November Already! Term Four is Flying By!

It’s hard to believe we’ve already swung into November! With the warmer weather upon us, the final term of the school year seems to be moving at lightning speed, bringing with it a whirlwind of activities, events, and planning.

For the staff, this means the busy work of closing out the current year while preparing for the next. I know I need to quickly get my head around all the details and start packing for the upcoming Year 3-4 Thalgarrah excursion next week—an exciting outdoor adventure for our students!

Beyond excursions, preparations for our End of Year Presentation and the Whole School Performance are already ramping up. We’re working hard to organise awards, performances, and acknowledgments to ensure a memorable celebration for all our students and families.

Meanwhile, our teachers are heavily focused on academic reporting. They are busy collecting essential data and finalising assessments to begin composing semester reports for all of our students. This crucial work reflects the growth and achievement of our students over the past six months. Additionally, I am also actively engaged in planning for the 2026 academic year to ensure a smooth and successful transition for all classes.

November looks to be a very busy month indeed!

Missions Fundraiser Success! (And Yes, I Got Stuck Again)

Crazy socks and wild hairstyles was all that I could see under the COLA on Friday morning! In a way, I was jealous and I could tell that the large majority of the students and their parents spent a considerable amount of time using hairspray, applying different colours as well as using various other devices to create some interesting, unique and very original hairstyles.

The main event, however, was the infamous Duct Tape the Staff Member to the Wall challenge. I don't know if I should be annoyed or delighted to report that nearly every student participated, purchasing strips of tape that helped us raise a fantastic amount of money for Catholic Missions!

And yet, for some strange reason I once again found myself firmly affixed to the wall! After my release I was overhead by some staff members talking to myself again and this is what I apparently said:

"I’m starting to wonder why I am always the sucker that gets stuck to the wall! It has been three years now that I have gotten myself in this situation, and I know that every year I keep saying it is not going to be me! But here I was on Friday afternoon, the afternoon bell went, all of the students went home, and there I was, stuck to the wall once again."

Despite my gentle (and annually ignored) protest, the event was a massive success, and my participation was simply proof of my commitment to a good cause!

The generous funds raised will be directed towards assisting families in Zambia with health and wellness challenges. Thank you to everyone for your incredible giving spirit.

But please let this be a notice to the Mini Vinnies crew: I am officially requesting that you brainstorm some brand new, non-adhesive fundraising ideas for 2026. My back (and my dignity) depends on it!

Thank you again for your generosity and fantastic support!

AFL Clinic

Yesterday, our students had a fantastic time participating in an AFL Clinic held at the school! The program focused on developing essential skills like handballing, kicking, and teamwork. The coaches were excellent, running engaging drills and games that allowed everyone to try their hand at Australian Rules Football. It was great to see so many students getting active and learning a new sport.

Remembrance Day

On Tuesday, Indie, Tom, and I will attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Walcha War Memorial. This event is held to honor the end of World War I and to commemorate the service and sacrifice of all the men and women who have protected our nation.

Transition Graduation Ceremony 10th November!

It feels like just yesterday that our nine wonderful Transition students—Amelia, Ava, Dougal, Eleanor, Isabelle, Kolby, Marlie, Ollie, and Rudy—had their first day! I've been happy to hear that each child has thoroughly enjoyed their experience and is now well-prepared for Kindergarten next year. A special thank you goes to Miss Dunn for her leadership and guidance throughout the program's various sessions. To celebrate the fantastic accomplishments of these students, we warmly invite you to their Graduation Ceremony as part of our school assembly on Monday, November 10th, starting at 2:30 PM. Please join us!

2025 School Fees

This is a friendly and important reminder that all outstanding school fees for the current year are due to be paid in full by the end of November.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Timely payment of school fees is essential for the school to continue providing quality resources, programs, and opportunities for all students.

Please also be aware of the school's policy regarding excursions:

For a student to be eligible to participate in any school excursion, the family's school fees must be either paid in full or the family must be adhering to an agreed-upon instalment plan with the school's finance office.

If you have already settled your account, thank you for your timely payment.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty or need to set up an instalment plan, please contact the School Finance Officer, Karen immediately at 67772328 or email krizzi1@arm.catholic.edu.au to discuss your options confidentially. We are here to help.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to supporting the school.

Year 3-4 Excursion to Thalgarrah

This time next week, the Year 3-4 students will be participating in an overnight excursion to Thalgarrah on the 13th and 14th of November. Miss Cattelini and myself will be supervising the students on this excursion.

Parent Opportunity: Real Talk Workshops

I am excited to share that the Real Talk team is extending their valuable work by hosting a series of Parent Workshops across our Diocese.

The Real Talk program offers parents practical advice and engaging sessions on key topics that impact our children today, including navigating self-image, social media, and healthy relationships. These workshops are an excellent opportunity to gain insights and tools to continue these important conversations at home.

Please see the attached flyer below for full details on the workshop topics, dates, locations, and registration information. I strongly encourage all interested parents to attend!

2026 School Advisory Council Nominations

The Annual General Meeting of the School Advisory Council will be taking place on Tuesday 25th November in the library commencing at 5.30pm. The School Advisory Council are always looking out for more members.

Please consider nominating for the School Advisory Council for 2026.

Please read the Process of Discernment, Nomination and Election information below.

Updates to Our End-of-Year Events

This year, we've made some significant changes to our end-of-year Presentation, Performance, and Mass, based on valuable feedback from our families and the availability of priests.

Here are the details for your calendars:

"Ali Baba and the Forty Bikies" Performance: Our annual school performance will be held at the Walcha Multi-Purpose Centre on the evening of Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
Annual Presentations : On the morning of Friday, December 12, 2025, the Annual Presentations will take place at 9:30 am in the school COLA. Immediately following, the school community is invited to a morning tea picnic in the school playground.
Graduation Mass & Whole School Barbecue: The celebrations on Friday will conclude with the Graduation Mass at 12:00 pm, followed by a whole-school barbecue lunch.

The Winner of 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' Award Is.......

A big congratulations to Lachie! Lachie earned this week's 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' award for consistently demonstrating pride in his presentation. We're incredibly proud of how Lachie wears both his school and sports uniforms with such care and respect. Well done, Lachie!

2025 Remaining Staff Development Days (PD Days)

Thursday 18th December (Last day of Term 4)

Contacting Your Child's Teacher

Teachers welcome contact from parents, if you need to talk with staff please either contact the class teacher by phoning the school – 67772328 or email the school at spwadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au.

SCHOOL HOURS

Supervision of students commences at 8:30am. Students should not be on-site until after 8:30 AM.

School Assembly

School Assembly for the 4th Term Dates

We will be having our last school assembly for this year, this upcoming Monday 10th November as part of our Transition Graduation Ceremony at 2.30pm. Hopefully, we will see you there.

Jelly Bean Cup