Today marks the end of a most amazing year.  Many times we’ve heard it was unprecedented, unusual, unbelievable, unimaginable…. So much has happened. We began the year with fires and loss and smoke and soon had a worldwide pandemic change everything about school and our lives.

For many of us it has been a year of disappointments and missing out… on trips, camps and excursions… assemblies and the chance to gather. It has been disappointing for me to not get to know our students and families as well as I would like and not to be able to gather together as a K-10 school.

But we should look back with pride.  In spite of all that has happened… we have achieved great things.  Each student report last week showed amazing progress. Every student has made steps forward, some have made small steps, others big ones but all have made progress.

Next year we look forward to continued chances to gather together and work to continue to build a partnership between our families, school and parish.  We look forward to enhanced learning spaces in the Primary School as our 2021 Building Project takes off, to improved facilities and maintenance and to the continuation of the wonderful things this school continues to achieve.

Grateful thanks to our amazing staff.  Our teaching and non-teaching staff have worked under the most trying of conditions and in spite of that have achieved great things.  The teamwork and genuine care for one another we have witnessed this year is amazing.  Thank you all.

Best wishes to our departing members of staff: Michael Hughes, Kerrin Henderson, Jennifer Cutcliffe and Melissa Hotham (who has been seconded as REC to St Mary’s Batlow for 2021).

Welcome (and welcome back) to our new members of staff for 2021:  Veronica Thake, Brie Groves, Janeanne Moss, Joanne Dougherty, Heidi Stubbs, Belinda Schirmer and Julie Piper in various roles both Primary and Secondary.

Primary Classes for 2021:

Secondary Timetable:  Our Secondary timetable remains to be finalised.  Please note there will be no lockers available for students next year. The BYOD program continues in Years 7-10.  Please note the minimum specs which are advertised in this newsletter for appropriate devices.

I also take this chance to congratulate the students who received awards at the various 'covid friendly' ceremonies during the week. Well done!

I also congratulate the School Leaders elect for 2021. We look forward to our Opening School Mass where we will officially present them with the badges. We hope Covid restrictions will allow us to enjoy a lovely family/school occasion. 

I take this chance to wish every family a restful, peaceful and joyful Christmas and New Year and look forward very much to the opportunities that 2021 will offer us all.

Mary our mother… look after us.

Eamonn Moore.