From the Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members, 

MONSIGNOR FRANK MARRIOTT

As a community, we share our deep sadness at the passing of Monsignor Frank Marriott, a much-loved and deeply respected priest of the Diocese of Sandhurst. Monsignor Frank dedicated an extraordinary 63 years to his ministry, serving faithfully across many parishes and offering steady, compassionate leadership in significant diocesan roles, including Diocesan Administrator, Vicar General, and Cathedral Administrator. 

His remarkable service was recognised both by the Church and the wider community. In 2012, Mons Frank was invested as a Protonotary Apostolic, the highest rank of Monsignor, and he was also a proud recipient of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his contributions to faith and community. 

Beyond his titles and responsibilities, Mons Frank was a man of profound kindness and conviction. He had a genuine heart for people — especially young people, families, and his brother priests. He championed community groups, supported Catholic education, fostered interfaith understanding, and was never afraid to stand up for what was right. His ability to build relationships, strengthen parish life and bring people together leaves a legacy that will continue to bless our community for years to come. 

A beloved priest, colleague and friend, Mons Frank gave his whole life in generous service to Christ and His Church. He also gave a great deal of time and energy supporting his much loved footy team, Collingwood! While we feel the ache of his loss, we are eternally grateful for all he shared with us. May he rest in peace. 

CELEBRATING OUR SANDHURST AWARD WINNERS

It is with great pride that I share the outstanding achievements of several members of our St Liborius community at the inaugural Sandhurst Awards. These awards celebrate excellence across all schools in our Diocese, and we are thrilled to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of our students and staff. 

Firstly, congratulations to Imogen Brownlee, Year 2, who received the Inspirational Student Learner Award. This award recognises a student who demonstrates a love of learning, persistence, and a commitment to personal growth — well done, Imogen! 

We also congratulate Cruze Lobley, in Year 6, who was honoured with the Inspirational Student Leader Award. Cruze has shown exceptional leadership, kindness, and initiative, making a positive impact within our school community. Congratulations, Cruze, and thank you for all that you offer our school. 

A particularly special acknowledgment goes to Mrs Ebony Maltby, who received the Inspirational Learning Leader Award — selected from staff across the entire Diocese. This is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to Ebony’s dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to high-quality teaching and learning at St Liborius. 

We are also delighted to share that several other staff members from our school were nominated for awards this year. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and acknowledging the contributions they make to our vibrant community. 

What a wonderful celebration of excellence, leadership, and inspiration within our school! 

YEAR 5 EXPERIENCE & GRADE 6 CAMP - A WONDERFUL SUCCESS! 

Last week our Year 5 and 6 students immersed themselves in two fantastic opportunities for growth, friendship and adventure. The Year 5 Experience provided students with a taste of leadership, teamwork and responsibility as they begin thinking ahead to 2026, while the Year 6 Camp was filled with challenge, excitement and genuine moments of resilience. Students embraced new activities, strengthened friendships and supported one another beautifully throughout both experiences. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all staff who generously gave of their own time to support these invaluable learning opportunities. An extra special thank you goes to Mrs Caitlyn Bubb, whose extraordinary work in planning and coordinating these experiences ensured they were meaningful, memorable and successful for every student. 

APPRECIATION EVENING - WEDNESDAY 10TH DECEMBER

A warm invitation is extended to all families to join us for our Appreciation Evening on Wednesday 10 December.  Bring along a picnic rug and something to share as we gather to celebrate the year that has been. A variety of games and activities will be available, promising a fun and joy-filled night for our whole community. We look forward to seeing many of you there! 

SOCIAL MEDIA BAN - DECEMBER 10

There has been significant media attention recently regarding the upcoming social media age restrictions for young people under 16, which comes into effect on December 10. In preparation for this, I wish to remind families about the resources available via the ESafety Commisioner website. These resources have been recognised both within and beyond Government as a clear and independent guide to the evolving regulations and I encourage families and staff to make use of it as we move towards the implementation date. As a school, we will continue to share relevant, reputable information to keep our community safe and well-informed.

The direct link to the resources is available here: Social media age restrictions hub | eSafety Commissioner, or by navigating the Esafety website https://www.esafety.gov.au/

STAFF MOVEMENTS FOR 2026

As we approach the end of the year, we acknowledge several staff movements within our community: 

• We farewell Miss Ash Polinelli, who joined us on a contract this year and has been ensuring consistency of learning within the Year 1 classrooms  
• We also say goodbye to Miss Annie Byrne, who will be moving to St Mary’s, Rushworth. 
• Mrs Claire Sexton will be stepping away from her Music role to take up a position at Catherine McAuley College. 

We thank each of these wonderful staff members for their commitment, care and service to St Liborius. 

We are also delighted to share that Mr Lachlan Russell will be joining us from Holy Rosary Heathcote in 2026. We look forward to welcoming him into our community and the gifts he will bring to our school. 

We will formally acknowledge and thank our departing staff at our End-of-Year / Graduation Mass on Monday 15 December at 9.15am, and warmly invite families to join us for this celebration. 

2026 TRANSITION

Preparations for the 2026 school year are well underway, with a strong focus on supporting a confident and positive transition for every student. Students will have the opportunity to meet their 2026 teacher and classmates during our Whole School Transition Day on Tuesday 9 December. This important step allows students to build connections, ease any nerves and begin looking forward to the year ahead.  

As always, thank you for your ongoing partnership and the trust you place in us each day. We are deeply grateful to work alongside such a supportive and connected community. 

With many blessings, 

Alannah Darmody

Principal