Principal's Update

 Dear Families,

Welcome back to 2026! It has been a wonderful start to the year, with our children returning safely and smiling. 

The spaces were beautifully prepared for their arrival, and I thank the staff for the time they spent here at the school in January to prepare them.

Our Grade 6 children have been exceptional in supporting our Foundation children to transition to school. This is such a beautiful point of connection for our children.

Today we celebrated our beginning-of-year Mass and announced our 2026 Leadership Teams. This process began in 2025, when the children presented to their peers, as well as the Grade 4's who are Grade 5 this year. The children take this very seriously and then vote. Children are then appointed based upon these votes, an example of student voice and agency at work. 

These announcements can be both a source of joy and disappointment and, in themselves, a valuable learning experience. It is always important to acknowledge that disappointment is normal. 

I have included a link to SchoolTV that discusses how to handle disappointment.

https://smjhorsham.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-dealing-disappointment

I look forward to working with all the Grade 6 leadership teams, as they consistently do wonderful work.

A reminder that GTK's are next week. Please ensure you have booked in for these via PAM or the Simon Everywhere App.

All families should have received an email that our Simon Everywhere App is back up and working. Please follow the instructions in that email to get the App up and working. If you have any problems, please email office@smjhorsham.catholic.edu.au and we will assist you.

A reminder, as always, that both Lisa and I are available for any questions or queries you may have. It is not helpful to discuss concerns outside of school. Please come in and chat. Both Jane and Anna have access to our calendars and can make appointments.

If you are a concession or healthcare cardholder, please provide a copy of your card to the office by Wednesday next week, February 11th. This may mean you can access the Camps and Excursions fund, which offers financial support.

We are excited that Plazzer Builders has been appointed to construct our extensions to the current school and build our new STEAM centre. I will continue to keep families updated as we begin this exciting project.

On a positive note, congratulations to Miss Burke on her engagement. We wish Claire and Tom all the best as they celebrate this wonderful occasion and a long and happy life together. 

We look forward to all that 2026 has to offer: the learning and the fun, the laughter and the tears, the successes and the challenges, and, most of all, the absolute joy of spending time with your children.

May it be a year of great blessings

Louise