Dear Families,

This is our final newsletter for the year and my very final newsletter. I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the countless wonderful people who make up our St Vincent’s school community.

Last Wednesday I was honoured to have a moving Mass to celebrate my retirement after 28 years in education. I have been blessed to be able to work in Catholic Education. Ironically, I began my time at St Vincent’s as a part time teacher before moving to Sacred Heart for 10 years as a teacher. My 8 years as a Principal at St Mary’s in Newborough was a wonderful time and I have loved being a Principal at St Vincent’s for the past 8 years.

There are so many people I would like to thank and I am terrified I will miss out on someone so I will not name everyone or it will take all day but please understand I am grateful to you all. With that said I am going to single out Vanessa Couling – thank you, thank you thank you. I could not have made it through the past years without her support, input and friendship.  

So many things have been accomplished over the years and none of these would have been possible without the generous support of the parent body. We know that the staff and the parents must work together in partnership if we want our children to excel. Thank you to all the committee members and their families for their dedication, hard work and friendship over the years. It was great to be able to have a few laughs and also get so much work done. A special thanks to Catherine Lambert, Greg Finn and Allan Roberts. This school is such a wonderful welcoming supportive community and the contribution of the School Advisory Committee and especially the P&F is paramount to this feeling. Keep up the wonderful work – it is very much appreciated.

Many thanks also to our staff; they are such a committed group of people who truly care for the children in our school. They all put in many hours above and beyond their duty to help each child realise their own potential. Thank you for your understanding, dedication and sense of community. I would like to say how much I have enjoyed working with you all – it has certainly been an adventure. We have been through the mine fire, sadness of the passing of beloved members of the school community, COVID and much more. I have often said – this staff comes together in a crisis and it is when things aren’t going well that they shine.

Now for the children – you are who we do all this for … every decision, every idea is with you in mind. You are the reason we come to school each day. Know that you are loved and cared for.

I was overwhelmed by the wonderful tributes the children made for me. I am not sure what I am going to do with 215 portraits of myself but I have enjoyed seeing how they view me.

I am looking forward to a new adventure but I will miss St Vincent’s, this is a truly special place to be part of.

At the end of this year we farewell Mr Jamie Pistrin who has accepted a position at St Laurence’s School in Leongatha, Ms Fiona Bell who has accepted a position at Berry Street for the 2022 year, and Mrs Jana Polichovski who will be leaving St Vincent’s School. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions and dedication to the children at St Vincent’s school and we wish them every success in the future.

We welcome back Mrs Julia Amaira who will be returning part time in 2022. We are also welcoming a new staff member who will be working at St Vincent’s in 2022 –Miss Kristina Hale who will be working as a classroom teacher. I am sure you will make her feel very welcome.

As this year ends, we farewell families as their youngest child completes grade six or they move to new places, some of these families have had a very long association with our school, I thank you for the many and varied ways in which you have been supporters and promoters of St Vincent’s school. Farewell to the following families:- Blay, Bomba, Calafiore, Cheffers, Forster, Guarascio, Henry, Holt, Johnson, Molinari, Mooney, Nania, Prosser, Rainbow, Reid, Roylance, Sevenson, Sykes, Villani, Atkinson, Bedford, and Bramley.  We wish you all the very best for the future. 

Wishing you all a safe, and happy holidays and a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for the future!

Yours truly,

Teresa Greenough

Grade 6 Graduation and 2022 Leadership Speeches

Our grade 6 students are becoming excited and nervous about their move into secondary school. Their graduation will be held on Friday 10^th December beginning with Mass at 5.30pm. Our grade 5 students are busy preparing for their Leadership speeches which will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 7^th December.

Statewide Orientation

Tomorrow Tuesday 7^th December, the students will be moving into their 2022 classrooms and meeting their teachers for next year.

End of year 2021

Grade six students will finish on Friday, 10^th December with their Graduation evening. The last day of the year for all other students will be Wednesday 15^th December finishing at 3.15pm.

2022 School Year

Staff only return for the 2022 school year on Friday 28^th of January and on Monday 31^st January and Tuesday 1^st February, the teachers will be conducting maths or literacy interviews with individual students. An information sheet will be sent home this week on how to book your interview times.

All students begin school at 9am on Wednesday 2^nd February.  

50^th Anniversary of St Vincent’s and Sacred Heart Churches

Over the past two years the Morwell Catholic Parish has been trying to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of St Vincent’s and Sacred Heart Churches. This event is now planned for Saturday 18^th December and Sunday 19^th December. At 2pm on Saturday, there will be a mass at St Vincent’s Church officiated by Father Jude Pirotta. That evening there will be a Dinner/Dance at Kernot Hall from 6pm to 12pm.

On Sunday (19^th), there is a mass at Sacred Heart Church with Bishop Greg Bennett officiating followed by a BBQ.

If you and your family are interested in attending the Dinner/Dance please contact the Parish office on 4134 2849. Tickets need to be ordered by this Friday 10^th December to ensure the event is able to go ahead.

Schools are required to maintain accurate attendance information for every child.  Parents are obligated to ensure that schools are informed about their child's absences.  To assist parents communicate with school we have the online PAM system, while some parents choose or email the school directly.

We remind parents that if your child is absent, you must notify the school on the morning of the absence.  The school will meet our child-safety obligations by following up with parents, then emergency contacts for any unexplained absences.

We thank you for your continued support in this critical area of our student management.