From the Principal

Dear Families,

Welcome to our final newsletter for 2025!

The final days of the school year offer us a wonderful opportunity to pause, celebrate everything St Liborius, and rejoice in the vibrant, caring community we are blessed to share as our place to learn, work, play and pray.

As we look back over the year, it is remarkable to see just how much has been achieved. We have welcomed numerous new families into our school, strengthened our community ties, and continued to see really exciting growth in student learning across all year levels. Our classrooms are calm, purposeful spaces, and our students finish the year engaged, confident and proud of what they have accomplished.

This year has also seen our staff working tirelessly as we continue to refine and embrace our new ways of teaching. They have dedicated countless hours to learning, planning and adapting their practice so they can better support the academic, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth of every student. Their commitment, professionalism and genuine care for our learners have been instrumental in shaping the success we now celebrate, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to each member of our team.

Although a few days remain in the school year, tomorrow we begin looking ahead to 2026 with our Whole School Transition Day—an exciting step towards the year ahead.

SUPPORTING CHILDREN THROUGH TRANSITIONS

A new school year can be an exciting time, but it can also bring some natural worries about new classrooms and student groupings. We know that this can feel like an anxious period for parents too, as you simply want your child to feel safe, happy and secure. Please rest assured that these hopes are very much shared by our staff. Many hours of thoughtful consideration go into forming class groups each year, with a wide range of factors taken into account to ensure your child is placed in an environment where they can thrive.

Thank you for trusting us to make informed, professional decisions about your child’s placement. At times, the final decision may differ from what families had hoped for, and we appreciate your trust in us. Please know that we are committed to supporting every student as they transition into their new class and the teachers are all very excited to develop a positive relationship with your child throughout this process.

The tips below are a brief summary of guidance from the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, offering helpful ways families can support a positive start to the school year.

Supporting Your Child’s Transition into a New Class

Stay calm and positive Children take their cues from the adults around them. A calm, upbeat attitude can help reassure them that change is manageable.
Acknowledge their feelings It’s normal for children to feel nervous or disappointed. Let them share what they’re thinking and reassure them that these feelings usually ease once routines settle.
Encourage open-mindedness Remind your child that a new class is an opportunity—to make new friends, build resilience and discover new strengths.
Give things time Most students settle within the first few weeks. Encourage your child to keep giving their new class a chance before deciding how they feel about it.
Avoid comparing classes or teachers Each class group has been thoughtfully formed with student needs in mind. Speaking positively about their new class helps your child feel confident and supported.
Partner with the school If concerns continue after the settling-in period, reach out to your child’s teacher. Working together ensures your child feels supported both at home and at school.

APPRECIATION AND AWARDS EVENING

On Wednesday evening, we invite our community to join us for our Awards and Appreciation evening. Our Awards will take place in the Liborius centre from 5.00-5.30pm, followed by a picnic on the oval, activities led by Kelly Sports and a special visitor at 6.30pm.

The weather is looking glorious so please come along, bring your picnic and your family and celebrate all things St Liborius!

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

As we enter the second week of Advent, our focus turns to peace - peace within our hearts, our homes, and our world. This week invites us to pause amid the busyness of the season and remember that Christ’s peace is not simply the absence of worry or conflict, but a deep sense of calm and hope that we can each carry into our daily lives. This can be challenging to recognise, as it is so easy to get caught up in the commercial Christmas hype. As we approach the end of the year as a community, let us continue to prepare our hearts for the Christmas season with openness and gratitude, seeking opportunities to bring peace to others through our words, actions and attitude.

At St Liborius, we see this peace reflected in small but meaningful moments: students showing kindness to a classmate, teachers offering gentle reassurance, and families supporting one another through the demands of this time of year. These are the signs of God’s presence among us!

May this Advent week remind us that even the simplest gestures can shine a light of hope for someone else.

Wishing each of our families a safe and joy-filled Christmas season. We can’t wait to see you all again in 2026.

With peace and Christmas Blessings to you all.

Alannah

Principal