Dear Families,

What a fantastic start to Term 3. Our classrooms, corridors and playgrounds have been buzzing with excitement and energy. On the first day back to school it was wonderful to see the excitement on the students' faces as they noticed that our entrance area had been resurfaced with astro turf. We are thrilled to have this area of our playground upgraded and transformed into a space that our students are loving to play in. Thank you to Paul Mapley who coordinated upgrading the front entrance area over the holidays.

Year 6 Servant Leadership

This term, our Year 6 students have embraced their roles as leaders of our school community through participation in the Servant Leadership Program. Rooted in the Gospel values of compassion, humility, and service, the program encourages our students to live out their faith in action.

Students are rotating through five different service groups, each designed to support and uplift various members of our broader community. One of the highlights includes working alongside Brother Michael at the Friars Kitchen at Ss. Peter and Paul, where students are helping to prepare sausage rolls for those in need, served through the kitchen and food van operating in St. Kilda.

Our students are also visiting Caspa Care Nursing Home, where they are engaging in meaningful conversations with residents and presenting a quiz they have thoughtfully prepared. This connection between generations is a beautiful expression of care and respect.

In addition, students are undertaking a Beach Clean to care for God’s creation, and they are also leading a special sports session for our Prep students, modelling positive leadership and joyful service.

We are incredibly proud of the way our Year 6 students are stepping up to serve with kindness and purpose, reflecting the heart of what it means to be a Catholic school community.

Staffing Update

It has been wonderful to welcome back Brighid Deamer and Carmen Carnovale to Galilee this term following their maternity leave. Both Brighid and Carmen have returned to teach Prep C, and we are delighted to have them back as part of our teaching team. We are confident that the students in Prep C will thrive under their care and guidance and with their experience.

We are also pleased to welcome Massimo and Priyanshi to our Learning Support Officer team. Massimo is a former Galilee student who has returned in a new role, and we are excited to have him on staff. Both Massimo and Priyanshi bring with them an enthusiastic, warm, nurturing approach that makes them a wonderful addition, and we’re confident our students will benefit from his support.

Exciting News

We are thrilled to announce that Holly Evans, our Deputy Principal, and her partner Mark are engaged to be married. We wish them every blessing for a very happy future together.

We are also thrilled to announce that Adrian Webster, our Year 3 teacher and Maths Leader, and his wife Iris are expecting their second child early next year. We are thrilled for them and Dottie who will be a wonderful big sister.

Year 3-6 Athletics Carnival

We are looking forward to an exciting day of sport and school spirit as our Year 3–6 students head to Lakeside Stadium tomorrow for the annual Athletics Carnival. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their athletic skills, participate in a range of track and field events, and cheer on their peers in a supportive and fun environment.

Students are reminded to wear their house colours, and to bring a water bottle, snacks and lunch. Please ensure all items are clearly labelled. Please note, Year 3-6 students will not be able to order lunch tomorrow.

We encourage students to give their best effort, show great sportsmanship, and most importantly, enjoy the day!

A big thank you to our staff and parent volunteers who are helping to make the event a success. We look forward to sharing photos and highlights in next week’s newsletter.

Our Prep-Year 2 Athletics Carnival will take place in Term 4. We look forward to sharing details of this event closer to the day.

Galilee Basketball Tournament for Year 5 and Year 6

This year, we’re excited to launch our very own Galilee Basketball Tournament for Year 5 and 6!

In the past, our students have participated in the Hoop Time Competition; however, the organisers have recently restricted entries to one team per school. This would significantly limit the number of students able to participate.

To ensure that all students still have the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of basketball competition, we have created our own Galilee Tournament.

Event Details:

Date: Friday 8th August

Location: Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC)

Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm

On the day, students will be placed into mixed teams within their year level, competing in a round-robin style format. Teams will be selected at random, and the focus of the day is participation, teamwork, and fun. Please note that there will be no progression or finals – the emphasis is on enjoyment and giving every student the chance to play.

If you are available to help with coaching on the day, please email sgreene@gsm.vic.edu.au – your support is greatly appreciated!

Later this term, a select Boys and Girls Galilee Basketball Team will be invited to represent the school at the Dendy Basketball Gala Day on Friday 5th September. This competition will progress through to a state level tournament.

Students will be chosen to try out for these teams based on their individual performance, sportsmanship, and effort during the Galilee Basketball Tournament, not necessarily on the success of their team. Further information and selection details will be shared closer to the date.

We look forward to a fantastic day of basketball, fun, and school spirit next Friday.

Get Ready for Our School Concert – Galilee at the Disco!

We are excited to be preparing for our upcoming school concert, Galilee at the Disco! Students have been working hard in Performing Arts lessons with Mr. Martello, along with our wonderful friends from Danceworld, to get ready for the big event. Each class will perform a disco hit that’s sure to have you dancing in your seat!

Important Information:

All students will perform in all three concerts and are expected to attend each performance.
All concerts will take place in the School Stadium.

Concert Dates & Times:

Wednesday 10th September | 6:00–7:00pm (Students need to arrive at school by 5:00pm and will be dismissed by 7:15pm)
Thursday 11th September | 1:00-2:00pm (During School Hours) (This will take place during the school day – all students will participate as part of their normal school day)
Thursday 11th September | 6:00–7:00pm (Students need to arrive at school by 5:00pm and will be dismissed by 7:15pm)

If your child is unable to participate in any of the concerts, please let us know as soon as possible by completing the Operoo sent to families today.

Ticket information will be shared shortly via Class Dojo – stay tuned!

We can’t wait to see you there to celebrate our students' talent and enthusiasm – it’s going to be a night to remember!

2026 Prep Transition

Next week we will welcome our 2026 Prep students to Galilee. We have 78 excited Prep students who will be joining our school in 2026 and we can’t wait to see them next week. They will all be attending transition sessions over the next two terms in preparation for the 2026 school year. We can’t wait to start this exciting journey with them and their families.

Friday 15th August is a Student Free School Closure Day at Galilee

A reminder that Friday 15th August will be a student-free school closure day.

On this day, staff will be participating in a Professional Development Day focused on Faith Formation and Catholic Identity. Our staff are fortunate to be working with Fr. Eldridge from Ss. Peter and Paul, and Fr. Paul from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph’s.

TheirCare, our out-of-hours care provider, will be open on the day. If you intend to use this service, please ensure your child is booked in early.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Gala Garden Parent Night

The countdown is on! There’s less than two weeks until our night of nights – the Galilee Garden Gala!

The Gala Garden Parent Night has been SOLD OUT!! If you are still interested in tickets you are able to go onto a waitlist by contacting gpa@gsm.vic.edu.au.

We are still gratefully accepting fundraising donations, which need to be logged on our central spreadsheet.

A huge thank you to our wonderful parent community – your generosity has been incredible. The donations received so far are outstanding, and we’re truly grateful to everyone who has contributed or approached local businesses on behalf of our school. Your efforts are making a real difference!

Submit and log your donation here: https://tinyurl.com/mr387684

Let’s keep the momentum going as we head towards what promises to be a fantastic celebration of community and support for our school!

Looking ahead to the next few weeks:

Week 3

2026 Prep Transition Sessions this week
Year 5&6 Hooptime Basketball on Friday 8th August

Week 4

Bullying No Way National Week of Action
100 Days of School Prep celebration on Monday 11th August
Beachside Soccer for select students (Boys on Monday 11th August and Girls on Tuesday 12th August)
Student Free School Closure Day on Friday 15th August (Staff will be attending a professional development focusing on Faith Formation)

Week 5

Book Week - 2025 Theme: Book an Adventure
On Monday 18th August we will have a Book Week Parade at 9am. All students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character. Families are invited to attend the parade
Friday 22nd August- Beachside Athletics for select students
Friday 22nd August- MAV Maths Games Day for select Year 4 students

We wish you and your families every blessing in the coming weeks,

-Amy (Principal), Richard Harding (Deputy Principal) and Holly Evans (Deputy Principal)

Community

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