Dear Families,

As we send out this final edition of our school newsletter as Holy Saviour, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve shared together. Holy Saviour is more than just a place of learning; it’s a community filled with warmth, resilience, and a shared commitment to nurturing the minds and hearts of our students.

Over the years, we’ve celebrated countless achievements, faced challenges with determination, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Each success, every milestone, and all the small, quiet moments in between have been a testament to the strength of our collective spirit.

To our students, you are the heart of everything we do. Thank you for bringing joy, energy, and curiosity into every corner of our school. You’ve been the heartbeat of this community, and it has been a privilege to watch you grow, learn, and shine in your own unique ways. Your hard work, creativity, and resilience have inspired us every day. The laughter in the halls, the questions in the classrooms, and the friendships you’ve built have made Holy Saviour a special place. Know that you have made a lasting impact on all of us, and we will always be cheering you on. Watching you learn, grow, and thrive has been the greatest reward. Carry forward the lessons you’ve learned here, and know that you will always be part of this family.

To our families and caregivers, your support and involvement have been invaluable. Your encouragement, partnership, and dedication to your children’s education have made all the difference. Thank you for all you have done to support the school while your children have been here. The partnership between parents and school is utterly important in the success of each and every person who walks through our doors.

To all the staff, I am deeply grateful for your passion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to our shared mission. Your commitment to creating a positive and nurturing learning environment does not go unnoticed. From teachers who inspire and educate to administrative staff who keep the school running smoothly, your collective efforts make a lasting impact on students' lives. Thank you for going above and beyond to support the educational journey of everyone who enters our doors. Your patience, passion, and unwavering dedication contribute to the success of our school community. In times of challenge, you remain resilient, and your hard work does not go unnoticed. It is a privilege to be part of a school where the staff is not only knowledgeable but also caring and compassionate. I appreciate the countless hours, creativity, and heart you pour into your work. Your efforts lay the foundation for a bright future, and I am grateful to have such an incredible team to work with.

As this chapter closes, I am filled with gratitude and pride for what we have achieved together. While this may be our final Holy Saviour newsletter, the stories we’ve created will continue to live on in the hearts of everyone who has been a part of of this amazing community. While next year brings great change for all of us, it also brings a great deal of excitement and energy for what the future holds as we enter into our future as Emmaus College Junior School.

Grade 6 Graduation and Awards

On Tuesday night we celebrated graduation for the 2024 Grade 6 students. It was a beautiful celebration and trip down memory lane. Special thanks to Michelle Congerton, Jenni Kilkenny & Carly Corcoran for all the amazing work they did in getting the night ready. This time of year is extremely busy for all and organising graduation on top of all that is no easy feat.

We also presented three awards at graduation:

The Deakin Shield for Outstanding Academic Achievement presented by Michael Sukkar was presented to Tom Greene.
The School Sport Victoria Award for Outstanding Academic & Sporting Achievement was presented to Bethany De Silva.
The Stephen Greene Community Spirit Award was presented to Theresa Pynadath.

Congratulations Tom, Bethany & Theresa on your awards.

I’d like to share with you some of what I said to the children and families on Tuesday.

Think of your time at school as writing the pages of an unwritten book—your very own story. When you first arrived, the book was a blank page, waiting to be filled. You started with simple lines — learning to count, write your name, and explore the world around you. Each new discovery was like a sentence added to the first chapter.

As you moved through school, your story grew richer and more exciting. Each year was a new chapter filled with adventures, challenges, and triumphs. Some chapters were about learning new skills, like solving tricky math problems or mastering a new art technique. Others were about the people you met — friends who make you laugh, teachers who inspire you, and even moments when you work through disagreements or challenges.

Not every part of the story was easy to write. Some days felt like writer’s block, where things didn’t go as planned. But those moments taught you resilience and creativity, and they made your story more meaningful. Now, as you prepare to leave primary school, you’ve written an incredible first volume. It’s full of memories, lessons, and achievements that set the stage for what’s next. But your book is far from finished. Secondary school will begin the next volume—a chance to write new chapters, face new challenges, and explore even greater possibilities. The best part? You are the author of your story. You get to decide how it unfolds — how you’ll handle the tough parts, celebrate the victories, and keep growing along the way.

So as you turn the page to this next exciting chapter, remember: your story is uniquely yours, and it has the power to inspire, amaze, and make a difference. We can’t wait to see how the rest of your book unfolds.

Congratulations Kerry!

This year, Kerry Klidomitis has been studying a Diploma of Library and Information Services course at Swinburne University. Kerry attended an award presentation event last Wednesday and was presented with two awards, the ALIA (Australian Library & Information Association) Student of the Year Award and the Swinburne Cataloguing Excellence Award! Congratulations Kerry on these wonderful achievements. All the hard work has certainly paid off!

Mathematics Awards

This year we have had a strong team of mathematicians working together each week to extend and build their maths problem-solving skills. They then competed in 4 Maths Olympiad competitions throughout the year. These competitions have students from around Australia and New Zealand competing as part of a team while striving for individual excellence. It is a highly regarded competition that has been running in Australia since 1987. There are 4 competitions per year, consisting of 5 problems. These problems are very very challenging (even for adults!). Our Olympiads this year were Dominic Zhang, Emma Wong, Julius Iezzi, Sarah Pemberton, Daniel Inguanti, Ryan Taur, Theresa Pynadath, Tom Greene, Alex Sujansky, and Bethany De Silva.

Each year we recognise the highest achiever in our team, Tom Greene got 11 correct answers over the competitions and he also finished in the top 25% of all participants. A special encouragement award was presented to Dominic Zhang who finished 2nd for our school and improved week by week in both results and their mindset. Congratulations Tom, Dom and all the Olympiads this year.

Christmas Gift

As the final ever students at Holy Saviour Primary School, each child has received a very special gift to commemorate their time and journey through our school. Yesterday we presented all students with a Holy Saviour beach towel and keyring that they can take with them so that they can remember with fondness, all the good times shared here.

December Student Reports

Our December school reports have now been published to the parent portal and are available for you to view. To log into the nPortal use this link: https://portal.nforma.com.au/login

To setup your password for the first time, you will need to click on the “Forgot Password” link. From there, enter the email address registered to the school. Once done, you should receive an email with a password reset. Once you have updated your password, you can then login.

End Of Year Mass

Families are welcome to come along and join the children on Tuesday 17th December for the final school mass of the year.

End of Term Date & Time

The end of the 2023 school year is fast approaching, just a reminder that students finish at 1:00pm on Tuesday 17th December.

Catholic Secondary School Enrolment Applications

Key Enrolment Dates for Year 5 Students in 2025 starting Year 7 in 2027

The key enrolment dates for students in Year 5 in 2025 who will be starting Year 7 in 2027 have been agreed after consultation with the Executive of the Principals Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS).

The timeline of events and dates are as follows:

Tuesday 28th January 2025 – Applications open for students commencing Year 7 in 2026.

Friday 15th August 2025 – Applications close.

Friday 17th October 2025 – Offers posted to prospective Year 7 applicants.

Friday 7th November 2025 – Final date for parents/carers to accept an offer made by a school.

Parents of Year 5 students in 2025, please diarise these dates so you don’t miss out.

Final Thoughts ~ Christmas Blessings

On behalf of all the staff at Holy Saviour, I would like to wish everyone a very happy, safe and holy Christmas and New Year period. I’m sure, like me, you are all ready for a relaxing break over the next month. If you are travelling, travel well and stay safe. For those of you remaining at home, enjoy the time with your families. I look forward to many exciting experiences with you in 2025.

Kind regards,

Steve Evans

Principal

Just For Laughs

Christmas Humour