First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, whose unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of all, has shaped the educational experience for our students. Your passion, hard work and tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I am truly grateful for the positive impact you have had on the lives of our students.
To the children, you are the heart and soul of our school. Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and willingness to learn inspires us each day. It has been a pleasure to witness your growth and development throughout the year. As you embark on your well-deserved break, remember that you are capable of achieving great things, and I am confident that you will continue to make us proud in all your future endeavours.
As we approach the end of another school year, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we have undertaken together. It has been a year filled with growth, learning, and shared moments that have enriched our lives.
Final Staffing Announcements for 2025
At our end of year mass next week, we will be farewelling two other staff members who have been at TWCS for a number of years who have both chosen to take on new challenges in 2025.
Firstly Courtney Quigley. Courtney has been a teacher at Tenison Woods for a very long time, having time off to be mum to her 4 children and support her family when they moved to Wallaroo for 5 years. Courtney has been a wonderful advocate for each child, the TWCS community and at her core has been the wellbeing of each member of this great community. Courtney will be focusing on new adventures and family in 2025. On behalf of the community past and present, I thank Courtney for all she has done and wish her all the best.
Secondly, Dee Dente has recently made the decision to take up a newly created role at Nazareth Early Learning Centre, commencing in January. This is an exciting opportunity for Dee to take her many skills to a new community supporting the youngest of learners and their families. Dee has been a consistent warm welcome and wonderful ambassador of our school community, often going above and beyond to support those in our community. I sincerely thank Dee for all that she has done for our community.
We welcome a few new staff into our community for next year. Corey Carlaw and Sophie Hurley will be joining our teaching team in 2025. Both teachers are very excited and have already had a few visits to start to get to know our wonderful community. We will be working to find a new Front Office Administrator over the Christmas period to hopefully be ready to start in 2025 with the Administration team.
Once again, on behalf of all in our community, I thank Courtney and Dee for all they have committed to our families and staff and wish them all the best in their new adventures.
Student Leadership
This term we have worked to finalise our student leadership team before we end the year, in the hope our student leaders are able to support the school when we come back in 2025. After a process that included a speech to their peers, voting and shortlisting, 17 students then met with Katie Cummings and I for a formal interview of all the shortlisted candidates. After a lot of discussion amongst the school leadership team and staff, I am extremely proud to announce our Student Leadership Team for 2025.
Mackillop
Eli Ramazan and Frankie Fabbian
Tenison
Elise Kerr and Ella Bond
Aloysius
Hudson Sneath and Annika Eig
Penola
Jack Gosling and Zara Zivkov
Meet the Teacher Morning
On Monday, children will be spending the morning with their 2025 class and teacher. This is a small welcome session to help children familiarise themselves with their new teacher, peers and learning space. The children will be bringing home a letter with the details of their 2025 class (just in case they don’t remember their new teacher’s name).
Placing children in their classes for the following year is a process that takes a significant amount of time, discussion, consideration of a great variety of factors and drafts. This is a process that requires professional judgement to determine the best overall fit for each class. I ask that your response to your children remains positive, growth minded and productive.
End of Year Reports
On Monday, the end of year reports will be emailed to all families. These reports outline your child’s progress against the Australian Curriculum that has been taught in Semester 2 this year. In having discussions with teaching staff over the last few weeks, I have been extremely impressed with the growth and progress our children have demonstrated this year.
Graduation
Next week we will be celebrating our graduating class at the Graduation Dinner and Ceremony for our Year 6 students as they journey to the next stage of their educational life. I often speak about the wonders that are experienced in a catholic parish primary school. We are blessed to witness each child’s growth as they developed and learnt about themselves throughout their time at TWCS. Congratulations to David Molloy, Tiana Henderson and Sheena Pattinson for coordinating this significant event.
Christmas Concert
After another big year that included our Catholic Schools Music choir, Mrs E has yet again prepared the children so beautifully for our end of year Carols on the Green evening this Friday. It’s gatherings like this that give life to our wonderful community. Thank you to the St John Bosco Community for allowing us to borrow their hall.
A few thank you’s
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of all in our community for the wonderful dedication and commitment many have displayed in 2024. To Dave Wylie as School Board Chair and the entire Board, thank you for your support of the Leadership Team and the staff. To Chris Trewin and Jane O’Donoghue as members of the P&F Exec, for all that you do to support the fundraising and social connections for our families.
To Shannon, who this year has volunteered her Thursday mornings each and every week to provide a welcoming, nurturing and caring environment for our TWCS PLAYGROUP. Thank you for sharing your expertise in early childhood development to develop such a wonderful Playgroup program. Shannon won’t be continuing in our Playgroup next year as she concentrates on her teaching roles. Monique Montesi will be coordinating our Playgroup in 2025.
Building Project
During January and February, we will be taking our building project to the final planning stages with the process of appointing a builder. We are very excited to be starting the construction of the new Junior Primary Building and Administration/Front Office area by the end of Term 1 next year. There will be lots of updates throughout the early stages of 2025 to make sure everyone is aware of this exciting development.
I wish each and every member of our community a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year. See you in 2025!
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