Dear St. Cecilia's Community,

As I shared last week, last Thursday, a number of our staff, family friends and members of our community attended the beautiful funeral service for Tim Jess. It was an incredibly moving tribute to Tim’s life and the impact he had on so many. St John’s, Mitcham was filled to capacity, a powerful sign of the love and respect held for Tim and his family. Bec, Michaela, Eddie and Maurice were surrounded by a strong and caring presence, alongside Annmaree Hoy and their extended family.

Those who attended spoke of the deep sense of reflection throughout the service. The stories shared by family and friends painted a picture of a man who placed his family at the very centre of his life. They spoke of a life lived with purpose, generosity, humour and deep love. Bec’s recorded singing was profoundly touching, and Father Kevin Dillon’s words offered comfort and strength during a very emotional time.

What has stood out so clearly over this past period is the way our community gathers around its own. The support from current families, together with those who have since finished at St Cecilia’s, has been strong and deeply meaningful. It has also been inspiring to witness the close circle of friends who have walked so faithfully alongside Tim, Bec and the children. Our staff will continue to do the same in supporting Annmaree and her family.

As a community, we continue to hold the Jess family and Annmaree in our thoughts and prayers. May we also take from this time a gentle reminder of the importance of family, kindness and caring for one another each day.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We give thanks for Tim and the love he shared with his family and all who knew him.

Be close to Annmaree and her family in their grief, and give them strength each day.

We hold Bec, Michaela, Eddie and Maurice in Your care.

Grant them comfort, courage and peace.

Help us to support one another with kindness and compassion.

May Tim rest in peace, and may Your light shine upon him always.

Amen.

Open Day

Each year in Term One we set aside time to welcome prospective families to St Cecilia’s for Open Day. Last week we were delighted to host more than 30 families (almost 70 adults) for school tours. This is a very strong response so early in the year and reflects the growing interest in our school community.

Choosing the right school is an important decision for every family. Open Day provides parents with the opportunity to see our school in action, meet our staff and students, and gain a genuine sense of our learning environment. Families are able to experience the calm, purposeful atmosphere in our classrooms and see the strong relationships that support student learning and wellbeing.

These visits also give parents the chance to ask questions about curriculum, learning support, co-curricular opportunities and day-to-day school life. Our staff value these conversations and enjoy sharing how we cater for the individual needs of each child while maintaining high expectations for learning and growth.

Open Day also allows families to understand how our Catholic faith shapes our school. At St Cecilia’s, faith is woven through daily life, guiding our relationships, our values and the way we care for one another. We are proud to provide a welcoming, inclusive and faith-filled environment where students are known, supported and encouraged to thrive.

If you know families who may be considering St Cecilia’s, we warmly encourage you to invite them to contact the school office to arrange a tour. Personal recommendations from our current families continue to be the strongest endorsement of our community.

A reminder also for families with younger siblings planning to commence next year. Please submit your enrolment forms as soon as possible. This assists us greatly with planning and ensures we can manage places for both sibling families and new enrolments.

Foundation Enrolment 2027 for Siblings

This note is simply a check in to see that we have accurate numbers of siblings that are intending to commence Foundation next year at St. Cecilia's. We have commenced tours for new families and with Open Day approaching, we want to be aware that a sibling will be commencing but have not yet submitted an enrolment form.

If you intend to enrol a child in Foundation at St. Cecilia's in 2027 at St. Cecilia's please complete this form. Please ensure you have submitted your application form asap! (available on our website). http://www.scgleniris.catholic.edu.au/

For sibling enrolments for 2027: Click Here

Parents Association

Parents’ Association – Term 2 Events and Call for Helpers

Term 2 is shaping up to be another wonderful and busy time in our school community. Several much-loved events are coming up and we are now seeking expressions of interest from parents who may be able to assist in supporting or coordinating these opportunities. Your involvement makes a real difference and helps strengthen the sense of community our families value.

School Disco – Thursday 29 May

We are delighted that Angeline (Oliver V, Year 1) is keen to lead the disco again this year. Meagan (Luca P, Year 1) has generously volunteered to work alongside Angeline as co-lead, which is fantastic. We are now seeking additional parent helpers to support the evening with set up, supervision and pack up.

Mother’s Day Breakfast – Friday 8 May

We are very fortunate that Mark Cooray has agreed to lead this special community event. Thank you to Mark for taking this on. We will be seeking a small number of helpers to assist with preparation, serving and clean up on the morning.

Mid-Year Function – Term 2 (Date to be advised)

Elle Cusack will coordinate our Mid-Year Function this year. We are currently calling for parents interested in supporting Elle with planning, organisation and logistics.

School Athletics Carnival – Thursday 4 June

Our annual Athletics Carnival will take place on this day. We will be seeking Grade 4 parent helpers to assist with running the BBQ. Further details will be shared closer to the event.

If you are able to assist with any of the above events, or would like to express interest in helping in any capacity, please contact our Parents’ Association Coordinators:

Kirsty Twohill swiftylily@gmail.com
Nick Yap yapnick@gmail.com

We will send out a google form next week for any expressions of interest.

Your support, whether big or small, helps ensure these events continue to be enjoyable experiences for our students and families. Thank you in advance for your generosity and community spirit.

“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's success is the positive involvement of parents.”

Have a great weekend!

Marty McKenna

Principal

St Cecilia’s Primary School

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