Guardian Angels' Update - Term 4 | Week 8
Coming up @ GA
Week 9
Monday 27 November
Uniform Shop open 7:30am-10:30am
End of Year Mass - MC Shed - 9:00am
Students receive 2024 class placement
Nativity Play - led by Prep Blue - MC Shed - 2:00pm
Tuesday 28 November
Year 6 Excursion - Wet n Wild
Code Camp - 3:05pm-4:20pm
P&F Meeting - Mt Carmel Campus Staffroom - 6:30pm
Wednesday 29 November
Tuckshop (orders must be in by 7:45am)
Meet the Teacher Morning
Christmas Concert - MC Shed - 5:30pm
Thursday 30 November
Uniform Shop open 1:00pm-4:00pm
Friday 1 December
End of Year Celebration - MC Shed - 10:45-11:45am
LAST DAY OF TERM 4 - SCHOOL CONCLUDES AT 12:00PM
Week 1 - Term 1 2024
Tuesday 23 January
School resumes
Term 4 | Week 8 - School News
Staffing at Guardian Angels
I am pleased to announce that our class structures and staffing for 2024 are finalised with details contained below. Also, included are learning area allocations and specialist offerings, and a full 2024 staff list.
Welcome…
I would like to welcome new staff and acknowledge those moving to new roles at Guardian Angels in 2024:
- Elisha Thatcher (Primary Learning Leader): We welcome Elisha to our Leadership Team in the position of Primary Learning Leader. Elisha is currently working in the role of Acting Primary Learning Leader at our school. An accomplished educator, Elisha is an enthusiastic and respected member of our team. She has worked extensively in Catholic Education over many years, and her expertise in curriculum development and delivery will be a great addition to the leadership of our learning and teaching at Guardian Angels.
- Loren Cahill (Classroom Teacher): We welcome Loren to our teaching team in 2024. Loren (Mon – Tue) will be working in a shared teaching arrangement with Josephine Summerville (Wed – Fri) in 2024. Loren is an experienced educator and is well known to our school community as she is a regular member of our relief team. Loren has worked for Brisbane Catholic Education for many years and brings a depth of knowledge and experiences to our school. Her commitment as an educator, and her gentle and caring presence will be a great asset to our community.
- Karen Flick (Admin School Officer): Karen will be working in the position of Admin School Officer during Term 1, 2024. Karen is an experienced School Officer and is well known to our school community. She is a regular member of our administration relief team and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role.
- Shelley Walters (School Officer): We welcome Shelley to the role of School Officer for Term 1, 2024. Shelley is a valued member of our relief team and will be working with our students from Years 1 – 6.
We welcome all new staff to our Guardian Angels’ community and trust that they find their time in our school a very rewarding experience.
Farewell and Thanks…
Each person has an important role in our school community and as we farewell members of our staff, we are given the opportunity to celebrate all that they have accomplished during their time at Guardian Angels’ School, and we wish them every success in their new beginnings.
We farewell and thank:
- Elizabeth Morrissey (Primary Learning Leader): We officially farewell Liz from our Leadership Team and GA community as she continues as the Assistant Principal Administration at St Peter’s School, Rochedale, in a permanent capacity.
- Mary Osterio (Class Teacher): We farewell Mary from our teaching staff at the end of the 2023 school year as she has advised of her intention to retire. As we farewell Mary, we will do so in recognition of her 18 years of service to our Guardian Angels’ community, and to Catholic Education for over 38 years. We extend thanks to Mary for her commitment and dedication to our school community in her teaching role. She has made a unique contribution to Guardian Angels, and her calm presence and professional expertise will be missed. We pray for Mary as she farewells our school community and moves into new beginnings in retirement.
- Bernadette Williams (Class Teacher): We farewell Bern from our teaching team for 2024. We wish her well as she commences a period of extended leave for the 2024 school year. As we wish Bern well for her leave, we do so in recognition of her 10 years of service at our school, and over 30 years for Catholic Education. Bern’s experience and willingness to share her professional knowledge with colleagues is deeply valued. Her genuine care and commitment to her students has been a gift to our community.
- Kim Nearhos (Teacher Librarian): We farewell Kim after two years at our school. Kim has made a significant contribution as our Teacher Librarian and Specialist Teacher. We wish her well as she continues her professional journey.
- We welcome Linda Lawer (Library School Officer) in an extended capacity (working Monday – Friday) in our library from the commencement of the 2024 school year.
- Pamela Jory (Class Teacher): We farewell Pamela from our teaching team and thank her for her commitment and care for our students. We wish her well as she continues her professional journey.
- Mikaela Hayman (Speech Therapist): We farewell Mikaela from our Inclusion Team at the end of the 2023 school year and wish her well as she continues her professional journey.
- Trish Hardcastle (GA Campus Admin School Officer): We farewell Trish from our Admin Support Team during Term 1, 2024 as she is taking a period of leave. We wish her every blessing and look forward to welcoming her back in Term 2 next year.
- Jenny Druce (MC Campus Admin School Officer): We farewell Jenny from our Admin Support Team at the end of the school year. Jenny’s warm and welcoming presence will be missed at our school, and we wish her well as she continues her professional journey.
As we farewell each staff member at the end of this term, we do so in recognition of the valued contributions made to our Guardian Angels’ community.
There will be opportunities to gather and to share words of personal thanks, but I would like to thank them for their service and acknowledge that we are thankful to our God for gifting us with them.
We pray for them as they farewell our school community and move into new beginnings:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God keep you in the palm of his hand.
Staffing Arrangements and Learning Areas for 2024
Teaching Staff and allocated learning areas for 2024 are as below:
- Prep Blue – Amelia Law GA 1
- Prep Green - Sheridan Arndell GA 2
- Prep Red - Lucy Zimmerlie GA 5
- 1 Blue - Clare Irving GA 3
- 1 Green – Lucy Hyndman GA 4
- 1 Red - Danielle Carroll GA 7
- 2 Blue - Nicole Dodds GA 9
- 2 Green- Anne-Maree Harrison GA 10
- 2 Red - Karen Morshuis GA 21
- 3 Blue – Jo Summerville and Loren Cahill MC 9
- 3 Green - Alison Hackett - MC 10
- 3 Red - Will Erwin - MC 11
- 3 Yellow – Vicki Lucas – MC 12
- 4 Blue - Lisa Gear MC 13
- 4 Green – David Trimble MC 14
- 4 Red - Kelli Griffith MC 15
- 5/6 Blue - Melinda Paljakka MC 6
- 5/6 Green - Alana Prasnikar MC 5
- 5/6 Red - Warren Kay MC 8
Specialist Lessons in 2024: Library, Music, PE and LOTE Japanese
In 2024, our specialist curriculum offerings will continue in the areas of:
- Music (Prep – Year 6) – Daniela Clever
- Drama (Prep – Year 6) – Andrea Ellis- Vester
- Physical Education (Prep – Year 6) – Melanie Denmead
- Library (Prep – Year 4) – Kath Bynon / Linda Lawer
- LOTE Japanese (Years 5 and 6) – Rumi Umegaki
Specialists lessons are timetabled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week, with LOTE scheduled each Friday.
Physical Education (PE)
Physical Education will be offered by a specialist teacher, Melanie Denmead, to all students from Prep to Year 6. Students will attend weekly lessons.
Swimming lessons will occur in Term 4 for students in Years 1 and 2. This is to reduce disruptions at the commencement of the school year as our students settle into their learning and teaching routines. Details will be provided upon completion of the master calendar for 2024and shared via regular communication platforms.
Music
Music will be offered by a specialist teacher, Daniela Clever, to all students from Prep to Year 6. Students will attend weekly lessons.
Drama
Drama will be offered by a specialist teacher, Andrea Ellis-Vester, to all students from Prep to Year 6. Students will attend weekly lessons.
LOTE Japanese
LOTE Japanese will be offered by a specialist teacher, Rumi Umegaki, for students in Years 5 and 6. Students will attend weekly lessons.
Inclusion: Speech Therapy
We will no longer have a speech therapist as part of our Inclusion Team in 2024. We are currently exploring options for speech therapy at our school, in preparation for the 2024 school year.
Instrumental Music Program: Creative Kidz
David and Kath Smith, of Creative Kidz, will continue to offer a user-pay instrumental music program to our Guardian Angels’ students. This is a wonderful program offered to our students and further information will be shared by the Creative Kidz team in the weeks ahead.
Meet the Teacher Morning - Wednesday 29 November 2023
Our Meet the Teacher Morning is scheduled for Wednesday 29 November 2023(Week 9). Continuing students and new students commencing in 2024 from Prep to Year 6 will join us for this morning. We will also welcome most of our teaching staff for 2024. All new and current students will spend the morning engaged in learning and teaching activities with their 2024 teacher/s. Please note the arrangements as below:
- On arrival at school, all students are to place their bags outside the classroom of their regular 2023 learning area prior to going to normal before school supervision/play areas.
- At the start of day (08:25am), students will line up as per their regular before school routines and will move with their 2023 class teacher to their normal classrooms to mark the roll.
- Current Year 6 students and all other students leaving Guardian Angels’ at the end of 2023 will spend the session with our specialist teaching team.
2024 Prep to Year 2 NEW Students
- Students commencing in Prep to Year 2 are to be dropped off (08:40am) and collected (10:20am) beneath the shade sails located between the GA Campus School Administration Building and the Church on Bay Terrace.
- Students will be walked by school staff to meet with their 2024 class group and teacher.
- To support a smooth transition, parents are asked to separate quickly from their child.
2024 Year 3 to Year 6 NEW Students
- Students commencing in Year 3 to Year 6 are to be dropped (08:30am) and collected (10:15am) from the MC school office at 82 Chestnut Street.
- Students will be walked by school staff to meet with their 2024 class group and teacher.
- To support a smooth transition, parents are asked to separate quickly from their child.
Notification of Home Groups/Teachers for 2024
A letter outlining your child’s 2024 Home Group and Teacher will be sent home with each student on Monday 27 November 2023. Please check your child’s bag for this information.
Teachers will also share this information with the students prior to leaving school on Monday 27 November.
Start of Year Arrangements for 2024: Day 1 at Guardian Angels’
Students will commence school with a full day on Tuesday 23 January 2024.
Details for the first day are outlined below:
Tuesday 23 January 2024:
- Full day 8:25am – 3:00pm
What to bring:
- School backpack – named with distinguishing keyring
- Munch and Crunch (fruit and/or vegetable snack), lunch and afternoon tea
- School hat and water bottle
- Your EDSCO bookpack (see below)
- Students in Years 3-6 are to bring a pencil case containing writing equipment.
What to wear:
- Full uniform including school hat.
Stationery Requirements – Years 1 to 6
- The book packs for students in Years 1 to 6 are provided by an external supplier – EDESCO.
- https://www.guardianangelswynnum.qld.edu.au/curriculum/Pages/Year-Level-Booklists.aspx
- If your book pack was pre-ordered by the cut-off date it will be delivered to your address. The book pack comes in a large rectangular box which you should use to bring all items to school on the first day.
- Please label every item in the pack, including pens, pencils, glue, with your child’s name.
- Students can bring their own pencil case however it must be able to fit inside a tidy box.
- Novelty items are not to be brought to school.
- Some of these named items, from the book pack, will be collected on Day 1 and stored for use when a student’s supplies run down.
Medical alerts and medication at school
If your child has a medical condition (ie asthma, anaphylaxis) and requires the administration of medication at school please ensure that the Medication Administration Request form has been completed, signed and returned to the School Office together with the student’s medication to be administered at school. All medications must be prescribed by a medical practitioner, must be labelled with a pharmacy label, and may also require further written medical advice.
Please contact the School Office if you require a copy of this form.
All medication and completed forms are to be provided to the School Office in the week of 15 January 2024.
Parent Handbook
Our 2024 Parent Handbook is available now. You will find it on the Guardian Angels’ website and a hardcopy will come home before the end of term.
By working together as parents and educators, we can build a foundation for life-long learning. We welcome your participation and support during the school year and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of your child with you.
Veronica Tomerini-Smith
School Fees
A letter regarding 2024 school fees was emailed Thursday 16 November to families. Please check your email inbox to learn more.
It can also be found on our website here: https://www.guardianangelswynnum.qld.edu.au/enrolments/Pages/School-Fees.aspx
Christmas Concert - 29 November
It is hard to believe but the end of the school year is just around the corner, and so preparations have begun for our wonderful carols night. It will be held in the shed on Wednesday 29 November at 5.30pm.
This year marks the 800-year anniversary of the first retelling of the nativity story by St Francis of Assisi, so to celebrate this special occasion we shall be sharing the nativity story through song! Costume requirements for each year level are listed below.
Costume RequirementsPrep: Class Christmas shirt (being made in class)
Years 1-4: White shirt (short or long sleeved). Students will be creating a special accessory to wear in class.
Year 3: Students will also require a pair of sunglasses.
Year 5 and 6 : White shirt (short or long sleeved ) White or gold fairy lights or tinsel.
All students may wear shorts, pants, or skirts of any colour.
We look forward to seeing and hearing you all at the concert!
Kind regards
Mrs Andrea Ellis Vester (Drama) and Mrs Danielle Clever (Music)
In other news...
Drop off and pick up zone volunteers
Thank you to those parents who have already so generously volunteered their time in the pick up zones. We truly appreciate your help.
We would love parent helpers in pick up zones this year. Pick up zones operate from 8:00am – 8:25am in the morning and from 2:55pm – 3:20pm in the afternoons. It's an easy 25 mins, opening car doors, helping little people in and out of cars.
If you can spare 20-30 minutes once or twice a week please email Jenny Druce at jdruce@bne.catholic.edu.au with your preferred day, time and campus.
A friendly reminder, before commencing your role as a volunteer or other personnel at our school, you are required to complete the online volunteer training. This training needs to be renewed annually and can be found here: https://www.bne.catholic.edu.au/students-parents/student-protection/Pages/Student-Protection-and-Code-of-Conduct-Training-for-Volunteers-and-Other-Personnel.aspx
You will need to download, print and complete your registration form, which is contained within your online training. Return it to the School Office prior to commencing your role.
Second-hand Uniform Shop
The second hand uniform shop is open on the first Monday of the month. The shop will open between 7:45am and 8:20am on the GA campus.
Each item is $5. Cash only sales.
Need items outside of shop open times? Please email pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au with what you need and one of our amazing parent volunteers will fill this order for you.
Enrolments
At Guardian Angels' we place particular importance in acknowledging the various gifts and talents each community member is blessed with, as we strive to unite under the theme, ‘We Are One’.
Existing Guardian Angels' Families - sibling Prep 2025 enrolments
Calling all current Guardian Angels' families with sibling enrolments for Prep 2025. Please submit your applications and supporting documentation now.
We are currently full across all year levels and maintaining a waitlist for Prep 2024. We are now accepting enrolments for Prep in 2025 and 2026.
For further information or interest in upcoming tours please contact Jenny Druce on 3396 4486 (ext 4) | or by email at pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au
From the Tuckshop
Volunteer Roster
Week 9
Wednesday 29 November - Kylie Culwick and Simon Hall
Thursday 30 November - NO TUCKSHOP
Friday 1 December - NO TUCKSHOP
Please contact Annalise Olm - aolm@bne.catholic.edu.au - if you are able to volunteer your time in the canteen in 2024.
Before commencing your role as a volunteer or other personnel at our school, you are required to complete the annual online volunteer training. The training can be found here: https://www.bne.catholic.edu.au/students-parents/student-protection/Pages/Student-Protection-and-Code-of-Conduct-Training-for-Volunteers-and-Other-Personnel.aspx
You will need to download, print and complete your registration form, which is contained within your online training. Return it to the School Office prior to commencing your role.
From the P&F
🪩 DISCO UPDATE 🪩
We look forward to seeing you at this disco this Friday 24 November.
A reminder for sessions times:
Session 1 - Prep to Year 2: 4:00pm - 5:30pm Session 2 - Year 3 to Year 6: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
🍕 For those who have ordered a pizza or two - collection will be at a designated space next to the Tuckshop.
For those attending the first session collection will be from 4:30pm. For those attending the second session, collection will be from 6:30pm.
🍿🍭🥤 Drinks, popcorn and lollies can be purchased from the tuckshop. There will be a Photo Booth available to take happy snaps throughout the session 📸
Thanks for supporting our end of year event 👏🏼
Happy dancing! 💃🏼
From the Community
Have your details changed?
Did you know that you can confirm or change your details online using our Parent Portal?
The Update Your Details page (https://extranet16.bne.catholic.edu.au/parent/guardianangelswynnum/MyDetails/Pages/MyDetails.aspx) allows you to check the contact information we have for you so you can help us keep your details accurate for emergencies, billing and to keep you up-to-date with happenings in our school community.
A friendly reminder, if someone in your family changes their contact details, we are required to check with other members of the household sharing the same contact details (ie home or mailing address) whether or not your details have also changed. We cannot assume that changes made to one student contact can be made to another. Not sure how to get access to the Parent Portal? Please email pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au and we can get you up and running.
Contact us
Guardian Angels offers a broad-based inclusive curriculum with a range of opportunities and experiences that foster the growth of the whole student. We pride ourselves on the spirit that can be found in our students, staff and parents.
Visit us on the web at www.guardianangelswynnum.qld.edu.au
Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaswynnum
For all enquiries please email us at pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au
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