Newsletter ~ Term 3, Week 8, 2026

Principal's Message:

Dear Parents, Carers, Families and Friends of St Mel’s Primary School,

With two weeks until the holidays we are well and truly on the home straight of Term Three. Our Learning Suites continue to be calm, focussed, safe and engaging areas supporting the learning programs underway. It continues to be encouraging to observe our students so involved in their learning and responsive to the teachers and Learning Support Officers who support them each day. It gives me great satisfaction to provide positive feedback to our students on the purposeful way they go about their learning and how positively they engage in breaktimes. My regular appearances as a 'plus one' on the yard are satisfying when the children are at their best and enjoying one another's company at play.

Magnify Sandhurst'

Every Student - Every Teacher - Every School - Every Day!

Welcome Fr Wilford:

We recently received a letter from our Bishop Rene Ramirez RCJ outlining the arrangements in place in support of the FIVE parishes and SEVEN schools in our region ministered to by our Rogationist Fathers.

As you may be aware, Fr Ronald Masilang, our Parish Priest, has returned to the Philippines to begin a new ministry. During this time the point of reference for the parishes of the Shepparton cluster will temporarily be Fr. Ruel Desamparado RCJ. Fr Addin Doe RCJ has commenced his Annual Leave and will be away until next term.

Bishop Rene has has engaged Fr. Wilford Urmaza RCJ from St. Anthony’s Parish in Melton South to temporarily assist Fr. Ruel, Fr. Addin and Fr John Paul Pasala in ministering to the Greater Shepparton Parish Cluster, while a more permanent solution is arranged . Fr. Wilford has been working as assistant priest in the same parish for the last five years.

We look forward to a future opportunity to welcome Fr Wilford to our parish and school community in the near future. If you see Fr Wilford in and around our school and parish please make him welcome as he settles into his new role for the time being. We are grateful Bishop Rene has quickly acted in support of our combined parishes and local schools.

Fathers' Day Stall, Breakfast and Sunday:

We wish all our fathers, pops, grandads, pas, uncles, nonnos and male role models in our lives a very special day this Sunday - Father's Day!

Yesterday our St Mel's Parents and Carers Social Events Committee conducted the annual Father's Day Stall and followed up today with the annual Father's Day Breakfast at school this morning. Our special invited guests were also provided an opportunity to visit the Art Show in the hall during the breakfast. Thank you for all you fellows do and best wishes for Sunday.

We had a wonderful roll up to our breakfast this morning, with children and 'special guests' enjoying a breakfast of croissants, fruit, toast, donuts, bacon & egg quiche. Thank you to our wonderful sponsors: Nanna Marce, Bunnings, Cellar47, Woolworths and Coles.

2027 Enrolment:

We continue to welcome and meet with parents and/or carers interested in enrolling their children in our lovely school.

Families still yet to present for enrolment and/or complete the required documentation are reminded to do so by completing ONLINE enrolment forms via our school website now:

www.smshepparton.catholic.edu.au

Child Protection Week:

Next week, along with schools and colleges across Australia we recognise the importance every child is safe and feels safe at all times. Whilst our Child Safeguarding and Child Protection focus is ongoing and prominent within our community, we are pleased to promote Child Protection Week in support of all children and young people.

Child Protection is every one's responsibility and we continually work to ensure children and young people are free from all forms of abuse. Thank you to all adults in our community who continue to support our range of Child Safeguarding

Building Project Commences:

With great excitement we have received confirmation our Year 3 to 6 Learning Suites Building Project is due to commence in the school holidays. It is expected the project will be completed by the end of the 2026 school year, with hopes we will be back in these learning areas in the last weeks of Term Four.

For the duration of our building project the Pastoral Groups from this building will be temporarily based in the following locations:

Year 6 - Library

Year 5 - Performing Arts Room (Portable)

Year 4 - STEM Learning Suite (Year 1/2 Learning Suites)

Year 3 - Year 2 Learning Suite

Year 2 - Spare Learning Suite next to Year 1

Hall - will be used to store furniture and resources from the above Learning Suites as required.

STEM - will be delivered in the temporary Learning Suites.

We are very fortunate to have a range of available spaces we can temporarily make use of for the duration of this building project.

2026 St Mel's PS Art Show:

We are very pleased with the number of visitors to our Art Show this week. A range of art works from children from Foundation to Year 6 is on display until this Sunday 6th September in our hall. We look forward to parishioners visiting our Art Show following the 9:30am Mass this coming Sunday and enjoying morning tea as we close the Art Show.

The Art Show will be open from 10:30am to 12:30pm this Sunday - All welcome!

We congratulate our young artists and their Arts Teacher, Robyn, on a wonderfully presented Art Show culminating their art sessions across this year.

Camp Kookaburra (Year 3 & Year 4):

We wish our Year 3 and Year 4 students, Cyndilee, Shane, Jazz, Ayva and Steve, a wonderful time away on Monday and Tuesday next week for their camp experience. We look forward to seeing some photographs on Facebook and hearing tales of adventure when the children return to school Tuesday afternoon.

Thank you to the families who are able to keep their children home on the Wednesday following next week's camp, while an alternate program runs for a small number of children.

[In mid-2023 a Catholic Education Enterprise Agreement was passed and introduced into our school system. Along with many changes to employment conditions for school staff this agreement included the introduction of Time In Lieu for teachers and support staff and a reduction in the allowable formal meeting hours.

This has had a significant impact on 'out of school hours' participation of staff, especially in relation to school camps and overnight stays (ie Sleep Overs). Subsequently, the day/s following these activities now involve staff receiving their 'Time in Lieu' (ie not attending school for the overtime incurred on camp!)

As previous years, acquitting the 'Time in Lieu' involves running an alternate program on the day, or days, following each activity with minimal staff supporting the children who come to school on the day following a camp or sleepover.

Families electing to keep children home after these activities supports our arrangements. This option will again be offered in support of the Year 3/4 camp next week and the Year 5/6 camp and Year 2 Sleepover next term.

Given challenges in accessing classroom relief teachers (CRTs) and our Leadership staff already taking on additional teaching roles this term, your support of post-activity day arrangements is greatly appreciated.]

Generous Donation - 'We are Wired for Sound!'

We received a generous donation of hight quality speakers, a mixing deck, stands and cords today from local popular entertainer RICK BRUN. Rick will be well known to many in our parish, school and local community as a wonderful musician and professional MC.

After updating his own specialised equipment Rick generously donated equipment to us no longer required for his own needs. Our end-of-term disco will now take on a new look and SOUND! Thank you Rick for your amazing support to our school.

Book Week 2026 ~ 'A Symphony of Stories'

Last week was a wonderful celebration of books, story, creative writing, language and literacy culminating in our annual Book Week Parade. On Friday morning our school was 'abuzz' with students, staff, parents, carers and younger siblings enjoying the array of book -inspired costumes. We also welcomed famous orchestral composer Ludvig, who greeted us from early in the morning until the morning bell. Thank you to all our parents and carers who supported our students enjoy the excitement and wonder of Book Week!

We are also especially grateful to Maria Makin, Administration Officer, for her dedicated organisation of our annual Book Week. Our Book Fair and special online Book Week Performances added to the magic of this special week of the year. Thank you to all who purchased books from our Book Fair in support of our young, enthusiastic readers!

ORIMA School Improvement Annual Survey:

A reminder - please complete this important survey you recently may have received in support of our Strategic Planning.

If you have received a survey please complete it promptly to provide our School Advisory Council, Executive Leadership Team and Staff Team important feedback in relation to our school community. Reminder emails will be sent shortly!

Friends Ingniting Reconciliation through Education (F.I.R.E.)

In term three our next cohort of F.I.R.E. Carriers will be commissioned in a special whole school gathering at 2:30pm on 14 September.

Staff Cultural Learning Day (School Closure Day) [Repeat]

Plans are currently underway for our next staff professional learning day to occur on Monday 5 October (first day of Term 4). Our Staff Team will travel to the recently opened Dharnya Centre in the Barmah Forest to deepen our knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture, tradition, story, history and truth telling. A significant part of the focus of the day will be background in relation to the 'Cummeragunja Walk Off' and journey of poorly treated Aboriginal families at 'Cummeragunja Mission' to resettle on the river flats between Shepparton and Mooroopna. This is a most significant and important local historical series of events which underpins so many individual family stories and our local community. Our school will be closed on this day, with St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care operating from our OSHC room and hall.

2027 St Mel's Kinder Enrolments: [REPEAT]

Parents and carers with children to commence at St Mel's Kindergarten are advised to enrol now for next year. Independently judged as best local kindergarten, the St Mel's Kindergarten offers a wonderful early years program for pre-school children. Places will fill quickly and parents and carers are advised to contact Kinder Enrolment Officer Leah via:

Phone: 0439 336 014

Email: scececenrolment@ceosand.catholic.edu.au

Website: www.stmelskindergarten.weebly.com

Staffing Update

Robyn Banfield, Visual Arts Teacher, has commenced a period of Long Service Leave, following the setting up of our St Mel's PS Art Show. We wish Robyn a lovely period of leave. We are delighted Richard Speedy, has returned to us to offer our Arts Program in Robyn's absence.
Maria Makin will be away for the next two weeks enjoying some well earned Long Service Leave. We wish Maria a lovely break, especially following her wonderful contribution to Book Week. Tegan Gibbings-John, Administration Officer, will work additional days to provide daily coverage in our Administration Office until the holidays.
Annalei Moon (Year 5 Teacher), Cassie Waack (LSO) and Tammy Mills (LSO) have experienced periods of ill health over the past fortnight.
Chris Munari will be away for the next two weeks enjoying Long Service Leave. We wish Chris an enjoyable time away.
A number of members of our community, including staff, have experienced the death of loved ones in recent weeks. We offer our support, sympathy and prayers at this time and for the time ahead.
Lilly Beer (PE Specialist Teacher) will be away for the next two weeks. We wish her well and look forward to her return in Term Four.

St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care - Vacation, Student Free Days and Before School Care:

NOTE: Registering your child/children in St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care can take up to a week to process, given the documentation required.

Parents and carers are recommended to register NOW if there is a possibility of using this service at any time this year. Once registered, children are booked in via the registration app.

Parents and carers seeking more information or wishing to register children for Vacation Care are directed to contact Uniting Vic Tas directly by:

Phone: 1800 183 103

Email: earlylearning@unitingvictas.org.au

St. Mel's Uniting School Holiday Care:

The St Mel's Uniting Outside School Hours Care service offers an exciting and interesting program for the school holidays. Students can be booked in from one day through to all days of the program. Further program information will be available closer to the next holidays.

Please find attached the Program for the coming School Holiday Break:

School Dates:

Please check the Upcoming Dates & Events section of the newsletter regularly.

Did you know? ~

Breakfast Club Sponsors

Thank you to Bakers Delight City & Plaza, who sponsor our St. Mel's Breakfast Club!

Thank you to St Vinnies Shepparton South Community House for sponsoring our breakfast club.