From the Principal

~Do all that you do with love~

Dear Families,

And that's a wrap for Term 1! 

Oh my goodness - what a busy term it has been, I am sure the children are ready for a break, I know the teachers are. There has been so much crammed into our calendar this term, I'd just like to take a moment to acknowledge you, our parents and families for all that you do. The gold coins, the Easter eggs, attending assemblies and Masses and cheering the children on at sports day - all of these things don't go unnoticed. The children appreciate you and so do we.

I write this following our annual Easter Raffle. 124 prizes were handed out to a lot of very happy children. There were sad faces too from many of the younger students who were disappointed that their name wasn't called out. This event provides an opportunity to teach the children about the luck of the draw and encourage them to build on their resilience. Learning that not everyone can win every time is a hard lesson.

Our senior students have been busy over the last week. Camp was a success and the highlight seems to have been the 'Super Swooper', a magnificent flying fox that takes the children soaring across the canoeing lake. By the time they reached Healesville Sanctuary on Friday, most of the children were exhausted and many looked like they could fall asleep in the hall as they waited to be collected from school. School camps take an awful lot of planning and preparation and I thank Michelle Hinds for the work that she put into ensuring the camp ran smoothly. I am also extremely grateful to the teaching staff who attended - our Senior teaching team, Danielle Phillips, Sam Baillie and Denise Essa, were joined by Rosina Chandra, Caitlin Hall, Carlos Sanchez and Sam Sempio, all of whom gave up their regular timetables to attend. I would also like to thank our Education Support staff - Matthew Madeley, Vanessa Cowan and Fiona Stuart-Doherty - who all agreed to work the additional hours to assist the staff and students. Can you believe that planning for 2026 camp has already commenced!

The senior students then went straight into putting final touches to the Stations of the Cross liturgy which they presented to the rest of the school on Tuesday afternoon. As if that wasn't enough, they competed at the Cranbourne Cluster Lightning Premiership yesterday. For those of you who are wondering what this is - St Therese's, St Agatha's and St Thomas the Apostle come together 3 times a year for the Lightning Premiership days, competing in a range of sports (each term the choices vary). St Peter's host the event, alternating between the Cranbourne and Clyde campus', with some of their students assisting as referees and umpires for the games. It is a wonderful way that we can begin to familiarise the students with St Peter's and continue to forge cross-school relationships. Congratulations to the Soccer and Newcombe teams who won the grand finals.

Absence from school

As you all know, students are expected to be in attendance every day unless they are unwell - every day counts! Daily school attendance is important for all children to succeed in education and to ensure they don't fall behind academically, socially and developmentally. Children who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification have been shown to have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes and higher incomes across their lives. It is important that children develop habits of regular attendance from an early age.

At St Therese's, student attendance is recorded twice per day. If a student is identified as having poor attendance, parents will be contacted so that the school can offer support to improve attendance or address underlying issues. We have recently conducted an attendance audit and will be making contact with families of students with lower than average attendance percentages.

We understand that there are times when it is necessary for families to travel during term time, particularly for those who travel overseas to visit relatives. Should you wish to take your child out of school for a holiday, approval must be sought prior to travel. Please email me advising of the dates of travel and reason for travel. Upon receipt of an email, you will be provided with a letter of approval. The school is required to keep records of this for census purposes which occurs twice a year.

Federal Election Information

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has developed communication materials to assist Catholic school communities to understand how their vote will impact the future of Catholic education.  The documents attached below may provide assistance to you in understanding the way in which Catholic schools are funding and dispel some myths surrounding Catholic education. Further information can be found here - https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/2025-federal-election/

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a blessed and joyful Easter. May this season bring renewal, hope and blessings to each of you. Have a wonderful break and I look forward to welcoming everyone back next term, safe and well.

Felicity Broughton

principal@sttcbourne.catholic.edu.au