Newsletter ~ Term 1, Week 2, 2026

Principal's Message:

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

Welcome to our first newsletter for the 2026 Victorian School Year!

We welcome our new learners and their families to our multicultural, multifaith Catholic school community, joining all our returning students and families.

Thank you all for contributing to the calm, smooth and engaged beginning to our new year of school learning. Our Staff Team have been (and are) busy ensuring we establish and re-establish our consistent school routines and expectations in support of maintaining a school environment underpinning outstanding learner growth.

This year we are in the second year of implementing MAGNIFY, our low variance and knowledge rich approach to curriculum delivery in support of continued learning, development and growth of our students. We are pleased to partner with our parents and carers as we continue to support thhe children enrolled in our care.

I wish every member of our community a wonderful year ahead as we strive, learn and achieve together, through Christ our light!

Feast of St Mel - TODAY:

Happy Feast Day to all!

Today is the Feast of St Mel, which we commenced celebrating by attending the weekly Mass with members of our parish community. Our parish and school Feast Day comes around so very quickly each new year and this year we are very pleased to have celebrated our special day in our parish church.

St Mel:

St Mel, our patron saint, cousin of St Patrick, was one of 19 children, most of whom joined religious orders. Mel and his brothers accompanied St Patrick on his missionary work across Ireland. Patrick consecrated Mel and appointed him Bishop of Ardagh, Ireland. Mel spent his adult life as a travelling missionary bringing the Word of God to various communities. Mel supported himself by working with his hands as a labourer and gave what he earned beyond bare necessities to the poor. A truly wonderful role model of a faith filled and community minded individual!

Our Parish Priests:

We look forward to the spiritual and pastoral leadership and support from our parish priests again this year. Fr. Ronald Masilang, Parish Priest, leads a team of four priests (including himself) ministering to five parishes:

St Mel's Parish, Shepparton
St Brendan's Parish, Shepparton
St Mary' Parish, Mooroopna
St. Malachy's Parish, Nagambie
St. Mary's Parish, Dookie

We look forward to Eucharistic celebrations and visits across the year with Fr. Ronald, Fr. Ruel, Fr. Addin and Fr. Adi across this year. Fr. Adi resides in the St Mel's Parish House, with Frs. Ronald, Ruel and Addin living as a Rogationist community in St Brendan's Parish House.

Opening School Mass - Friday 13 February 2026:

We gather in our parish church for our Start of Year Mass next Friday 13 February from 10:30am. Parents, carers, parishioners and the wider community are invited to join our gathering. Year Six Leaders will be presented with their leadership badges during the Mass. Looking forward to celebrating our calm, smooth, positive and engaging start to our new year of learning as a school community on Friday. All welcome to attend.

Magnify Sandhurst'

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

2025 was a most significant year in the history of our diocese, Catholic Education system and school as we have implemented the MAGNIFY low variance, high knowledge curriculum elements along with primary snd secondary colleges across the Sandhurst Diocese.

I am continually grateful for the ongoing efforts of our committed Staff Team to ensuring our children receive a quality education at St Mel's PS and achieve outstanding learner growth.

We look forward to this year ahead as we continue to implement MAGNIFY with fidelity and alignment across our school.

Catholic Education Podcasts:

Keep up with the latest MAGNIFY updates by subscribing to the following Catholic Education Sandhurst podcasts:

Magnify Matters

Grounded in Science of Learning, Maginify Sandhurst focusses on how the brain learns best, how literacy and numeracy are best taught, and how calm, predictable

classrooms can maximise learning time for every student.

Catholic Education Matters

This podcast explores the big ideas and how everyday moments shape learning in our

schools, from the latest research and evidence based learning and teaching practices to

real stories of students, parents, carers and educators. What matters in Catholic

education?

Apology Breakfast & Ceremony - Friday 13 February 2025:

School students, parents and carers will join me at the local Apology Breakfast and Ceremony to be held next week adjacent to the William Cooper statue in the Queens Gardens. This important event will be an opportunity to gather with local and visiting Aboriginal elders, people and organisation representatives, schools and the broader community in memory and respect of the apology offered to the First Nations people of Australia, on behalf of the nation by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Members of the community are welcome to attend.

7:45am Arrival

8:00am Ceremony commences

8:55am Ceremony concludes

The Apology Breakfast and Ceremony is an opportunity to hear from Aboriginal leaders, students and members of our local community. We continue to strive for reconciliation, truth telling and respect.

Organisers have requested children eat PRIOR to attending the Apology Breakfast & Ceremony due to the limited food available.

Link to REGISTER for this event:

https://events.humanitix.com/shepparton-apology-breakfast-2026

School Lunch Orders - Lockwood Road Takeaway:

A reminder our school lunch orders commence next Thursday and Friday.

Details were emailed to families last week.

SIMONeverywhere (PAM) - Update Your Email & Phone Number:

Parents and carers are advised to ensure your current email address and mobile phone numbers are accurate on the SIMONeverywhere portal. This is our main way of communicating with parents and carers ie school emails, text messages, etc...

NOTE: The Phone APP for this tool is still currently offline. Technicians are working on restoring the service in the future. Stay tuned!

2026 Pastoral Groups:

The following Pastoral Groups and teacher allocations are currently in place for 2026:

Foundation JB Julia Barnes
Foundation RH Rachael Howard
Year One RA Renae Almond
Year Two CW Charlotte Wilson
Year Three CW Cyndilee Watson
Year Four LE Laura Emauelli (Interim) - Teacher yet to be appointed**
Year Five AM Annalei Moon*
Year Six LC Lauren Calder

* Annalei Moon enters her third year of teaching in 2026 and comes to us from All Saints College, Shepparton's newest school. Annalei has been teaching Year 2 and Performing Arts at All Saints College. She was educated at Sacred Heart Tatura and St Augustine's College in Kyabram.

We are delighted Annalei has joined the St Mel's PS Staff Team.

** We are in the process of shortlisting for this position.

I look forward to announcing further appointments as they are confirmed for 2026.

School Arrival Time:

A reminder the entrance gates open from 8:30am each morning.

End of Day pick up should be completed as early as possible after 3:20pm (and by 3:40pm).

Parents / carers seeking to access to the St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care in support of early drop off or late pick pick up, please refer to the information contained in the newsletter. Thank you for the ongoing support with these times.

School Drop Off, Pick Up, 'Kiss & Go' and the School Crossings:

All of these routines, systems and expectations support the safe arrival of children, families, parents, carers and staff.

Where flags are displayed pedestrians are required to use designated school crossings before and after school. This includes following the direction of the Greater City of Shepparton authorised School Crossing Officers.

When dropping off in the morning at the Hamilton Street gate, please adhere by road rules and minimise your parking time to under 2 minutes as per signage!

Our Kiss and Go area also runs smoothly of an afternoon when drivers correctly follow the process. Drivers are reminded to stay in your car while children enter the vehicle.

A reminder - the car park in Hamilton Street is for longer parking.

St Mel's Primary School Shepparton FACEBOOK:

Our school FACEBOOK page can be located HERE!

We have introduced this FACEBOOK presence as a way of publicly celebrating our school community and providing regular updates and information regarding our school.

The St Mel's Primary School Shepparton FACEBOOK page is not a mode of communicating with our school. Face to face, phone and/or email communication fulfills that role.

A reminder that the school's NEWSLETTER is our main source of updating parents, carers and community, with reminders sent via email and SiMON EVERYWHERE (PAM).

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

2025 & 2026 School Vacation Program - This was a HUGE success, with many families accessing the service over the school holidays. The program of activities was exceptional!
Before School Care - has recommenced, though with LOW numbers.
The viability of continuing the Before School Care is being closely monitored.
Continued low need for this service may mean a discontinuation of Before School Care for the future.
Outside School Hours Care - has recommenced
Student Free Days - across the year!

NOTE 1: Before School Care comes with a yummy breakfast!

Check out the menu...

NOTE 2: 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.

Best wishes for the term of school learning ahead.

Stephen 'Steve' Hicks

Principal

Did you know? ~

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