Week 1 Term 1 2022

Welcome to 2022
Greetings to all as we begin the 2022 school year. A special welcome to any students and families new to our community. I trust the holidays were opportune time for reenergising and occasion for spending time with those whom we cherish. We are immensely looking forward to this year – learning, developing and maintaining relationships, and of course enjoying ourselves along the way!

Gratitude – why we need it more than ever
A couple of months ago, I didn’t think that South Australia would be in this current position, and certainly a hybrid model of school be in place for the start of the year. It is not the ideal scenario; however, this is the situation, and we need to adapt, be positive, and know that we will get through this period.

Whilst we can be critical about our current state of affairs, I believe we can change our mindset, or (as I often say) we can ‘flip-it’. By this, I mean we can instead choose (and it is a choice) to be thankful and grateful for the ‘good’ we have in our lives.

I firmly believe that by being grateful, it helps us feel better about ourselves and life in general.

Over the holidays, with some spare time up my sleeve, I managed to read a few books, by chance, all with fairly similar messages:

• the importance to express gratitude on a regular basis;
• mindfulness and being present on the task at hand can greatly assist our wellbeing;
• being empathetic and understanding of others, benefits our relationships; and
• living with purpose, especially when we contribute and assist fellow human-beings, creates the greatest amount of happiness in our lives.  

In today’s piece, I refer to one of the books I recently read (kindly given to me as a birthday gift by my good friend, Mark), The Resilience Project by Hugh Van Cuylenburg. I especially focus on the quality that we know as ‘gratitude’.

Widely known as the founder of positive psychology, Dr Martin Seligman, has shown that we can, in effect, retrain our brains so we feel happier on a day-to-day basis. Whilst there are many activities you can do, one simple action (advocated by Dr Seligman – a study that has been cited more than 6000 times), is to write down three things that went well each day, every day, along with an explanation of why each good thing happened.

It’s been shown that when human beings take time to look for and cogitate on the good things that happen to them every day, after one month our brains start scanning the world for positives rather than negatives. Dr Seligman found that, over the medium to long term, practising ‘gratitude interventions’ makes people happier overall.

Over the past few decades as more and more research has been done in the area, studies have indicated associations between practising gratitude, and improvements in: emotional well-being; fewer symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression; higher levels of self-esteem; enhanced life satisfaction; better quality of life; and greater optimism. Within the context of work, gratitude has been shown to correlate with greater personal accomplishment, job satisfaction, and reduced burnout.

According to Van Cuylenburg, if we can teach children how to practice gratitude and have them actively take note of three things, they are thankful for each day, then we have a better chance at turning the tide of anxiety and depression that is creeping up and up in the statistics.

This practice, of physically recording three things that one is grateful for each day, is a process that I have now been doing since 2014, when I had the privilege of hearing Dr Seligman speak and then subsequently read his book, Flourish. I can say that this simple act, at the conclusion of each day, really does make a positive difference.

Especially during these times, when there is added anxiety and uncertainty in our lives, I strongly encourage you and your child/ren to partake in this activity. The evidence for doing so is clear.

Staffing, 2022
We welcome the following staff members new (or returning) to St Joseph’s Payneham.

Celesta Seal, who will be coordinating our Occasional Care, ‘Piccolini’ 3-year-old program (re-commencing in Week 4); Nadia Plawecki and Vicki Traino, both providing release for our Preschool staff on Wednesdays; and the following staff members, who are either returning from leave, or officially joining our team: Adrian Mastrangelo, who will be teaching Physical Education.; Alicia Matikulas, who will be teaching Year 3MM (sharing the class with Michael Musolino); and Caterina Musolino who will be teaching Year 2MG (sharing the class with Adriana Graziani).

I also acknowledge and welcome Payneham’s new Parish Priest, Fr Michael Romeo. Fr Michael is very keen get to know the community.

I provide a list of St Joseph’s Payneham, 2022 staff:

Leadership Team
Principal – Simon Mechis
Deputy Principal/APRIM – Ingrid Douventzidis
Inclusive Education Coordinator – Marie Polvere
Leader of Learner – Vanessa Saccardo
Leadership Support – Michael Musolino

Preschool Teachers
Anna Garimella (Joeys and Kanga 2 groups)
Nicole Baans (Koala group)
Jess Vreugdenburg (Kanga I group)
Nadia Plawecki (release for Preschool teachers)
Vicki Traino (release for Preschool teachers)

Reception Teachers
Joyce Nero
Lucy Martino
Amanda Karam
Jen Annetta

Year 1 Teachers
Maria Prestia
Karyn Rowett
Sonia Tronnolone

Year 2 Teachers
Tania Melfi
Shendelle Watters
Caterina Musolino and Adriana Graziani

Year 3 Teachers
Michael Musolino and Alicia Matikulas
Margaret McConnell

Year 4 Teachers
Bernardette Robinson
Rosanna Parrella and Tayla Carosi

Year 5 Teachers
Yvette Vingelis
Angela Scarpantoni

Year 6 Teachers
Michael Mastrangelo
Emily Parrella

Specialist Teachers
STEM – Nicholas Polvere
Physical Education – Adrian Mastrangelo
Music, Drama and Dance – Emma Hills
Italian – Tayla Carosi

Front Office
Administration / Reception – Lanette Burke and Peta Yates
Finance – Josie Ferragammo and Helen Crosato
ICT Technician – Barb Cole
Enrolments, WHS, Admin. support – Dora Cavuoto

Educational Support Officers (ESOs) – Early Years
Giovanna De Meo
Tania Cardone
Maria Lupoi
Laura Parletta
Leah Tregenza
Celesta Seal

Educational Support Officers (ESOs) – Curriculum
Peta Yates
Leah Tregenza
Manuela Ciniglia
Giovanna De Meo
Julie Ward
Rachel Armstrong
Manuela Belperio
Shima Safari
Mitchell Wells
Anusha Chaudry
Tina Hoffman

OSHC 
Acting Director – Karina Forte
Before School Care Coordinator – Josie Nicolescu

Canteen Manager
Josie Nicolescu

Grounds and Maintenance
Fernando Belperio

Parent Information Evening (Letter/Brochure)  
As a result of the current restrictions, the Parent Information Evening will not go ahead in its usual format during Week 2, (where we typically hold this face-to-face with families). Instead, a detailed letter or brochure, along with the Term One Overview will be circulated by the end of Week 2.

Seesaw….
The Seesaw app. will be used for sharing your child’s school work and a communication tool. If details have not been shared already, information will be coming home soon from class teachers.

Building work, 2022
In the final Parent Newsletter for 2021, I highlighted that over the holiday break, the transportable learning space (which was located in the south eastern corner of the school), housing two of our Reception classes, would be moved into the northern end of the Staff Carpark.

This occurred so a proposed new two-level building can be built on the eastern side of the school (where the current cottage garden area and sheds now sit). The new structure will be a high-quality, eight classroom (with added facilities and amenities) structure. We are anticipating that building work will commence in April 2022, and the new learning spaces open in 2023. The endeavour is for the transportable to be removed from the staff car park during 2022.

Further, as the transportable will take away some staff car parking, we have been fortunate to have extra parking allocation for staff granted. As also mentioned on a couple of occasions last year, the school purchased the property on the corner of Tarcoma Avenue and Portrush Road. We are aiming to transform the land into a parent and visitor car park.

Moreover, late last year, the school acquired the property at 11 Marian Road. Further details will be provided as developments arise.

COVID-19 update
Please ensure you keep up to date with our school’s circulations regarding COVID regulations, restrictions, etc. Also, a reminder to you keep your child/children home if they are:

• unwell;
• experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms;
• any other member of the household has COVID-19; 
• they are a close contact for a person who has COVID-19 and are required to quarantine; and
• notify us as soon as possible if your child/ren tests positive for COVID-19.

If staff notice children with such symptoms, you will be asked to collect your child from school. Thank you for your anticipated support.

Police Checks and COVID Vaccination status
All parents/carers and other community members need to undergo a Police Check before volunteering at the school. Additionally, it is now mandated by the government, that all volunteers, need to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated (or demonstrate a valid exemption). Please contact the Front Office for details.

Condolences
Recently, Sebastian Spaziani (Rec. A) had his paternal grandmother pass away. Our thoughts are with the Spaziani family at this time.

Congratulations
I share with you ‘good news’ which occurred over the holiday break, and offer my best wishes to:
- the Daram family (Akira, 3MM), on the arrival of a baby girl, Arnica, and;
- the Santamaria family (Xavier, 1P), on the birth of a baby boy, Gabriel, and;
- the Melo family (Maximiliano, RN), on the arrival of baby girl, Eloise.

Wishing you well!
Simon Mechis

Welcome 
Welcome to 2022. I hope you all had a wonderful break with your families.  For many families, this year’s start is unlike any other but we look forward to seeing all our students in the yard over the coming weeks to hear about their school holiday fun.  

We extend a special welcome to Father Michael Romeo our new parish priest.
We are glad to have you as a part of our community.
May God enrich our lives together as we worship and serve Him. 

Father Michael  was ordained on August 29, 2014 and was previously Assistant Priest at Mount Gambier and then became the Parish Priest at Penola.

We look forward to working with Fr Michael, planning Liturgies and Masses and engaging in the Sacramental program.

Sacramental Program -Year 3 and 4
Students who wish to take part in the Sacramental Program in 2022 (Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion) will receive a note this term. Parents please contact Ingrid Douventzidis if you have any questions regarding the  Programme. 

New Beginnings
At the beginning of each school year all classes/students are involved in the NEW BEGINNINGS Program. This is an important opportunity for children and teachers to develop supportive relationships and create cultures of learning that are high quality.  

All class teachers 2-6 have planned their online learning around our New Beginnings Program. Educational research clearly indicates that student learning is enhanced when expectations are set high and environments are safe, supportive and engaging. The New Beginnings Program will support student success and a love of learning as they begin a new year.  

Teachers and students will spend time building understanding through the online lessons of how learning to learn is a powerful tool for success. They will also engage with the Berry Street Education Model, which encompasses strategies to ensure our students begin the school year with a positive mindset and being grateful for what we have in our lives.

Ingrid Douventzidis