Deputy Principal's Report

 Dear Families,

I hope this week has been productive for you all as we move closer to the festive season. Here at school, things are lively as usual, with lots of exciting activities and learning taking place. 

Meanwhile, our Year 4 students are fully immersed in their camp experience at Lady Northcote, where they’re exploring the outdoors, building new friendships, and developing important life skills. It’s wonderful to hear about the enthusiasm they’re showing as they take on new challenges and create lasting memories.

A big thank you goes out to our dedicated teachers, support staff, and Mr. Berlingeri, who are working hard to make this camp a safe, engaging, and meaningful experience for each student. Their commitment and energy are what make opportunities like these so impactful.

P & F Colour Run

Last Friday, students from Prep to Year Six had an unforgettable experience participating in the Colour Run! This vibrant event was filled with energy, laughter, and joy as students ran, walked, and danced their way through a course full of colorful bursts, creating memories they’ll cherish for a long time.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all students and families for their incredible effort in raising funds for our school. Thanks to your enthusiasm and dedication, we’ve raised over $25,000! These funds will play a major role in building our new senior playground. We couldn’t have achieved this without your support, and we are deeply grateful for every contribution.

A special thank you goes out to our wonderful Parents & Friends (P&F) committee, whose hard work and dedication made this day possible. From organising the event to setting up the course, they ensured everything ran smoothly, and their efforts truly made the day a resounding success.

It was a fantastic day for our school community, and it was wonderful to see students enjoying themselves so wholeheartedly. Thank you again for your generosity and community spirit—it’s inspiring to see what we can accomplish together. We look forward to sharing more updates on our playground project soon!

A very special congratulations to the following students for raising the highest amounts for the Colour Run

1st Place - Slime the Principal and Gift bag and Voucher - Cooper R. (2BL) $2100

2nd Place- Slime the Principal and Gift Card- Luca D-B (5SB) $1483

3rd Place- Gift Card- Emily H. (2BL) $1138

4th Place- Gift Card- Charlie B. (4MH) $875

5th Place- Gift Card- Nicholas D. (2AH) $860

6th Place- Gift Card- Jacob V.  (4MS) $785

The winning class with a total of $5025 raised was 2BL!

Year Six Graduation Photos

MSP Photography will be onsite on Tuesday 12th November at 9:00am. Please wear full summer uniform, correct black leather shoes and the Year 6 Jumper. 

SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SEEK, SLIDE 

With summer and the warmer weather quickly approaching, I’d like to remind all students to come prepared with their hats and sunscreen each day at school. As we spend more time outdoors, it’s essential that everyone stays protected from the sun’s UV rays.

Parents, it would be greatly appreciated if you could teach your children to apply sunscreen at home before they come to school in the morning. This not only helps start their day off with good coverage but also ensures they’re familiar with the routine, as students will need to reapply during the day. By building this habit at home, we can work together to keep everyone sun safe.

A helpful reminder for all of us is the Cancer Council’s “Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide” slogan. This easy-to-remember message encourages children to Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Seek shade, and Slide on sunglasses whenever they’re outside. Practicing these sun safety steps helps build lifelong habits that protect skin health.

Thank you for your support in encouraging sun-smart habits! Let’s work together to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and healthy summer season for everyone.

Random Acts of Kindness

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the following students for their outstanding display of kindness and compassion towards others. Your willingness to support, encourage, and uplift those around you has set a wonderful example for our entire school community. It’s incredibly inspiring to see students across different year levels go out of their way to make others feel valued, included, and respected.

Your acts of kindness—whether through small gestures or significant efforts—are powerful reminders of the positive impact we can all have. Thank you for embodying the values that make our school a welcoming and caring place for everyone. Keep up the amazing work!

Week 5

Douglas O. (1BT) For picking up rubbish on the yard

Cassie O. (2IL) For being kind and compassionate to a student in sick bay

Harper S. (PET) For including someone in her game that had no one to play with

Harper S. (2AH) For always being so polite to all staff at the gates in the morning

Ella Y. (4MS) For very generously donating all of her pocket money to Legacy Australia and did not want any badges or poppies in return!

Christian P. (PKA) For being a responsible student and taking someone's treasure item to the office when he found it on the yard

Thomas J. (PKA) For being a godd friend to all in class

Jia S. (2BL), Grace T. (3SC) and Joshua B. (5JD) For always using their beautiful manners when speaking to others

Mila B. (6BR) For being a great help to staff when ever required 

Arriving at School on Time

We kindly request that all students arrive at or before 8:45 am each school day. Our school gates will close at 8:50am. Punctuality not only helps students settle into their day smoothly but also maximises their engagement in the learning process. Being present and ready at the beginning of the school day allows students to make the most of instructional time and fosters a positive classroom environment.

In the event that your child arrives after 8:50am, we kindly ask that you sign them in at the school office. This helps us maintain accurate attendance records and ensures that any missed instructions or announcements are communicated to the students promptly.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we appreciate your cooperation in instilling the importance of timeliness with your child. Consistent and prompt attendance supports their academic progress, social development, and overall success in school.

Should you have any concerns or if there are specific challenges your family is facing regarding attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to support you and work collaboratively to ensure the best possible learning experience for your child.

St Patrick's Prayer

For those parents who attend our school assemblies or school mass, I am including a copy of the St Patrick's School Prayer. 

Dear God,  

We at St Patrick’s Primary in Mentone believe that Christ is in the heart of all.  

As with our role model, St Patrick, we pray that Christ will be with us, within us, behind us, beside us and before us.

Through our actions of love and kindness may everyone in our community come to know that Christ is the heartbeat of our school.

May everyone in our school feel welcomed, loved, accepted, safe and inspired to learn for the greater good of our world.

St Patrick, pray for us

St Mary MacKillop, pray for us

Kindest regards,

Joelle Diakrousis

Deputy Principal

Learning Diversity Leader