Principal's News

Dear Parents,

This term the leadership team have been conducting learning walks in each of the classrooms to observe teacher practice and to examine work programs to ensure this is in line with the strategic framework of the Melbourne Archdiocese for Catholic Schools (MACS), Vision for Instruction and Engagement.  

The Vision for Instruction focuses on effective teaching methods, promoting explicit instruction and evidence-based strategies to enhance cognitive engagement and academic excellence. The Vision for Engagement, working in tandem with instruction, creates supportive environments where students feel safe, connected, and motivated to fully participate in their education, ultimately supporting their overall well-being and potential. 

On Sunday 3rd August at the 10.30am Parish Mass, the school in conjunction with the Parish ran their first Children’s Liturgy for some years. It was a great success with 14 children in attendance to hear and reflect on the Gospel in an age appropriate way. All children from the age of 4 are welcome to attend. Please refer to the Parish Bulletin for when the next Children’s Liturgy will be held. 

Recently on Saturday 9th August, our Parents Association organised a Trivia Night titled Heroes and Villains. It was an enjoyable community event with lots of fun, dancing and laughter. Around 80 people were in attendance including 17 staff. Thank you to the Parents Association led by President, Kate McGrath and to all the parent volunteers who helped to make the evening a great success. The purpose of the event was to raise important funds to reimagine the rock garden into a kitchen garden with a cooking program as voted by the community. The amount raised was $8,224. Thank you to all those who donated. 

On Sunday 17th August our Parish hosted a workshop and commitment Mass for those students celebrating their upcoming Sacrament of Confirmation. Families from our school joined together with families from the other two schools within our Parish. Thank you to Katarina Steele, Sacrament and RCIA Coordinator for organising the workshop and Father Sang, Parish Priest and Father Hoang, Assistant Priest as celebrants for the Mass. It was a wonderful experience and opportunity for families of the three schools to come together to learn about Confirmation and to celebrate Mass. 

Last week I attended the National Catholic Education Conference in Cairns. The conference offered an engaging professional learning experience for around 1,500 Catholic educators, leaders, clergy, parents and others from the broader Church involved in Catholic education.

With the theme ‘hope, anchored in faith’, the conference focused on the strategic vision and mission of Catholic education across three key areas – Faith, Excellence and Access. The conference featured a broad range of speakers, presentations and workshops focused on Catholic identity, mission and formation; learning and teaching; leadership and governance; parent engagement; parish and community engagement; resourcing and infrastructure and advocacy and marketing.

In recent weeks, we have asked for your feedback regarding a number of aspects of our school life including ideas to replace the rock garden as well as specialist subjects and class structure for 2026. I greatly appreciate and highly value this feedback which will be used in conjunction with feedback from staff and students in guiding the leadership team in making key decisions for 2026. 

This week, I will meet one on one with each staff member to give them feedback regarding their performance, to discuss their individual professional learning goal and how I can support them in achieving this goal as well as discussing their intentions for 2026. 

Wishing you all a great remainder of the term. 

Kind regards

Robyn