Dear Parents and Friends,

I cannot believe how quickly the weeks are passing and that we are already over halfway through term one! The students have been working very hard and I continue to be very impressed with the high standard of learning and teaching at St Carlo's. I would also like to commend our students on their excellent behaviour and manners and for displaying our school values of being: Safe, Respectful and Responsible.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Teachers have asked me to pass on their thanks and appreciation to you for attending our recent Parent/Teacher conversations. It is so important that you know your child’s teacher and that they know you! We know that when parents work in partnership with the school, student learning is enhanced. The information and insights you provide, further assists teachers in meeting your child’s needs and supporting them as a person and as a learner.

At St Carlo’s, we value the role of parents and families as the first, most important and continuing educators of their children. It is a privilege for us to join and work with you to provide a positive learning environment and the best opportunities in knowledge and faith to support your child's growth in their learning journey.

Congratulations to our Class Captains

At our recent assemblies we have presented out leadership badges to our class captains and vice captains. As a community, we pray for our student leaders and for all our students that they will seek the example of Saint Carlo Borromeo as they fulfil their commitment to the school this year.

Parents and Friends

Special thanks to Pam Quattrone who has been the P&F president for many years and this year has decided to step down from the role. On behalf of the school community, I would like to thank Pam for the outstanding service that she has provided the school over many years. Pam has very generously given of her time and done a wonderful job.

Given that the year has already commenced. I have asked Tina Calleja to take on the role this year. If you are interested in any of the roles, please review the information in the P&F reports in this newsletter and contact either Tina or myself.

Our canteen is up and running and I want to thank Tina and the volunteers. Our canteen can only operate with the generous support of our parents. Your help really is appreciated by the students who look forward to their weekly lunch order! We are very fortunate to have such a supportive parent community. Please read our Parents and Friends News in today's newsletter.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. This year, NAPLAN will take place for students in Years 3 and 5 from Wednesday, 13 March to Monday, 25 March.

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

Fulltime School for Preps

This week will be the last mid-week break for our Prep students. Next week, all Prep students will attend school on a full-time basis. We are very proud of our Prep students who have settled into school so well. We would like to thank all parents and carers for their support and the great work in preparing the children for school.

School Open Day 2025 Prep Enrolments

Last Thursday we held our school open day where we welcomed prospective families for 2025. We had a large number of families visit and it is always a pleasure to showcase our fantastic school.

Our Prep enrolments are officially open for new families. St Carlo’s has an excellent reputation as the school of first choice for Catholic families and enrolment positions continue to be in very high demand. I encourage families who have a child they wish to enrol for next year to submit an enrolment application ASAP. Existing families are guaranteed a place, but you must submit an enrolment form. Please download an enrolment form from our website or collect a pack from the office.

Reconciliation Family Night

On Tuesday we look forward to having all Year Three students and their parents attend our Reconciliation Family Workshop in the hall from 6:00- 7:00 p.m.

Parish School Advisory Council

Our newly formed Parish School Advisory Council brings together parents and staff from the three schools to support Catholic education within our Parish. Each school has three parent representative’s and from St Carlo’s they are:

Cathrine La Terra
Manny Bugeja
Katrina Ferguson
Father Dishan, Nella Fimiani and myself are also members.

This is a very exciting initiative and at the first meeting on Tuesday evening 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. we will focus on formation and the role of the group.

Protecting Children Online - Parent webinar - THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING

St Carlo Borromeo School presents: The Cyber Safety Project and special guests as they explore a diverse range of topics pertinent to raising children in a digital age. Don't forget to register for this important workshop for all parents. Please note that this session is for parents only, it is not for students. Registration details are included in today’s newsletter.

Better Buddies Meet and Greet Picnic

Our Better Buddies Picnic is always one of the highlights of our school calendar and we look forward to welcoming our Prep and Year 6 families next Wednesday March 13th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. BYO picnic and chairs or a blanket. Coffee and Ice cream will be available to purchase. We also have a petting zoo available for the students to enjoy.

Parent WhatsApp Groups

In some year levels, parents have set up a WhatsApp group. Class WhatsApp and Messenger groups can be a useful and efficient way of communicating with other parents. The aim of using WhatsApp is to send messages to the entire group, which are relevant to school.

Please note: The messages in a class WhatsApp group come from parents in their personal capacity. The school neither sends nor monitors messages on WhatsApp or Messenger.

We recommend that parents note the following guidelines when using class WhatsApp and Messenger groups set up by parents:

The group should never be used as a platform to air views/grievances regarding a teacher, a staff member, child or parent in the class or school.
Always be respectful, polite, courteous and considerate of others. No harsh words, gossiping, unpleasant comments or nastiness.
The group is not a political platform for airing opinions on current affairs.
All group members should act as moderators and ensure that the above guidelines are followed at all times.
Inappropriate comments should be screenshot and sent to the school to follow up.

We thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Items and toys from home

We recommend that students never bring anything precious or valuable to school. Items brought from home can become a distraction in the classroom. On occasion, they may bring something for show and tell and such items are best kept safe with the teacher, not taken into the yard.

Staff News

Congratulations to Mrs. Hakim. Jamile and her husband Rob are expecting their first child in August. Best wishes for a lifetime of happiness for your family.

As always, if you have any feedback, queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, a member of our leadership team or myself at any time.

We ask St Carlo to continue to bless our wonderful Parish and School Community. I hope that you enjoy a wonderful long weekend with your family and friends.

Kevin Gleeson.