Dear Families,
It certainly has been an interesting return to school. Thank you for your continued support and for the way you have managed the combination of ‘remote’ and ‘face to face’ learning. Thankfully we have now been able to return to our ‘normal’ mode of teaching and learning. Please keep in mind however, that things change very quickly, and we need to adapt and change depending on the advice of SA Health and Catholic Education SA. It is important that we remain calm throughout these changes and reassure our children that, no matter what, things will be okay. We want this year (and in fact every year) to be the best year of learning that your child has had at school!
With the return to school, it is likely that there will be an increase in the number of students, parents or staff who get COVID-19. Anyone who develops symptoms or tests positive must stay at home, notify the school immediately and follow the advice of SA Health. Also remember that parents are still required to use the QR Code at the gate or in the front office and wear a mask. Parents are still unable to enter any classrooms until further notice. We know that we are unable to have any agencies visit or hold any gatherings or events until at least Week 5. It is important that we continue to follow the rules and keep ourselves and others safe.
I would like to thank and congratulate our staff on the great way that they have prepared for this different start to the year and how they have supported our children, whether they have been at school or at home. I know that it has been a challenge for them but they have managed it really well and endeavoured to touch base regularly with every child in their care. Our teachers are always prepared to make themselves available to chat at any time that you have questions about your child’s learning. However, it cannot just be ‘unannounced’ at the beginning or end of the day, rather it needs to be a time set via email or a phone call.
Our staff this year is as follows:
Reception: Laura Drewett Physical Education: Sebestyen Maglai
Year 1/2 Jade Shapcott STEM / Library: Janie Gosling
Year 2/3: Heather Petersen Music/Choir: Rosemarie Villano
Year 3/4: Sameera Sekhon Counsellor: Shannon O’Toole
Year 5/6: Amiee Tullio Front Office: Lisa Daniele
Leader of Learning Michelle Menadue Front Office: Charli Poole
Co-educator: Nick Doube Bursar / Finance: John Mathew
Co-educator: Ged Hughes APRIM: Melissa Musolino
Co-educator / OSHC: Esther Feast Head of Campus: Peter Mercer
Principal: Christopher Platten Community Hub: Kerryn Chambers
Grounds: Andrew Scott
Most of you have already seen me in the yard, either before or after school. Thank you to those who have come and said ‘hello’ and made me feel welcome at St Mary Magdalene’s School. I really have appreciated it. In fact, I almost feel as though I have come home! I was Principal at St Thomas More School at Elizabeth Park for nearly eleven years and my wife was a teacher here and worked as the pastoral associate in the parish many years ago. I certainly know the place well and look forward to working with you and your child(ren) as we endeavour to make this place the best place it can be.
You may have noticed some of the changes that we have been making, and will continue to make, in order to provide a learning environment that we can all be proud of. We have replaced the tired and old fence along the back of the oval, installed new taps in the wet areas where children can fill up their drink bottles with filtered water, we refurbished the Playgroup space, moved OSHC back into the Hall, purchased some new desks, book boxes and trolleys and a new tv for the Year 1/2 classroom. We will continue to reflect on what other changes or developments we might need to undertake so please come and see me if you have some good ideas and thoughts.
I would like to finish by focusing on the ‘Mercy Values’. St Mary Magdalene’s School was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1958. The foundress of the Sisters, Catherine McAuley, lived in Ireland from 1778 to 1841 and with the Sisters developed values around the areas of Hospitality, Respect, Compassion, Courage, Service and Justice. These values are central to what we believe and what we do in our school. While we all come from different starting places and different backgrounds, I am confident that we would all want these values nurtured in our children. It is your job as a parent and our job as a school, to work together to support our young people in, not just understanding, but also developing and displaying these values in their interactions with others. If this is what we want for our children, then it is essential that both you and I model and live these things every day. The challenge is that it takes time and it is difficult for some of us, children and adults alike, to put ourselves ‘in the shoes of others’.
Working in Partnership
Peter Mercer
Acting Deputy Principal / Head of Campus
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