Principal’s Report

School Mass - Feast of the Assumption

On the 15th August each year, we Catholics celebrate an important Marian feast: the Assumption. Our Church teaches that at the end of her life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. This is a powerful affirmation of our humanity and of our faith in the resurrection. It reminds us that God's healing and liberating love embraces the whole of one's humanity, one's personal existence. This 'fullness' of salvation is what we see in Mary and celebrate on the Assumption. It is a feast day that fills us with hope; for even as we struggle with sin and the reality of death, we too are on a Spirit-led journey of becoming fully redeemed (made whole) in Christ and being drawn into the life of our loving Father. Mary goes ahead of us and accompanies us on this journey. Who Mary is, we are becoming.

Bendigo Writers Festival

This Friday some of our grades will attend the Bendigo Writers Festival. We look forward to hearing about what they experienced with the fabulous authors and illustrators during their excursion.

St Kilian’s Debutante Balls

The school hosts two St Kilian’s Debutante Balls on the evenings of Friday 30th August and Saturday 31st August, in the St Kilian’s Hall. These events have been in the planning phase for over 12 months by the Deb Ball committee. I thank them for their dedication and and hard work in organising the balls and wish them every success for the events. The committee will be looking for support in the lead up to, during and after the event so please sign up as a volunteer. Register via the sign up links in this newsletter.

Preps 100 days Brighter Celebration

Photographer Onsite

Today our students had the honour of being a celebrity for the day with photos being taken to update our website, handbooks, etc.

Book Week

We will be having our Book Week dress up day on Tuesday 20th August. Students and staff are invited to dress up in their favourite character, based on the theme "Reading is Magic" or wear pjs for the day. At 2 pm 'The Blurbs' will perform a concert in our school hall.

Pupil Free Day

Pupil Free day - Tuesday 27th August. The staff will engaging in a Professional Development Day focusing on the Catholic Identity and the story of our founders.

Father’s Day - Donuts with Dad & Footy Colours Day

Friday 30th August all dads, father figures and special friends of the school are invited to come and join in Donuts with Dad. This is always a great event and is a wonderful opportunity for us to recognise the wonderful contributions of the dads in the school. Donuts will be available for everyone, and special guests will be offered tea, coffee or hot chocolate from 8:30 am from the school canteen.

Students and special guests are encouraged to wear their footy colours. We all wear our favourite FOOTY COLOURS' to school for the day and when we say footy we mean AFL, junior footy teams, soccer as well as basketball, netball, baseball.

If you are available to help with the distribution of donuts or making a hot drink please contact office@skbendigo.catholic.edu.au to volunteer some time.

Father’s Day Gifts

Our Father’s Day Gift purchase will be on Friday 30th August. We have organised a range of gifts for all students to purchase for their fathers or special friends. Students are asked to bring $5 to purchase a gift.

Book Fair

The St Kilian’s Book Fair, on the following days:

Wednesday 28th August

Thursday 29th August

Friday 30th September

The Book Fair is a great opportunity for students and families to purchase some great books for reading at discounted prices. This annual event provides a commission for our school which then enables the purchase of more books for the school library.

School Uniform

Correct school uniform is required and the following rules should be observed:

(a) Complete school uniform should be worn on every normal school day, right shoes, socks, jumpers and hats.

(b) School tracksuit and sneakers are to be worn only on Phys Ed/Sports/Gym days.

(c) If a full school uniform or tracksuit is not worn on the appropriate day, a written explanation should be given to your child's class teacher.

(d) Hair should be neatly tied back if it is shoulder length or below.

(e) Students remain under cover if they are not wearing a hat during terms 1&4.

(f) Jewellery, a wrist watch may be worn. A plain neck-chain may only be worn if it includes a small cross, crucifix or Christian medallion. Earrings, sleeper or studs. Nail Polish is not to be worn.

2025 Students

Planning for the 2025 school year has begun. To assist with this process, if you know your child (in Grade Prep to 5) will be leaving St Kilian’s School at the end of the year, except the graduating Grade 6 class, could you please inform me via email or a letter of your intentions as soon as possible. By doing this, it will assist in organising staffing and class numbers for the 2025 school year. I thank you for your assistance, in advance, for the parents who this applies

Upcoming Events

Term 3

Week 6

August

17th – 23rd: Aug Book Week

19th: Assembly Gr 1 presenting

20th: The Blurbs Incursion & Dress Up Day

21st: Catholic Athletics

22nd: Division Volleyball

Week 7

26th: Gr 1 Excursion - Bendigo Landmarks Excursion

27th: School Closure Day (Catholic Identity)

28th – 30th: Lamont Book Fair

29th: Mass Prep & Gr 6

30th: St Kilian’s Debutante Ball

30th: Footy Colours Day

30th: Father’s Day @ St Kilian’s Donuts at 8:30am

31st: St Kilian’s Debutante Ball

September

1st: Father’s Day

God Bless

Kimberley McSweeney

Principal

Pastoral Wellbeing