at Splash!
Mon 13th—Grade 6 Graduation Mass!
Tues 14th—Grade 6 Fun Day
Wed 15th—Last day for Students!
Mon 25th—Christmas Day! Merry Christmas Everyone!
Page 3 St Mary’s News Term 4 Issue 23
We’re Back at School (some of us)
The children in 2SC were
very happy to be back at
school. “I’m happy to be
back because I get to see my friends,’’ said Deng,
Luka and Athyak. Nicholas said, “ I like being back at
school so I can do algebra and listen to Beatles’
songs.” Nyakuoth was keen to work with other
children in reading groups. Nishan, Kathrina and
Penelope said, “We can learn new stuff.” Cosimo said,
“I like the celebration days we have sometimes. We
hope everyone is back soon.”
Welcome Back! We’ve
Missed You!
Page 4 St Mary’s News Term 4 Issue 23
Uniform Shop Canteen News
Due to Government There will be no canteen for the
regulations, all people visiting remainder of this year.
the Uniform Shop are required
to wear a mask and provide
proof of COVID vaccination
status.
Headbands
Are now available from
the Uniform Shop
or order online
aplusschoolwear.com.au
$10.50
St Mary’s is a COVID
Safe School
Please sign in with the QR
code and provide proof
of COVID vaccination
status when visiting our
school.
All Students in Grade 3-6,
all Staff and visitors aged 12
and above are required to
wear a mask while indoors.
Page 5 St Mary’s News Term 4 Issue 23
November
9th Srishakthi
Join Dandenong Little Athletics in Season 2021/2022 Daniella
Make Friends, Stay Healthy, Fun for the Whole Family. 12th Priyam
Little Athletics is a great activity for children aged 5—15 15th Gloria
years. 16th Aker
The emphasis of Little Athletics is Family, Fun and Fitness. 20th Pavneet
Dandenong Little Athletics conducts Competition Saturday Aman
Mornings with Training held on both Tuesday and Wednes- 21st Mara
day Nights. Aryan
TRY FOR FREE – we offer 2 FREE WEEKS 23rd Angelo
Full Season Membership Cost: $140.00 24th Joel
For further Information Contact: David - 0408 381 688 or Drake
26th Enrique
dandenong@lavic.com.au
Sandra
27th Angel
Fees
Please make sure that your fees are up to date. As a matter of justice to all there is
an expectation that all families contribute.
Enrolments 2022 School Contacts
If you have a child turning 5 Principal: Mr Terry Gardiner
by 30th April 2022, they may Deputy Principal: Mr Bryan Handasyde
be eligible to enrol at St Family Engagement Leader: Mrs Yvette Silva
School Secretaries: Ms Michelle Grenfell, Ms Jane Merchant
Mary’s school for Prep next
School Office Hours: 8.30am - 4.00pm Phone: 9791-7650
year. Please come to the
Email: principal@smdandenong.catholic.edu.au
office for an enrolment form.
Website: www.smdandenong.catholic.edu.au
We are also taking
enrolments for other year Parish Contacts
levels. Parish Priest: Fr Brendan Lane Parish Office: 9791 4611
Pastoral Associate: Kathy Gottliebsen
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