Dear Families,

As we come to the end of Term 3, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in our Galilee community for your continued support in making it such a successful and memorable term.

We are constantly inspired by our wonderful students who shine in so many areas, whether it's in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage, or through their leadership. It has been a true privilege to watch them grow and flourish. There isn’t a day that goes by when staff aren’t sharing stories of the amazing things our students are doing, whether it’s over lunch in the staffroom or in passing through the corridors.

We are incredibly proud, not just of our students’ talents and achievements, but also of their kindness, compassion, and the way they support and care for one another. These values are at the heart of who we are at Galilee, and we see them reflected not only in our students but also in our wonderful parent community.

Thank you, our parent community, for the part you play in helping make Galilee a nurturing and thriving environment. We truly value the partnership between home and school, and we are grateful to be working alongside you to ensure Galilee continues to be the best place it can be for every child.

There have been many highlights over the past two weeks that we would like to share with you:

A Big Week of Sport at Galilee!

Last week was packed with sporting excitement as our students proudly represented Galilee in a number of Gala Day events. We couldn’t be more proud of their effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship across the board.

AFL Gala Day – Last Monday

Our Galilee Football Team participated in the AFL Gala Day on Monday, competing against seven local Catholic primary schools. The team showed fantastic perseverance and determination, improving with every game they played. A big thank you to Seb Greene and Harvey Bidmaide for their excellent coaching and to the parents who came along to cheer on the team.

Netball Gala Day – Last Tuesday

On Tuesday, three of our Galilee Netball Teams took part in the Netball Gala Day. Each team performed exceptionally well, showing great skill and sportsmanship throughout the day. A special congratulations to our Girls A Team who made it all the way to the Grand Final, finishing second overall—a fantastic achievement! Thank you to coaches Sonia Pandolfo, Julie Ferguson, and Amy Burns for guiding our teams, and to the families who came to support.

Soccer Gala Day – Last Wednesday

Wednesday saw our Galilee Girls and Boys Soccer Teams compete in the Soccer Gala Day. Both teams played brilliantly and progressed to the Grand Final. The finals were thrilling to watch, with both teams winning their matches by a strong margin. We are so proud of this incredible result and wish both teams the very best as they prepare for the upcoming Regional Soccer Competition. A big thank you to Seb Greene and Alex Pensini for coaching the Boys Team, and to Vinnie McGrath and Andy Edmunds for coaching the Girls Team. Thank you also to the many parents who came along to support our students.

What a week of achievement, teamwork, and Galilee spirit!

Instrumental Student’s Soiree

Last night, our talented instrumental students took to the stage in the Galilee Stadium for our end-of-semester Soirée. It was a wonderful evening, filled with music and celebration, as students showcased their skills on keyboard, guitar, and drums.

It was truly heartwarming to see each student perform with such confidence, proudly sharing the pieces they’ve been working so hard on. Congratulations to all of our performers—you played beautifully, and we are so proud of you!

A big thank you to our incredible instrumental teachers Trent, Leonard, and Richard who support and guide our students each week. Your dedication gives our students a fantastic opportunity to grow as musicians.

Thank you also to the families who came along to support the performers. Your encouragement means so much and helps make events like these such a success.

Chess Tournament at Galilee

Last week, we were proud to open our doors to primary school students from across Melbourne as we hosted our very first Inter-School Chess Tournament here at Galilee.

Several of our own students took part in the event, representing our school with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. Inter-school chess tournaments offer students a fantastic opportunity to compete in a structured and supportive environment, where they can test their skills and enjoy the challenge of friendly competition.

These events are about more than just winning - they encourage students to think strategically, remain focused under pressure, and demonstrate resilience with each move they make. We are proud of all our participants for showing such dedication and determination.

Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you to the staff and families who helped make the day such a success.

A special mention goes to Tommy in Year 2, who delivered a strong performance with 4.5 wins out of 7 games. Felix, our chess coach, is very proud of our Galilee team and is excited to see more students join in future tournaments, increasing our chances of qualifying for the state finals.

Regional Cross Country

Last week, RJ represented Galilee at the Regional Cross Country Competition and his performance was outstanding! He completed the 2km course in an impressive time of 7:01, earning himself a place in the upcoming State Cross Country Competition that will take place later this year.

Qualifying for regionals is an exceptional achievement in itself, but progressing to the state level is truly remarkable. We are so proud of RJ for his hard work, determination, and dedication to his training.

Congratulations, RJ, on this incredible milestone! We wish you all the very best as you prepare for the state competition—we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!

Italian Day at Galilee

On Wednesday, Galilee was transformed into a sea of red, white, and green as we celebrated Italian Day. It was a fantastic day filled with fun, laughter, cultural experiences and of course, plenty of delicious pizza and gelato.

Students participated in a range of engaging activities that brought Italian culture to life and proudly showcased the learning they’ve been doing in their Italian lessons this year. It was wonderful to see their excitement and enthusiasm as they immersed themselves in the traditions and language of Italy.

A heartfelt thank you to Anna Petrarca for organising such a memorable day. It’s one our students will treasure for years to come!

Running Club

We would like to congratulate all the students who have been taking part in Galilee’s early morning Running Club each Monday and Friday. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and perseverance, especially on these chilly mornings, has been truly inspiring!

Over the past few weeks, we’ve celebrated an exciting milestone: more than 30 students have now reached the 500-lap achievement! Each time a student completes their 500th lap, a bell is rung to mark the moment, and they are presented with a special certificate and medal. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the hard work and commitment our students show week after week.

A huge thank you goes out to our amazing team of parent volunteers who make Running Club possible. We’d especially like to acknowledge Jason and Dom for their leadership - they ensure that every student feels supported and motivated to do their best.

Well done to everyone involved - we’re so proud of you!

Next week we have a number of events to look forward to:

STEM Expo – You’re Invited!

We’re excited to invite our Galilee community to our upcoming STEM Expo, taking place on Tuesday 1st July from 3:30–4:30pm in the Stadium.

Come along and explore the incredible STEM projects our students have been working on throughout the semester. Their creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills will be on full display, and we’re proud to showcase their hard work and learning.

At Galilee, we are passionate about our STEM program. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning that encourages students to think critically, work collaboratively, and develop essential 21st-century skills such as creativity, analysis, and problem-solving.

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the achievements of our budding scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Ss. Peter and Paul Feast Day celebration

On Sunday 29th June at 10am we are gathering as a community at Ss. Peter and Paul Church for a special Feast Day Mass. After Mass we will join together in the Parish Hall for morning tea. Everyone within the Galilee community is warmly invited to join us. A number of students and staff will be reading at the Mass.

Semester One Student Reports

Semester One Student Reports will be available next Wednesday 2nd June from approximately 4pm. An email was sent to all families today with information about how to access and what to expect from Semester One Student Reports.

Last Day of Term 2

Friday 4th July is the last day of Term 2. Students will finish at 1.30pm on Friday 4th July. Gates will be open from 1.25 - 1.45pm so that students can be collected. GOSH, our out of hours program, is open from 1.30pm on Friday 4th July.

Please book your child/ren in early if you intend to use this service. Bookings can be made using the Theircare website.

Two important events we have planned

Galilee Garden Gala

WHEN: 7pm - 11:30pm, Saturday 16th August

WHERE: ‘The Terrace’ in The Royal Botanical Gardens

WHY: The Gala is our major fundraiser for 2025 as we seek to upgrade our kids’ outdoor area & playground

DRESS: Cocktail

Update – more than 50% of tickets have already SOLD!

Get in quick before it sells out!

Buy tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/DCPHE

Don’t miss out on what promises to be an incredible evening of celebration, community, and fun as we raise funds to upgrade our kids’ outdoor play area.

We’re pleased to announce as a part of the entertainment for the evening we will have the Galilee Parents Band (Battle of the Bands runners up!) playing a live acoustic set!

Galilee Mid Year Food Drive

The Galilee Social Justice Team is working on a Winter Appeal.

This winter, we are proud to once again support The Father Bob Maguire Foundation and the Friars' Kitchen at St Peter and Paul’s through our Mid-Year Food Drive.

You can help by contributing non-perishable food items such as:

Long life milk
Canned vegetables, beans, soup, and fruit
Pasta sauce, tin tomatoes, rice, cereal
Tinned tuna or spaghetti
Instant coffee
Two-minute noodles
School snacks

Donations can be brought to your child’s classroom by Thursday, 3rd July. Our Social Justice Leaders will sort and organise the donations, and will also be helping to deliver them.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. By supporting this initiative, you’re helping make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.

School events in Term 2, Week 11

Monday 30th June

-Running Club at 8am (All Welcome)

Wednesday 2nd July

-STEM Expo from 3.30-4.30pm in the Stadium (All Welcome)

-Student Reports will be available from approximately 4pm

Friday 4th July

-Last Day of Term 2

-Running Club 8am (All Welcome)

-Student finish at 1.30pm

Please note End of Term 2 School holidays will run from Monday 7th July - Friday 18th July. All students will return to school for Term 3 on Monday 21st July. We look forward to seeing you all back at school on Monday 21st of July after what we hope is a relaxing and restful break.

We wish you every blessing in the coming week and over the school holidays. Thank you again for your support this Term.

-Amy Burns (Principal), Holly Evans (Deputy Principal) and Richard Harding (Deputy Principal)

Community

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