Appointment of CEO Executive Principal
Last week, the NSW Coptic Education Board advised Heads of our Colleges they have recently appointed an Executive Principal/CEO to oversee the three colleges and this week we welcome Mr Santo Passarello who joins the system with a wealth of knowledge and years of experience as a previous Head of College. Mr Passarello will continue to build on the foundations and our successes that have been set over the past 25 years and guiding our Colleges to common goals, policies and practices. Mr Passarello will be at our college on Friday, 5 March following his introductory visits to SMSMCOC on Wednesday and SBCOC on Thursday, so please make him welcome when you see him.
Easter Dates & Term Dates
In the Upcoming Dates Section of this Newsletter, please look at the dates listed, especially for the end of this term, Western Easter Break, commencement of next Term and Orthodox Easter closures. In 2021, as Western and Eastern Churches celebrate Easter with quite a larger gap that has required considerable adjustment of dates, it is important that families know that students return for Term 2, quickly followed by the Easter Break for Orthodox Easter.
Normally can be within a week or two of each other and oftentimes within the designated break times, however that is not the case this year. The next year we are actually celebrate together will be 2025.
Kindergarten & Year 7 2022 - 2025 Enrolments
All parents are advised that vacancies for both 2022 Kindergarten and Year 7 have been filled, completed and closed, with 2023 enrolled to a approximately 50% at this stage and 2024 to about 40%.
For 2021 all Primary, and most Secondary years are closed. Positions therefore will only occur once students from respective years withdraw to create a vacancy.
Again this year, it has come to my attention that there are possibly some existing parents that have yet to enrol their Kindergarten child for next year, thinking that as they are existing parents their children are automatically enrolled.
Whilst this is partly correct, all existing families WILL get given first priority …. however, All families still need to apply and register their children well in advance. The school cannot assume you are going to enrol your child even if you have other children here as parents sometimes make the choice for alternate schools depending on their circumstances.
Any further Applications will be placed on the Waiting List only. As vacancies occur, offers will be forwarded accordingly according to a date recorded priority order so that equity is afforded to all on the Waiting List in same/similar situations.
So, I encourage ALL families to please Apply and Register your children at your earliest convenience to avoid being informed that your child will have to be placed on a Waiting List as I cannot remove a Registered child from the class list just to place the late applicant’s child in.
Applications and Registrations are currently being taken for KINDERGARTEN & YEAR 7 - 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
All SMC Year 6 students are automatically enrolled in Year 7 2022 at the school. However, if you are not considering continuing at SMC for Year 7, PLEASE advise the school at your earliest convenience in writing but no later than the last Friday of Term 3, 2021 (17 September) as available vacancies are limited for external applicants.
STAFF CAR PARK
I would again like to re-iterate and ask parents to PLEASE NOT use the STAFF CAR PARK to drop off or wait to collect children AT ANY TIME.
The Car Park is to be used solely by STAFF at the College. It is already crowded, VERY difficult to manoeuvre and far more difficult to see anyone whilst trying to park so we must all be extra careful. Staff members leave and return throughout the day attending their meetings and school related tasks and so we cannot continue to waste valuable time trying to find who owns the vehicle left blocking entry/exit accesses and where are they to be found in the school.
Unauthorised vehicles seen parked in the Staff Car Park/Driveway will be towed at the owners cost. The College has no liability for anyone's vehicle within the Car Park and is not liable for any damage caused. Please ensure others (who may not read this newsletter) collecting or dropping off your children are made aware of these requirements.
Traffic Drop Off and Collection
Following the communication to the College for all families (emailed) on 16 Feb from Liverpool City Council regarding How & Where to Legally Park around the College, please study the aerial map with the same letter that follows in the Dep Head of College section. Numerous meetings between Traffic Authorities including Roads and Safety Officers who together with the Liverpool Police Command and Highway Patrol have been liaising with me regarding traffic around our area. Following extensive efforts to assist, the attached aerial map may provide useful areas advising parents where legal parking is permitted. Your continued cooperation and support is requested during the remaining time left until a further review is conducted mid year. We thank Council and our Liverpool Police Command for their efforts to assist both school and community in ensuring that road safety is being maintained for our students.
