Principal's Report

Dear St Cecilia's Community,

Thank You and Well Done 🌟

As we wrap up a wonderful and full 11-week Term 2, we want to take a moment to thank and congratulate all of our amazing students, families, and staff for the energy, commitment, and positivity you’ve brought to our school community.

From classroom learning, to sports days and excursions to special events and everyday moments of kindness, Term 2 has been a fantastic celebration of growth, curiosity, and connection. Your contributions—big and small—have helped make our school a vibrant and joyful place to learn and grow.

A reminder regarding end of term early finish today at 1:20 for all students.

We hope the holidays bring everyone a well-deserved chance to rest, recharge and enjoy some family time. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the start of Term 3 on Tuesday 22nd July.

Until then—take care and enjoy the break! 🌈

Staffing Update

As you may be aware, one of our Grade 4 teachers, Jo Hurley, has been away from school on sick leave for much of this term. Jo is recovering well and receiving very positive reports from her medical team. Jo has now made the decision to take Long Service Leave for the remainder of 2025, giving her the time and space needed for a full recovery. She looks forward to returning to St. Cecilia’s in 2026, and we are fully supportive of her decision.

In response to Jo’s extended leave, the following staffing model has been developed to prioritise continuity, minimise disruption, and maintain the stability of learning programs:

Erica Christie will continue as 4K’s full-time teacher (Monday to Friday). Erica has already built a strong rapport with the class and understands their learning needs well.
Erica’s role in 3D (Monday–Tuesday) will now be filled by Hollie French.
Jacqui Chalkley will continue to teach 3D Wednesday to Friday.
Hollie French will also retain her current Friday support role in Grade 5/6.
Carmel Brownhill will step into Hollie’s Foundation role on Tuesdays.

As a result of this model, Ryan Fede will complete his support of our Year 4 students this term. We thank Ryan sincerely for his professionalism and support of 4K during a challenging term and wish him all the best.

While changes in staffing can sometimes bring challenges, we feel very positive about these arrangements and are confident that both 4K and 3D will continue to thrive. We thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Isaac Steps Up: Deputy Deputy Principal for a Couple of Hours!

Move over Mr. McKenna — there’s a new boss in town!

Thanks to the ever-thrilling Spin It To Win It prize draw, Grade 2 student Isaac found himself rising rapidly through the ranks… all the way to Deputy Principal! For a glorious two-hour reign, Isaac donned the suit and tie of leadership — and let’s just say, he ruled with a steady hand, a kind heart, and a clear mission: more playtime.

Isaac hit the ground running with a jam-packed schedule any executive would envy:

First Stop: Meeting Prospective Parents. With the charm of a seasoned pro, Isaac helped showcase the best of St. Cecilia’s. His pitch? “We have chooks, fish, and sometimes extra playtime.” Honestly, what more could a parent want?
Next Up: Safety Check. With clipboard in hand, and the focus was real. Isaac inspected the grounds with the seriousness of a seasoned OH&S officer.
Chook Inspection: Every great leader must understand their flock. Isaac took this quite literally, paying a respectful visit to our feathered friends.
Fish Count: A vital task — our aquatic population was carefully assessed, with Isaac confirming all fins were accounted for.
Loud and Proud Announcements: Isaac took to the PA system like a duck to water, delivering important updates with clarity, confidence, and just a hint of showbiz flair.
Grade 5/6 Visit: The seniors got a visit from their new leader and offered their wisdom.
Principal Chair Moment (a.k.a. The Power Move): Finally, seated in the Principal’s Chair, Isaac made a decree that will go down in school history: an extra 15 minutes of playtime for the whole school. Cheers erupted. Staff wept. Students rejoiced.

A huge congratulations to Isaac on a job spectacularly well done — your leadership was inspiring, your presence was uplifting, and your extra playtime policy was universally applauded. To our future leaders: if this is what we can expect, the school is in very safe (and fun-loving) hands.

A quote from Deputy Deputy Isaac...

"Mr McKenna called me Deputy Deputy Isaac it was funny.

We met new parents and we did a safety check. We did a chook inspection as well as a fish count and an announcement. We also did a grade ⅚ visit, I also had a principal chair moment . That's what I did when I was Deputy Deputy Principal."

Here's What Makes St. Cecilia’s Shine

This letter was recently sent to the parents of Year 2, 3 and 4 parents, but we believe that it is a great message for all of our school community to hear.

As your child moves through the middle years of primary school, we understand that some of you may be beginning to reflect on future pathways and options for their senior primary years and beyond.

This email aims to provide some helpful insights into what the senior years at St. Cecilia’s look like—highlighting the rich learning, leadership, and community experiences that shape this important stage of your child’s journey.

From Curious Beginners to Confident Graduates — The St. Cecilia’s Journey

As students enter the senior years of primary school, they begin an exciting and meaningful chapter defined by growth, independence, and leadership. At St. Cecilia’s, Years 5 and 6 are more than just a lead-up to secondary school—they are a time of purpose, pride, and preparation.

A Culture of Academic Excellence

We are proud of all our students and the many different strengths and gifts they bring to make St. Cecilia’s an incredible place to learn and belong.

In May this year, the Herald Sun published an article referencing the “Better Education Top Ranked Schools,” based on academic performance in English and Mathematics, adjusted for socio-economic context.

We are delighted to share that:

St. Cecilia’s was ranked the fifth highest Catholic parish primary school in Victoria
St. Cecilia’s placed in the top 5% of all 1,500 schools across the State

These results reflect the dedication of our students, the expertise of our teachers, and the supportive partnerships we share with our families.

What Senior School at St. Cecilia’s Looks Like

In Years 5 and 6, our students are given space to shine—academically, socially, and spiritually. These years are filled with:

Powerful rites of passage, including final assemblies, reflection days, and a meaningful graduation with their peers.
Rich, inquiry-based learning, with high expectations and personal support to help students grow in confidence and capability.
A nurturing environment that continues to prioritise wellbeing, character development, and connection.

Leadership in Action

Our dynamic and inclusive Year 6 Leadership Program is a standout feature of the St. Cecilia’s experience. Grounded in our FACE values — Faith, Acceptance, Compassion and Excellence — the program ensures that every Year 6 student:

Serves in real leadership roles across the school, including House Captains and rotating responsibilities.
Builds communication skills through public speaking, peer tutoring, and leading school-wide events.
Participates in broader initiatives such as The Resilience Project and Little Feet, Big Footprints.
Receives personalised mentorship to support their growth as confident, capable and compassionate leaders.
They even learn how to sail!

We are especially proud of our distributed leadership model—designed so every student has the opportunity to lead, contribute, and be recognised.

Planning Ahead? A Note on Xavier College

If Xavier College is on your radar, it’s worth noting some important changes:Xavier has now shifted away from its previous middle school model. As of last year, it has restructured into a P–6 Primary and Year 7–12 Secondary School model. This means:

Year 7 is now the main entry point, not Year 5.
Students are encouraged to complete their primary education at their current Catholic primary school, allowing for a more cohesive and developmentally appropriate transition to secondary school.

Families considering Xavier are encouraged to contact the school directly to learn more about this change in direction.

A Time to Flourish

The senior years at St. Cecilia’s are a time of genuine flourishing. Our students emerge not just academically strong, but socially confident, spiritually grounded, and deeply connected to their community.

We look forward to walking this important final chapter of primary school with your child—helping them finish strong, lead with purpose, and transition to secondary school with courage, clarity and pride.

Please feel welcome to get in touch if you'd like to discuss your child's learning journey further.

Save The Date!

Please come and join us at Sunday Mass

Please remember, a Catholic school is eucharistic in character. The sacramental and prayer life of our local Church, especially in the gathering of God’s People in Sunday Mass, is integral to the mission of our Catholic school and indispensable to its richness.

Please come and join us at Sunday Mass!

You are all most welcome!

St Cecilia's MASS SCHEDULE

Monday 9:15AM

Wednesday 9:15AM

Friday 9:15AM

Sunday 10:00AM, 5:30PM

Have a great holiday everyone!

Marty McKenna

Principal

St Cecilia’s Primary School