Term 4 Week 9 Newsletter 2024

Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of St Catherine’s,  

At the conclusion of my first semester, I feel humble and proud to be the Acting Principal of St Catherine’s.  

St Catherine’s offers a great range of faith, learning and co-curricular opportunities for our students and together we have created a place of welcome and inclusivity for all. 

My deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, whose care and commitment has enhanced the wellbeing and educational growth of our students. 

My thanks to the leadership team Carla Thomas, Krystina Dawe, Narelle Brine, Bianca Foote, Genevive Jong and John Low for his help during my transition. Thanks also to Sam Ellul for her support.  

Thank you to our parents, caregivers, and families for your support this year and for your willingness to work with us.  

Thank you to the Adelaide Hills Catholic Parish for their ongoing support and partnership with our school community. The school and parish have worked together on a number of events this year and Fr Fred's care for the students and their families is appreciated.  

Thank you to our parent volunteers who have helped in a multitude of ways across the year. I'd like to particularly acknowledge and thank the Parents and Friends and Lucia Clements as P&F Coordinator. I encourage all our parents to consider how you can offer your support to our P&F. Even just one hour of your time can help contribute to the school community. Please contact Cathy Fischle (cfischle@stcaths.catholic.edu.au) for further details. 

Thank you to the members of our School Board who have supported and advocated for our school throughout the year and particularly Mim Whitford our chair. There will be a final opportunity to thank the Board at our AGM early next year. 

Thank you to every student for what you bring to our community, your gifts combine to make St Catherine’s a great school. Congratulations to all our students for the incredible growth and development they have demonstrated throughout the year. The break provides an opportunity to reflect and set new goals for next year.   

Our Christmas concert was a great success, and it was wonderful to see so many families join us for the event. Thank you to Mrs Thompson, our Performing Arts teacher, for coordinating the concert and giving the students the opportunity to shine in front of family and friends. 

On Wednesday we held our end or year Mass - a time of reflection and thanksgiving for the year. We also formally acknowledged and farewelled staff members Sam Ellul, Laura O’Connell, Georgina Worthington and Hayden Teunissen.  

Following Mass, we held our Graduation Assembly where we celebrated the Year 6 graduating class of 2024 and recognised their achievements this year. We were joined by Monsignor John Swann, the Honourable Josh Teague and Rose Beltchev (Representative for Rebekah Sharkie) and Leon and Leonie Smerdon who presented awards to our students. 

Congratulations to the Year 6 students who received the following awards: 

• The Celine Smerdon Award - Aliyah
• The Monsignor John Swann Award - Xavier
• The Dominican Leadership Awards - Tom, Sylvie, Jack, Zara
• The Heysen Citizenship Award - Xanthe
• The Mayo Community Service Award - Ivy
• St Catherine’s Award - Lachlan

This year's Graduation Dinner at the beautiful Mt Lofty Summit Café was a fitting way to gather with our graduating students and their parents to say farewell. It was a privilege to listen to each student share, through their farewell speeches, their memories and experiences of their time at St Catherine's. My thanks to Laura O’Connell for her work in preparing for the Mass, the Assembly and the Graduation dinner. Well done to all our graduating students. We wish you every success as you start your journey into Middle School.   

Preparing for 2025 

I hope the holiday break brings you a time of rest and relaxation and I pray that your Christmas is filled with hope, peace, love and joy surrounded by family and friends.  

We look forward to seeing our students on Tuesday 28th January. 

In this Holy Season. 

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance. 

Regards,

Mark

St Catherine's Year in Review: A Journey of Growth, Gratitude, and Community 

As we conclude 2024, we celebrate a year of growth, gratitude, and community at St Catherine’s. From new programs to beloved traditions, this year has showcased our commitment to nurturing capable learners, thriving individuals, and compassionate leaders for the world God desires. 

This year saw the launch of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, where students cultivated positive food habits, environmental stewardship, and teamwork through growing, harvesting, and preparing seasonal produce. Our commitment to sustainability extended to Clean Up Australia Day, the Season of Creation, and the tireless efforts of our Eco Leaders, who continue to inspire us with their dedication to waste reduction and care for creation. 

Faith and service were central to our year. Liturgical celebrations, Remembrance Day and the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal and Christmas Hampers initiatives, deepened our connection to the Church’s mission of generosity and care for others. Harmony Week and NAIDOC Week brought the school community together to honour diversity and inclusivity, while Sacramental programs and family Masses enriched our spiritual journey. 

Throughout the year, St Catherine’s students embraced opportunities to learn, serve, and lead within our community and beyond. Student leadership flourished, with our Year 6 leaders leading by example and initiatives like Reflection Days and the Children’s University program encouraged growth and discovery. We celebrated our Year 6s at their graduation ceremony and wish them well as they move forth in the next step of their learning journey.   

As term 3 ended, the community farewelled Krystina Dawe, whose six years of dedicated service have left a lasting legacy. I was honoured to join St Catherine’s as Acting APRIM and look forward to leading and learning from our school community into the next chapter of its story while Krystina is away. 

As Term 4 concludes, we celebrated as community in what was one of the best Community Carols yet!  For me, it was a joyful and heartwarming privilege to listen to the children sing and see how connected our community is as we celebrated the spirit of Christmas!  I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Mark, the staff, students and members of St Catherine’s community for the warm welcome I have received this term. It has been a joy to join this vibrant school, and I look forward to the journey ahead. 

As we approach the holidays, I wish all our staff, students, families, and friends a Christmas filled with just the right balance of frivolity and cheer. May your break be restful, joyful, and safe, and may the blessings of the season bring peace to your hearts and homes. 

"But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11) 

Here’s to a bright and inspiring 2025, as we continue our journey together as a community grounded in faith, learning, and stewardship. 

Merry Christmas

Carla