Newsletter 5th February Term 1, Week 2

Principal's Message

Dear Lord,  

As we begin a new school year, we thank you for the many blessings you have given us. 
Thank you for the school holidays that gave us time for fun and relaxation with our family and friends. 
Thank you for bringing us safely back to school this year. 
We ask that you help us to: 
use our eyes to see new friends and new opportunities, 
use our minds to learn new things, 
use our ears to hear your message as we try to live like Jesus and use our hearts in our interactions with others. 
Help us to remember you are with us when we face challenges.  
Help us to truly learn together and enrich the lives of all that we meet. 
 Amen 

I hope you enjoyed a restful break together with your family celebrating Jesus’ birth, which really is the true meaning of Christmas. Increasingly, our world seems to be busier with more and more commitments, so I sincerely hope you had the opportunity to have some quiet time together as a family.

It was with great excitement that I began my principalship at St Therese’s last week. I have spent the last seven years as Principal at Rosary Park Catholic School Branxton (and before that, ten years at St Therese’s as primary co-ordinator and Assistant Principal).   I thank the staff, students and families for the warm welcome they have shown me both this week and, in my visits, last year. They are true representatives of St Therese’s founders the Sisters of Mercy and their welcoming charism; I have seen first-hand the dedication and commitment the staff of St Therese’s show to your children every day.

I am looking forward to getting to know you and your children as we work together to develop your child as a disciple of Jesus Christ and I encourage you to join us for the many liturgical celebrations we have throughout the year.

The best outcomes for our students occur when we work together. I encourage you to work with your child’s teacher through the challenges (and there will certainly be those) and successes in an open, honest and respectful way so that 2025 can be a successful one for your child. It is my role to support staff, children and families through these times. So please don’t be a stranger; come in and talk about anything that I or my staff may be able to help you with. We are here to work together.

You have chosen a Catholic education for your child and in our first staff meeting this week, we spoke as a staff about the important role that Pope Francis calls us to fulfil as Catholic educators –missionary disciples. Our Pope displays mercy to others in his many interactions throughout the world with the impoverished, disadvantaged and imprisoned. He wants us as educators and parents to do the same and to foster this in our children; to make them disciples. “Go and make disciples of them… teach them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).  An exciting challenge for us in our new school year.

External Providers
We value working alongside our allied health professionals in providing the best care for our children. To properly organise and co-ordinate them working on site our Learning Support team will send out the relevant paperwork and information next week. Once collated, external providers will begin at St Therese’s on Monday 24 February. 

Parent Engagement Group 2025
Working with our parents/carers and community is so important in striving towards the best outcomes for our children. In 2025 St Therese’s will continue with the Parent Engagement Group (PEG). Parents and carers are welcome to attend the termly meeting which offers an educational component and the opportunity to work together on initiatives to enhance our school.
We look forward to joining together with our families for the term 1 meeting on Tuesday 25 February at 5pm at our school (and via Zoom). At this meeting our educational component will be the introduction of our Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L) framework which a staff team has been developing in partnership with the Student Support team at Catholic Schools.

Prayers for Liam
We recently learnt of some sad news regarding a former St Therese’s student and wanted to provide an update. 
Liam Raftery, a graduate of St Therese’s in 2023, has been involved in a serious accident and is currently in a critical condition. 
Liam is a current student at Trintiy Catholic College and given our close Diocesan community, his family has asked the local school community to keep Liam in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.  
Please join with me and the Trinity Catholic College community in keeping the Raftery Family in your prayers. We will share any further updates as appropriate. 

With best wishes for a wonderful 2025,

Sallyanne Stanbridge
Principal

Assistant Principal's Message

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  It was so lovely to see all the children in Years 1-6 return to school yesterday, I loved seeing all their smiling faces and hearing some of the holiday stories.  We look forward to welcoming our Kindergarten children on Thursday.

Staffing 2025
Principal: Ms Sallyanne Stanbridge
Assistant Principal: Mrs Kaylene Maretich
Religious Education Coordinator: Mr Luke Smith
Coordinators: Mr Liam Ireson (Infants), Ms Therese Jackman (Stage 2) and Mrs Melissa Pyers (Stage 3)
Learning Support Coordinator: Mrs Melanie Faehndrich & Mrs Angela Schneider
DIAL Coordinator: Mr Anthony Moore

Learning Support Teachers: Mrs Angela Schneider, Mrs Lauretta Tonkin, Mrs Amy Karbowiak and Mr Joel Hartcher
EAL/D Teacher: Mrs Laine Fletcher (Term 1)
ATSI Teacher: Mr Daniel Woods (Term 1)

Clerical Staff: Mrs Belinda Palmer, Mrs Louise Dawson, Mrs Jenny Hurst, Mrs Frances Johnson and Mrs Michelle Field
Library Assistant: Mrs Michelle Field and Mrs Frances Johnson
Pastoral Care Worker: Miss Joanna Soo

Kindergarten Teachers: Mrs Naomi Parker & Mrs Bernadette Duffy (KN), Ms Teresa Sokulsky (KW) and Miss Jennifer Curtain (KL)
Year 1 Teachers: Mrs Alexandra Wilson (1N), Miss Mikaela McIntosh (1W) and Mrs Liam Ireson & Mrs Lainie Fletcher (1L)
Year 2 Teachers: Miss Alex Toscano (2N), Mr Luke Smith & Mrs Joanne Rae (2W) and Mrs Melinda Helmers & Mrs Lainie Fletcher (2L)
Year 3 Teachers: Ms Shazmey Murray and Miss Jessica Le Compte (3N), Mrs Julia Briggs (3W) and Mr John Rouse (3L)
Year 4 Teachers: Ms Therese Jackman and Mrs Patricia McNeil (4N), Mr Jye Bowen (4W) and Mrs Leanne Kepreotes (4L)
Year 5 Teachers: Mrs Tegan Jones (5N), Mrs Kristy Healey (5W) and Mr Anthony Moore (5L)
Year 6 Teachers: Mr Donald Paton (6N), Mrs Melissa Pyers & Mrs Brianna Newton (6W) and Miss Carly Mortimer (6L)

Specialist Teachers: Mrs Lynette Barker & Mrs Brigitta Gleeson (Teacher Librarians), Mr Joel Hartcher (Sport) and Mrs Alina Brymora (Performing Arts)

Learning Support Assistants: Mrs Dianne Galli, Mrs Stephanie Rochet-Cuevas, Mrs Amanda Fenwick-Kaluski, Ms Alison Potts, Mrs Trish Hibbert, Mrs Lynn Marini, Mrs Annalisa Kelly, Mrs Simone Godsell, Mrs Connie Martinelli, Mrs Amy Wilson, Mrs Colleen McCrea, Mrs Nina Tate, Miss Sarah Bernasconi, Mrs Kristen Smith and Mrs Nicole Mowbray

School Counsellors: Mrs Tamara Burns and Mrs Alicia Gibson

Fencing
Our boundary fencing on William St and Royal St is currently being replaced, and one of the timber fences in the back field will also be replaced in the next few weeks.  In the April school holidays, the staff carpark gates at Burke St will also be replaced, and a pedestrian gate and pathway to the front office will be set out.  When the works are completed in April, the Burke St pedestrian gate will lock automatically, information regarding the change in procedures to access the school during school hours will be sent home later in the term.  This project has been funded by the Catholic School – Maitland/Newcastle as part of the School Planning and Development Committee (SPDC).  We have been working with the SPDC on improving safety of the school over the past 12 months, and the new gates and boundary fences ensure St Therese’s is compliant with standards and ensures our students, staff and visitors are safe.  Until all work is completed, you may see temporary fences around the school. 
Staff will open the school gates at 8:45am and they will be locked when the morning bell rings.  In the afternoon, the gates will be opened by the staff on afternoon dismissal at 3:15pm.  Should you need to access the school during school hours, please use the staff carpark gates to come into the Office.

National Assessment Program – Literacy and numeracy (NAPLAN)
Year 3 and 5 students will complete NAPLAN from Wednesday 12 March – Monday 24 March.  Further information will be sent to Years 3 and 5 parents in the coming weeks.  There is no preparation or student required for NAPLAN.  NAPLAN, together with many other assessments, assists us to assess learning progress for our students, to plan and implement effective learning opportunities for all our students to learn and grow.

SchoolTV
SchoolTV is an online resource, that is made available to all parents/cares by the Catholic Schools – Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.  It is a wellbeing resources that can support parents/carers through the challenges of parenthood.  Through the course of the year, we will publish recommendations based on issues that arise at school.  As we begin the new school year, you may like to access a series on building confidence and motivation in your child, using the following link https://newlambton.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/confidence-motivation-au.  May children may start the year, very excited about school, while others may time a little more time to settle in.  Please talk to your child’s teacher if you have any concerns about your child.

Interviews
In Week 4, we will have Personalised Planning Meetings (PP) for our students with diverse learning.  In Week 6, we will have Parent/Teacher Meetings (PT) for all students, other than those that have had a PP Meeting in Week 4.  The bookings for these meetings will open on Monday 10 February.  A notification will be sent on Compass to advise when meetings can be booked.

Kaylene Maretich
Assistant Principal

Catholic Identity & Curriculum

Welcome – Welcome back to another school year and thank you for choosing to send your child to St Therese’s. As a Catholic school, Jesus Christ is at the heart of all we are and do. Throughout the year, especially within the domain of Religious Education and our Catholic Identity, we acknowledge and celebrate this in many ways. We thank you for your support as the first educators in faith of your children and we invite you to, not only, continue taking an active role in the faith life of your child but to unite with us as a Catholic community throughout the year. May God bless you and your families with much love, joy and peace throughout the year ahead and may God grant us all the strength to pass through the challenges of life with grace.

Opening School Mass 2025 – This Mass will take place next Friday 14^th February at 9:30am in our School Hall. At the conclusion of Mass our Yr 6 Leaders will be presented with their badges and officially welcomed into their roles for the year ahead.

Sacramental Program 2025/26 – There will be more information on this as the year progresses, however, the first information/registration evening will not occur until early in Term 2. The sacraments will take place in the following order:

            Confirmation – Term 2 (Year 4 students currently enrolled in the program from last year)

            Holy Communion – Term 3 (Year 4 students currently enrolled in the program from last year)

            Reconciliation – Term 4 (Year 3 students – new intake and enrolment for this year and continuing into 2026)

Luke Smith
RE Coordinator

School Community News

Story Dogs is back!

St Therese’s is excited to announce that Story Dogs will be returning this year!
We welcome back Barb and Coco starting first term 2025 to help our students with their reading. ‘Coco’ and Barb will be visiting for two hours on Tuesday and Thursday every week to help our year 2 classes with their reading.
The Story Dogs program works with the classroom teachers to help students with their reading. ‘Coco’ and Barb will help the same 6-7 students each week. The students will come out of their classroom and sit one-on-one with ‘Coco’ and Barb and read to ‘Coco’. ‘Coco’ loves to listen and will not mind if the student makes a few mistakes, she just wants to have a fun time so that books and reading become a joyful experience.
Coco is a gorgeous labradoodle, she loves snuggles, playing with other dogs and going for walks where she can sniff lots of different things.
‘Coco’ has been practicing at home with her new reading rug and books so that she will be ready to help the students. She is super excited about starting.
If you are interested in volunteering in this rewarding program, please contact Leonie McGlynn- Story Dogs Newcastle Coordinator on leoniem@storydogs.org.au.

Melanie Faehndrich
Learning Support Coordinator

Volunteering
Throughout the year, we welcome all parents/carers to volunteer at the school. To volunteer, you must complete the volunteer's induction.  https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/people/volunteer/  This process can take up to 6 weeks, so you are encouraged to complete this early.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Wellbeing- The Resilience Project K-6

In 2025, St Therese’s is thrilled to continue to deliver the whole school wellbeing program ‘The Resilience Project’ to all students K-6. Please take the time to read all about it below and access the QR code to our Parent Portal. We look forward to continuing this exciting journey as we work together in partnership to teach positive mental health strategies and build our students capacity to navigate challenges in their everyday world.

Sport

Good luck to our children representing St Thesese's at the Regional Swimming Carnival on Monday 10th February.

Sport days for Term 1 are:

• Kindergarten - Thursday (Weeks 1-6) then Tuesday (Weeks 7-11)
• Year 1 - Tuesday (Weeks 1-6) then Thursday (Weeks 7-11)
• Year 2 - Wednesday
• 3N - Tuesday
• 3W - Wednesday
• 3L - Thursday
• Year 4 - Thursday (Weeks 1-4) then Tuesday (Weeks 5-11)
• Year 5 - Wednesday
• Year 6 - Tuesday (Weeks 1-4) then Thursday (Weeks 5-11)

Canteen

Important Dates

06Feb - First Day Kinder
07 Feb - Kinder Photos
10 Feb - Regional Swimming Carnival
14 Feb - Opening School Mass 9.30am Main Hall
21 Feb -  Yr 6 Spirituality Day, Glenrock Lagoon
03 Mar - School Assembly 2.30pm Main Hall
04 Mar - Parent Teacher interviews 
06 Mar- Parent Teacher interviews 
14 Mar - PUPIL FREE DAY