PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Welcome Back

What a huge first week we have had at St Agnes' to begin the school year. It has been a genuine joy to welcome our students back, and it was particularly special to open the gates on Wednesday morning and see our community come together again after the summer holidays. There is always something beautiful about the first day of the school year, a sense of anticipation, connection and new beginnings, and 2026 was no exception.

First day of Prep

“Mum, that was the best day of my life.”

What a ringing endorsement for day one!

Thursday marked an incredibly special milestone as we welcomed 38 new Prep students to St Agnes', accompanied by parents, siblings, grandparents, aunties, uncles and special friends. Beginning school is a significant moment for any child and their family, and it was a privilege to share this occasion with so many members of our community.

While there were some understandable nerves and the occasional tear, it was wonderful to see just how quickly our Prep students settled into school life. By 10am, they were calm, confident and proudly demonstrating our St Agnes ‘fantastic walking’ as they toured the playground, a clear sign of how safe and supported they were feeling so early in the day.

A huge thank you to our Prep teachers, Mrs Hobart, Mrs Georgiou and Mrs Barton, who created such a warm, calm and welcoming environment for our youngest learners. They were supported beautifully by our outstanding LSO team, Bec, Brooke and Alisha, whose care and encouragement made a significant difference on this important first day.

Our new Prep parents were warmly invited to our annual ‘Tea and Tissues’ event on Thursday morning, hosted by our wonderful Year One parents. This much-loved tradition provided a relaxed and welcoming opportunity for both new and returning families to connect, share stories and meet other members of the St Agnes community.

We look forward to welcoming these families again at our Prep Welcome Night on Wednesday, February 12th, to be held in the school hall. It will be another lovely opportunity to come together and continue building the strong partnerships that support our children so well.

5/6 Camp

As if starting a new school year wasn’t exciting enough, our Year 5/6 students headed off to Warburton for camp on the very first day of school. From the moment they arrived at Camp Arrabri, they rose to the occasion beautifully, demonstrating outstanding manners, respect and care for one another, a wonderful reflection of the values we hold as a school community.

 There was no shortage of fun throughout the trip. The flying fox was a clear favourite, while the giant swing brought plenty of excitement and encouragement as students cheered each other on. Gaga ball was another standout, drawing big crowds, lots of laughter and excellent sportsmanship, and quickly becoming a hub of energy and connection.

The most pleasing news to come from camp was the exemplary way our students conducted themselves throughout the experience. They showed kindness and respect towards one another and represented St Agnes' so proudly at all times. We are absolutely thrilled with the way our Year 5/6 students embraced the opportunity and lived out our school values.

A huge thank you to Mrs Miller, Mrs Phyland, Mrs Murdoch, Miss McKee, Mr Otto and Miss Eterovic for taking our students away and for the care, support and enthusiasm they showed throughout the camp. Thank you also to Mrs Law for her incredibly thorough preparation and organisation, which ensured the camp ran so smoothly.

An extra special shout-out goes to Mrs Phyland who, in her role as Wellbeing  and Learning Diversity Leader, supported our families to feel confident and well prepared for camp, even personally delivering social stories to help ease any pre-camp nerves. What a star!

Smooth, Calm Start

A key focus for our teachers during our Closure Day and in our planning for 2026 was the establishment of calm, consistent routines. Research consistently shows that predictable routines support students’ sense of safety, improve focus and engagement, and create learning environments where all students can thrive.

It was therefore incredibly pleasing to see our students rise to the occasion so early in the year. Across the school, students demonstrated silent entry routines, ‘fantastic walking’ and excellent listening skills, setting a positive tone for learning in every classroom.

I had the pleasure of taking a family on a school tour on Friday morning, and it was so impressive to share with the family our calm learning environments, setting up our students for success with their learning. Our Prep students in particular were exemplary, benefitting from our safe and predictable classroom routines.

I had the pleasure of spending time in Mrs Hampson’s classroom, where the consistent use of these strategies was a joy to witness. The calm, purposeful learning environment was a credit to both the students and their teacher, and a wonderful example of these practices in action.

New Staff Induction Day

Last Friday, our leadership team hosted the staff induction day for new members joining the St Agnes team in 2026. It was a valuable and welcoming opportunity to introduce staff to the life of our school and to the shared practices that underpin all that we do.

Throughout the day, Mrs Mair, Mrs Hobart and Mrs Torner-Bertacco met with various members of the leadership team to explore key aspects of how St Agnes' operates. This included child safety, teaching and learning practices, administration, Mathematics and English instruction, and student wellbeing, ensuring our new staff feel informed, supported and well prepared as they begin their journey with us. As a new member of staff myself, I certainly benefitted from the day too!

A huge thank you to Mrs Baker, Mrs Phyland, Mrs Law, Mrs Barton and Mr Otto for not only designing such a thorough and thoughtful induction process, but for generously giving their time during the school holidays to deliver such a high-quality and informative day. We are incredibly fortunate to be led by such a dedicated, professional and collaborative leadership team.

Welcome to the Team

This year, we warmly welcome Silvia, Nadia and Jess to the St Agnes' staff. We are incredibly fortunate to have them join our community and share their skills, experience and enthusiasm with our students. I know our community will embrace them and make them feel valued and welcomed.

A special mention of Jess, who is not just beginning at St Agnes', but also her teaching journey after graduating from Monash University last year. It was wonderful to see Jess on Day One taking part in coaching and mentoring with Aggie. We're very fortunate at St Agnes' to have such a knowledgable and experienced leadership team working in our classrooms with our teachers.

Welcome Art Work

What a beautiful mural we found as we walked into the office foyer to begin the 2026 school year. This lovely art piece has brightened up the office space and really represents what we aspire to be at St Agnes'. Thank you to our talented Art teacher Mrs Murdoch for putting this piece together in her holidays to welcome us into the school. A nice preview of the quality of work to expect at our Art Show later in the year.

P&F News

Head over to our Parents and Friends News page for more information about some of the events taking place in Term One for our community. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sarah and Bree this week and hearing what exciting opportunities there are for our students and families to connect in 2026. We thank them for their passion, generosity and leadership in this crucial area of our school.

Parent Information Night, Class Newsletters and Parent/Teacher Exchanges

Over the next two weeks, there are several important opportunities for us to establish clarity, connection and open lines of communication between home and school.

Parent Information Night: Tuesday, February 3rd - 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Our Parent Information Night will be held in classrooms and will focus on learning expectations, routines and key information for your child’s year level. We ask that at least one parent or carer attends this important session. The Term One Class Newsletter will also be distributed on the night. 

Parent/Teacher Exchanges: Tuesday, February 10th

Parent/Teacher Exchanges provide a valuable opportunity for you to share insights about your child, their strengths, interests, social development and any areas you feel may need support. These conversations help us build strong partnerships and ensure the best possible start to the year.

Bookings can be made via: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/pcnfq 

For students with Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs), your upcoming PSG meeting will take the place of a Parent/Teacher Exchange.

On this day, students will finish school at 1.00pm to allow interviews to commence at 1.30pm. We strongly encourage face-to-face meetings; however, a video conference option is available if required.

Beginning of Year Mass

Friday, February 6th - 9.00am

Our school community will gather next Friday morning for our Beginning of Year Mass, celebrating the start of the new school year. All students will attend, and parents are warmly invited to join us. Children will sit with their class groups.

During the Mass, staff will also publicly affirm their commitment to our school community, our students and their vocation. We look forward to sharing this meaningful occasion together.

Year Six Leadership Speeches and Roles

Our Year Six leadership speeches will be presented to students in Years 3–6 and staff on Monday, February 9th at 9.00am in the Hall. Parents are very welcome to attend and support our students on this special occasion.

Students will nominate their leadership preferences, and the student body will vote for School and Sports Captains. Remaining leadership roles will be allocated by staff, guided by student preferences. Leadership positions will be announced at the Assembly on Wednesday, February 11th.

Elections for SRC and Mini Vinnies leaders will also take place in classrooms over the coming weeks.

Prep Parents Welcome Night

Thursday, February 12 - 7.00pm – 9.00pm

This social evening is for Prep parents only and will be held on the school grounds. We encourage families to arrange care for their child/children with a babysitter, grandparent, aunt or uncle and join us for a relaxed and enjoyable evening.

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other Prep families as you begin your educational journey together at St Agnes. Drinks and nibbles will be provided by the school.

School Welcome Picnic

Friday, February 27 - 5:30pm

All families are warmly invited to attend our Welcome Picnic at Thomas Street Park. This relaxed gathering is a lovely opportunity for families to connect with one another and celebrate the beginning of the school year together. Families are to BYO picnic rugs, drinks and food. Thank you to our committed P&F team and our co-presidents Bree and Sarah for organising this event for our families.

Mobile Phones and Smart Watches

A gentle reminder to families that, in line with Victorian Government regulations, students are not permitted to have personal mobile phones or cellular-enabled smart watches at school during the day. This helps ensure classrooms and playgrounds remain calm, focused and social spaces for learning and connection. If students bring a phone to school for travel reasons, it must be switched off and handed in at the office on arrival, to be collected at the end of the day. We appreciate your support with this matter.

Playground

We encourage our families to make full use of the school playground on Friday afternoon after school. Families are not to use the equipment on other school days. This allows our staff to make their way promptly to their professional learning sessions that take place straight after school.

A moment to celebrate…

We send a huge congratulations to our incredible Deputy Principal Amanda Baker who graduated from her Masters of Education at the end of 2025. Amanda's Masters, majoring in the Science of Learning, was completed at La Trobe University and we’re so proud of what she’s been able to achieve. Especially as she completed the degree whilst working full time as our deputy. Make sure you congratulate Mrs Baker next time you see her in the playground.

Thank you for an incredible first week in this lovely school community. I can’t believe I’m already saying this but St Agnes already feels like home. I feel incredibly blessed to have found myself here.

We couldn’t have asked for a better, smoother and more enjoyable first week for our school community in 2026, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a ‘short’ week. Take care and enjoy a restful weekend, ready for another big week at St Agnes'.

Tom