Dear Families,

The week marks the halfway point in Term 4. It is a wonderful opportunity to stop and reflect on all the wonderful events we have had for the first half of the term, and look ahead to the many exciting events that lay ahead of us in the coming weeks.

Remembrance Day

On Monday we gathered as a community to commemorate Remembrance Day. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, is a time to not only remember those who have given their lives in service, but also to reflect on the historical events that led to this day of international significance. We would like to thank Mr. Pensini and our Year 6 leaders who lead our community through a beautiful service to mark this important event.

Year 3 Zoo Snooze

On Wednesday afternoon 3B left school to travel to the Melbourne Zoo for their first school camp. They were able to tour the zoo at night and in the morning when the animals are most active. They were guided by zoo keepers who shared their knowledge and answered all the students' questions. Students slept in tents and enjoyed spending time with each other.

Next Wednesday, 3P will experience their first school camp when they head off to the Melbourne Zoo for their own Zoo Snooze experience.

We would like to thank the staff who attended the camp and have taken such good care of our students. Staff put their lives on hold and leave behind family and other commitments to attend camp. We would like to thank them for volunteering to do this so our students get this amazing experience.

Galilee Swimming Carnival

Tomorrow, Friday 15th November, 2024 we will be having our annual Whole School Swimming Carnival at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

All students will be walking to and from MSAC with their class group. Students wear house colors or Galilee sports uniform on the day, with appropriate swim wear underneath.

Please be aware only Year 3, 4 and 5 students can have lunch orders.

Students need to bring along:

- change of underwear

- goggles

- towel

- sunscreen

- Galilee swimming cap

- crocs/thongs

- school hat

- lunch

- snacks

- drink bottle

All items need to be in a separate bag that students take to the pool. Please label everything.

We wish our students every success at the Swimming Carnival tomorrow. We would like to thank Seb Greene for organising this event and the teachers and parent volunteers who make it possible.

2025 Prep Transition

On Wednesday we welcomed our 2025 Prep Students for another transition session.

Transition sessions are offered to give children the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the classroom routine and school life. Our Prep teachers have designed these transition sessions so that children get a glimpse into what life is like at school.

It was wonderful to see our 2025 Prep cohort engaged in the activities and getting to know each other. We are very excited that they will be joining us full time next year.

School Tours

On Wednesday we welcomed over 40 prospective families through our front doors to have a tour of our school. Our Year 5 and 6 students guided prospective families around our school and shared the experiences they have had at Galilee. We would like to thank our Year 5 and 6 students who continue to impress us with their leadership skills. It is wonderful to see that we continue to attract lots of interest from families in our local area.

Year 2 Extended Day

Next Friday our Year 2 students will be having an extended day as part of our school camp program. They will arrive at school at the normal time and will stay at school until 8pm. They will experience a fun day with lots of activities that focus on teamwork, team building, challenging themselves to take responsible risks and trying new things. Students will get to go to mini golf, play in the park, eat lunch and play at the beach and then head to 'Clip and Climb' in Williamstown before returning to school for a BBQ dinner and movie. Thank you to the Year 2 teachers for organising this experience for our students.

Art Showcase

Last Wednesday we opened our doors to families and invited them to come and have a look at the sensational artworks students have completed in Art this year. Students displayed their artwork in classrooms and were prepared to talk about their pieces in great detail. Parents were encouraged to ask about each art work and spend time with their children listening and looking at their wonderful work.

We would like to congratulate the students on their work. We would like to thank the many families who attended.

We would especially like to thank Mrs. Florenca-Grillo for all the hard work that she has done with the students this year - not only did they complete some really impressive art pieces, but they were all able to confidently talk about their art and the mediums and techniques they used to produce each piece.

Wellbeing Parent Night

Last Thursday we hosted a Wellbeing Parent Information Evening that was a huge success. Parents attended three different workshops on different topics.

The first workshop was run by Rebecca McCormack (Year 1 Teacher) and Julie Ferguson (Wellbeing Leader) and focused on student worries.

The second workshop was run by Sarah Gerrand, (a Galilee parent), Caoimhe Kennedy (Prep Teacher) and Connie Gargano (Learning Support Officer) and it focused on emotional regulation.

The third workshop was run by Tal Silverstein (School Counsellor) and Nelson Perrott (Learning Support Officer) and it focused on play styles and play based therapies. Each workshop gave parents information and practical tips for them to try with their children at home.

We would like to thank the staff who organised and ran workshops and to Paddy Edwards and Julie Ferguson who planned and prepared the evening. Events like this strengthen the partnership between school and families and allow families to further understand what we do at Galilee in the area of Wellbeing.

Dads Camp

This weekend a large number of students are heading to Anglesea with their Dad’s as part of the Dad’s of Galilee (DOG’s) camp. We hope they all have a wonderful time on camp together, catching up with old friends and creating new friendships. It is a wonderful event in our calendar that brings us all closer together.

Thank you to James Eagle and the DOG’s for planning and preparing for what promises to be a wonderful camp. We equally hope our Mum’s have a relaxing and restful weekend while the Dad and children are away.

STEM National in Brisbane

Next Monday a team of Year 5 students are boarding a plane to Brisband to present their STEM design at the STEM MAD National Competition. To be invited to present their work at a National Level in Brisbane is an outstanding achievement.

They were selected as one of only a few Victorian representatives to showcase their work with STEM designed from around the country. We would like to thank Sinead McGlinchy and Rachel Leahy for preparing and supporting the students in their work.

Thank you to the parents and staff who are accompanying the students to Brisbane.

We wish these students every success and we look forward to hearing how they go.

Tae Yoon Jin

On Sunday the 3rd November, many of us gathered at Ss. Peter and Paul for a special Mass dedicated to Tae Yoon Jin. It was a beautiful service and a wonderful way to stop and reflect on what a special person he was.

Hooptime

Congratulations to our Year 3/4 All Stars Girls Basketball Team who represented Galilee at the regional hooptime competition. They did an exceptional job, coming third.

They showed wonderful sportsmanship and skill as they played against a number of teams from around Melbourne. Thank you to the parents who drove students and cheered them on and to Mr Seb Greene who coached the team.

Upcoming Student Free Day on Friday 29th November

On Friday 29th November, Galilee is having a student free, school closure day. GOSH will be open on Friday 29th November. We encourage families to book their children in early, if you are planning to use this service.

On Friday 29th November staff are working on setting the strategic direction and plan for 2025. Staff will be analysing data, reviewing evidence and research, and setting strategic directions to ensure that Galilee continues to improve.

Galilee Parents Association (GPA)

We would like to thank Nat and Jodie for their outstanding leadership as Galilee Parent Association (GPA) Presidents at Galilee this year. They planned, organised and ran sensational events at Galilee in 2024 that have helped to bring our community together and raise funds that go towards enhancing what we can offer our students.

We are thrilled that Nat and Jodie have agreed to continue as GPA Presidents in 2025 to assist Seb Greene who is new in the Community Partnerships Leadership Position. It will also allow us to facilitate a smooth handover with a new GPA President for 2026.

We plan to advertise the GPA President position in Term 3 next year so that the successful parent can shadow Nat and Jodie before taking on the role in 2026.

2024 GPA Fundraising

We would like to thank everyone in our community for everything that they have done to support the GPA fundraising efforts this year. We know that many families have donated items, their time and money to support fundraising efforts this year.

As you would be aware, this year the GPA are raising funds to contribute to the school’s budget to purchase new devices for Prep-Year 2 students to access. GPA fundraising is also contributing to the school budget to resource the Student Wellbeing Hub.

We are working behind the scenes to make sure that the funds raised will go towards purchasing equipment and resources that our students can access in the 2025 school year. Please look out for information about what we have been able to purchase in the coming weeks.

Celebrating 30 Years of Galilee

On Monday 25th November we are celebrating 30 years of Galilee. We are having a special Mass at 9.15am at Ss. Peter and Pauls followed by fun events for students and a whole school BBQ lunch. We are also planning a very special mural that will be painted on the rooftop playground. Students are currently working with Miss Kennedy to plan for this special mural.

Year 6 students will prime the surface and the SRC students are helping to prepare information about Galilee's history to assist in the design of the artwork. Local Indigenous artist, Bayley Mifsud, will be painting the mural that tells the history of Galilee.

She will paint the mural while students watch. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear Bayley explaining her painting as she works.

Year 5 Speak with Power Program

On Tuesday, Year 5 students completed the Speak with Power public speaking program with a final speech they presented in front of classmates, teachers and parents. During their presentations they displayed wonderful public speaking skills and techniques that they learned from Ron, the Speak with Power teacher.

Speak with Power is a public speaking program that is offered each year at Galilee to our Year 5 students. It is part of our leadership program, offering our students the opportunity to learn how to construct a speech and deliver it with confidence.

Baby News - Meg Stewart and Caleb Knappett are each expecting

We would like to congratulate Meg Stewart and her partner who are expecting her first baby early next year.

We would also like to congratulate Caleb Knappett and his partner who are expecting his first baby later this year.

We are thrilled for both Meg and Caleb and their partners and we wish them every success as they enter into the wonderful world of parenthood for the first time.

Student Christmas Carols

This year students will be singing Christmas Carols at a special assembly on Friday 6th December from 2.40pm. All families are invited to attend.

GPA Outdoor Christmas Cinema Event on Friday 6th December

We would like to invite all Galilee families to join us for our end of year Christmas Carols & Movie Night. Friday 6 December!

Gates to this event will open from 5.30pm with food trucks and a giant slide.
From 6pm - 7pm live Christmas Carols singalong led by Joth Hunt and co 🎤 🎶
Visit from Santa at 7.15pm - ⁠Outdoor cinema showing Elf starring Will Ferrell starting at 7.30pm
BYO picnic 🧺 Please note, this is an alcohol free event.
Tickets $5 per person https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/130608

Term 4 - Whole School Events and Activities

We have a number of whole school events and activities planned for this term that we would like you to take note of:

Prep - Year 6 Swimming Carnival - Friday 15th November at MSAC
Galilee’s 30th Anniversary Celebration on Monday 25th November
Prep - Year 2 Athletics Carnival - Friday 6th December
Student Christmas Carols at Assembly on Friday 6th Decmeber
Family Christmas Event with Carols - Friday 6th December from 5pm
Term 4 ends at 1.30pm on Tuesday 17th December. Year 6 students finish the day before on Monday 16th December.

Thank you for keeping Simon and his family in your prayers, following the sad news of his father’s sudden passing on Tuesday night. We have sent flowers to Simon's mother and his family of the on behalf of our Galilee Community.

We wish you every blessing in the coming weeks.

-Simon Millar, Amy Burns and Richard Harding

Education in Faith

Galilee Day 30th Anniversary Mass