From Our Principal

Newsletter ~ Term 4, Week 4, 2026

Principal's Message:

Dear Parents, Carers, Families and Friends of St Mel’s Primary School,

The 'arrival' of the Melbourne Cup on the calendar always heralds our approach to the middle of the final term of 'school learning' for the current year. Whilst we continue to focus on the delivery of a high quality, effective learning and teaching experience we also look forward to a number of 'rights of passage' for our new Foundation students for 2027 and our exiting Year 6 school leaders. Both groups of children are taking early steps in the next phase of their educational journey. In the second week of Novemver our new Founation students for next year will commence their important Kinder to Primary School transition visits providing an early taste of what is to come. Our Year 6 leaders prepare for their graduation from St Mel's PS, measure up for secondary college uniforms, spend time at their new schools and enjoy the last weeks with us.

We have a small number of families moving away from our local area who will also be preparing for relocation to other parts of our state and country and we wish you well as you continue with these preparations. A reminder, if you are yet to let us know of your relocation plans for 2027 please do so in support of our planning for the coming new school year.

Best wishes to all our students, parents, carers, families and Staff Team as we enter November and the final weeks of the 2026 school year.

Magnify Sandhurst' 

Every Student - Every Teacher - Every School - Every Day!

At this week's Staff Professional Learning Community gathering (Staff Meeting) we focussed on another Group Rehearsal as an ongoing evidence-based process designed to enhance teacher skills in support of improved student outcomes.

Twice a term we engage in this opportunity to receive professional learning via a presentation by our in-school coaches Danae and Lauren, involving written and video resources provided by CESL Professional Learning partner Step Lab, time to practice these skills in pairs and then implementation of the skills in following weeks.

The focus for the coming month: Give instructions without distractions. This teacher skill supports clear, consistent and direct delivery of instructions / directions to students.

Previous teacher skills have been:

• Publicly narrate met expectations
• Insist on 100% (attention and direction following by students)
• Use non-verbal corrections

Whilst these are not the only teacher skills we focus on across the term, these are the skills we have focussed on using this particular evidenced-based process. Together with our regular Drop Ins (& feedback) routine, incidental prompts and feedback and MAGNIFY led professional learning, we continue to enhance the quality of teaching and learning offered at our school for the benefit of our students.  

Farewell Sr Pam Barlow:

Following the 9:30am Sunday mass on Sunday 8 November a farewell morning tea will be held in St Mel's Parish House for Sr Pam Barlow, who is moving to Bendigo. Many will fondly recall many positive encounters with Sr Pam attending school and parish functions, supporting the parish-based Sacramental program (as an active member of the parish team), parish visitation and generally in and around the parish and local area. We thank Sr Pam for her years of faithful service to the St Mel's parish, school and broader local community.  

Staffing and School Arrangements for 2027 (& beyond):

Ongoing planning continues, as usual, to confirm staffing and curriculum arrangements in support of the approaching new school year. Clear guidelines in regard staffing levels, ratios and roles is supporting our decision making processes. Our straight grade structures support this process and provide some predictability in regard which classes students will be in next year. Growth in our student numbers will support our plans to continue to offer the range of programs, excursions and experience we have in recent years. 

Transition from Kinder to School:

Arrangements are being made to welcome our 2027 Foundation Class to school for their important transition sessions as follows:

• Wednesday 11 November: 9:00am to 10:00am
• Wednesday 18 November: 9:00am to 10:00am
• Wednesday 25 November: 9:00am to 10:00am
• Wednesday  2 December: 9:00am to 10:00am

It is important that ALL students attend these sessions in support of their preparation for primary schooling to follow in 2027.

Parents and carers of these children are to attend an Information Evening (Welcome Night) from 7:00pm on Wednesday 2 December in the St Mel's Hall. At this important gathering information will be provided to support families prepare their children for the new school year to follow.

Statewide Orientation Day - Tuesday 8 December 2026:

All children will spend time in their new Learning Groups, with their teachers from 11:50am to 1:50pm on this day. Our Year 6 students will spend the entire day in their new secondary schools. We look forward to this day of great excitement and anticipation.

NOTE: Our new Prep (Foundation) children will attend from 12:00pm until 1:45pm on this day and be in the Foundation classroom.

Year 6 Graduation Mass & Pizza Dinner:

Our Year 6 Graduation in scheduled for Thursday 10 December commencing promptly at 6:00pm in Christ the King church, Hamilton Street. Following the mass, our Year 6 leaders, parents, carers, families, community members and members of staff will gather in the grounds of our school for a pizza tea. Details of this gathering will follow as the date draws near, including specific information in support of the Year 6 roles in the mass.

End of School Year Mass:

We gather in our church as a school community to celebrate the end of the 2026 school year from 9:30am on Friday 11 December. Parents, carers, families, parishioners and the broader community are welcome to attend this special whole of school celebration in our parish church. We are grateful for the parish moving the start time back to enable us to arrive and be seated for this special celebration of our year together. All are very welcome!

Digital Technologies, Learning & Children:

In keeping with what we know in relation to the Neuroscience of Learning and the impact of technology use and screen time for young children Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Central Office are providing useful fact sheets for parents and carers to support home efforts to minimise children's screen time and encourage safe, responsible and respectful use of digital technologies. I encourage our parents and carers to read this information and reflect on your child/ren's access to and use of technology:

Year 1 Activity Afternoon & Year 2 Sleepover:

Our Year Two and Year One students have been positively affirmed following their enthusiatic involvement in the recent activities afternooon and Year Two sleepover at school. The afternoon of puzzle solving fun was an enjoyable evening, followed by the excitement of a sleepover in the classrooms overnight. And yes, there was some sleeping done! The longer day at school for Year Ones and the overnight stay for Year Twos supports preparation for future overnight camps in Year 3/4 (1 night) and Year 5/6 (2 nights), whilst also providing another opportunity for children to experience learning in different ways as members of our school community. Thank you in advance to Year 2 families able to keep their children home on the Friday in support of the need for our community to support the Time In Lieu for teachers and Learning Support Officers. Well done children on your wonderful participation.

Year 1 and Year 2 RiverConnect Excursion:

In support of their current learning focus our Year 1/2 Learning Community travelled to Victoria Park Lake yesterday to explore water minibeasts with support from RiverConnect. St Mel's PS. along with local schools has a long history of involvement with RiverConnect and learning more about our precious aquatic environment. Our children and accompanying staff enjoyed a highly interesting and informative learning excursion to one of our local environmental sites of significance.

Promoting Our School Community:

As an innovative way of promoting our school across the local community we have commissioned a sign to be displayed on the boundary fence at Deakin Reserve. This creative sign promotes our school and education community as a multifaith, multicultural Catholic primary school heralding our diverse community gathered within this Catholic primary school setting. Many thanks to school parent Claudio Borzillo, for supporting this exciting opportunity for us to be more visible in the local community. The sign made it up prior to the GVL Grand Final weekend providing maximum exposure! 

World Educators Day:

Today we celebrate school educators who support the school learning journey of our students every day, every week, every term and every day. Thank you to all members of our Staff Team for the important work you do in support of our students!

Questacon Science Shows:

On Friday 6 November our students will attend a show in our hall facilitated by visiting scientists from Questacon. These Science Circus shows are designed for primary aged students to stimulate and challenge them to explore science and technology for themselves through interactive presentations that demonstrate the science in everyday life. There is no cost to our school for hosting the visiting science show here for the day!

Student Progress Reports:

Our teachers are currently compiling assessment notes in support of our Semester Two Student Progress Reports due to be released on Thursday 10th December. A great deal of time and effort goes into analysing student learning, development and growth in support of each student's learning journey. These reports provide an overview of learning, development and growth across two terms of learning since the previous reports were released. 

Parish-based Sacramental Program:

 Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers in coming weeks and months as they continue to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in family groups and through our Source of Life Religious Education units at school. The children are also well supported in this journey by their classmates, school friends and staff team.

Building Project Commences:

Our builders, Keyystone Building Group, continue to transform our Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 Learning Suites into six well sized stand alone Learning Suites opening up onto large project / activity spaces. Most of the plastering has been completed, with painting soon to follow. New window glass has replaced the louvres and new internal doors and windows fitted.  

Our architects Peter Byrne and Ashleigh Anthony from B3 Architects are overseeing this exciting project in conjunction with support from CESL Central Office Capital Team and our school leadership team. We are extremely grateful to the Australian Government for providing a substantial capital grant towards these much needed improvements in support of student learning.

'No Hat - No Play' School Hats:

According to school policy and advice from the Anti Cancer Council wearing school hats in Term Four and Term One each year is an important way to ensure we are 'Sun Smart" and avoid harmful exposure to ultra violet (UV) light from the sun.

Students without school hats are asked to sit under the shade sales outside our School Administration area. 

2027 St Mel's Kinder Enrolments: [REPEAT]

Parents and carers with children to commence at St Mel's Kindergarten are advised to enrol now for next year. Independently judged as best local kindergarten, the St Mel's Kindergarten offers a wonderful early years program for pre-school children. Places will fill quickly and parents and carers are advised to contact Kinder Enrolment Officer Leah via:

                    Phone: 0439 336 014

                    Email: scececenrolment@ceosand.catholic.edu.au

                    Website: www.stmelskindergarten.weebly.com

School Closure Days (Term Four):

There is no school for students on...

• Monday 2 November. This is a Report Writing Day for Teachers and a Professional Leaning Day for other staff. 

  NOTE: Tuesday 3 November is Melbourne Cup Day holiday.

             (This effectively provides a long weekend for families!)

• Monday 16 November. Traditionally a Planning Day for 2027, we will incorporate a Professional Learning Day for our Staff Team focussed on Digital Technology.

NOTE: The St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care will operate on both School Closure Days. Parents / carers wishing to access this care are requested to book in now.

Staffing Update:

• Annalei Moon (Year 5 Teacher) has experienced a longer than usual run of ill health requiring extensive leave over the past three weeks. Parents and carers of students in Year Five received an email in regard this unexpected extended leave on Wednesday.
• Di Walker (Leadership), Laura Mammone (Teacher), Elisabeth Rodriguez (Wellbeing Officer) and Rachael Howard (Foundation Teacher) have experienced periods of ill health over the past fortnight.
• I (Steve Hicks) have returned on Wednesday this week from my four days Long Service Leave. Many thanks to Danae Napier, Deputy Principal, who has led the school in my absence.

I remain ever grateful for the ongoing support of part time teachers, classroom relief teachers and our senior leaders for their support in 'filling the void' when teachers have been absent to ensure our learning programs continue unimpeded by these absences.

St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care - Vacation, Student Free Days and Before School Care: 

NOTE: Registering your child/children in St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care can take up to a week to process, given the documentation required.

Parents and carers are recommended to register NOW if there is a possibility of using this service at any time this year. Once registered, children are booked in via the registration app.

Parents and carers seeking more information or wishing to register children for Vacation Care are directed to contact Uniting Vic Tas directly by:

             Phone: 1800 183 103

             Email: earlylearning@unitingvictas.org.au

School Dates:

Please check the Upcoming Dates & Events section of the newsletter regularly.

Did you know? ~