From the Principal

~Do all that you do with love~

Dear Families,

As we come to the end of Term 3, it is a wonderful time to pause and look back on the past 10 weeks with gratitude for the many moments we have shared as a school community. I am incredibly grateful for the hard work, care and dedication of our staff, who work tirelessly to provide our students with meaningful learning experiences, opportunities to grow and a school environment where every child feels known, valued and supported. Their commitment to our students and to our school community is truly something to be grateful for.

There have been so many wonderful moments to celebrate this term, both in and beyond the classroom. Our students have continued to learn, grow and challenge themselves, while demonstrating the curiosity, kindness, resilience and respect that we hope to nurture in every child at St Therese’s. We have also had many opportunities to come together in faith, prayer and celebration, strengthening the connections between our school, families and parish. In so many ways, this term has reflected our school vision to 'Do all that you do with love' - through the way we learn, serve others, celebrate together and care for one another.

Term 3 has certainly been a busy one! We began the term with our senior students visiting St Peter’s College to enjoy their school production, while our Year 6 students continued their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, culminating in a beautiful celebration at St Agatha’s Parish. Throughout the term, we celebrated NAIDOC Week, Book Week and Science Week, with our students embracing opportunities to learn, explore and celebrate in different ways. Students across all year levels participated in swimming programs, while our Foundation students celebrated 100 Days of School and Milo’s Birthday. We also welcomed prospective families for school tours and commenced our 2027 Foundation enrolment interviews.

Our faith life has continued to be an important part of our term, with Class Masses, whole-school Prayer Services and opportunities for our Year 3–6 students to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We enjoyed sharing a Cuppa with Fr Ajin, providing a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the connection between our parish and school communities. We also celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross – Mary MacKillop and the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, reminding us of the importance of faith, service and following the example of those who have gone before us.

There have been many opportunities to celebrate the people who make our school community so special. We showed our appreciation for Mrs Broughton on Principal’s Day and celebrated our wonderful Education Support Officers on ESO Appreciation Day. Our PJ Day raised $282.50 for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal, allowing our students to put their faith into action by supporting those in our wider community who are experiencing hardship. Our Middle students enjoyed an excursion to Coal Creek Heritage Village, and we were delighted to welcome grandparents and special friends to school for Grandparents Day. Our annual Book Fair was once again a wonderful celebration of reading and community.

We also enjoyed some very special opportunities to bring our families together, including our Father’s Day breakfast and Father’s Day stall, where students were able to choose something special for the important father figures in their lives. We welcomed kinder children from Inspire Early Learning for story time and an Auslan lesson with Mrs Marino, creating connections between our youngest learners and our school community.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to Andrew Toomey and Annabel Birtles, who finish up with us at the end of the term after three terms as members of our Single Subjects team. We are grateful for the contribution they have made to our students and school community and wish them all the very best for what lies ahead. At the same time, we are looking forward to welcoming Meghan Brockman and Maddie Hastings back to St Therese’s next term as they return from maternity leave. We are delighted to have them back with us and look forward to welcoming them into the new term.

As we prepare to enter the final term of the school year, families are reminded that school hats are required in Term 4, in line with our SunSmart Policy. Please ensure your child has their school hat ready for the beginning of the term so that they can participate safely in outdoor learning and play.

As we begin Term 4, I hope we can carry with us a sense of gratitude for all that we have shared. At St Therese’s, we are reminded that even the smallest acts of love can make a difference. This term has given us countless examples of this - in our classrooms, on the playground, in our families, through our faith and in the way we have supported one another. I look forward to continuing to celebrate our students, our staff and our wonderful community as we move into the final weeks of the year.

Kind Regards,

Emma Davies

Acting Principal

edavies@sttcbourne.catholic.edu.au