St Agatha's Primary School

Principal's News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Father’s Day Celebrations

This week we had the joy of celebrating Father’s Day across our school community. 

A special thank you to the STAC group for their organisation and running of the Father’s Day stall on Tuesday. Students from all levels loved selecting thoughtful gifts for their dads, grandfathers, and special people in their lives.

 

Father’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to give thanks for the gift of fathers and father figures who provide love, care, and guidance. In our Catholic tradition, we are reminded of God’s love reflected in the example of St Joseph, who modelled faith, strength, and gentleness in his role as the earthly father of Jesus.

 

We also extend our gratitude to the staff for organising and supporting the Father’s Day breakfast on Friday morning. It was a fantastic gathering on the oval, with so many children enjoying time with their special adult. Thankfully, the weather was kind to us, and the sense of joy and community was felt by all.

 

A Prayer for Fathers
Loving God, we thank you for the gift of fathers, grandfathers, and all significant adults in the lives of our children. Bless them with wisdom, strength, and patience as they guide and nurture those entrusted to their care. May they always be models of love and faith, inspired by the example of St Joseph. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Congratulations to our Year 6 students who recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This special milestone in their faith journey was celebrated last Sunday with a beautiful Mass. We extend our sincere thanks to Gillian Burke, our Religious Education and Wellbeing Leader, the Year 6 teaching team, and our parish community for their guidance and support throughout the preparation process.

 

We are deeply grateful to Bishop Greg, Father Antony, Father Prabhu, and Sister Faustina for their dedication in preparing and celebrating this sacrament with our students. In the Catholic tradition, Confirmation is the sacrament that seals us with the gifts and talents of the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live out our faith with courage, wisdom, and love. We pray that these gifts guide our students as they continue to grow as disciples of Christ.

Art Show, Book Week & Book Fair

What a joy it was to see our school come alive with creativity and imagination during our Art Show, Book Week, and Scholastic Book Fair! The hallways and classrooms were transformed with vibrant student artwork, and our classrooms were filled with stories, costumes, and a love of reading.

 

A heartfelt thank you to Louise Hyde, Sandra Talia, and Celina Korcak for their leadership and hard work in organising the Art Show, and to Kerryn Dunn for coordinating another successful Book Fair. It was wonderful to see every student dress up as their favourite book character and take part in the celebrations.

Upcoming Event: The Colour Run

We are excited to announce that our next big community event will be the Colour Run! Mr V is busy organising this fun-filled day, and we look forward to seeing everyone join in the celebration. Funds raised through the Colour Run will go towards the purchase of new soccer goals and a playground for our Foundation area—wonderful additions that will benefit our students for years to come. Thank you in advance for your support and enthusiasm.

Staffing News

We have much to celebrate in our school community with several exciting announcements:

  • Congratulations to teachers Emily Baber (Year 2), Katia Picinali (Year 1), Claire Nicol (Year 6), and Tess Robertson (Year 4), who are all expecting babies and will begin maternity leave at the start of next year.
  • Best wishes to Elizabeth Richardson and Jamie Magdziarz, both expecting their first babies and commencing maternity leave at the end of Term 3.
  • Warm congratulations to Ginnelle Lazarus on the birth of her daughter, Ava, and to Caitlin Burke on the safe arrival of baby Ollie.

We also have some staff farewells:

  • After nine and a half years of dedicated service, Rose Howell will be leaving us at the end of Term 3 Week 8 to take up a new role at Hampton Park Primary School. Rose’s passion and energy have made a lasting impact on our students and school community, and we sincerely thank her for her contribution over many years. We warmly welcome Shevaun Lazarus, who has been appointed as Rose’s replacement in Year 2 from the beginning of Term 4.
  • Eliza Eskin has also made the decision to resign at the end of Term 3 to take up a teaching position at Mt Hira College in Keysborough. Since joining us in 2022, Eliza has been a committed and caring teacher who has given much to the students in her care. We extend our thanks and best wishes to Eliza. We also welcome Cassandra Vannitamby, who will take over teaching 1E from Term 4.
  • We also warmly welcome Vince Ruffolo who is joining the Year 6 teaching team in Term 4. Emily Prince is currently on extended personal leave. We look forward to her return.

As you can see, there is much change and much joy within our community. We are blessed with new life, new beginnings, and exciting opportunities ahead.

 

Thank you for your continued support, and may God bless all members of our community.

Warm regards,

Michelle Bruitzman