Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers
At this time of the year when you are preparing to celebrate Christmas and time with each other, I wish to thank all the staff for the wonderful contribution they have made to support our students, families, colleagues and wider school community in an ever-changing and turbulent 2020.
You, as parents, deserve our warmest acknowledgement as you took on the extra duties of ‘classroom teachers’ in a very real way. The students also rose to the challenges of Remote Learning and adapting to change.
When I reflect on 2020 – a year of floods and drought and global pandemic – I am reminded of the importance of the children, parents and staff who have chosen St Clare’s as part of their family. There have been undoubted challenges for all, both personally and professionally, but there has also been an enormous display of strength and resilience and caring and Catholic teachings and Gospel values – of which I am enormously proud.
The holiday break gives us all a chance to rejuvenate and spend time with those we love.
To those families and particularly students whose journey at St Clare’s concludes this year, may your new ventures be filled with hope and peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with every family and each child and staff member as we look to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ.
Happy Christmas to each of you and a wonderful New Year.
STAFFING
Farewell: We farewell three staff who won’t be returning to St Clare’s next year:
- Mrs Louise Breeden, our PE teacher, has been with us since the school opened and has taught every child in the school. She has coordinated athletic carnivals, sporting events and Active Club - just to name a few. We will see Louise at interschool sports as she takes up her role as PE teacher at St Patrick’s School, Pakenham.
- Mrs Simone Kelly has been with us this year as an ESO and is venturing to the secondary sector in an administrative position at Mt Lilydale Mercy College.
- Mrs Majella Shiel is taking Long Service Leave next year and is looking forward to having a bit of a break. We’ll catch up with her again in 2022.
- Mrs Bec Kollaris, who was seconded as Deputy Principal at St Thomas the Apostle at the end of last year, has accepted this role in an ongoing capacity. Bec was instrumental in the establishment phase of St Clare’s and is now able to use her expertise and passion for wellbeing to support students in another setting.
I thank each of these staff members for their contribution to St Clare’s and wish them every success and blessing in their respective ventures.
New Leadership Structure:
2021 sees the introduction of Middle Level Leaders in various areas of the school. Their role is to support staff and students in our goal of ‘An accelerated rate of progress for every learner’ and to be a further point of contact for parents. These leaders not have specific classroom responsibilities so that they are able to mentor and support colleagues and students.
The school is still growing and next year our enrolment is projected to be 515. This new leadership structure will allow for succession planning and further enhancement of student growth and development as we continue to grow.
2021 STAFFING:
Leadership
Principal |
Ms Helen Staindl |
Deputy Principal & REL |
Mr Phil Rebbechi |
Middle Leaders
Foundation |
Mrs Carol Browne |
Years 1 & 2 |
Miss Emma O’Brien |
Years 3 & 4 |
Miss Andrea Berryman |
Years 5 & 6 |
Mrs Corina Watson |
Administration Staff
Administration Officer |
Mrs Ann Molino |
Administration Officer |
Mrs Bec Roche |
Finance |
Mr Jason Xin |
Learning Group Teachers
Foundation |
Mr Dom Arcaro (FDA) Miss Holly Ross (FHR) Miss Karla Giuliano (FKG) Mrs Kim Kelley (FKK) |
Year 1 |
Mrs Allyssa O’Hara (1AO) Mrs Ania Young (4AY) Miss Chloe Haesler (1CH) Miss Laura Dube (1LD) |
Year 2 |
Mrs Adele Fischer (2AF) Mrs Lisa Redman (2LR) Miss Maddy Allan (2MA) Miss Rhylee Webber (2RW) |
Year 3 |
Mrs Alisha Johnston (3AJ) Mrs Leila Perez (3LP) Miss Samantha Ferguson (3SF) Mrs Shanya Cooke (3SC) |
Year 4 |
Miss Courtney Piening (4CP) Miss Kristie Copestake (4KC) Mrs Trish Piccolo (4TP) |
Year 5 |
Mr David Gulavin (5DG) Miss Nicole Carey (5NC) Miss Taylor Tocchetto (5TT) |
Year 6 |
Miss Carla Rosenkotter (6CR) Miss Gabrielle Velten (6GV) |
Single Subject Teachers
Art |
Miss Jessica Burns |
Japanese (Years 3-6) |
Sensei Mary Wilbraham |
Music |
Mr Jonathan Baker |
Physical Education |
Miss Jacinta Heywood |
Performing Arts (Term 1) |
Mrs Amanda Hill |
Performing Arts (beyond Term 1) |
Mrs Sarah Jurie |
Support Staff |
Mrs Donna Velten Miss Catherine Bickell |
Educational Support Officers (ESOs)
Mrs Andrea Jayawardena |
Mrs Asunta Pitia |
Mrs Bessie Henry |
Miss Brittney Sta Maria |
Mr Declan Gulavin |
Miss Grace Dymond |
Miss Harley Gavriel-Brown |
Miss Josie Browne |
Mrs Jusgtine Tagg |
Miss Laura Gillard |
Mrs Lisa Whittaker |
Mr Luke Molino |
Mrs Mel Ferdinands |
Mrs Nicole Reincastle |
Mrs Pamela Talaue |
Mrs Sally Alonte |
Mr Jacob Hinds |
Mr Connor Hinds |
Mrs Anissa Benson |
Miss Ashleigh Wilson |
Mrs Bernadette Gridley |
Mrs Colette Kennaugh |
Mrs Pira Taokia |
Miss Madison Hoewel |
Student Awards:
Congratulations to the recipients of the following awards which were presented at last night’s Graduation Ceremony:
Assisi Award Tess Velten
Fr Joe Flynn Memorial Award Wil Kollaris
Rotary Leadership Award Abiol Aderek
Jason Wood Leadership Award Japneet Kaur
Final Day for Students: Wednesday 16 December
- Mass via Google Meet at 9:30am
- Students can wear casual clothes (Please wear runners for sporting events and bring a hat)
- Each child to bring a gold coin The money from this will go towards funding a student teacher in East Timor so please feel free to be generous.
- Our day will begin with (virtual) Mass at 9:30am – the login will be shared with parents
- Tabloid Sporting events
- Our day finishes at the usual time of 3:10pm.
Start of 2021 Year
Wednesday 27 January - School Office re-opens and staff return for 2021
Friday 29 January - Foundation and Year 6 students begins
Monday 1 February - All students return to school for 2021
From the Office - Merry Christmas
The school office will be closed from Friday 18 December until Wednesday 27 January 2021.
SCHOOL FEES -
Information regarding direct debits has been provided to families. Requests for changes cannot be made while the school office is closed. The school office will be closed from Friday 18 December until Wednesday 27 January 2021.
If your situation has changed meaning you now have a pension or health care card please let us know at the office or email finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au This can make a substantial difference to you school fees.
Families who have concerns about their financial situation are asked to contact the school via email finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au, so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements.
As 2020 comes to a close, so does a chapter in my teaching career.
I would like to thank parents and carers for the privilege you have given me over the past 6 years to enable your children to learn to become physically literate and active. These are skills that I hope they will maintain for life.
Thank you to all those parents and carers who took time out of often busy schedules to help at whole school events. Whilst the coordination of these events was mine, they could not have gone ahead without your support on the day - thank you!
I wish Jacinta Heywood all the very best as she becomes part of the wonderful St Clare’s Team. I trust you will offer her the same magnificent support you have shown me.
Lastly, thank you to all the students who have run past me at St Clare’s. Without you, PE wouldn’t be much fun at all! Keep being active every day, use equipment that “fits” for you and remember to always be the best winners and losers!
Stay active!
Louise Breeden