Principal's Update
Dear Families,
The great start to the school year has certainly continued since the last newsletter. It has been pleasing to see all of our students settle into routines and school life so well after the summer holidays. It has been wonderful to hear the hum of learning across the school as students and teachers get back into the swing of things at St Margaret’s. A highlight for me over the past two weeks has been our Year 5 and 6 students participating in an anti bullying program called Project Rockit. Project Rockit is dedicated to tackling bullying, hate and prejudice. Students participated in workshops and are engaging with digital resources designed to empower them to lead with kindness and respect, something central to the shared values at St Margaret’s.
The Power of Resilience: I was struck by the wonderful example of resilience shown by 13 year old Austin Appelbee, which I am sure many of you have seen in the media in recent weeks. Austin was paddleboarding in Western Australia with his mother and two siblings when a strong current dragged them four kilometres out to sea. Fearing the worst, and in an amazing feat of endurance, Austin swam 4 km back to shore and then ran 2 km to get help and save his family. While this story is remarkable in itself, what makes it even more incredible is that Austin had recently failed a formal swimming assessment.
I decided to share this story with all of the students at St Margaret’s at a recent assembly, and I could see that it resonated with nearly everyone in the room. For me there are some key messages that are really important for our young people to think about;
We are often capable of far more than we think or give ourselves credit for. This was certainly the case for Austin and I think it is true for all of us. Sometimes we just need the right circumstances or people to help bring out our best.
Not giving up and being resilient is really important. Sometimes things are hard. This includes learning, friendships and navigating the world around us. If we have a positive attitude and embrace challenges when they arise, success will often follow. Resilience is one of our school values and Austin’s example is a powerful one for our students.
Not doing well on an assessment or a test does not mean we are not capable. Austin is a great example of this, having failed a swimming assessment but successfully completed an extraordinary physical effort. Our children undertake many assessments and performance tasks and these do not always reflect what we know or are able to do. I will be reminding our Year 3 and 5 students of this before they undertake NAPLAN assessments later this term.
I hope Austin’s story provides our children with an example of what they are capable of and creates opportunities for families and teachers to discuss these important themes with them.
Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent: As we begin the season of Lent, we enter an important and sacred time in our faith tradition. Lent invites us into a period of reflection and renewal, encouraging us to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and giving. It is a time to pause, consider how we are living out our values and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.
Tomorrow, most of our school community will attend Mass on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of this journey. As students and staff receive the ashes, we will reflect together on the path ahead and the opportunities Lent provides for growth, compassion and service. May this season be one of meaningful reflection and spiritual renewal for all members of our community.
Congratulations to SRC and School Leaders: I would like to congratulate all students who have had the opportunity and honour of being chosen as Student Representatives, and our Year 6 students who have been chosen as school leaders for 2026. Student voice and leadership are very important to us at St Margaret’s and I can see how seriously these roles are taken by our students. It gives me great pleasure to present the badges to students at assembly, and seeing the pride on their faces is always a highlight. More students will have the opportunity to be SRC leaders in the second half of the year.
Building Update: The news relating to the school’s building project continues to be good. We are well on track for our handover on 20 March. This week sees the commencement of the external paving and landscaping around the building. Internal works are almost complete. The building would have been completed earlier than expected, however there has been a delay with the carpet.
St Margaret’s great sense of community; Help needed! One of the things that has stood out to me most during my time at St Margaret’s is the strong sense of community and connection across our school. This spirit is made possible by the generosity of our parents and families who give their time and energy to organise events and fundraisers that make our school so special. Across the year we gather for occasions such as Mothers Day and Fathers Day Breakfasts, Welcome BBQs, lunch orders, pie drives and the Christmas Picnic. To ensure these events continue to be successful we would greatly value the support of more families.
This year our Parents and Friends Association has adopted a new structure with small groups supporting individual events or initiatives. We hope this will make it easier for families to become involved with a clear and manageable commitment. We warmly invite new and existing families to join in. If you are able to help in any way, no matter how small, please reach out to me or the Parents and Friends Association.
2027 Prep Information sessions: At 9.30am on Tuesday 3 March, St Margaret’s is running its 2027 Prep Open Day for prospective and existing families who have students commencing in 2027. We will also conduct "walk and talk tours" of the school at 10.00am on Wednesday 4 March an Thursday 5 March. If you know of anyone who might be interested or have a child ready to start school in 2027, please pass on this information or note that it is coming up very soon.
Wishing everyone a great fortnight ahead,
John
