by Jack Breheny - School Winner of the DOSCEL Christmas Card competition

Dear Families,

Sadly the time has come for me to contribute to my last newsletter.  Even though I have known for six months I would be departing Lumen Christi it became a reality this week as the farewells started to happen.  Yesterday we celebrated Mass together school and last night we gathered once again to celebrate the Graduation of the Class of 2021 ...... the Pupils of the Pandemic!  I feel quite overwhelmed from the best wishes I have received and humbled at the kind feedback that has been shared with me.  Words simply couldn't convey this so in an attempt to try to thank everyone I have included a copy of my Principal's Address from yesterday's Mass.

This week we had Transition across the school and it was terrific to see the students resiliently dealing with changes in teachers and classmates.  A highlight obviously was the arrival of the new Foundation students but just as excited were the Year 6 as they arrived back after their Year 7 Orientation Days.  I have included the listing of 2022 staff in this newsletter, with the new recruit being Mrs.Darby.  I trust you will all embrace her and other her a warm welcome to our terrific school.

The end of a school year always brings staffing departures and this year we have two staff joining me in farewelling Churchill.  Mr.Camillo Redi departs after only spending one year with us in a leadership role after moving back to the Latrobe Valley after teaching in metropolitan Melbourne. Camillo has shown across the year that he is an outstanding classroom teacher while also demonstrating strong leadership skills.  This leadership potential was recognised this week when DOSCELL appointed Camillo to the Deputy Principal role at St.Joseph's Warragul.  We congratulate Camillo on this well deserved promotion.  Like Camillo, Mrs.Janet Smith also leaves us after a short one year stint.  Janet was targeted to support our junior students post-2020 COVID after retiring from working in Latrobe City Pre-Schools.  Janet has had a significant impact and we thank her for the tremendous support she has given the staff and students in the junior building.  We wish her well in retirement.

Reports will be distributed today and it will be the last time they are in that particular format.  As previously advised from 2022 we will switch to using the SIMON/PAM platform.  You will note that all students will have their Absent Days marked as zero (0) as they two system are yet to have the correct connectivity.  The school has a record of attendance available if parents require a copy.

So in closing I congratulate the staff and students on their efforts across the year.  I also offer each family a blessed and joyous Christmas.  Take care of yourselves over the summer break and have a wonderful 2022.

Humbly yours,

Dave

Taken from Dave's Farewell Speech at our End of Year Mass:

Well today is really a day of mixed emotions.

I could be really upset about leaving but really I’m celebrating how lucky I have been to have been able to have spent nine years here at Lumen Christi.  So any tears shed will be tears of celebration not tears of sadness.

In the past six years I’ve been the principal at Lumen Christi plenty has happened.  We have had new buildings built, a new playground, we created Cambo’s Kitchen, I survived cancer, Lumen Christi has the world’s best soccer team, I’ve become a Grandfather and Richmond has won three, THREE premierships.  Over the past few years we have had fires, storms, another fire, floods, another storm and even a global pandemic. The world doesn’t sit still and things are always changing, and so it is with school.  I was so excited to become the 7th Principal of Lumen Christi but I always knew there would be a time for someone else to become the 8th Principal. 

I often use the word LOVE in my speeches to the students in assemblies and today is a perfect opportunity for me to say thank you for the love you have shown me and also an opportunity to remind all of you that I love you.  Vicki would be embarrassed to know all the times at assembly that I have rubbed my wedding ring to tell you all about how much I love her and then jokingly rank my love for you all somewhere between Richmond and a packet of Burger Rings - and that is pretty high up there.

To the staff of Lumen Christi who I have worked with I would like to acknowledge your professionalism and thank you for your friendship.  You all know I often say I’m not looking for my colleagues to be my best friends and I’m not interested in socialising with you out of hours, but I can say to the staff that you started as colleagues and have become my friends.  I’m going to deeply miss you all next year but I’m sure your meetings will be shorter without me.

To the current and past families, I extend my thanks for the trust you place in us collectively and me personally.  I’ve watched your preps become graduates, I’ve been super clucky over your babies and I’ve listened when you have shared your saddest stories.  And when COVID hit you became my new staff - and I think you were pretty awesome and probably deserved a pay rise.  I have enjoyed being a small part of your lives and will miss the before and after school chats.  In particular, can I thank those school parents who have gone above and beyond in contributing to the school - I simply can’t thank you enough.

To the most important people in the school, the students.

Well if there are any people that I’m going to miss the most it is you guys.  I’ll miss seeing you every morning on duty and I’ll miss our chats when I’m out and about.  I will definitely miss hearing you sing WE SHINE and my forever wish is that you will remember how loved you are here at Lumen Christi and also remember to be the Light of Christ no matter how hard that is going to be.  

Across my time here in Churchill I have been blessed to work with a wonderful group of Priests who I have enjoyed sharing the responsibility with of being our  Faith Leader.  Our Priests have been mostly from overseas and I cannot express how grateful I am of their generosity and courage as they have moved from their homes abroad to join us here at Lumen Christi.  Fr.Solomon can you please pass on my thanks to your brother priests, and personally I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Parish Priest down in South Gippsland in 2022.  I look forward to hearing about your surfing adventures down at Inverloch.

To the Lumen Christi Parish Community, I have never felt so welcomed into a Parish like I have here.  You are the Light of Christ and Bishop Coffey should be canonised for what he has created here in the middle of the paddock in the late 1970s.  So I humbly and simply just say thank you.

Tonight we get to say farewell to our Graduating Class of 2021.  Tonight I will get the chance to wish you all the best for the future and acknowledge your achievement in completing primary school, but can I take this opportunity to wish you and your families all the best.

So with tears of appreciation I finish up and simply say goodbye Lumen Christi.  I love you, I will always love you.

Ftaher James, Father Solomon and the Lumen Chirsti Parish Community invite all school families to attend this year's Christmas events.

Friday 24th December - Christmas Eve Mass 8pm

Saturday 25th December - Christmas Morning Mass 9am

2022 STAFFING STRUCTURE

Principal                     MRS. SALLY DARBY

Admin Team                JANELLE BREHENY & MAREE NARDINO

Leadership Team:

Mrs.Cathy Colaciello    Religious Education Leader

Mrs. Marina Dosen       Learning Adjustment Leader

Mr. Brandon Mahoney   Teaching and Learning Leader

YEAR P&1                    MISS. ELLY SMITH

YEAR 1&2                    MRS. MARINA DOSEN & MRS.LARA SAVIGE 

YEAR 3                        MR. BRAD WATSON

YEAR 4&5                     MR. BRANDON MAHONEY & MRS. JANELLE SZKWAREK

YEAR 5&6                     MR. ROD CLARKE

Ed Support Staff:      CATHERINE CAMPBELL, HEATHER MOIR, HAYLEY LIDDICOAT, JULIE WITNISH & CALLUM STEWART

ART SPECIALIST                  MRS.CATHY COLACIELLO

LANGUAGES SPECIALIST      MRS.CATHY COLACIELLO

LIBRARY SPECIALIST           MRS. MAREE NARDINO

MUSIC SPECIALIST              MRS. JANELLE SZKWAREK

BUILDINGS & FACILITIES     TANIA WOOKEY

Please take note of these dates for your family calendar

UPDATED ADVICE FROM DET/DHHS MAY REQUIRE US TO MODIFY SCHOOL EVENTS  - THIS ADVICE IS VERY FLUID. VACCINATION PROTOCOLS NEED TO BE IN PLACE.

*VACCINATION RULES APPLY TO EVENTS: All visitors (12+) to the school must show proof of Vaccination

TERM 4 DATES:

Week 11

Mon 13th December: Junior School Nativity Play 9am (Visitors allowed*)

Tues 14th December: Carols & Staff Farewells 8.40am (Visitors allowed*)

Tues 14th December: End of Year Dismissal 3pm

On Tuesday students are asked to wear their Sports Uniform but are allowed to add to add some Christmas bling!

Farewell to the following graduating families:

Congratulations to our recently announced 2022 Student Leaders

At the start of the year we conduct assessment interviews with each of our students.  The assessment days will be day Monday 31st Jan and Tuesday 1st Feb 8.30am to 4.00pm each day.

Parents will be able to book in a time via the PAM system.  Once the interview bookings become available online a notification will be emailed to parents.

If you are having difficulty using the system our staff are also able to make bookings on your behalf.

Please contact us if you are having any difficulties.

On the school website you will find a listing of Fees Information including downloadable forms including:

• 2022 Fees Schedule
• Direct Debit forms
• CSEF Application Form for Concession Card Holders
• Smith Family Application Form for Concession Card Holders

LINK TO: Lumen Christi Website Fees Information