St Laurence O'Toole Primary School acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Bunurong and Gunaikurnai people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander cultures, and to the Elders, past, present and emerging.

Dates To Remember

2023

Date	Event
Wednesday, 20 December	Last day of school for teachers and administration staff

2024

Date	Event
Tuesday, 30 January 2024	First day of Term One, 2024 for ALL students
Wednesday, 31 January	Rest day for foundation students
Wednesday, 7 February	Rest day for foundation students
Wednesday, 14 February	Rest day for foundation students
Thursday, 15 February	Parent/Child Reconciliation Workshop (Grade 3)
Wednesday, 21 February	Rest day for foundation students
Wednesday, 28 February	Final rest day for foundation students
Tuesday, 5 March	Sacrament of Reconciliation - 5:30 pm (Grade 3)
Monday, 11 March	Labour Day Holiday
Thursday, 28 March	Last day of Term One - 2:15 pm finish time
Friday, 29 March	Good Friday
Sunday, 31 March	Easter Sunday

Principal’s Message

It has been my privilege to again lead St Laurence O'Toole Primary School through another busy and successful year and I extend my thanks to all the children, families, staff and community that have contributed and supported our school.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Glenn Bainbridge and Louise Black, as they embark on their journey into retirement, for their contribution to our school community. May retirement bring you many adventures. Just remember though, the trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off!

All the very best too, to, Lachie Hughes and Anna Patterson who will both be enjoying 2024 on Long Service Leave. We're going to be lost without you but we wish you well as you enjoy a well deserved break.

We are also saying farewell and thank you to Kirsten Tuckett who is taking maternity leave and looking forward to welcoming her second child in February and Emma Wilson who is returning to St Joseph's, Korumburra.

Joining our team in 2024 are Casey Bateman (Grade 5/6), Emily Sherriff (Grade 1/2) and Hayley Tregidga (Phys. Ed.). I have no doubt that they will be given a big St Laurence O'Toole welcome when they arrive.

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday break, and I look forward to welcoming back plenty of familiar and some new faces in 2024.

Liz

Wedding Congratulations

On Friday, 24 November 2023 Miss Sarah Arthur walked down the aisle and married her love, Mr Nick Wilms. Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.

Grade 6 Bike Hikers

Congratulations to our enthusiastic and resilient bike hikers who took on hot, sticky weather, strong winds and threatening storm clouds to complete the ride to and from Inverloch.

Shout out to our Bike Hiking Parents

Parent helpers ~ throughout the bike ed program and on both the Meeniyan and Inverloch rides ~ your help was very much appreciated and the students loved having their parents help out!!

Special thanks goes to Fiona Christensen, Ange Cook, Deb and Brian Gannon, Leo and Lucy Garvey, Nikarla Hengstburger, Clare Landry, Kelly McRae, Natasha and Nick McRae, Di Marinou, Jess O’Neill, Kara Schwennesen, Eden Shields and Phil Smith for riding the trails with us and ending 2023 on a "roll".

Thank you too to the Inverloch Police - your assistance is invaluable!!

ABC Awards

Act Responsibly - Be Respectful - Caring for Others

Our ABC Award winners this week are:

Acting Responsibly - Elijah Carmody

Caring for Others - Clancy Boyd

Achievement Awards

Paper Chain Record Has Been Broken

The Grade 5's have smashed the St Laurence O'Toole Primary School paper chain record of 998 meters.

Together, this impressive team of 23 students have created a paper chain that is 1,053 meters long.

Pictured Aiden O'Neill with paper-chain-berg.

Bishop Greg Bennet's Christmas Video Message

Please click on the link for Bishop of Sale, Greg Bennet’s 2023 Christmas video message.

https://clickv.ie/w/yR7w

Prayer

O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

PARISH INFORMATION

St Laurence O'Toole, Leongatha