Welcome!

A message from the Principal

Opening Mass 

Last Wednesday, we came together as a community to celebrate our Opening Mass at St Kilian’s Church, and what a beautiful celebration it was. It was wonderful to see such a strong turnout of families, staff, and friends joining us to begin the school year grounded in faith. 

The Mass was a meaningful way to welcome our students into the new year, reflect on our shared values, and set our intentions for the months ahead. Following the Mass, several families joined us back at school for morning tea, providing a lovely opportunity to connect and start the year together as a community. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the morning so special.

New Morning Routine 

This year, we have made a small adjustment to our morning routine to ensure a calm and well-supervised start to the day. Students arriving between 8:30am and 8:45am will go directly to the Knuldoorong for supervision. 

Breakfast Club remains available during this time for students who attend. The remainder of the school grounds will open at 8:45am, and the front office will be open for families who need to speak with our administration team. Thank you for supporting this routine as it becomes embedded across the school. 

Car Park Safety 

To help keep everyone safe, we kindly remind families to drive slowly and carefully through the school car park, particularly in the afternoons when traffic is at its busiest. At pick-up time, some families are collecting students directly from the car park area while others are driving through — we ask for extra patience and awareness during these times. The Kiss & Drop zone is designed specifically for quick pick-ups, and we appreciate your cooperation in using this space as intended. 

We also ask that all families continue to use the designated pedestrian crossing in the centre of the car park. This is not only a safety measure, but an important learning opportunity for our students as we teach them to be road wise. Students are encouraged to: 

• stop and look both ways 
• walk all the way across the crossing (not stepping sideways toward parked cars) 
• enter and exit the car park using the crossing 

To further support this, you may notice painted footprints appearing soon, guiding students to use the crossing correctly and consistently. 

Thank you for your patience, care, and support as we work together to keep our school community safe and help our students develop lifelong road safety habits. 

PSG Meetings – Tuesday 24 February 

We would like to let families know that PSG (Program Support Group) meetings will be held on Tuesday 24 February, for students who have a Personalised Learning Plan (PLP). Please note that PSG Meetings are a Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd (CESL) requirement and are to be completed once each term. We strongly encourage all families to engage in these important conversations, as they support shared understanding of your child’s learning, wellbeing, and progress.

On this day, students will finish at 2:15pm, with meetings running between 2:30–5:30pm in 15-minute time slots. Bookings will be available via SiMON in the coming days, once the system is finalised by the office. For families who are unable to collect their child at this time, supervision will be provided at school until the usual dismissal time of 3:15pm, as has occurred in recent years. After School Care will also operate as normal, with students attending the program being transported there as usual.

As in previous years, families will be able to choose either a face-to-face or phone appointment. These meetings are an important opportunity to work together in supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing.

National Apology Anniversary – 13 February 

On 13 February, we acknowledge the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. This is a time to pause and reflect on an important moment in Australia’s history, remembering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families, and honouring the strength and resilience of their families and communities. 

At St Peter’s, we recognise the importance of learning from the past and continuing to grow in understanding, respect, and care for one another. 

Lent 

Next week, we enter the season of Lent, a special time in the Church that invites us to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for Easter. Lent begins with Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day) on Tuesday 17 February, followed by Ash Wednesday on Wednesday 18 February, when ashes are used as a symbol of reflection, humility, and new beginnings. 

Throughout Lent, students are encouraged to think about kindness, forgiveness, helping others, and making positive choices in their everyday lives. 

Prayer for Lent 

Loving God, 

As we begin the season of Lent, help us to slow down and listen to You. 

Guide us to be kind, forgiving, and thoughtful in the choices we make each day. 

Help us care for ourselves, care for others, and grow in love and understanding. 

May this time of reflection prepare our hearts for new beginnings. 

Amen. 

God Bless,

Jeremy Darmody

Principal