Newsletter Week 9 Term 4 2024
Hi Everyone,
Faith in Focus
As we approach Christmas, our days are becoming busier with preparations and celebrations. Amidst this hustle and bustle, we are reminded of the true reason for the season: the coming of Jesus.
As part of our prayer focus, our Advent prayer this week centers on peace. During the Christmas fun and cheer, we continue to share the message of Jesus, bringing peace and joy to our community.
This week marks the second week of Advent, a time to reflect on the peace that Jesus brings into our lives. Let us embrace this peace and spread it to those around us.
End of the Year Countdown
As we countdown to the end of the school year, every day remains busy as we squeeze in all the fun, festive, and final moments! Our Year 6 class celebrated the end of their primary school journey last Friday with a beautiful whole school Mass and lunch at school. My thanks to Mrs. Koen and Mrs. Castles for their time and care in making it a truly special day for the students.
Our Year 6 students will complete their final day of primary school. We will farewell them with a traditional ‘clap out at 2:30pm. Gates will open at 2:20pm. We will also farewell Mrs Stamp and Mrs Shafren. We look forward to sharing this moment with the community.
We wish all Corpus Christi families a happy, joyful, and hopeful Christmas.
Our School Swimming Carnival on Monday was a fantastic day filled with excitement and sportsmanship. The students showed incredible spirit, with many achieving personal bests and taking on new challenges. We're proud to announce that thirty students have qualified for the Regional Carnival in 2025!
A special shoutout to our Year 6 students, who were a tremendous help throughout the day. They not only participated in fun races but also jumped in to assist with the 25m races. And who could forget the highlight of the day? Tilly and Adam's challenge to Mr. Deed! Let's just say Mr. Deed might have had a bit of extra help in that race!
We were also incredibly fortunate to have a huge number of volunteers. Their support made the day run so smoothly. A big thank you to our parents and families who came to cheer the students along. It was truly a great community day.
A huge thank you to Mrs Deveridge for her time and dedication to making sure everything ran smoothly!
Kindergarten and Year 1 Water Fun Activities
Our Kindergarten and Year 1 students had a fantastic morning taking part in their water fun activities at school. The grey skies did not dampen the fun! The children enjoyed sandcastle making, relays, chalk art, and a water safety webinar. To top it all off, they had a movie and popcorn treat. A great day was had by all!
Staff Allocations 2025
We welcome three new staff members to CCW in 2025.
Mrs Emily Ayres, Mr Matthew Ellis and Mrs Elise Tantos.
We will hold our ‘Meet the Teacher’ Morning on Monday 16 December. Students will have the opportunity to spend time in their new classroom, with their new teacher. This is designed as a casual get-to-know you session. Teachers work diligently in the background, drafting handover notes, collating assessment data and sharing information with next year’s teacher in our formal handover meetings. We will have an opportunity for parents to share information with their child’s new teacher for 2025 in the first weeks of term 1.
We dedicate significant thought and consideration in assigning teachers to classes, based on their expertise, curriculum experience, and the specific needs of each class. In smaller schools, it's not uncommon for students to have the same teacher for multiple subjects, which we see as beneficial because it fosters strong relationships and provides a solid foundation for ongoing learning. If you have any questions or queries please feel free to reach out.
Farewell to Our Departing Staff Members
As we approach the end of the school year, we must bid farewell to some of our cherished staff members who are moving on to new adventures. Their contributions to our school community have been invaluable, and they will be greatly missed.
In addition to our three retiring staff members, Jenny Stamp, Margie Shafren, and Jeanette Chapman, we will also be saying goodbye to several colleagues as their temporary contracts come to an end:
- Dionne Mitchell – EAL/D
- Jane Giggins – Admin Friday
- Shelley Hutchinson – Year 5
- Di Apap – Learning Support Assistant
- Isabelle Evans – Creative Arts
We are incredibly blessed to have staff members who are always team players, dedicated to the learning and wellbeing of our students. Their unwavering commitment to fostering a positive and supportive environment is such an asset to Corpus Christi.
I will share more about Jenny, Margie and Jeanette at our End of Year Mass on Friday.
Dionne Mitchell
We bid farewell to Dionne Mitchell, who has been an invaluable member of our team in the English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) role for the past two years. Dionne's dedication and expertise have significantly impacted our students from diverse language backgrounds, ensuring they receive the support they need both in and out of the classroom.
We have been incredibly fortunate to have someone of Dionne's calibre on our team.
Jane Giggins
Every Friday, our school office buzzes with activity, and at the heart of it all is Jane. Stepping into the office for just one day a week, Jane manages the hustle and bustle like an expert juggler. Her ability to handle the constant flow of students, staff, and families with such care and understanding is truly remarkable.
Jane's dedication ensures that everything runs smoothly, no matter how hectic the day gets. Her commitment to our school community is evident in the way she seamlessly takes care of every detail, making sure that everyone feels supported and valued.
Shelley Hutchinson
Shelley Hutchinson will conclude her temporary contract with us at the end of the year. She started as Miss Back and will finish as Mrs. Hutchinson, excited for the arrival of her first child. Despite a significant year, her focus has remained on her class and enhancing learning experiences with technology. I appreciate Shelley’s dedication, compassion for her students, and her ability to build positive relationships with both students and staff. Our love and best wishes to Shelley and Liam as they prepare for their baby due in January!
Di Apap
Since joining us this year, Di has quickly become an invaluable member of our team. Her unwavering dedication to supporting both teachers and students has been truly remarkable.
Di is always ready to jump in and help out, ensuring that everyone feels supported. Whether assisting in classrooms, working with groups, or providing one-on-one support, her presence has been a constant source of encouragement and assistance.
We will miss Di's positive energy and her commitment to Corpus Christi.
Isabelle Evans
Isabelle Evans, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for her contributions since joining us in Term 2. Isabelle quickly stepped in and ensured that our Creative Arts program continued to thrive. Her positivity and dedication to encouraging every student to do their best and take risks in the creative arts curriculum have been truly inspiring.
Isabelle has worked diligently to make sure our Christmas performances on Thursday morning are filled with fun and Christmas cheer. Her efforts have brought joy and excitement to our school community during this festive season.
We have been incredibly fortunate to have Isabelle in our classrooms this term. As an experienced classroom teacher, she has brought a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to our school.
I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for all you do for our school community. Your dedication and input are essential in creating a supportive and welcoming environment for our students and families.
A special thank you for organising events that truly bring us together, particularly the Trivia Night, which fosters camaraderie and fun among our community members. The fundraising events, like the Bunning BBQ, the Mothers and Fathers Day Stall, the Mangoes, and the Crazy Camel Artworks, have helped raise vital funds to enhance our school.
I also want to highlight the incredible work of our volunteers who manage the uniform shop each week. Giving up your time to ensure that uniforms are available and affordable for our families is such an appreciated act of service to our community.
Thank you to our executive team of Rebecca Jeffrey, Kate Miller, Christian Southward, Erin Rowley and Erika Logan, committee members Miriam Gay, Jess Pickard, Jess Rees, Angela Priest, Lisa McKenzie and Renee Walkom and all the wonderful volunteers who have contributed throughout the year. Your hard work and time are greatly appreciated, and we are so grateful for your continued support.
2025 will be the final year of the Parents and Friends Association in it’s current form. In 2026, our school will align with Diocesan changes and embrace the FACE (Family and Community Engagement) Model with an ongoing focus on parent engagement and parent voice.
The FACE model aims to bring together families, students, clergy, parishioners, and staff and provide forums where families can get involved in their children's spiritual, social, and academic development, both at home and at school. These forums also allow families to engage with the school, connect with the Principal, Parish Priest, and staff, and help shape the educational efforts of the school. Within the FACE model we still have scope to run many of the same family and parent events that the P&F currently have carriage of.
While this model won’t come into effect until 2026, I will continue to share information throughout the year as the time draws closer.
The Uniform Shop while a P&F Organisation will continue to be a school-based uniform shop as when we transition to the FACE model.
School Commencement Dates
NAPLAN Years 3 and 5
Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March 2025.