Dear members of the St Cecilia’s School community,

This week, our hearts are especially heavy as we extend our prayers and deepest support to our neighboring school community at Auburn South Primary. Many of our own families and students may be significantly affected by the tragic events that have occurred. During times like this, our compassion and solidarity remind us of the strength found in unity and the importance of standing together as one school community, supporting one another through such difficult moments.

As parents, you know your children best, and you are uniquely positioned to recognise how they may be processing these events. Young people often respond in different ways when faced with grief, confusion, or fear, and we encourage you to take the time and care to respond in ways that feel right for your family. As always, we are here to support you and your child in any way we can.

Later in this newsletter, you will find a message shared earlier that offers guidance and resources for families impacted by this week’s events. Please take a moment to review it, and do not hesitate to reach out if there is any support you may need. Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to reach out and find ways to support our neighbours at Auburn South Primary, as well as our own families who may be in need.

May we all find strength in knowing we are not alone, and may our thoughts and prayers continue to surround the Auburn South community in the days ahead.

School Fair - What a day!

What a fantastic day we had last Saturday at our School Fair! We couldn’t have asked for more perfect, sunny weather, setting the stage for a resounding success filled with joy, connection, and community spirit. The energy and enthusiasm from our parents, families, and visitors made it a day to remember.

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity shown by everyone who joined us, including the many past families who continue to support our school community, even long after their children have left. This dedication speaks volumes about the unique bond we share at St. Cecilia's.

Special thanks go to Kylie Zannaro, whose remarkable leadership as Fair Coordinator was at the heart of this event’s success. Kylie’s dedication and hard work, along with the amazing team supporting her, made this fair a truly memorable experience for everyone. We are truly grateful for all the time, effort, and love these parents have poured into our school.

We know everyone is eager to hear the financial results, and we’ll be announcing the total amount raised once everything is finalised. As stated perviously, the profits from our Fair will support our exciting Landscape Masterplan, detailed in our last newsletter and our Fair Charitable Contribution supporting St. Jude’s in Tanzania.

Thank you all for making this event such a wonderful celebration of our community!

In particlar, our thanks go to the following:

Fair Committee

Kylie Zennaro

Sarah Malone

Mark Cooray

Bec Ceveri

Belinda Sandilands

Tanya O’Connell

Jess Perri

Jo O’Connell

Huwy Jones

Scott Weekley

Simone Jan

Parents Association

- Jen McGrath and Georgie Carman- Sarah Styring- All of the year level Class Reps

Off Committee Helpers

- Bridie Andriske – permits- Chris Knott – bunting and aprons- Kirsten Walker and Victoria Moore – mystery wines- Dushi Cooray, Sze Ying and Laura Bellino – lucky dip- Natalie Gharibian and Vanessa Badwal –cookie jars- David Francis (father of Bec Ceveri) – flowers- Carol Daicic and the St Cecilia’s Netball Club – Face Painting- The myriad of letterbox droppers, wristband packers, stall staffers and setup and packdown crews

Teachers and Staff (in particular…):

- Matt Mooney – safety, electrics and logistics- Sharon Simpson–coordinating all things financial- Bella Lascock – social media posts- Stefania Miller – choir performance- Anna Clarkson – garden stall- Lucy Csaplar – deliveries, fielding calls about the Fair and coordinating all things admin.

On behalf of St. Cecilia's School, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each of our sponsors (listed below) for the incredible generosity and support shown for our School Fair. Your contributions played an essential role in creating a vibrant and successful event that brought together students, families, and the entire school community. Your partnership not only made a difference in making the day memorable but also helped us achieve our fundraising goals, which will go directly toward enriching our students' learning experiences. We are truly grateful for your commitment to supporting our school, and we look forward to continuing this wonderful collaboration in the future. Thank you once again for helping make our School Fair a resounding success!

Platinum Sponsors

JA Cain

Marshall White

Powerhouse Recruitment

Pantry Glen Iris

ATG Group

De La Salle College

Gold Sponsors

Marvel Stadium

Bendigo Bank Ashburton

Solway Basketball Club

Glen Iris General Practice

Silver Sponsors

Running Postman

Accru Melbourne

MHT Dentistry

Piccoli Portraits

Verve Portraits

Plus a huge thank you to the other 120 Bronze and Supporter Sponsors we have on board this year to help support our Fair.

Thank you all for making this event such a wonderful celebration of our community!

Staffing and Class Structure for Next Year

We are pleased to announce that St. Cecilia’s will continue with the same class structure as this year. We will have two classes in each of Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4, as well as two composite classes for Year 5/6 students. This consistent structure allows us to deliver quality support and balanced class sizes across all year levels, creating a strong learning environment for all students.

Later this term, we will be in a position to announce the teaching staff associated with each level. In the meantime, we are thoughtfully arranging classes for the upcoming school year. This is a process we take very seriously, using several criteria to ensure a well-considered learning environment for each child. We remind parents that we generally do not take requests regarding specific placements, except in cases where there is a highly significant reason that we need to be aware of. Any requests of this nature must be directed to the principal at principal@scgleniris.catholic.edu.au , not classroom teachers, and should clearly outline the reasons for the request.

As in previous years, while friendship groups are not the main component in class selection, we understand their importance and will continue to consider them as part of the overall placement criteria. We kindly ask families to trust in this decision-making process as we strive to make the best choices for all students.

Thank you for your continued support as we prepare for another successful year at St. Cecilia’s!

Foundation Transition Program for 2025

We are also very excited to be soon welcoming our new St Cecilia’s families for 2025.

Our orientation process, which is an integral part of the transition into school life for all new foundation students will commene soon. We are committed to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment where your child can thrive, and we look forward to partnering with you in making their first school experience a positive and memorable one.

At St. Cecilia’s Primary School, we believe that a seamless transition from kindergarten to Prep/Foundation is vital in establishing a sound start to school life.

What We Offer:

We have 1 Parent Information Session for our Foundation parents and carers, followed by 3 Transition Sessions for our new students throughout Term 4. These sessions allow your child to get to know their teachers and their school while also allowing staff to get to know your child and provide a program that best caters to their needs.

PARENT SESSION: (parents only) Foundation Information Evening

Date: Wednesday 6th November Venue: Foundation Classrooms at St. Cecilia’s Time: 7:00 PM - 7:30 Drinks and Nibbles 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Presentation by Foundation Teachers

TRANSITION SESSION ONE: For Foundation Students

Date: Tuesday 12th November Venue: Foundation Classrooms at St. Cecilia’s Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Uniform Pop Fit Session Our school uniform is supplied by Spartan Uniforms. During Session 1, Spartan staff will be present in the hall with examples of our Foundation uniform, a general size range, sizing silhouette and marketing material.

(Please note: there will be no sales or uniforms available for purchase on the day. The visit is to supply information and advice only)

TRANSITION SESSION TWO: For Foundation Students

Date: Tuesday 12th November Venue: Foundation Classrooms at St. Cecilia’s Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

During this session we invite parents to the school hall at 9:45am for a presentation called Starting School Prep Transition - How Your Family Can Thrive, Not Just Survive. This session will be held at the same time your child is in the Foundation Classroom for Session 1.
Presenter: Carley McGauran

TRANSITION SESSION THREE: For Foundation Students

Date: Thursday 21st November Venue: Foundation Classrooms at St. Cecilia’s Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Students will be given the opportunity to spend a little bit of time on the playground during this session. We ask that you send them with a small snack as well.
At this session we will provide a list indicating which class each student will be in and who their teacher will be.

(In summary) ORIENTATION for 2025

Wednesday 6th November 2025 Foundation Parent Info Night 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Thursday 7th November 2025 Foundation Orientation Session 1 9:30 - 11:10am

Tuesday 12th November 2025 Foundation Orientation Session 2 9:30 - 11:00am

Thursday 21st November 2025 Foundation Orientation Session 3 9:30 - 12:00am

We look forward to welcoming all of our new families as part of our wonderful school community.

Have a great long weekend with your families everyone!

Marty McKenna

Principal

St Cecilia’s Primary School

Gardening News