Laura Jane's Message

Dear Families, 

Excitement is building for the St Gabriel’s Art Show.  The children are working away in their Hubs and Specialist Learning times to prepare for this special event.  Our Art Show has a fresh new look this year! Join us in the courtyard outside the 3–6 Laneway and Prep Hub for pizza, music, and fun before the main event. At 5:45 PM, the official Art Show begins, and we’ll head inside the 3–6 building to explore the children’s amazing creations.  A reminder to order a pizza or two if you would like to.  Here is the link Pizza Order Form

Over the past couple of weeks, our children and staff had a wonderful time visiting Scienceworks! A day out beyond the classroom is always an exciting change of pace, offering everyone a fantastic hands-on opportunity to learn, explore, and share knowledge together.

We have made the decision that Ooshies are no longer permitted at school.

We have been experiencing a number of issues in the yard involving Ooshies, including children arguing, fighting and becoming upset over collecting, trading and playing with them.

To help keep our playground a safe, happy and inclusive space for everyone, we ask that Ooshies be left at home. This will allow us to avoid unnecessary conflict and ensure our students can enjoy their learning time and playtime without distractions or disagreements over these items.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a positive and respectful school environment. 

Bullying No Way: National Week of Action – Monday 17 August

Creating a school where every child feels safe, respected and valued continues to be one of our highest priorities.

This week on Wednesday, we recognised the Bullying No Way: National Week of Action by reinforcing the importance of kindness, inclusion, courage and respect.

We encourage our students to speak up whenever something doesn’t feel right. We can only address concerns if we know about them, and we want every child to know there are always trusted adults ready to listen and help.

Together, let us continue building the culture we are so proud of—a community where kindness is celebrated, differences are embraced and every child knows they are valued.

A message from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS)

Some of you may have heard recent media reports regarding school closures and the financial position of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). 

MACS has provided the following information to share with our communities.

Currently, all Catholic schools are working through planning and budgeting activities for 2027 to ensure we are well placed to support our staff, students and school communities in the coming year. This includes looking at how we can accommodate the changes likely to flow from a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) with school staff.

We recognise the significant financial pressures many households are facing, and we are making a conscious effort to ensure these costs are not passed on through significant fee increases.

We will continue to keep our parent community informed throughout this process. As always, our focus remains on maintaining strong school communities and continuing to deliver a high-quality Catholic education for every student

We Celebrate Mary in August

August is a very special month in our Catholic school calendar, filled with opportunities to pause and reflect on the inspiring women of our faith. Throughout the month, we honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, with two major feast days: the Solemnity of the Assumption (August 15) and the Feast of the Queenship of Mary (August 22). We also celebrate the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop on August 8. Together, these celebrations remind us of the incredible impact that faith, courage, and action can have on our families and the wider world.  

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At the heart of these August feast days are Gospel values that we work hard to nurture in our students every day:

Compassion in Action: St Mary MacKillop famously lived by the motto, "Never see a need without doing something about it." Her life teaches our children that kindness isn't just a feeling—it’s about stepping up to help others, especially those doing it tough.

Humility and Trust: Through the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), Mary shows us the power of a humble heart. She trusted God’s plan completely, reminding us that true strength comes from lifting up others rather than seeking attention or status.

Courageous Faith: Both Mary, Mother of Jesus, and St Mary MacKillop faced immense challenges with unwavering trust in God. They model the kind of resilience and hope we hope to pass on to our kids as they navigate their own ups and downs.  

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As a school community, these special days give us a chance to teach our children that following the Gospel isn't just about reading stories—it’s about how we treat each other in the playground, at home, and in our community.