WHAT A NIGHT! - AND WHAT A WEEK!

Only artists can envision something as inspiring as Arts Week and dream up an event as spectacular as Illuminate Night. But turning that vision into reality requires more than imagination—it takes dedication, collaboration, and an extraordinary amount of hard work.

The Arts team has not only brought that vision to life but also showcased the very best of our school to the wider community.

We are sincerely grateful for the many weekends, evenings, and holiday hours that have gone into this project. I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Kath, Michelle, Cara, and Caitlyn for their generosity, creativity, teamwork, and unwavering commitment.

A special thank you to Kath, who led the team with great care and took on the significant task of coordinating both the week and Wednesday night’s event.

Congratulations to you all on an outstanding achievement.

Thank you to all staff who contributed their time and effort in the lead-up to Arts Week, throughout the week itself, and on Wednesday night. We are mindful of the many demands on your time and truly appreciate your generosity and support.

A special thanks to Tom Wormald for his time, skill, and flexibility.

We’d also like to acknowledge Cathy, Kellie, and Alecia—whose behind-the-scenes work often goes unnoticed but is absolutely vital. Whether it’s adjusting plans, managing communications, coordinating logistics, collecting resources, or handling payments, they do it all. This week, with Father’s Day, Arts Week, two camps in preparation, and the major raffle, the load was immense. Yet, as always, they ensured things ran smoothly, everyone felt supported, and no detail was overlooked.

Father’s Day

Thanks to everyone who supported the gala event of Fathers Day Breakfast and again to Cathy for generating the raffle which has been another huge success.  

GOOD LUCK  to our Year 5 and Year 6 teams who head off on camp this week. I hope that you that the weather is kind, the kids are appreciative and that you get some sleep. 

Enjoy and Stay Safe!

Professional Development Day 1 Term 4

We have Structured Literacy on Day 1 next term. This is an important part of our whole school's progress. TIL, LWOP and LSL will not be granted on this day.  Note: this does not include those who arranged their LSL in advance last year or earlier this year.

I will be on Year 6 camp in Melbourne this week.  In my absence, Elise will be the contact for all matters that I would usually manage. Her contact details are 0437 612 230. 

2026
Thank you to all who completed the FLARE survey for 2026 Literacy here at school. Next year we will be moving to Phase C - Phase C When you actually look at Phase C and the learning that is required to take place, there is no new learning that is occurring. This will allow us to consolidate and focus on what we need to focus on. I look forward to supporting you  through next year as best I can and always remember.. Go slow to go far. 

Celebrating our students
I had a beautiful email come through from one of our teachers saying the following;

I have an amazing narrative written by a student. I was wondering if there are children's writing competitions we could potentially put it in?
I also thought it was an amazing example of structured literacy for higher achieving students and squashing the notion it's 'boring' or not engaging for them. The skills we have taught are in it. At the start of the year she wrote well, but not on the more technical side (grammar, punctuation, run-on sentences, idioms etc) some improvements were needed. 

Here is a snippet of the masterpiece!! I’m blown away. Writing - Sample (due to poor scanning)

Week 7 GC Minutes

No Staff Meeting

Week 8:  Whole School Assembly - Room B3

Week 9:  No School Assembly

Please read in conjunction with the Upcoming events list.

Week 8:

Year 5 & 6 Camps

Monday 8th September:  District Volleyball

Tuesday 9th September:  Year 3 Planning Day; Year 4 students are watching a movie in the year 6 building

Wednesday 10th September:  Foundation Planning Day

Thursday 11th September:  Year 5 & 6 Camp rest day; Division Table Tennis

Friday 12th September:  Year 4 Planning day; Matt at Southern Zone Principals meeting

Week 9:

Wednesday 17th September:  2026 Traineeship Interviews; Year 4 Pillowcase program

Thursday 18th September:  Disconnection of services to Portables, and moving of furniture etc will commence

Friday 19th September:  Final day of Term 3, school finishes at 2.30pm

SIMON: reminders - Following up from our staff meeting-please remember to add emails from parents under the ‘Student notes’ section. You just need to copy and paste the email as is. This could be a weekly note if there are a number of emails, rather than each time if there are numerous emails.

ReLATE: As part of your ReLATE this September you may like to use the Action For Happiness Calendar. You could print a copy for your room and bring attention to the action each day to help students be mindful of the emotional health.

R U Ok? Day is celebrated this Thursday the 11th September. Below are some resources that you may like to integrate into your planning to complement your RRRR program. You can encourage and support an RU ok? Culture every day of the year by having regular, meaningful conversations which build trust and engagement within our school community.

The 4 steps of the RU Ok? Conversations:

1. Ask R U Ok?
2. Listen with an open mind
3. Encourage action
4. Check in

Here are some resources you may like to access for R U Ok? Day

Wellbeing SIT Meeting: Wellbeing Minutes Term 3 Week 7

Arts Week & Illuminate Walk: Thankyou to our amazing Arts team for envisioning such a spectacular event. 

The atmosphere amongst the families on the night was one of pure joy and happiness (not even the weather could dampen this!). It was wonderful to be part of and certainly brought a sense of community to our school. A big “Thankyou” you also goes out to all staff who have participated in ‘art’ activities with your classroom last week, what a lovely way to engage with your students.

A massive thank you to everyone for your enthusiastic participation in Arts week.  A huge shout out to Kath for bravely bringing these ideas to life and not letting even the weather get in the way of such a beautiful community event. 

First Eucharist - Thank you to the grade 4 team for your support of our first Eucharist students. Thank you also to other staff members for your support at these masses. 

TAP: A reminder to please log any TAP hours.  I am more than happy to sit with you and help you get these sorted.

Catholic School Culture team meeting

Business Raffle: Thank you to everyone for your support with this raffle.  We raised an amazing $35,100

A message from the Canteen:  Please DO NOT send your students to the canteen before 12.50pm to collect the lunch orders.  The windows will not be open before this time, which means the students waiting amuse themselves in the hall.  The food cannot be ready any earlier than this as we must comply with the temperature Food Regulations and how long food is out of the heaters for etc.

Building Update:  From this week onwards you will start to see things happening (or disappearing).  Over this weekend the goal posts, light tower and a couple of the trees closest to the year 5 portables will be removed.  The goal posts will return once the build program has been completed next year.

In the last week of term the year 5 classes will be moving their furniture and resources to the hall for storage over the holidays, with their classes being held in E4, E5, the LRC and the Hall Foyer from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th September.  This move also means that After School Care will be relocated to the Senior School building for these 3 afternoons.

On Thursday 18th September temporary fencing will be erected around the portables allowing the tradesman to start disconnecting all services, the decking and getting them ready to be moved over the holidays.

Over the holidays these 4 classrooms and the decking will be relocated to the Allen oval, tucked behind the hall; the rotunda (the new one closest to the portables) is being relocated to cover the sandpit.

The next round of painting and carpeting will also take place over the holidays.

For all Staff Reimbursements, please use this link:  Staff Reimbursement Form

We are seeking numbers to see if we have enough staff interested in celebrating the end of the Footy Tipping for 2025, and announcing the winners.

We are looking at meeting for drinks at The Cally next Friday, 12th September from 4 - 6pm.

Please put your name on this list if you would like to come along.

Footy Tipping Celebrations

Refer to the newsletter or PAM for further details on all these events.

Week 8

Year 5 Camp (Ballarat): Monday 8th September - Wednesday 9th September

Year 6 Camp (Melbourne): Monday 8th September - Wednesday 9th September

Camp Rest Day for Years 5 and 6: Thursday 11th September

Whole School Assembly, Room B3: 2:40pm, Friday 12th September

Week 9

No Whole School Assembly: Friday 19th September

Term 3 Concludes: 2:30pm, Friday 19th September

Converge International is a free and confidential support service for staff and their families.   Ph 1300 687 327

• Sue Wickham - 13th September