Dear Parents and Carers

“Surely we are all forerunners? As parents we are the forerunners of our children. As old people, the forerunners of the young. As the scientists and scholars of today, the forerunners of those tomorrow. As the politicians of today, the forerunners of those to come, who will scatter and suppress those of today.”

Karl Rahner SJ, ‘Making ready the way’

Last Sunday we began the Season of Advent, that season we celebrate each year, which leads us into the high feast of Christmas. The late Karl Rahner, Jesuit priest and theologian, has written a reflection for Advent, called ‘Making the ready the way’. I have quoted a small part above. Rahner’s point is that just as John the Baptist made ready the way for Jesus, just as Advent makes ready the way for Christmas, so all of our actions and efforts at love ‘make ready the way’. They are never ends in themselves but, at their best, our efforts at decency and compassion, forgiveness and love, point to a reality greater than our own. May Christmas be born into our lives this season, and every season.

Staffing – 2024

The staffing for next year is just about completed and I am proud to list our staff for 2024 as follows:

Principal – Cameron Johns

Acting Assistant Principal – Samantha Mance

Acting Religious Education Coordinator (Terms 1 and 2) – Amanda Basedow

Religious Education Coordinator Terms 3 and 4 – Veronica Hall

Acting Coordinator – Sarah Kennelly

Classroom Support Teacher – Maryanne Armstrong

Front Office Receptionist – Trish Collis

KM: Mary de Smet/Melissa Neit

KW: Sarah Kennelly/Laura Williamson

1W: Natasha Kapantais

1M: Maddie Mertz

2M: Term 1 - Rebecca Van der Sanden/Anne Hitchings; Terms 2-4 – Sue Wales/Anne Hitchings

2W: Holly Audsley

3W: Sarah Walsh

3M: Paul Jenkins/Gayle Hunt

4W: Bridget Pigram

4M: Michele Hallis-Pratt/Samantha Mance

5M: Luke Gubler/Gayle Hunt

5W: Samantha Stinziani

6W: Katie McGregor

Librarian: Amanda Basedow/Katie Birch

Performing Arts: Lisa Gill

Japanese: Amanda de Jongh

STEM: Nic Marsham

Cooking: Robyn Moore

Coordinator of Junior and Senior Student Leadership – Luke Gubler

Early Career Teaching Support: Katie Birch

InitialiLit Coordinator: Marie-Ann Barrett

Maths Extension (Years 5 & 6): Anne Hitchings

ICT Support: Paul Jenkins

Robotics Teacher: Paul Jenkins

Aboriginal Education Contact Officer: Katie McGregor

Sports Coordinator: Luke Gubler

Garden Club: Katie Birch

Advertising and Promotions Officer: Anne Perkovic

Classroom Support Assistants: Talia Wagner, Tyra Peterson, Jade Arranz, Cathy Shepherd, Deki Wangmo, Liz Spiteri, Mel Harding, Molly Marsham, Sarah Adams, Melissa Saggers, Tricia Drabsch, Anne Perkovic

Youth Ministry Officer: TBA

School Welfare Officer: TBA

Uniform Shop and Canteen Manager: Lauretta Raccosta

Groundsman: Greg Egan

The end of the year is also often a time when we farewell staff, some of whom are taking leave and others who are moving on. I would like to thank the following staff who are leaving Sts Peter and Paul, and thank them for their time at our school:

• Maria Anthony, for her great work with our children as a CSA, particularly in the younger grades.
• Oriella de Johnson, for her excellent Spanish teaching;
• Josh Gereis, for his wonderful work in Year 5 and within the arts;
• Olivia O’Donnell, for her wonderful work as a CSA;
• Maddy Winter, for her great work as our School Welfare Officer and CSA;
• Maddie Greenwood, as our Youth Ministry Officer.

I wish all of our departing staff the very best and I thank them deeply for their service to the school.

The following staff are taking some leave, for part or all of 2024:

• Veronica Hall;
• Sue Wales;
• Fron Garrett-Rumba;
• Anna Williams continues her secondment for 2024, working for ACARA.

I wish too all of our staff taking leave the very best as they recharge and enjoy a sustained break, and in the case of Ms. Garrett, we look forward to hearing some wonderful news in late January or early February.

I am incredibly proud of all of our staff – those returning and those who are not – and I experience considerable awe each day, at their abilities and with what they achieve. I know that our 2024 staff will leave no stone unturned in doing everything they can for your child or children.

2024 – New Role

One of the roles listed above is new to Sts Peter and Paul. Luke Gubler is taking on the role of ‘Coordinator of Junior and Senior School Leadership’. Luke’s role next year will be to coordinate opportunities and programs in the school, for boys and girls in Years 3 – 6, that extend them and provide opportunities for leadership. Students will have the opportunity to take on new homework and sporting challenges, as well leadership opportunities, in a variety of ways. Early next year, Sts Peter and Paul will hold an information evening for all parents, where details around what Sts Peter and Paul are offering will be explained and shared. Parents of Grades 1 & 2 students will be invited to attend, as well as parents of students in Grades 3 – 6. Stay tuned for further details.

End-of-Year Events

A reminder that as the year draws to an end, we have a number of events still to take place at the end of the year:

• The Kindergarten Nativity play is taking place this Thursday at 12 in the hall.
• The Year 6 Graduation Mass – which includes the whole school – is taking place this Monday at 12pm, at the Church of the Transfiguration at Curtin;
• The Year 6 Graduation Dinner takes place that night;
• Reports are published Monday afternoon on Compass;
• Class lists are sent home on Monday;
• The Year 6 Fun Day takes place on Wednesday;
• The Family Christmas Carols night is on Wednesday evening at 5:30pm;
• The last day for children is December 14^th.

The first day of 2024 is Wednesday, January 31^st, for all students.

As this is the last formal newsletter of the year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their dedication, generosity of spirit, tireless work ethic and most importantly, their love for the children. It has been a pleasure working alongside such dedicated individuals. My thanks as well to our beautiful children, who after all are the reason we come to school each day. Again, I am frequently amazed at their skills and capacity to learn and grow. And I would like to thank the parent community for their great support of the school, without whom we would not be as effective. I would particularly like to thank the Community Council, and the leadership of Tegan Ingold, for all of the Council’s great work this year. I very much appreciate it.

I wish all of our families a very happy and wonderful Christmas, and a great holiday.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal