Dear Parents, Carers, and Friends of St Philomena’s,

As a Catholic school community, we are currently observing the season of Lent, an annual 40-day spiritual pilgrimage toward Easter. This period of "spiritual training" is a cornerstone of our faith, inviting us to place God back at the centre of our busy lives. In his message for 2026, Pope Leo XIV focuses on the theme of "Listening and Fasting," encouraging us to let the Word of God touch our hearts and to use fasting as a way to free ourselves from daily anxieties.

Bishop Peter Murphy also reminds us that Lent is built upon three specific domains: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. He encourages us to "upgrade our communication with God" and suggests that we might all benefit from being less attached to technology during this time. Both our leaders highlight that true charity extends beyond material goods to acts of kindness and respect; Pope Leo XIV specifically invites us to refrain from words that offend or hurt, replacing them with language that brings hope and peace.

It was fantastic to see so many families present for our Welcome to School BBQ last Wednesday, 25 February. These informal gatherings are the heartbeat of our school, and we truly value the opportunity to connect. We also extend a massive thank you to the Kindergarten, Year 7, and Year 10 families who attended our recent Information Nights. These sessions are vital for disseminating information specifically relevant to your child’s developmental level and academic journey within our school.

During the upcoming testing window from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March, students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 will participate in NAPLAN. NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that provides a helpful "snapshot" of student progress against national proficiency standards.

It is important to remember that these tests are just one aspect of our overall assessment and reporting process; they do not replace the ongoing, comprehensive evaluations made by our classroom teachers. If you have any specific questions regarding the assessments, please direct them to the school office.

This year, we have noticed an increase in students wearing smart devices, such as watches that can make calls, send messages, take photos, or play games. We would like to remind our community that wearable mobile devices are included in the NSW Government’s mobile phone ban. We have seen a particular rise in watches with installed SIM cards that allow students to message others outside of the school grounds.

As a school, we must follow state government legislation to ensure a focused and safe learning environment. Therefore, if students are found using these wearable devices during school hours, our staff will take them to the office for safekeeping. We then ask that parents come to the office to collect them. If you need to contact your child urgently during the day, please call the school on 6752 1577, and our administration team will ensure the message is delivered.

A sincere thank you to the parents who attended our Parents & Friends Association AGM on Tuesday, 24 February. We are grateful to the following individuals who have volunteered their time to lead the P&F this year:

President: Chris Harten
Vice President: Mick Young
Secretary: Emma Cahill
Treasurer: Mellita Bailey

Our P&F is essential to our school’s success. The funds they raise support every student; for example, they recently purchased three new water coolers so all students have access to chilled, filtered water. Additionally, the P&F fundraisers ensure our excursion costs remain affordable by covering 20% of the cost of all school excursions. Without this vital support, these learning opportunities would become significantly more expensive for our families.

🚌 YOUR P&F AT WORK: Keeping Excursions Affordable!

The 20% Difference

Did you know that the Parents & Friends Association covers 20% of the cost of every school excursion?

Without this subsidy: Excursions would be significantly more expensive for every family.
With this subsidy: We ensure our students have access to vital out-of-classroom learning experiences at a reduced price.

📍 Where the Money Goes

Beyond excursions, your P&F recently funded:

✅ 3 New Water Coolers: Providing chilled, filtered water for all students across the school.
✅ Excursion Support: Directly lowering the "out-of-pocket" cost for your child's next trip.

🤝 WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP THIS GOING!

These subsidies are only possible through our fundraising events, and those events only happen with parent volunteers.

How you can help:

Volunteer an hour at our next BBQ or stall.
Attend a P&F meeting to share your ideas.
Support our fundraisers throughout the school year.

"Without your time and help, these subsidies become harder to maintain, and excursions will become more expensive for everyone."

Yours faithfully

Alistair Stewart

Principal

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