Principal's Update

Dear families,

As we continue through Term 3, I am reminded of the many ways our school community comes together to support the growth of our students in faith, learning and wellbeing. The past fortnight has provided many opportunities to celebrate significant milestones, strengthen community connections and reflect on the values that underpin life at St Margaret's.

Holy Communion: Congratulations to our Year 4 students who celebrated their First Holy Communion on Saturday evening. This is a significant milestone in their faith journey and it was a privilege to celebrate with our students, their families and friends at St Mary's Church. I was so proud of how our students participated so reverently and respectfully during this special occasion. Congratulations to all of our students who participated. I extend my sincere thanks to our Year 4 teachers, Mr Nicholl, Ms McKibbin and Ms Oxley, for the care, dedication and guidance they have provided in preparing our students. Thank you also to Ms Alison, our Religious Education Leader, for her outstanding organisation and support throughout the preparation process, and to Fr Desmond for his spiritual leadership and guidance. Together, they helped make this a truly memorable occasion for our students and families.

100 Days of Prep: Congratulations to our Prep students who celebrated their 100th day of school last week. Reaching this milestone is a wonderful achievement and an opportunity to reflect on just how much our youngest learners have grown since beginning their school journey. The confidence, enthusiasm and sense of belonging displayed by our Prep students is a testament to the care, expertise and commitment of our staff. The celebrations were filled with joy and created lasting memories for both our students and their families.

School Disco: Our annual School Disco was another outstanding success, with students from both the junior and senior school enjoying a fantastic evening of music, dancing and fun. Events such as these are only possible through the generosity of our parent community. I sincerely thank all of the families who volunteered their time throughout the evening. In particular, I acknowledge Vivianne Lang and Rachael Barresi, whose tireless work and careful organisation ensured the night was enjoyed by all.

Future of St Margaret's Church: Over recent weeks many members of our school community have been following discussions regarding the future of St Margaret's Church. As our parish and school communities are closely connected, I appreciate that many families have questions about what these discussions may mean.

Following the recent Parish Gathering, Fr Desmond has clarified that the parish land on which St Margaret's Church stands is not being sold. Any future use of the site will be considered as part of both the parish and school masterplans, with no decisions having been made at this stage. He also emphasised that the site will continue to serve the mission of the parish, with further consultation and discernment taking place before any future direction is determined.

The next Parish Gathering will be held on Saturday 22 August from 2.00pm to 3.30pm. This gathering will provide an opportunity to share updates, reflect on the history and identity of St Margaret's Church and consider how a final Mass in the church may be celebrated should that become necessary.

Our school remains committed to working closely with the parish throughout this process. Families who would like to remain informed or contribute to the conversation are encouraged to attend the upcoming gathering and continue to keep our parish community in their prayers during this important period of discernment. Further information is available in the Parish bulletin.

International Day of Friendship: Last week our students celebrated International Day of Friendship, a global day recognised by the United Nations that highlights the importance of friendship, kindness, respect and understanding in building stronger communities.

Students enjoyed a range of friendship themed activities during recess and lunch that encouraged them to strengthen existing friendships, make new connections and ensure everyone felt included. The celebrations concluded with a wonderful display of friendship outside the school on Friday morning. My thanks to Ms Grace for coordinating this meaningful initiative and for continuing to foster the values of kindness, inclusion and respect within our school community.

MACS Religious Education Symposium: Since our last newsletter, members of our Leadership Team attended the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Religious Education Symposium. The Symposium provided a valuable opportunity for professional learning, faith formation and reflection alongside colleagues from Catholic schools across the Archdiocese.

A particular highlight for me was the presentation by Anne Kertz Kernion, who explored the intersection of brain science, prayer and meditation. Her insights into how contemplative practices can nurture both our faith and wellbeing were both thought provoking and inspiring. We also had the privilege of hearing from Archbishop Peter Comensoli and a range of respected speakers reinforced the important role Catholic schools play in forming young people of faith, hope and service. The learning from the Symposium will continue to inform and enrich our work at St Margaret's.

Prep Visitors: One of the highlights of the past fortnight was welcoming the students from Prep C into my office. They surprised me with a collection of portraits they had created of me, which was both unexpected and incredibly thoughtful. It was a wonderful reminder of the joy, curiosity and creativity of our youngest learners. While some portraits may have been a little more imaginative than others, I think a few captured my likeness remarkably well. Thank you, Prep C, for your kindness, your creativity and for bringing a smile to my day.

Thank you for your continued support of St Margaret's. It is through the strong partnership between our staff, families and parish that we are able to provide such rich opportunities for our students. I wish all of our families a happy and rewarding fortnight ahead.