Dear Parents,

Summer has started, December is here and the end of school is coming quickly! As the next two weeks wrap up, I know you will enjoy reading your child's report, and hearing which class they will be in for 2026.

It's a time for reflection about what they have learned and enjoyed this year, not just academically but in their personal development. The values of responsibility, organisation, respect, persistence, inclusiveness and resilience will have all shown themselves in many ways across the year, and these traits are to be celebrated. In the bigger picture, it is not about what you know but how you treat others.

Thank you all very much for another amazing year, for your connection to the school and your involvement in your child’s learning and development. It is vital that we work together, and in collaborating with your child’s teachers, your child is supported to achieve their very best. I am truly grateful for the fabulous SMOT staff! Their care and support of the children is obvious in the relationship they build with the students, their focus on learning and their connection with your family. They deserve to have a relaxing break, and will return refreshed and happy to do it all again!

GRADUATION

Next Monday, at 9.15am, our Year Six students and their families will come together to celebrate the Graduation Mass and later that day, the Dinner at The Manningham in Bulleen from 6.30pm sharp. The Dinner contains the formal presentation ceremony and allows the dances learned across the term to be shared, as well as a student and teacher speeches. Special thanks to the Year 6 teachers for their preparation of the students for the Mass and across the year. Congratulations to Teresa Michelangeli, Taylah Burns, Robyn Vorster and Sean Martin. They enjoy the culmination of the work of all the teachers who have taught these students before them. Special mention also to Marita Anderson for her organisation of the Graduation Mass and Jamie Atherton for his preparation with the office staff and the Year Six Class Reps for the Dinner.

Special thanks to Jade Marino, Jenelle Heffernan, Brigid Conte, Lisa Jarzynka and Sarah Campbell for your effort to ensure the environment at The Manningham looks amazing. This is a special time in each student’s life and we know how much they will enjoy the celebrations.

Congratulations to our graduating students for 2025:

Roderick A, Henry A, Max B, Josh B, Jonah B, Emma B, Sofia B,Liam B, Chiara C,Emilia C, Hamish MC, Leo C, James C, Lachie C, Evan C, Clara C, Harry C, Lucy D, Dylan D'A, Grace D, Blake D, Kayleigh D, Poppy D, Sofia D, Eva D, Xavier DP, Annalise D, Isabella D, Juliet F, Jack F, Thomas G, Luke G, Noah G, Maxwell G, Joey H, Poppy H, Liam H, Amelia J, Allegra J, Angus J, Mia K, Evie L, Sofia L, Raph M, Kirra M, Josie M, Olivia Mc, Annie N, Sophie N, Jana N, Jack O, Jack O'C, Milana P, Charlie P, Zara P, David P, Hugo P, Milla P, Sachin P, Micah P, Jonty R, Rafael R, Lucas S, Braxton S, Valentina S, Quinn S, Nicholas S, Ana S, Levi S, Zoe S, Matilda S, Willow T, Joseph V, Anthony V and Lucas Z.

We farewell a number of families who had been connected to St Martin’s for significant periods of time:

McKenna, Lopez Lightfoot, Leone, Henry, Parsonage/Bryans families.

We wish the following Year 6 families all the very best for the future as they move on:

Anchico-Roa, Beatty, Boetti, Bonavia, Braddy, Bulpin, Calderone, Carroll, Chandler, Cheesewright, Cust, Daniel, Dao, Davis, Di Pietro, Dzanovski, Galea, Giuliano, Hale, Henry, Joannidis, Johnson, Leone, Lopez Lightfoot, Mazraani, McKenna, McRae, Nicolopoulos, Papworth, Parsonage, Peake,Plymin, Power, Scalpelli, Seaborn, Searle, Steindl, Stuart and Viavattene families.

We wish our students all the very best in their new schools and ventures! Good luck also to the students who are leaving us across other year levels.

On Tuesday 9 December, most secondary schools hold their Year Seven Orientation Day so the students learn more about their Year Seven class etc. On Wednesday 10 December, the Year Six students have their Big Day Out to Funfields, which we know they will love! Then, on Tuesday 16 December, after the End of Year Mass at 9.15am, the students will be farewelled on Top Yard by the whole school community, and dismissed by 10.40am.

COLOUR RUN

It was exciting to see the faces of the students as they ran past in the Colour Run two weeks ago! Special thanks to Michelle and all members of the school community for assisting with this event. The funds raised from our PFA activities this year will contribute towards a new Adventure Playground for the 3-6 students.

We raised $7,700. A super effort! THANK YOU!

MEGA MATHS DAY AND INCURSION

Everyone had a fabulous time playing games last week as we began our Mega Maths Day with parents visiting to see the types of Maths games which reinforce skills.

Thank you to Renee Loprevite for her preparation for this day and for organising the Maths incursion this week. The students were very engaged in their tasks!

ST VINCENT DE PAUL HAMPERS

This week as we begin to think about Christmas preparations, your child should have brought home a note regarding a contribution to hampers to be distributed by Vinnies volunteers. Please send in this item (or another) to assist a family with their celebrations before Friday 12 December as the hampers will be collected on this day. Thank you for your generosity.

2025 SCHOOL REPORTS

Reports will be available via Compass on Tuesday 9 December from 4pm onwards. This allows you time to read and clarify any queries with your child’s teacher before the end of the term. Please ensure you download them from Compass for your own records, as secondary schools will ask for a copy with enrolment.

'THANK YOU PARENT HELPERS'

Please join us for our Thank You Parent Helpers morning coffee/tea on Thursday 11 December at 9am in the GECCO.

2026 TRANSITION SESSION

The students will have time with their new teacher/s on the day allocated for the following year's Transition session - Monday 15 December. This will be from 11.40am-1.30pm. Parents will be informed about their child’s class for the following year on that same day. No changes will be made after this day. Class teachers for the following year will be made known to families via the final School Newsletter in December.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT DAYS - START OF 2026

The staff return to school on Tuesday 27 January. The students return on either Wednesday 28 or Thursday 29 January to take part in some assessments with their teacher/s. A Compass event will be shared with families. Students attend only one session, and every effort will be made to group siblings on the same day.

END OF YEAR THANKSGIVING MASS

We warmly welcome parents to come and join us for the End of Year Thanksgiving Mass on the last day of school, Tuesday 16 December at 9.15am. The announcement of the 2026 Year Six Leaders occurs after this Mass.

END OF TERM FINISH

Please note that the final day for the students is Tuesday 16 December, with school finishing at 12.30pm. MACSEYE will be available on this day.

ABC MUSIC PERFORMANCE

Congratulations to the many students who performed for their parents and classmates in our recent Music Concerts. It is great to see the skills they have developed over the year, and their confidence to perform before an audience. Particular thanks to Cleo and Craig, our ABC Music Teachers, for their work with us this year.

SAC MEETING

You are invited to consider applying for a role on the SAC for 2026-27. The attached letter explains the role and membership of the SAC. Six Meetings are held across the year, after hours from 7-8.30pm on a night to be confirmed which suits members to attend. If you are interested in a role as a Parent Rep on the SAC, please email me to express your interest.

PFA AGM

Following the AGM of the PFA, some Committee roles are still available. Please see the letter in the PFA section of the Newsletter and consider nominating to continue building our community.

'SMOT SPOT' - YOUR OWN PARKING SPOT

This year there are FOUR spots (Kiss-and-Drop spots) to be won. Don’t miss out on the chance to have your very own reserved “SMOT SPOT” car park at pick up time for the entire 2026 school year!

Purchase your raffle tickets at https://smotpfa.weebly.com by Wednesday 10th December. Thank you for your support.

BAPTISM

If your child has not yet been baptised, please consider whether you would like to celebrate this sacrament prior to them reaching the sacramental years.

Please contact the Parish Office on P: 9401 6338 to arrange this with Fr Michael.

CHRISTMAS EVE CHILDREN'S MASS

There is an invitation in the Parish newsletter for students to be involved in the Christmas Eve Children's Mass. This is something children remember from year to year. If you are interested in a role, please reach out to the Parish Team coordinating it.

STAFFING NEWS

Our class structure for 2026 is three classes at each Level, a total of 21 classes. We will continue to offer Specialist programs in 2026 in PE, Digital Technologies / STEM, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Italian.

There is some news to share in terms of staff movement for 2026.

After 14.5 years, Lisa Cherubin, our former Art teacher, has decided to retire and spend more time with her family. Lisa has a passion for anything creative, and she has shared this joyfully with students over the years. She taught the students that the process and the outcome are important, and that Art appreciation is different for all viewing it. We are very happy for Lisa, and may see her back to be part of projects around the school. Thank you for sharing your talent with us, Lisa!

After 7.5 years here and many more in education, Dinesha Rajasingam, who was our Year Two teacher earlier this year, has decided to retire. Dinesha has had many roles in her career, and the joy of seeing her students succeed was most gratifying to her. We are grateful for Dinesha's dedication and wish her all the very best in this next part of her life journey. She has been travelling and enjoying life!

After 3 years at St Martin’s in Prep, Brigitte Di Gregorio is leaving us to have a baby! We have been fortunate to have such a warm and capable teacher in our Prep team, welcoming the new families and students to St Martin's. We wish Brigitte and Marc all the very best over these next few months to set up and be ready for the arrival of their baby. We will inform you once the baby is here.

After 1.5 years at St Martin’s in Year One, Natalie Enright is finishing here and moving back to Geelong, where her family lives. We thank Natalie for joining us and wish her all the best in her future career.

Danni Ibbott, who teaches in Year Five, will be taking leave in 2026. We wish Danni all the best as she takes this break. Bianca Di Giovanni is having a baby in April 2026, but will be with us in Term One. This is an exciting time for Bianca and her family as they wait for their second child.

Jasmine Victoire (Bui) will return to us in 2026, having come back part way through this year. Lauren Scarfo and Holly Mansie, who were both on leave this year, are returning in 2026.

To the staff leaving St Martin’s this year, we thank you for your service and for sharing your gifts and skills with us. We wish you all the very best in your new schools and ventures! You are welcome back at any time!

The 2026 staff, classes and roles will be announced via a Compass Alert in a one page Newsletter on Monday 15 December. It is a busy time!

GOSPEL REFLECTION

This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent. We hear about John the Baptist, calling on people to repent and prepare for the coming of the Messiah.

John the Baptist’s call to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ is a summary of the purpose of the season of Advent. Every year, as we celebrate the Nativity, we celebrate once again the presence of God in our world. God became incarnate in the world through Jesus but also always was and continues to be incarnate in the world through each person. If we are to accept this reality and live it out, we need to remind ourselves this Advent to prepare the way for the Lord to be present in and through us every day of our lives.

(Greg Sunter, Liturgy Help)

Have a wonderful weekend - I hope you can put your Christmas Tree up or decorate the house!