Principal's Report

Dear St Cecilia's Community,

It was wonderful to see our school community embrace the spirit of Le Français dans le Monde on Tuesday. The day provided students with a rich and engaging opportunity to explore the French language, culture and the many countries around the world where French is spoken.

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to Madame Cécile for the enormous amount of planning, organisation and passion that went into making this special day such a success. From coordinating our pop-up crêpe van, French-speaking football coaches, dance and percussion workshops, pétanque activities and classroom learning experiences, every detail was thoughtfully planned to ensure students enjoyed an authentic and memorable celebration of the French language and the wider Francophone world.

Students enthusiastically embraced the day, proudly wearing colours, clothing and sporting jerseys that reflected the global theme. Throughout the day they immersed themselves in a range of experiences, including ordering delicious crêpes in French, participating in football coaching sessions conducted in French, learning traditional African dance and percussion, exploring French-speaking countries and cultures, and discovering the game of pétanque.

Thank you also to our staff for their enthusiasm, flexibility and support in bringing the day to life. Their willingness to engage with the activities and guide students through the various learning experiences helped create a vibrant and joyful atmosphere across the school. And the committed outfits and dancing were next level...

Most importantly, congratulations to our students. Their outstanding participation, curiosity, confidence and willingness to have a go made the day such a memorable success. It was wonderful to see so many students stepping outside their comfort zones, using their French language skills and celebrating the diversity of cultures that make up our world. One of our visitors commented to me that this was the best school of respectful students she had ever visited! 

To view some more magic moments from the day click below:

Merci beaucoup, Madame Cécile, and thank you to everyone who helped make Le Français dans le Monde such a fantastic celebration of learning, language and culture.

Grandparents and Special Persons Day – Friday 31 July

We are delighted to announce that our much-loved Grandparents and Special Persons Day will be held on Friday 31 July, at the end of Week 3 next term.

This special occasion provides a wonderful opportunity for grandparents and other significant people in our students' lives to visit St Cecilia's, spend time in classrooms, and share in the learning and achievements of their grandchildren.

If a grandparent is unable to attend, families are welcome to invite another special person who plays an important role in their child's life. To assist with planning and catering, we kindly ask that this event be reserved for grandparents and special visitors rather than parents. More info to come regarding numbers.

We will speak with students about the fact that not everyone will have a visitor attending on the day for a variety of reasons. All students will still be involved in the activities and celebrations and will have opportunities to share their learning and stories with their classmates and teachers.

Proposed Schedule

9:15am Grandparents and special visitors are invited to visit classrooms and spend time with their grandchildren. Teachers will have activities prepared that showcase student learning and achievements. Visitors with multiple grandchildren will be welcome to move between classrooms, with staff available to assist with directions.

10:30am Visitors will gather in the hall for a special morning tea generously hosted by our Parent Association. We may even be treated to a performance from our school choir.

11:15am The morning will conclude at approximately 11:15am.

Important Notes

• Parents are kindly asked not to accompany grandparents or special visitors during the morning. If required, please assist with drop-off and collection arrangements.

• Further details regarding RSVP requirements and catering arrangements will be provided early next term.

   

We look forward to welcoming our grandparents and special visitors to St Cecilia's for what is always one of the highlights of the school year. In previous years we have welcomed more than 300 visitors to our school, and we are excited to once again celebrate the important role grandparents and special people play in the lives of our students. 

Chess Club Champions for Term 2

Congratulations to Year 4 students, Matthew - 1st place, Manolo  - 2nd place and Amelie - 3rd place, who took out the Chess Club Champions awards for Term 2.

Chess Club sessions for our Year 1 to 6 students happen at St Cecilia's on a Friday lunchtime. Different lessons are taught each week from a structured syllabus ranging from tactics, strategies, masteropenings, traps and special moves. After the lesson children are paired up in a fun tournament play off. 

If your child is interested in joining Chess Club for Term 3, please refer to the attached brochure.

Parents’ Association Update – Thank you for a wonderful semester!

 From the PA Coordinators

In what seems like just a blink of the eye, we have arrived at the end of Term 2 – and what an amazing semester it has been, full of fun-filled events and activities. It is thus only fitting that we thank and acknowledge the many who have helped make the last 6 months possible.

Mid Year Function – Bookings Now Open!

Date: Saturday 25 July 2026

Time: 7:00pm – Late

Venue: Huzzah, 4 Paran Pl, Glen Iris 

Our much-anticipated St Cecilia's Mid Year Function is fast approaching, and we are looking forward to a wonderful evening of connection, laughter and community with our parent community.

The Mid Year Function is a fantastic opportunity for parents and carers to come together, meet other families, strengthen friendships and enjoy a relaxed night out away from the busy routines of school and family life. One of the great strengths of St Cecilia's is the sense of community we share, and events such as this help continue to build those important connections.

A huge thank you to Elle Cusak and our Parents Association for their work in organising what promises to be a fantastic evening.

Bookings are now open and can be made via the link below:

Book Here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1589196

We encourage families to secure their tickets early and join us for what is sure to be a wonderful night. We look forward to seeing many members of our community there.

Principal News:

As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding term, I would like to take a moment to thank our students, staff and families for the support, partnership and sense of community that continue to make St Cecilia's such a special place. Semester One has been filled with learning, growth, celebration and achievement, and I am incredibly proud of all that has been accomplished together.

This week also marks the beginning of a period of Long Service Leave for me, as my wife and I head overseas for an extended holiday. I will be away from Wednesday 17 June and look forward to returning at the conclusion of Week 3 next term.

During my absence, Matt Mooney will take on the role of Acting Principal, supported by Kate Sutherland as Acting Deputy Principal. Both Matt and Kate know our community exceptionally well and are deeply committed to ensuring the continued success and wellbeing of our students. I have every confidence that the school will be in excellent hands and I thank them, along with our wider leadership team, for their willingness to step into these important roles.

Should you need to contact the school during this period, Matt can be reached at mmooney@scgleniris.catholic.edu.au and Kate at ksutherland@scgleniris.catholic.edu.au.

A reminder of some important dates as we conclude the term:

June

• Friday 19 June – Semester One Reports Sent Home
• Tuesday 23 June – Parent Teacher Interviews
• Friday 26 June – Last Day of Term (1:20pm finish)

Looking ahead to Term 3:

July

• Monday 13 July – Staff Resume (Student-Free Day)
• Tuesday 14 July – Students Resume for Term 3

Thank you once again for your ongoing support throughout the semester. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a wonderful community, and I look forward to hearing about all that takes place at St Cecilia's while I am away and reconnecting with everyone later in Term 3.

Have a great few weeks everyone!

Marty McKenna

Principal

St Cecilia’s Primary School