From the Principal
REMINDERS
Student-Free Day Friday 18th September
Dear Parents and Carers,
Condolences: Salerno Family
Over the weekend, we received the very sad news that one of our past students, Jonathan Salerno, lost his battle with leukaemia at the age of fourteen. Jonny's cousins Eva and Jack are in Year 4 and Year 2 and remain in our thoughts and prayers at this time.
Jonathan's parents, Christian and Teresa, along with sister Alex,
have reached out to the school staff and community with the following message:
‘It is with deep sorrow that I write to inform you of the sad news of one of our past students, Jonathan (Jonny) Salerno, who passed away on Friday, August 21, at the age of 14. Jonny had been courageously battling Acute Myeloid Leukaemia for almost two years.
Jonny showed incredible courage, strength and faith throughout everything he endured, right until the end. What made his parents, Christian and Teresa and sister Alex most proud was the young man he was through it all, carrying himself with quiet strength, maintaining his wonderful sense of humour and his ability to make everyone feel good. He was a true gentleman — respectful, compassionate and strong.
We entrust Jonny to the loving care of our merciful God and pray that he rests in eternal peace.’
As a school and faith community, we continue to keep the Salerno family in our thoughts and prayers as they remember the beautiful life and soul of Jonny. May he rest in peace.
Parent Feedback - focus on school improvement - MACSSIS
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS): 31 August –18 September 2026
Every year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our school learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as an effective school community and is backed by evidence-based research and best practices.
A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys.
MACSSIS is a set of surveys that have been built specifically for Catholic schools in Melbourne in partnership with researchers at Learning First and in wide consultation with principals in Catholic schools in Melbourne.
In 2026, students in Years Four, Five and Six, families and staff are invited to participate in MACSSIS via our secure andpurpose-built online platform. The online platform is where our leadership will access the summary reports that visualise the results of the student, family and staff surveys.
In the coming week, please keep an eye out in your inbox for a message inviting you to participate in the parent family MACSSIS survey.
Book Week 2026 - Symphony of Stories
We look forward to celebrating 2026 Book Week as a St Simon's School community.
Fathers' Day celebrations
Bookings are now open for our Father's Day Breakfast on Friday 4th September
Click here for more details regarding our Father's Day Celebrations
Lost Property
The school lost property is overflowing. Please take some time during the school drop-off or pick-up to check through the lost property tub located at the bottom of the stairs at the rear of Building A.
It is so important to ensure that all school uniform items are clearly labelled so they can be easily returned. If you are using "hand me downs" or purchased second hand items, please update or freshen the labels so that we can connect students to clothing items.
Any unclaimed items with no name or unclear labelling will be assessed for its suitability for the school's spare uniform supply.
nForma - Decommissioning of nForma for Parents App
A reminder that the nForma for Parents app will be decommissioned at the end of this month.
From 1st September, all parents and users will need to access the new app through the nForma Connect app.
Many parents have already downloaded the new app and transitioned to it. However, there are still some who need to make the transition to ensure uninterrupted access.
For further information and guidance on downloading and using the new app, please refer to our FAQ page:
https://nforma-help.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/51000437532-nforma-connect-app
2027 Enrolment and Planning
2027 planning for school operations and structures takes into account the expected enrolments for the 2027 school year. It is assumed, unless otherwise notified, families will be returning for the 2027 school.
Please communicate with the school office as soon as possible if you intend to seek enrolment at another school in 2027. Thank you.
St Simon's Fete 2026
Getting involved in the St Simon’s Fete is one of the most rewarding ways to connect with our vibrant school community, and we welcome help of all kinds. There are many ways to assist, including managing a stall, assisting with setup and pack-down, or lending a hand for just an hour or two. Volunteering not only lightens the load and ensures the day runs smoothly, but it also gives you a fantastic opportunity to meet other parents, forge lasting friendships, and strengthen our school spirit. Most importantly, when our children see parents and carers giving their time and energy to support the community, it sets a powerful, positive example of generosity, teamwork, and service.
However you choose to contribute, your involvement makes a meaningful difference, and we would love to have you on board!
In particular, we are looking for one or two parents to work together as the Aussie BBW stall holders. This is a well-organised stall with documentation in place from previous fetes that will assist with its running. If you think you could help out, please contact Tom Wursthorn via the school office.
St Simon's Fete - Partnership and Promotional opportunities for local and small businesses
This wonderful event is a highlight of our calendar, bringing together families, friends, and the wider community for a day of fun and celebration. To make this year’s fete our best one yet, we are inviting members of our school community and local businesses to partner with us.
We have a variety of fantastic promotional and sponsorship opportunities available, offering an excellent platform to showcase your business while supporting our community.
If you would like to explore sponsorship options or find out how you can get involved, please contact the Parish Office or reach out directly to Fete Committee member, Bill Leane 0411 289 319.
MACS Funding of Catholic Schools - a message from MACS
Currently, all Catholic schools are working through planning and budgeting activities for 2027 to ensure we are well placed to support our staff, students and school communities in the coming year. This includes looking at how we can accommodate the changes likely to flow from a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) with school staff.
We recognise the significant financial pressures many households are facing, and we are making a conscious effort to ensure these costs are not passed on through significant fee increases.
We will continue to keep our parent community informed throughout this process. As always, our focus remains on maintaining strong school communities and continuing to deliver a high-quality Catholic education for every student
Child Safety - MACS Care
In this newsletter, as part of our continual commitment to Child Safety awareness, we spotlight Child Safe Standard 5 - Equity is upheld, and diverse needs respected in policy and practice and Child Safe Standard 6 - People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Newsletter Side Sections and Pages
Please take time to browse through the sections and pages of the newsletter. You find more details and information about events and posts you see through Social channels.
Connect with Us on Social Media 📱
Want to see all the latest activities, student achievements, and exciting experiences happening around our school in real time?
Be sure to check out and follow our official school social channels! It’s a wonderful way to stay connected with the vibrant St. Simon the Apostle Primary School community and get a firsthand look at what our students are learning and creating each day.
- Facebook: Follow us for community updates, photo galleries, and event reminders.
- Instagram: Check out our latest stories, highlights, and snapshots of daily school life.
Search for St. Simon the Apostle Primary School on both platforms, hit follow, and join our growing online community!
School Closure Days Term 3 and 4 - 2026
Throughout the year, the school schedules several school closure days for staff to engage in professional learning and compliance activities. There are also days scheduled for time-in-lieu (TIL) activities that staff attend and run outside the normal hours of the school day. These days are used to acquitt these hours.
When a school closure day is scheduled, Beyond Edu Care will operate a program of care for the day so that families can have their children looked after on the school site.
Term 3
Student Free Day Friday 18th September (First Aid CPR, Compliance)
Term 4
Thursday 8th October - Student Free Day (Time in lieu, School Production student rest day)
Monday 2nd November - Student Free Day (Time in lieu)
Tuesday 15th December - Last day of School for students
nForma
ARE YOU CONNECTED TO OUR SCHOOL VIA THE NFORMA APP?
NEED TO KNOW MORE? CLICK HERE
In preparation for camps and excursions, please ensure that all Medical and Health information in nForma for your children is up to date.
St Simon’s Staff and Contact Details
A complete staff list for 2026 is available through the newsletter each week by going to Staff Contacts and General Information section