Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Friends

St Carlo’s is a great school and a fantastic community where parents and staff work together and are committed to providing the best learning opportunities in faith and knowledge for our students. As we near the end of the term, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our staff who do a wonderful job. We really do have the best staff at St Carlo's! Thank you also to all parents for your support and for trusting us to educate your children. 

Staffing News

• Congratulations to Mrs Vella! Sarah and Simon are expecting their first baby in September.
• Congratulations Caroline and Alex Nedanovski. Baby James Nedanovski was born last Sunday. Both mum and baby are doing well.

Better Buddies Meet and Greet Picnic

Thank you to everyone involved in our Better Buddies Picnic last Wednesday. The weather was kind and it was terrific to see so many families. The petting zoo, coffee and ice cream van were very popular! Everyone was so impressed by how well the students interacted and genuinely looked after one another. Our Better Buddies is a wonderful program and our picnic is an important community event and a great opportunity to catch up and meet other families.  It was a great night, and everyone had a fantastic time!

Catholic Education Week

Last week all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne celebrated our Catholic identity. A Catholic faith community is about working in mission as witness to Jesus Christ and holding true all people's care, safety and wellbeing. This year’s theme, ‘In the light of Christ’ is drawn from the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools strategic plan, MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World. Christ is our inspiration, the very life of our purpose as Catholic educators. 

On Friday, some of our Year 6 school leaders along with Mrs Kuric and Mrs Barlow travelled to St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate mass with other Catholic schools across our Archdiocese. This was followed by a concert in the Treasury Gardens. A highlight of the day was sharing a bus with our Parish schools, Mary Queen of Heaven and School of Good Shepherd. 

Cross Country

Our Cross Country Carnival will be held next Wednesday 27th March from 9:00 -11:00 a.m. on the Council Oval. The races will commence from approximately 9:20 a.m. Parents are encouraged to come and support students in their cross country races. We ask that you enter from Drummond Street straight onto the oval.  For all the details, please see the notice sent via the Audiri app. All students are to wear their full sports uniform, including their hats. 

Easter Celebration

All parents are invited to join us next Thursday March 28 at 9.15 a.m. for the retelling of the Easter story, the Passion of the Lord. This will take place on the senior tiger turf area where each year level will be re-enacting the events of Holy Week. Both Murray Court and the Haddington Cres entrances will be open for parents to enter, and there will be seating for parents. We ask that parents stay in the designated seating area so that everyone can see the performance. 

Further details are included in the Religious Education news today including what the students need to wear. Please do not go to any trouble and use what you have at home. Please note, if it is raining on Thursday morning and we have to cancel the event, we will send a notification via Audiri. 

Easter Raffle

Thank you for your great support towards our Easter Raffle and donating eggs for the prizes. The Raffle will be drawn next Wednesday and we have 75 hampers to give away!. Please return your tickets by this Friday.  Extra tickets are still available from the office. 

Our Parents and Friends do a wonderful job to raise important funds to support our school. This term they have been very busy having the canteen efficiently running, selling our very popular Zooper Dooper Fridays, special morning tea and organising our Easter raffle.  I would like to thank the many parents who generously give their time to support our school. We really appreciate it. 

Special thank to Nadine Yacouband the team from Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses Kalkallo, for supplying our doughnut morning tea. 

School Uniform

Traditionally at the commencement of term two, we move to our winter uniform, however we know that with changing weather patterns, we are often treated to continued mild weather in late April and early May. For this reason, we are leaving the decision to parents to choose when their child moves to the winter uniform so that we can ensure that your child is comfortable at school. Students must wear the correct uniform at all times and can wear either the full summer or the full winter uniform to begin next term, but not a mix of both. The school holidays are a good opportunity to ensure that you have the required winter uniform items. Next term, we will set a date for all students to be in our winter school uniform. 

2025 Prep Enrolments 

We have received a large number of applications for Prep 2025 and enrolments close next week. For existing families, if we do not receive an application by next week, we cannot guarantee your child a place for next year. 

Year Six Camp

The Year 6 Camp to Campaspe Downs, Kyneton, will take place from the first week of Term 2, Monday 15th April to Wednesday 17th April. School camps are an important part of our school life that enhances the educational program offered by St. Carlo's. Camps are an important and compulsory component of our Outdoor Education Curriculum. Through the many adventurous activities on offer, the students will acquire the knowledge, values and skills that enhance safe access, understanding and appreciation of the outdoors. Our Outdoor Education Program also includes opportunities to build upon friendships and to further develop children’s self-esteem, independence, leadership, judgement, tolerance and cooperation.  

School Fees

Thank you to all the parents who have paid their school fees in full. For those paying instalments, the first instalment and the Curriculum and Maintenance levies are now due. It is important that all fees and levies are paid on time to enable the school to meet our financial commitments. If any family is experiencing financial difficulty, then please make time to come and discuss alternative repayment options. There is a direct debit facility set up through the office. Please speak with Maria in the office to set this up.

Secondary school enrolments

It is that time of year that parents need to start considering a secondary school for your child.  

• Catholic Secondary Colleges: enrolments are open for current Year 5 students.
• For Government Secondary Colleges: enrolments are open for current Year 6 students.

Please contact your preferred secondary college to arrange a tour and collect an enrolment form. 

Good Shepherd Parish Easter Celebrations

Please refer to the Parish news section for all the important Holy Week and Easter celebrations. Your family will be very welcome at these important events in our Catholic calendar. 

As this is our final newsletter for the term, I would like to express my appreciation to all our students for completing a very productive term of learning. The students should be proud of all they have achieved, and I know they are looking forward to a well-earned rest. A special mention to all our Prep students who have completed their first term of school and have just been sensational! We are very proud of you.

Please note that next Monday March 25 is a school closure day. On Monday the staff will be working with Glen Pearsall who works throughout the world as an educational consultant, specialising in positive behavior, feedback,  differentiation and coaching.

Term one will conclude next Thursday March 28 at 1:00 p.m. and Term Two commences on Monday April 15. 

We ask St Carlo to continue to bless our wonderful Parish and School Community. I wish all our families a happy Easter and a safe and relaxing holiday.

Kevin Gleeson.