Community Engagement
Book Week Celebrations
There was lots of excitement across the school as we celebrated Book Week at St Roch's last Tuesday. This celebration coincides with the Children's Book Council of Australia's 2025 Book of the Year Awards and the announcement of the winners for each category in the awards. This year marked the celebration of 80 years of Children's Book Week in Australia.
This is always a wonderful opportunity for us as a school to celebrate Australian literature, our incredibly talented Australian authors and illustrators and importantly a celebration like this gives our students the opportunity to share their favourite authors and books with each other. We had every possible book character in our school parade. The students looked amazing! Enormous thanks to our parents for supporting each students costume choice. It was clear that a lot of effort and thought had gone into every child's costume.
The day began with the St Roch's Book Week Parade. Thanks to the many parents who joined us in the Hall for all the fun. It is wonderful to have you join these celebrations. The staff following this years theme of 'Book and Adventure' became adventurous pirates and danced a pirate jig at the end of the parade. Like I said on the morning, not only are our teachers great teachers, they are also incredible dancers! Classroom activities followed and the day concluded with a whole school incursion where three of the stories were brought to life through drama and song. There are always big messages for our students in this performance of accepting and understanding difference and sustainability.
Huge thanks to Rachel Gray, our Literacy Leader, who organised the entire day for our students to enjoy.
St Roch's and St Mary's Netball and Football Matches
On Saturday afternoon in wintery conditions our parents enjoyed an afternoon of sport, a long standing tradition between to St Roch's and St Mary's school communities.
The Mums played a great game of netball. Unfortunately they weren't able to win this year however showed tremendous skill and endeavour.
The Dads footy game was fought hard by both teams. This year, for the first time in six years St Roch's took home the trophy. Amazing effort by our Dads!
Enormous thanks to all the parents who were part of the organising team, played, came along to support and who helped out to make this long standing event a huge success.
ICAS Assessments 2025
ICAS Assessments have all been completed this year by our students who participated in this enrichment opportunity. Students enjoyed the challenge and worked through the online assessments with focus and resilience.
Congratulations to all the students who took up this challenge. Results will be accessible shortly and all students who participated will receive a certificate.
Term 3 Chess Club
Chess Club for Term 3 continues every Wednesday from 11.00am - 11.50am for all interested students. Please consider registering your child for this great lunchtime club. Our students would be delighted to welcome your child into this club to build chess skills. They love teaching new students how to play chess! Please see details below to register and in the Extra Curricula page of the newsletter.
Gardening Club
Gardening Club will run throughout Term 3 every Wednesday at 1.50pm and is open to all students from Prep - Year 6. This is such a beautiful time for our students to increase feelings of wellbeing while learning about science and gardening as they dig in the soil and tend to the garden.
Spring has finally arrived! We are looking forward to all the new vegetables that will be harvested throughout the season. Come and visit the garden to see all the work that is happening in our veggie patches.
Thank you Mrs Meseha and our very dedicated group of students who a regular helpers in the garden.
Dance Club
Dance Club with Maddie from Dance Fitness Victoria is held every Thursday at lunchtime. Dance Club is open for all students from Prep to Year 2. Registrations for Term 3 are now open.
Art Club
There will be no Art Club running in Week 8 and Week 9 while Jo Boers is on Long Service Leave. Thanks to our Arts Leaders Michael and Evie and our Art Specialist teacher Ms Boers for all the incredible art activities they have organised for our students throughout the term.
Nadine Bolton
Deputy Principal, Learning Diversity Leader and Student Wellbeing Leader