Principal's Update
Dear Families,
What a wonderful fortnight it has been across our school—full of rich learning experiences, community spirit, and achievements that fill us with pride.
To begin, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of our student Sustainability Leaders, who joined 63 student leaders from six primary schools at the Sustainability Youth Summit on 1 May. Held at the new Civic Precinct and Community Hub and hosted by our local council in partnership with CERES, the event empowered students to deepen their understanding of Waste, Biodiversity, and Energy. It was inspiring to see them collaborate, communicate, and develop action plans to bring back to our school. A huge thank you to Ms Alison for her dedication in making this opportunity a reality.
It has also been heartening to see our other students out exploring the world beyond the classroom. Our Year 2 students had a wonderful time at the Zoo, learning about animal habitats and conservation, while our Year 6 cohort attended IMAX for an immersive documentary on extreme weather—an experience that no doubt brought their learning in Science and Geography to life.
A big thank you to everyone who supported our Democracy Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stall on election day. Your support helped create a truly vibrant atmosphere, and it was lovely to see our broader Maribyrnong community experience the warmth and spirit of St Margaret’s. Special thanks to Lisa Morley for her tireless efforts in organising such a successful fundraiser—and to our special visitor, local member Daniel Mulino, for stopping by to show his support!
On the sporting front, congratulations to the 43 students who proudly represented our school at the District Cross Country event last week. I was so proud of their effort, determination, and sportsmanship. An extra round of applause goes to the 10 students who qualified for the next stage of competition—an incredible achievement!
Last Friday’s Mother’s Day Breakfast was another joyful highlight. It was wonderful to see so many of our mums enjoying breakfast and coffee with their children. Thank you to our amazing P&F for organising the event, and to all the dads who churned out the bacon and egg rolls with a smile! We are truly grateful for the love, care, and support that all our mothers provide every day. We hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day.
In exciting news, we are very close to appointing a builder for our long-awaited building project—and even better, it looks like we’ll be able to deliver everything we dreamed of and more, all within budget. This is a tremendous outcome for the future of our school, and I look forward to sharing more details soon as we move into the next phase of this journey.
On Monday, our staff engaged in a day of deep reflection and collaboration as part of our 4-Year External Review. This important self-assessment allowed us to celebrate our strengths and identify new opportunities for growth. A highlight of the day was a special team-building session led by Ms Iannello, who taught us all how to make traditional Southern Italian Arancini—a delicious and heartwarming way to reinforce the strong sense of community and collegiality that makes St Margaret’s such a special place to work and learn.
Looking ahead, our teachers are working diligently on Semester 1 reports, carefully reviewing student progress and assessment data to capture each child’s learning journey. I know they will—as always—approach this important work with care and professionalism.
Lastly, we give thanks and celebrate the appointment of Pope Leo. We pray that he may lead with the same humility and compassion that inspired us in Pope Francis. May the Holy Spirit guide him in his service to the global Church.
God bless,
John