TERRIBLY SAD NEWS

Last week I advised you that Raj Jayarajah, husband of Emma and father of Ari, 5HG, had suffered a serious medical emergency while on holiday in Bali. Arrangements were successfully made and he was medically evacuated to Melbourne last Thursday.

It is with great sadness that I now advise you that Raj Jayarajah passed away yesterday. The information below has been provided by Raj’s family.

Update from Rajiv Jayarajah’s family:

We are so sad to let you know that Raj passed away today. (Sunday)

After arriving back in Melbourne by air ambulance, the team at The Alfred Intensive Care Unit performed a number of tests on Raj and informed us that there was nothing that could be done to save him.

Since then, Raj has been surrounded by his family and close friends in Melbourne who have gathered by his bedside to say goodbye.

We would like to thank all of the incredible people who have cared for Raj since he collapsed in Bali. The caring staff at BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua, the Australian medical experts who selflessly advised Raj’s sister Samari in Bali on Raj’s care, the wonderful Air Ambulance Australasia team, and the loving and caring team at The Alfred ICU. We will always appreciate the care you gave Raj, and we know you did everything you could to try to save him.

We are shattered to lose Raj so young – it’s a huge loss for so many people who loved him, most of all his loving family. It is hard to imagine life without him, and we will now begin the mourning process.

We know how much Raj was loved and the incredible impact he had on those around him. We will provide further information soon about plans to commemorate and celebrate his incredible life and the wonderful man that he was.

THANKYOU MICHAEL JULIFF

In the last newsletter of Term Two I advised you that Michael Juliff had resigned his position as our Director of Child Safety, Compliance and Policy after serving as Principal of St Peter’s for eleven years and six years as Co-ordinating Principal of the schools of the Holy Trinity Parish.

Michael, being as humble as has always been, has declined the invitation to be farewelled publicly by our school community. I will be ensuring that as a staff we do gather to thank him for his service. However I do want to take the time to put on the record how priveleged Catholic Education and St Peter’s has been to have Michael Juliff serve us.

Michael began his teaching career in 1981 and after 14 years as a teacher in two settings he started as Principal at St Mark’s Dingley in 1995. For the next 29 years Michael held leadership roles in Catholic Education, 18 of them within our community. He led with the utmost integrity and with a vision for a school where students could access what they needed to grow and learn. This was very evident in his introduction of the Arrowsmith Program at St Peter’s and with his willingness to step away from a role he loved as principal at St Peter’s to take on the co-ordinating role of Co-ordinating Principal across all the Holy Trinity Parish Schools. If Michael saw a better way he pursued it with all his heart and energy even if it went against the mainstream and sometimes the system. This often came at a personal cost but if you know Michael Juliff you know that he will do whatever it takes to ensure outcomes are just and fair. 

When I started at St Peter’s I quickly realised that I faced a challenge. I had to follow a great leader and try to improve a school that was already highly regarded. It has been a privilege to continue to grow his vision for St Peter’s. His support over the last eight years has been a highlight of my professional career and I will miss our daily interaction. 

On behalf of a very grateful community and education system I would like to thank Michael and wish him all the best in this wonderful stage of his life where he can focus on the joy that his family brings him. He leaves Catholic Education and the St Peter’s community having given his all. He will be greatly missed. 

WELCOME NEW FAMILIES

I am delighted to welcome three new students and two new families to the St Peter’s community. Sava Parker and his family joined the St Peter’s community towards the end of last term. Sava has joined the 5PC class.

Today we welcome Zoe Martin Juncker and Lucas Martin Juncker and their family to St Peter’s. Zoe will also be joining the 5PC class and Lucas has joined the 1MH class.

We look forward to all the Parker and Martin Juncker families will bring to our community.

STAFF UPDATE

Anna Efstratiou

After 12 years service at St Peter’s Anna has resigned her position as a Learning Support Officer. Her last day at St Peter’s was the 23rd of June. We thank Anna for her contribution to helping our students learn and wish her all the best for the future.

Congratulations Sarah Crough

Sarah Crough has been working as a Learning Support Officer at St Peter’s since Term Three last year. During this time she has also been studying and has now completed her teaching qualification. We congratulate Sarah on this achievement.

Sarah will continue at St Peter’s in her learning support role for the next couple of weeks until her teaching registration is completed. At this time she will be leaving St Peter’s to take up a full time teaching position.

Welcome New Learning Support staff

I am delighted to welcome three new Learning Support staff to St Peter’s. We welcome Tess Parisotto, Gemma Marchese and Lauren Plier to the Learning Support Team at St Peter’s. They will all be working part time as they continue to study.

Tess joins us having completed a teaching placement in 5PC with Anna and Pip last term. Gemma joins us having completed Certificate III in School Based Education Support and will complete her Certificate IV before the end of the year. Lauren is a past student of St Peter's and has been working part time as a swim teacher at Gesac while studying nursing and Paramedicine. We look forward to all they bring to St Peter’s.

Cate Sanders Personal Leave

Cate Sanders will be remaining on personal leave for the duration of Term Three. Michelle Cincotta replaced Cate as our Creative Arts teacher last term and will continue in this role for Term Three.

MUM’s CATCH UP POSTPONED

The Mum’s catch up scheduled for this Thursday the 13th of July has been postponed. The next gathering will be Thursday the 31st of August. Further details will follow.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

Last week Trish emailed the Term Three Class letters. She also emailed a copy of the Term Three Calendar. Please make sure you transfer the important dates into your personal calendars. These would include

Friday, 28th July - Grandparent’s Mass and Morning Tea

Tuesday, 1st August - Pupil Free Day

Wednesday, 30th August - Father’s Day Breakfast

Thursday, 7th September - Parent Teacher Interviews 2pm - 8:00pm

Friday, 8th September - Pupil Free Day

Friday, 15th September - Last day of Term Three

HOLIDAY PROJECTS

Drink Taps on Casey

During the holidays we removed three drink troughs with 8 working drink fountain taps and replaced them with one trough with six working drink fountains. The replacement drink fountains are modern and easier to clean.

Memorial Garden

Work has begun on a Memorial Garden for Ange D’Amelio on the Florence Street side of the Junior Building. It has involved updating seating and replanting with plants featuring colours suggested by Ange’s children. Stage Two will begin this week.

ST. PETER'S DADS GOLF DAY