St Roch’s School theme 2025:

Dear Families,

Welcome to Issue 19 of our iNewsletter! We hope this newsletter continues to keep you up to date with all the news, events and learning that happens at St Roch's.

Prep 2026 Transition Session #3 & #4

Welcoming Our Prep 2026 Families!

I wanted to share my delight following our third transition session and fourth transition session held over the last fortnight for our incoming Prep 2026 students.

It was truly heartening to observe the connection already forming as our new students spent quality time engaging with their future teacher and staff of St Roch's. Their excitement and enthusiasm were palpable, and these sessions are so crucial in ensuring a smooth and joyful start to their school journey next year.

While the students were busy learning and playing, it was lovely to see our Prep 2026 parents taking the opportunity to mingle and connect with one another. We are also incredibly grateful for the engagement shown by all parents during the information sessions, as this collaboration between home and school is so vital.

We are also incredibly proud of our current Year 5 students who stepped into their new role as our future School Leaders for 2026! They were outstanding as they met their assigned Prep buddies for the first time. This initial meeting was a wonderful success and it was clear that the Prep students already look up to their older mentors.

We eagerly anticipate officially welcoming all our Prep 2026 Families into our community next year!

Congratulations - ICAS success!

Today at Morning Greeting we congratulated the students from Year 2 to Year 6 who participated in the ICAS Assessments in Term 3. Our students results were very pleasing across all subject areas. In particular, we would like to acknowledge one student from Year 2, Charlotte Mathias-Coleiro, who received a High Distinction in Mathematics and English.

This result meant that Charlotte was in the top 1% of participants in her year level. This is an outstanding achievement considering that this is an international assessment. There were a number of students who received a Distinction showing that they were in the next 10% of participants. We are very proud of all of our students for challenging themselves and for the effort and focus they showed during the assessments.

We also congratulate all students who received certificates of Distinction, Credit, Merit and Participation: Daniel Derrin, Evie Roberts-Critchley, Lincoln Meseha, Kathryn Thomas, Richard Lang, Matthew Mount, Dominic Roberts-Critchley, Caia Simpson, Zac Crocker, Abby Mount, Chloe Arthur, Elisha Fernando, Nicholas Guiney and Priyam Dhanjee.

THANK YOU - Our Volunteers Are the Heart of Our Community!

A strong sense of community is the cornerstone of a thriving and supportive environment, and nowhere is this more evident than within our school - St Roch's! It is the collective spirit, the shared vision, and the active participation of every member that transforms school from a collection of buildings into a truly nurturing home for learning and participation.

This spirit is profoundly bolstered by the extraordinary time and unwavering commitment of our parents who volunteer. We are immensely grateful for your selfless contributions—the countless hours spent organising events such as the recent Working Bee, assisting in classrooms, raising vital funds and serving on committees.

This dedication not only enriches the educational experience for your children and every student, but also sets a powerful example of the care and investment in the success and well-being of our school family.

Thank you, parents, for being the heart and hands of our community! Your efforts make all the difference.

Adhering to Child Safety and Security

Our commitment to Child Safety and ensuring the wellbeing of every student is our highest priority. To enhance our security measures and ensure we remain fully Child Safety Compliant during school hours, we have implemented important changes to our gate procedures.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we introduce these necessary steps to keep all students safe throughout the school day.

Key Changes to Access Procedures

To maintain a secure school environment, the following changes are now in effect:

Perimeter Gates (Glenvale and Valency Roads) will be locked from 9:15 am until 3:00 pm.
The only entry point during these hours will be via the Reception Gate on Glenvale Road.
Should you need to enter the school between 9:15 am and 3:00 pm, please use the Reception Gate.

Security Note

Please be reminded that, as per safety regulations, CCTV cameras are in operation across the school grounds to monitor activity and ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure environment for all our learners.

Carols

What a beautiful, joyful and truly inspiring night we had last Tuesday evening. The air was filled with the sound of carols and the wonderful spirit of the approaching Christmas season.

We thank our incredible students for sharing your beautiful voices and shining talents as they brought the Christmas story and the spirit of this season to life.

We thank our dedicated staff for their tireless efforts, not just in preparing for the night's event, but for everything they have done throughout the year.

We thank our wonderful parents, families, and community members for attending and for your continued support contributing to the school's warmth and vibrance.Your presence at these functions reminds us of the strength and unity of our community.

Student Leaders for 2026

We have been so proud of the Year 5 students throughout the whole Leadership Program this year. We are pleased to inform everyone of the Student Leadership roles for 2026. The Year 5 students were exceptional during their interviews with me and during the speeches.

We are grateful for their mature response to the allocation of Leadership roles yesterday and their genuine acknowledgement of each other's achievement. It will be exciting to work with these students and to develop their skills and talents as they prepare for Secondary School in 2027. Thank you to our staff and Year 5 parents for supporting these Students this year and we look forward to embracing and nurturing their leadership next year. Congratulations to all these students!

Upcoming Events:

Colour Run - 3 December 2.30pm-3.30pm

Wear white and join in the fun tomorrow at our Colour Run!!

Any class that raises over $500.00 will be awarded a movie afternoon
Any student that raises $100.00 will go into the draw to slime a staff member
Raising over $5000.00 will enable students to go into the draw to slime another staff member.
Thank you Dave and Will for organising this fun event. Our students, staff and families are looking forward to the surprises.

Prep Nativity Reenactment: Thursday 4 December 2025 from 2.40pm in the Hall - All welcome!

P&F AGM: Friday 5 December at 6.45pm

We look forward to thanking our current P&F and welcoming our new P&F Committee for 2026! All are welcome to join us in the staffroom.

P&F Christmas Evening: 5 December at 7.30pm

We hope to see many parents at this wonderful event. Thank you to Dee and Janelle for their amazing organisation for this evening.

Farewell Assembly: Tuesday 9 December 2025 from 2.40pm in the Hall

Please come along to farewell our leaving staff: Christina Sorbello, Matthew Crowe, Jo Boers, Amber Mangan and Jenny Joyce. We are grateful to all these amazing people for all of their work at St Roch's. They will be missed.

Stepping Up into 2026 Transition Session: Wednesday 10 December 2025

Graduation Dinner for Year 6 Graduates and Parents: Thursday 11 December 2025 5.30pm

Year 6 Big Day Out: Friday 12 December 2025

End of Year Mass: Monday 15 December at 9.15am in St Roch's Church.

All are welcome to attend this special mass where we celebrate our Year 6 Leaders who will present their Light of Leadership to our Year 5 students for 2026.

Graduation Assembly: Tuesday 16 December 12.00pm - 1.00pm in the Hall

All families are welcome to attend to farewell our leaving students. Students will be dismissed at 1.00pm.

School Term Dates 2026

Term 1: Friday, 30 January – Thursday, 2 April 2026 at 1.00pm

Term 2: Monday 20 April – Friday 26 June 2026 at 1.00pm

Term 3: Monday 13 July – Friday 18 September 2026 at 1.00pm

Term 4: Monday 5 October – Tuesday, 15 December 2026 at 1.00pm

Student Free Days 2026

Term 2: Friday, 24 April 2026

Tuesday, 9 June 2026

Term 3: Monday, 10 August 2026

Monday 14 September 2026

Term 4: Monday, 2 November 2026

Monday 30 November 2026

Have a wonderful week!

Warmest regards,

Angie Mastoras

Principal

All students attending St Roch's Parish Primary School have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.

We acknowledge the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

St Roch’s Parish Primary School

Glenvale Road, Glen Iris 3146

Telephone: 9885 7704

Email: principal@srgleniris.catholic.edu.au

Website: www.srgleniris.catholic.edu.au

Performing Arts

Music and Drama