Dear Families,

We have come to the end of another very busy year in the St. Joseph’s, Kingswood community. I look back with great pride in the many achievements and celebrations throughout the year. As a staff and School Board, we are also looking ahead to 2020, where we have many very exciting events, activities and plans! I have been in regular meetings of late, with our architects, Walter Brooke (Master planning) and Peter Semple (Nature Play) and I can inform you that we are hopeful of these two projects being completed during the 2020 school year. The Nature play space will hopefully be the first to be completed – at this stage it is scheduled for works over the period at the end of term one and the beginning of term two. The first stage of our Master Plan, which will include updated classroom, administration and private tuition facilities, will hopefully begin in the second half of the school year! Plans for both of these developments are being nuanced at present and I hope to have detailed ‘storyboards’ for display into the new year, for families to see.

This week, you children will meet their new class teacher for the 2020 school year. I am delighted to inform you of our staff profile for 2020, as follows:

Reception- Mrs Lidia Saccone

Reception- Mrs Paula Thomson

Yr 1/2- Mrs Basia Steciuk

Yr 1/2- Mrs Tania Shakleford and Mrs Kathy Hoile  

Yr 1/2- Mrs Felicity Davies

Yr 3- Mrs Maria Perrone & Mrs Belinda Medlow

Yr 3/4- Mr Graham Connor

Yr 4/5- Ms Elizabeth Bello

Yr 5- Mr Josh Bratt

Yr 6- Mrs Emma Begg

Italian- Mrs Alannah Prestwich

Music- Mrs Steph Insanally & Mrs Michelle Page

Sport & Physical Education- Mr Steven DeGiovaniello

STEM- Mrs Kirstie Wicks

Learning support and teacher release- Mrs Mary-Rose Coghlan

Children will come together in their new class groups on Wednesday to meet and get to know their teachers. There is always great excitement, as well as some nerves, at this time, and our teachers are ready to welcome and support children in this transition.

Last Saturday evening our wonderful St. Joseph’s Kingswood combined choirs performed at the City of Mitcham Carols evening. It  was a fantastic showcase of the musical talents of a children and a reflection of the quality of our music and performance program at Kingswood. My sincere thanks to Steph Insanally and Michelle Page for their tireless dedication to our music program and for preparing the students so well! Thanks also to Bianca Bedson for her excellent support in planning for the evening.

While on Music, our Instrumental evening on Wednesday was once again an outstanding success. It is always a delight to see the children showcase their talents – and we were treated to a special performance of "Eye of the Tiger" by our private music tuition educators! We are blessed to have them all working with your children.

The Carols on the Green was once again an enjoyable and successful community event, and the children performed beautifully! Again, the work of Steph and Michelle in presenting the performance was brilliant! My thanks also to Makella Holden, Katie Routely and all of the P&F for running the pop-up Bar as part of the evening!

I look forward to seeing all of you at tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Mass and awards presentation – please be seated and ready to start at 6pm. The doors to the church will be open at 5.30pm. 

My sincere thanks to those families who took the time to complete our recent survey. It was a very affirming process for us as well as highlighting a number of emerging themes. This information has been very useful as we plan ahead for a successful 2020. Hopefully, you will see enhancements, based on your feedback!

On behalf of everyone here at St. Joseph’s School, Kingswood I wish all families a very Happy and Holy Christmas and I look forward to our continued partnership in 2020.

God bless,

Phil