Galilee School News
Dear Families,
Welcome back to Term 3! It has been wonderful to see our students return with renewed enthusiasm and a readiness to learn. This term promises to be a busy and rewarding one, with many exciting classroom experiences, events and opportunities to celebrate the achievements of our students.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Tomorrow, our Year 6 students will participate in a Confirmation Reflection Day as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next Tuesday. During the day, they will work with the Episcopal Vicar, the Very Reverend Andrzej Madry, reflecting on the significance of this important milestone in their faith journey.
The Sacrament of Confirmation strengthens and celebrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit first received in Baptism. In preparation, students have been exploring the story of Pentecost, learning about the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and researching the lives of Saints. As part of the Sacrament, each student will choose a Confirmation name, taking the name of a Saint who inspires them to live a life of faith, courage and service.
The Rite of Confirmation includes the Renewal of Baptismal Promises, the Laying on of Hands with the Prayer of Invocation of the Holy Spirit, and the anointing of the forehead with the Oil of Chrism. Students are strengthened by the Holy Spirit and called to live out their faith more fully. We keep our Year 6 students in our prayers as they prepare to celebrate this special Sacrament with their families and our parish community next Tuesday 4th August at St. Peter and Paul South Melbourne.
Friday Night Competitive Basketball at Galilee
We are thrilled to announce that Friday night competitive basketball through MCBA will now be played in Galilee's Stadium.
We have worked closely with MCBA to ensure that, wherever possible, teams with Galilee students are given priority to play their games in our Stadium. This Friday, a number of our students will have the opportunity to play their competitive basketball matches at Galilee. We are incredibly grateful to the members of our School Advisory Team and the staff on our Leadership Team who have worked behind the scenes to make this exciting opportunity possible for our community.
When your child is playing competitive basketball in our Stadium, all players and spectators must enter via the sliding glass doors on Bank Street. We ask that no food be consumed in the Stadium and that all visitors help us keep the space clean and treat our facilities with respect. We also ask that our local neighbours are respected by following all parking regulations and keeping noise to a minimum on Bank Street before and after games.
Access to the school grounds through the usual playground gates will not be available to basketball teams, as GOSH will be using the outdoor playground on Friday afternoons and evenings. Please also note that the remainder of the school, including all classrooms and buildings beyond the Stadium, will be alarmed and inaccessible after hours. During basketball matches, the only areas available for use will be the Stadium and the Stadium foyer that contains toilets.
We look forward to seeing many of our students enjoying the opportunity to play at their own school. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us care for our facilities and for respecting our neighbours as we welcome this exciting addition to our school community.
MACS People and Culture Team Visit
Last week, we were delighted to welcome members of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) People and Culture Team, along with Deb Egan, Head of the Southern Region, to Galilee. Their visit provided an opportunity to see Galilee in action and learn more about the wonderful work happening across our community.
We were incredibly proud to receive such positive feedback. Our visitors commented on the calm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the school, the enthusiasm and engagement of our students and the high-quality teaching and learning taking place in our classrooms. They were so impressed that several remarked they could have happily stayed in the classrooms all day!
This feedback is a wonderful reflection of the hard work of our staff, the positive attitude of our students and the partnership we share with our families. Thank you for your ongoing support in making Galilee such a special place to learn and grow.
Positive Behaviour for Learning
This term, we are continuing to strengthen our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) approach across the school. Every fortnight, students are explicitly learning one of our expected behaviours through classroom discussions, modelling and opportunities to practise these skills in a range of settings. This consistent approach helps students understand what respectful, responsible, resilient and kind behaviour looks like and supports a safe, positive learning environment for everyone.
Seeds and Sprouts
Last Thursday, we were delighted to welcome some of our future Prep students to the first session of our Sprouts Program.
The Sprouts Program is designed to prepare and support children as they transition into a school environment. Through engaging, play-based learning experiences, the program focuses on developing the communication, independence and social skills that children need before starting school, helping to build a strong foundation for future learning. Our Sprouts participate in experiences that encourage curiosity, confidence and a love of learning. We look forward to watching our newest learners grow in confidence over the coming weeks and can't wait to welcome them to Galilee in 2027.
School Closure Day Friday 31st July
On Friday 31 July, Galilee will have a School Closure Day to enable staff to prepare for our upcoming Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) School Review.
The MACS School Review is an important part of our school improvement journey. It provides an opportunity for an external reviewer to evaluate our school's performance, celebrate our strengths, and provide feedback that will help shape our future direction.
During the School Closure Day, staff will work collaboratively to analyse student learning data, review evidence of our teaching and learning programs, reflect on our school improvement priorities, and prepare documentation that showcases the work we have undertaken to enhance student learning, wellbeing, and our school community.
This dedicated preparation day gives our staff the valuable time to thoughtfully reflect on our practices, celebrate the wonderful work taking place across Galilee, and identify the next steps in our strategic direction. Ultimately, this process supports our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality education for every student.
GOSH (TheirCare), our Out of School Hours Care program, will be operating as usual throughout the day. If you require care for your child, please book as early as possible through the TheirCare website.
PROTECT
PROTECT posters have recently been updated around the school. These posters help students identify trusted adults and remind them of the different ways they can seek help if they ever feel unsafe, worried or concerned about themselves or someone else.
As educators, our role extends beyond teaching. We are privileged to work alongside your children each day, building positive relationships and supporting their learning, wellbeing and development. Galilee staff complete professional learning to update their Mandatory Reporting training each year and have recently participated in training based on these new PROTECT posters.
Religious Education Symposium
This week, Marcus Page (RE Leader), Catherine Lennon (Prep teacher and on the RE Team) Fr Paul and Amy Burns had the opportunity to attend the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Religious Education Symposium. The two-day professional learning event brought together international and national experts, along with Religious Education leaders from across the Archdiocese, to explore the new Religious Education curriculum and the future of Catholic education.
Throughout the Symposium, staff who attended deepened their understanding of the developing curriculum, explored contemporary approaches to Scripture, pedagogy and Catholic identity, and reflected on how we can continue to nurture a vibrant Catholic learning community at Galilee. It was also a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues from other Catholic schools and share ideas and best practice.
Staff who attened returned inspired and energised, with practical strategies and new insights that will support the ongoing development of Religious Education at Galilee. We look forward to sharing learning with other staff and continuing to strengthen the faith formation and learning experiences we provide for our students as we strive to offer an authentic, engaging and contemporary Catholic education.
Asthma / Anaphylaxis Plans
We would like to remind families to provide ongoing updated asthma and anaphylaxis plans to the school and upload them onto their child NFORMA profile. These are required annually as part of our regulatory processes. This is a parental responsibility to provide these plans as the school cannot provide a safe and secure environment without up-to-date records.
Year 3–6 House Athletics Day
We are looking forward to our Year 3–6 House Athletics Day, which will be held on Friday 7 August at the Lakeside Drive Athletics Track. This is always one of the highlights of the school year, providing our Year 3-6 students with the opportunity to challenge themselves, demonstrate good sportsmanship, and earn valuable points for their House.
Throughout the day, students will participate in a range of track and field events, including sprints, hurdles, long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put and discus. Students will compete within their age groups, with ribbons awarded for outstanding performances. In addition to athletic achievement, staff will also recognise students who demonstrate the Spirit of Galilee by showing encouragement, perseverance, respect and teamwork throughout the day.
Students will walk to and from the athletics track with their teachers, departing school at 9:15 am and returning by approximately 3:00 pm. To ensure everyone is comfortable throughout the day, students should come dressed in their House colours or sports uniform, wearing appropriate running shoes and a hat. They should also bring a packed lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen and a rain jacket, as the event will proceed in all weather conditions where possible.
House Athletics Day is about much more than winning events. It is an opportunity for students to challenge themselves, support one another, display resilience and celebrate being part of the Galilee community. We encourage all students to participate with enthusiasm, cheer on their classmates and enjoy a fantastic day of fun, fitness and House spirit.
We wish all of our students the very best and look forward to an exciting day of competition!
Looking ahead to the next two weeks
Term 3, Week 3
Monday 27th July
-8am Running Club (all welcome)
-Glee Club afterschool for students who have signed up
Tuesday 28th July
-9.15am School Tours for prospective families
-Chess Club after school for students who have signed up
Wednesday 29th July
-Year 3-6 Maths Games Club in the library at lunchtime
Thursday 30th July
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Friday 31st July
-Student Free School Closure Day (GOSH will be open all day, please book your child(ren) in using the TheirCare website.
Term 3, Week 4
Monday 3rd August
-8am Running Club (all welcome)
-Glee Club after school for students who have signed up
Tuesday 4th August
-Chess Club after school for students who have signed up
-Sacrament of Confirmation for Year 6 students at St. Peter and Paul Church starting at 6pm
Wednesday 5th August
-Year 3-6 Maths Games Club at lunchtime in the library
Thursday 6th August
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Friday 7th August
-8am Running Club (all welcome)
-Year 3-6 House Athletics Day at Lakeside Stadium
-No Assembly
We wish you and your family every blessing in the coming weeks,
-Amy Burns (Principal), Holly Evans and Richard Harding (Deputy Principals)