St Andrew's PS Newsletter

Term 4 Week 9 2021 3 December

Prayer for St Andrew's

St Andrew pray for us, that we might draw others to Jesus with your same enthusiasm, and learn to accept our crosses as a gift that unites us with Christ. ?

Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Guardians & Caregivers,

On Tuesday 30 November, we celebrated the Feast of St Andrew.

As with a few of the apostles, there is very little revealed about him in Scripture. However, the Byzantine Church honours him with the nickname “protoclete”, which means “the first called”. In fact, it was Andrew that went to tell his brother: ‘We have found the Messiah,’ he said, and he brought Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-43)

Of St Andrew, Pope Benedict XVI said: ‘The Apostle Andrew, therefore, teaches us to follow Jesus with promptness (cf. Mt 4: 20; Mk 1: 18), to speak enthusiastically about him to those we meet, and especially, to cultivate a relationship of true familiarity with him, acutely aware that in him alone can we find the ultimate meaning of our life and death.’

At school liturgy was held online & the Parent Association organised a Subway lunch. From the combined proceeds of the casual day and some Grade 5 fundraising a donation of $300.00 will be made to Joseph's Corner, a not-for-profit charitable organisation in response to the community’s need for free counselling and support for families and friends of those living with alcohol or drug addiction. Sr Jeanne Dwyer, a Josephite nun, is the driving force behind it.

2022 Staffing and Step Up Day

Yesterday the children were informed of their 2022 classes and visited with their 2022 teachers.

In 2022 our teaching staff will be:

  • Foundation: Primola Afribo & Grace Robertson
  • Grade 1: Chloe Boland/Sally Sheehy & Tennille Purton
  • Grade 2: Nicole Sciberras & Jasmine Staunton (new)
  • Grade 3: Mary Ornelis & Michelle Steventon (nee Wihongi)
  • Grade 4: Mieke Hyland & Kat Eastman
  • Grade 5: Candida Fitzgerald & Alex Seaman
  • Grade 6: Anne Marie Palmer & Georgia Bartlett
  • PE: Sally Taylor
  • Library & Arts: Josie Briffa
  • STEM: Chrissie Van Der Hoeven
  • Music: To Be Determined


A full staff list will be made available from the beginning of 2022

Departing Staff

Today I announce the following staff will be leaving St Andrew's in the new year.

Marie Westgarth - Learning & Teaching - Marie has been a member of the St Andrew's staff since 2015. Marie is undecided about her future. We thank Marie for her service and wish her well in whatever direction her future unfolds.

Liz Kietner - Music Teacher - Liz joined the staff in 2019 and has built a strong music program in that time despite two of the years being extremely affected by remote learning. Liz will be missed by her students. Liz has accepted a job at Emmaus Primary School, Sydenham.

Natalie Milanese - Creative Arts - Natalie is taking some extended Long Service Leave for the first 3 terms. She is undecided as to her future at this time.

2022 Foundation Transition session 3

Our 2022 Foundation students attended their final session this morning.
We have 30 excited Foundation students beginning at St Andrew's in 2022.

2021 Semester 2 Reports

The 2021 Semester 2 Reports will be emailed to parents today. 

Parents will be able to make an appointment to discuss the report directly with their child's teacher through the REMIND app should they wish to. These are available on request.

As Semester 2 has been a combination of Face to Face and Remote Learning, teachers have done their best to make an accurate, on balance judgement of how your child's learning has progressed given the constraints. A detailed explanation accompanies the reports.

I thank the teachers for their work in preparing these reports.

2022 Enrolment

Unless we hear differently we are planning that students are returning for 2022.

If you know that your child is not returning to St Andrew's in 2022 please email enquiries@sawerribee.catholic.edu.au to inform us. Please include the destination school so we can finalise transfer records.

2022 Beginning School Dates

Staff return and the Office opens on Friday 28 January 2022.

Foundation students will begin on Monday 31 January - 9.00 - 1.10pm

Students and families in Grade 1-6 will begin the year with 3 Way Conversations on Monday 31 January

Grade 1-6 Students will begin school on Tuesday 1 February.

A full calendar will be made available once finalised.