PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Week Three
It’s hard to believe we’re only three weeks into the term and all that has taken place already. Senior camp, parent information sessions, leadership speeches, swimming trials, welcome mass, parent/teacher interviews, PSGs and Prep Welcome drinks. As is typical for Term One, it’d been a bustling start, but we know that just about all of these events set us up for a strong 2026.
In between all of these events and the busyness that naturally comes with the start of term, it has been especially pleasing to witness the calm and organised learning environments taking shape across the school. Classrooms are settled and purposeful, with students clear on expectations and engaged in their learning. This speaks to the strong routines and consistent care established by our staff. We know it’s this steady, positive rhythm that creates the conditions for great learning to flourish.
Connecting with our Families: Parent Information Sessions and Parent/Teacher interviews
Over the past two Tuesday evenings, we’ve had the privilege of hosting two of the most important partnership events on our school calendar. Our Parent Information Sessions provided a valuable opportunity for families to gain a clear understanding of the learning journey ahead for their children. Teachers shared insights into curriculum priorities, key events, classroom routines and expectations, as well as the social and developmental characteristics typical of each age group. Most importantly, these sessions offered practical ways families can support learning at home, helping to build a strong and consistent connection between school and home.
We also held our Parent/Teacher Interviews this week, and once again we were delighted by the strong attendance and engagement from our families. These conversations are an important part of truly knowing each child, allowing teachers to listen, learn and gather valuable insights that help us better support every student’s individual needs, strengths and goals. Working in partnership ensures we can provide the best possible learning experience for your child, and we greatly value the time and trust our families invest in these meaningful discussions.
It was wonderful to see such strong attendance from our families across all year levels at these recent events. We truly appreciate the time and effort our families make to be present and involved in school life. Opportunities like these play an important role in building genuine partnerships between home and school, strengthening the connection between families, teachers and students. When we work together, share insights and maintain open communication, we create a consistent and supportive environment for our children. Research and experience both tell us that strong relationships between school and families have a direct and positive impact on student learning outcomes, supporting not only academic growth, but also wellbeing, confidence and a sense of belonging.
Leadership Speeches
On Monday morning we were truly blown away by the exceptional leadership speeches delivered by our Year Six students to the middle and senior school. The calm, confident and articulate manner in which they shared their ideas, values and hopes for our school was incredibly impressive. Their courage to stand up in front of their peers and speak so thoughtfully is a credit to each of them. Many parents and staff commented on the high quality of the presentations, and it’s clear that St Agnes’ is in very capable hands with this outstanding group of young leaders.
It has certainly been a busy start to the year for our senior students, with camp, assemblies, Mass, leadership applications and speeches all taking place in quick succession. We sincerely thank Mr Otto and Mrs Murdoch for the care, encouragement and guidance they have provided as they mentor our students through their leadership journey.
Following the speeches, our 2026 leadership roles were announced at Wednesday’s assembly. Congratulations to all students who have stepped into leadership positions this year. In particular, we congratulate Niamh and Leo, who will serve as our School Captains. I look forward to working closely with all of our student leaders throughout the year ahead.
Fete
The countdown to our school fete is officially on, with just four weeks to go! There has already been an incredible amount of work happening behind the scenes, thanks to the dedication of our fete and stall committees. We encourage families to spread the word far and wide, the more successful the day, the sooner we can move forward with our new playground. We can’t wait to see our community come together for what promises to be a fantastic day. A huge thanks to Jess Cox and Amy Anderson for their work with the fete signs around the community.
Writing at St Agnes
A key focus for us this year is continuing to strengthen our students’ writing. Under Mrs Baker’s excellent leadership, the implementation of The Writing Revolution over recent years has already led to pleasing growth in our writing outcomes. This year, we are further enhancing this work through the introduction of the 'Elastik' platform, which provides timely, targeted feedback for both teachers and students. It was wonderful to see Miss Mair’s Year Three class using their writing data to reflect on their progress in just one week of lessons, and set clear next steps. An exciting example of how this tool, alongside high-quality teaching, will continue to support strong growth in writing across the school.
Swimming Training
Mr Kost has kicked off preparations for the 2026 District Swimming Carnival, with our first swimming trials taking place on Tuesday. It was wonderful to see such strong student participation, and we’re looking forward to taking a fit and enthusiastic squad to the HOLT Carnival on March 16th at GSAC. A big thank you to Mr Kost for the time and effort he puts into creating these opportunities for our students, and to Mrs Baker and Mrs Phyland for their support on the day. So much work goes on behind the scenes to make our sporting program possible, and we are very grateful for their commitment.
Welcome Mass
Thank you to Father Fox for leading our beautiful Beginning of Year Mass last Friday. It was a special moment for our whole school to gather together for the first time this year in prayer and celebration. Father Fox offered a blessing for our staff and Year Six students, strengthening them for the year ahead. It was also wonderful to see so many families in attendance, along with staff who came along despite it not being their regular workday. Gatherings like these are a lovely reminder of the strong and faith-filled community we share at St Agnes’. Thanks also to Mrs Gorski who, in her role as our Religious Education leader, has a large role to play in the coorindation and planning of these masses.
Prep Enrolments and Open Days
School tours are already in full swing as we begin welcoming prospective families for Prep enrolments in 2027 and 2028. Applications for 2027 are filling quickly, and based on the number of applications already submitted, we are extremely confident that we will have another two Prep classes in 2027, our third consecutive year. What a fantastic outcome for our community. Thank you to our families for your support and advocacy. The word of mouth of our parent community has a huge role to play in the ongoing success of our enrolments.
If you have a child due to start Prep with us next year, please ensure your enrolment application has been submitted. Our office team is always happy to help with any questions.
Prep Welcome Drinks
It was lovely to see so many of our Prep families attend last week’s Welcome Drinks on the school grounds. The evening provided a relaxed and friendly opportunity for new and existing families to meet, connect and begin building relationships. Events like these highlight what makes St Agnes’ such a warm and welcoming community.
A heartfelt thank you to Sarah and Bree, our Parents and Friends Co-Presidents, for their tremendous work organising the evening, and to Pete who generously helped serve drinks. Your time and effort are greatly appreciated.
LSO Meetings / Learning Support
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting in on our Learning Support Officer meeting, led by Mrs Phyland and Mrs Baker. The team engaged in professional learning focused on supporting students’ reading development, particularly in decoding and fluency. It was wonderful to see such thoughtful, evidence-informed practice in action.
Although my time at St Agnes’ has been relatively short, one of the most impressive aspects of our school has been the strength of our LSO team. Their care, dedication and commitment to supporting every child’s growth is outstanding. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a skilled and passionate group, truly our ‘A-Team’.
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.
Skipping into the Day
What a positive way to start a beautiful Wednesday morning this week with our first Skipping Club for the year, led by Mrs Phyland. It was great to see students, younger siblings and parents get involved in a morning skip with their friends before school. Thanks also to Mrs Murdoch for her help supporting the students.
Additional opportunities for our students to connect at school are important for building a strong sense of belonging and community. These moments help children form friendships, develop confidence and feel safe and supported beyond the classroom.
Thank you once again for a wonderful and enriching few weeks at St Agnes’. The past fortnight has provided many opportunities to share the learning that will happen in our school over the course of 2026, and to celebrate the power of strong partnerships between home and school in helping our children grow and thrive.
Wishing you all a restful weekend, and I look forward to greeting everyone at the gate on Monday morning.
Tom