Principal's Message 

A Prayer for our Year of Grace

Gracious God,

We thank you for the gift of a new school year and the blessing of the St. Andrew’s community. We ask for your guidance as we embark on this "Year of Grace."

May our words be kind, our hearts be open, and our actions reflect your love. Grant us patience as we grow and build, and help us to see the light of your grace in one another every day. Bless our students, our families, and our staff as we learn and journey together.

Amen.

Welcome Back to St. Andrew’s: A Year of Grace

Dear Families,

I am thrilled to begin my second year as your principal. My first year was dedicated to learning the heart of this school; this year is about building on that foundation with momentum and purpose.

Behind the scenes, our dedicated staff have spent countless hours preparing classrooms, refining curriculum, and ensuring every detail is in place. I want to formally acknowledge their hard work and passion; it is their commitment that makes such a smooth and welcoming start possible for our students.

Our Theme: The Year of Grace

As we begin the year, I am particularly moved by our theme for 2026: The Year of Grace. In our school, grace is the kindness we show one another during challenges, the patience we practice during times of change, and the gratitude we feel for our vibrant community. This year, we invite every student and staff member to move with a spirit of grace, ensuring St. Andrew’s remains a place of compassion, forgiveness, and steady growth.

Warm Welcomes

I want to extend a very warm welcome to our new Prep students and their families—we are so excited to have you join the St. Andrew’s family! To our new staff members, welcome to the team; your fresh energy is a wonderful addition to our school. Our new staff are Ange Walsh, Amy Taylor, Martina Duong, Han Nguyen and Aoife Harrington. Welcome back Maggie Sproul. To our returning students and families, welcome back! It is a joy to see familiar faces again.

New Initiatives & Trials

As we strive to improve our daily operations, we are introducing two new trials this term. Information about the Morning Routine was provided in the newsletter last year:

• Lunch Orders: We are partnering with AJ’s Bakery for a new service. This will replace Classroom Cuisine. Thanks to the Parents and Friends who has been working so hard in preparing for this trial
• Morning Routine: We have updated our drop-off procedures and gate times to ensure a safer, smoother start to the day.

Full details for both trials are included further in this newsletter.

School Improvements

We are also entering a season of physical and operational growth:

• OSHC Provider Change: We have now transitioned to our new out-of-school-hours care from YLV to MACSEYE. The name has changed while the staff have remained.
• Building Works: We expect the new building works to begin late this term. These improvements are a vital step in modernizing our learning environment especially in our library, offices and school entrance.

Detailed information regarding MACSEYE is included in this newsletter. Thank you for your continued partnership. 

As always our doors remain open. Continued effective communication and collaboration between the leadership team and the rest of the school community contributes to our successful and supportive learning environment. The staff and I look forward to working with you to support your child’s learning. May 2026 be a year of appreciation of the gifts and contributions for all members in the St Andrew’s Community as we journey together.  

Regards

Brian Martin

Principal