From the Principal 

Dear Families 

What a fantastic sense of community we experienced this past weekend as our school and parish worked hand-in-hand to support our shared mission! The Democracy Sausage Sizzle was a resounding success, a true testament to the spirit of collaboration that defines us. A huge thank you to the incredible team of parents and friends, led so capably by Jeremy, Holly, Mel and to each and everyone of you who contributed your time and energy. From the delicious sausages to the tempting treats at the cake stall, your efforts not only raised vital funds for both our school and parish but also fostered a wonderful atmosphere of togetherness.

We also extend our gratitude to Heinz, Ryan, Jacqui, Harry and Archie for their hard work during the recent Working Bee. Your dedication to maintaining our school environment is deeply appreciated and makes a real difference to our students' learning experience.

Looking ahead, we are filled with anticipation for our Mother’s Day/Special Friends Breakfast tomorrow morning at 7:30am. It will be a joy to welcome all the special people in our students' lives for a morning of connection and celebration. Following the breakfast, we warmly invite you to join us for Mass at 9:15am. All are welcome to share in this important part of our school year.  Our creative Art Teacher Mrs Perri has been working on the most beautiful surprise, with the students. We can't wait to share this with you. 

This week's newsletter also features a special "Around the School" section, written by our talented Year 6 student leaders. It's a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from them about their responsibilities and the exciting initiatives they are leading within our school community.

It was a privilege to recently work alongside Mrs Daniela Borgese and our dedicated Community Leaders Zelie, Jay, Mia and Davide as we met and chatted with  prospective families at Renown. It was particularly heartwarming to see young families connect with Davide, who himself is a former student of our 3 and 4 Year Old Kinder programs. These connections highlight the strong and lasting bonds within our community.

As a school, we are continually striving for excellence and this Term we are actively preparing for our School Review. This important process, undertaken every four years, allows us to reflect on our achievements and collaboratively design a strategic plan for the next four years, ensuring we continue to provide the best possible education and opportunities for all our students.

We have some exciting news for our younger learners! Our Year 1 and Year 2 students have been enjoying their brand new desks and chairs this week. This updated furniture will provide a more comfortable and flexible learning environment, supporting their growth and development in the years ahead.

On a delightful note, I had the pleasure of witnessing the wonderful learning happening in Year 1 this week. They proudly shared their persuasive texts arguing why their chosen sport(s) are the best. Their writing was filled with impressive action verbs as they enthusiastically tried to convince me of their point of view! It’s moments like these that remind us of the joy of learning and the wonderful progress our students are making.

We are so proud of our Year 6 students hosting Friday assemblies. I love working with the hosts each Wednesday. They are always filled with ideas and ready to go! 

Why is there a cow in the Prep classroom? 

Her name is Nano! 

Our Prep students will be leading the school in the Dairy Australia’s Picasso Cows Program. It is a program aimed at bringing the Australian dairy industry to life in the classroom! The Picasso Cows program has been implemented in over 1,000 Australian schools since 2008 and we have been fortunate to have been selected to participate this year. 

Our Prep students will take part in lessons based on the themes of Farm to Plate and Health and Nutrition. 

• Farm to Plate
• How milk travels from the farm to plate
• What jobs does a dairy farmer do during a typical day on the farm?
• What do dairy farmers do to protect the environment and care for their animals?
• What technology is used in the journey between farm and plate?
• Health and Nutrition
• Why is it important to consume a healthy balanced diet?
• What do the 10 essential nutrients found in dairy foods do for the body?
• How can you build strong, healthy bones?
• Why is it important to consume dairy every day?

Preps will then ask all teachers and students to help paint Nano based on the learning they have completed. We can’t wait to share the final design with you! 

Mrs Borgese - Prep B 

In a fortnight, I will have the valuable opportunity to attend the Principal's Conference 2025 in the Kimberly Region including; Broome, Derby and Beagle Bay. This will involve visiting two schools and immersing ourselves in learning about faith, culture and community from an Indigenous perspective and within Indigenous communities.  I am very much looking forward to this experience and the insights it will bring, which will undoubtedly enrich our school community and inform our ongoing commitment to inclusive education.

During my absence, I am delighted to announce that Mr James Millane will be our Acting Principal. He will be wonderfully supported by our dedicated Leadership Team: Mrs Angela Mason, Mrs Daniela Borgese, Mrs Catherine Le Hunt, and of course, Erica. I extend my sincere gratitude to each of them and to all our staff for their commitment and support, which allows me to participate in this valuable conference knowing our school is in such capable hands. 

Finally remining everyone that full Winter uniform starts on Monday. 

Take care and wishing God's blessings and peace upon each of you. 

Mrs Cathy Ferrari