School News
Dear Families,
It’s hard to believe we are already over halfway through Term 4. In this newsletter, we recap the past two weeks and look ahead to what’s coming up in the next fortnight. The final weeks of the school year are always filled with excitement, energy, and plenty of wonderful events and activities across all year levels.
Please continue to check ClassDojo and the School Calendar to stay up to date with all that’s happening. As we head into the final weeks of Term 4, we’ll be celebrating the many achievements of 2025, while also planning and preparing for 2026, ensuring everything is in place for another fantastic year of learning, growth, and community at Galilee.
Invitation to View Our School-Wide Data
Our school-wide data is in and we are keen to share it with you.
We warmly invite you to view our data displays on Monday 17th November, Tuesday 18th November and Wednesday 19th November from 8:35–9:00am in the Stadium. These displays will be open for families and students to view and comment on.
We value your insights and suggestions about what is working well at Galilee and what areas we should focus on moving forward. Your feedback will play an important role in shaping our strategic direction for the 2026 school year.
On display will be:
- NAPLAN Data - Years 3 and 5
- PAT Reading Data - Progressive Achievement Test in Reading that was completed by students in Prep–Year 6 in Term 4
- PAT Mathematics Data - Progressive Achievement Test in Mathematics that was completed by students in Prep–Year 6 in Term 4
MACSSIS Survey Data - Feedback from students (Years 4–6), families and staff collected at the end of Term 3.
At Galilee, we are committed to continuous improvement. We believe that listening to all voices within our community and analysing the data we receive are essential to driving our school’s strategic direction. We encourage everyone to engage with the data and share comments or reflections by writing on the boards.
Following the analysis process, we will develop our 2026 Annual Action Plan, which will outline Galilee’s strategic direction for the year ahead. Once finalised, we will share the plan with our community.
We look forward to your participation and appreciate your ongoing support in helping Galilee continue to grow and thrive.
Whole School Swimming Carnival Tomorrow
We’re excited for our annual Whole School Swimming Carnival on Friday 14 November 2025 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) in Albert Park.
Students will walk to and from MSAC with their class group, accompanied by teachers and support staff. The carnival will run from approximately 9:15am–1:30pm.
Students are encouraged to wear their house colours or Galilee sports uniform, with swimwear underneath and bring along all essential items such as a towel, goggles, hat, sunscreen, lunch, snacks and a water bottle. Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled.
Parents and guardians are warmly invited to come along and cheer from the grandstand areas. Please note that students will not have access to the café and there will be no lunch orders on the day.
If your child needs a replacement Galilee swimming cap, these can be purchased from the office for $5.
We look forward to a wonderful day of fun, teamwork and house spirit at this year’s Swimming Carnival.
Year 2 Extended Day
Today, our Year 2 students took part in a very special Extended Day Program. This day is an important step in preparing them for future school camps and fostering the skills that help them grow as confident, capable learners.
The Extended Day experience was designed by our Year 2 teachers to give our students a taste of what a school camp is all about — building independence, resilience and teamwork in a supportive and familiar environment. Throughout the day, afternoon and evening, students participated enthusiastically in a range of engaging activities such as mini golf and rock climbing that encouraged collaboration, problem-solving and fun.
The program provided students with valuable opportunities to try new things, step outside their comfort zones and experience the excitement of learning beyond the classroom. It is a big milestone on students’ journey toward overnight camp experiences in future years.
We are so proud of the positive attitude, enthusiasm and maturity shown by all our Year 2 students. A big thank you to Dan Booth and Marcus Page, the Year 2 teachers, who organised and supervised the program, creating such a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone involved. Thank you also to the parents who volunteered to attend.
The Extended Day Program is just one of the many ways we support our students to grow in confidence, independence and community spirit; qualities that will serve them well as they continue through their schooling and beyond.
Parent Wellbeing Night – Building Confidence and Resilience
Last week, we were thrilled to welcome parents and carers to our Parent Wellbeing Night, focused on helping children build confidence, resilience, and emotional strength. The evening was designed to share the same approaches we use at school, showing families practical ways to support their children at home.
Delivered by our Wellbeing Leaders, School Counsellors, and Digital Technology Leaders, the night featured four interactive mini-workshops:
- Boundaries: Learning how caring, consistent limits help children manage big emotions and build resilience.
- Strengths-Based Language: Celebrating and reinforcing children’s strengths to boost confidence and motivation.
- Coaching vs. Rescuing: Supporting children through challenges without solving problems for them, including our practical Problem-Solving Ladder tool.
Digital Safety: Practical strategies to guide children’s phone, gaming, and social media use while promoting balance and self-regulation.
A heartfelt thank you to Paddy, Julie, Tal, Mikalia, our Student Wellbeing Leaders Max and Hattie for presenting on the night, and all parents who attended for making the night such a positive and engaging experience. It was wonderful to see our community come together, share insights, and take away practical tools to support children in the same way we do at school.
Year 6 Urban Experience Week
Next week, our Year 6 students will take part in their much-anticipated Urban Experience Week. It is an exciting part of our school camp program designed to help them develop independence, confidence and practical life skills as they prepare for their transition to secondary school.
The Urban Experience provides our Year 6 students with the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and explore the vibrant city of Melbourne. Throughout the week, students will learn to navigate public transport, find their way around the city and manage the responsibilities that come with greater independence. These real-world experiences help build self-reliance, problem-solving skills and teamwork.
As part of the program, students will engage with Melbourne’s rich cultural and civic heritage, visiting key landmarks and institutions such as Parliament House, where they’ll learn about our democratic system in action. They will also take part in a range of interactive activities that showcase the diversity, history and creativity of our city.
Of course, the week isn’t all about learning, there will be plenty of time for fun, friendship and adventure as students share new experiences, explore exciting places and make lasting memories together.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the teachers, Mr. Edwards and Mr. Pensini who have worked so hard to plan, organise and prepare this wonderful learning experience for our students. Your effort and dedication ensure that our students have a safe, engaging and memorable week. We also thank the parents who have volunteered their time to support the program and accompany students throughout the week. Your involvement and enthusiasm help make this experience possible.
The Year 6 Urban Experience is a highlight of our school year and an important milestone in preparing our students for the independence and responsibility of secondary school life. We look forward to seeing our students embrace the challenges and opportunities of the week ahead with enthusiasm and pride.
Year 1 Maths Games Day
On Wednesday our Year 1 students took part in an exciting Maths Games Day. The day focused on a fun and engaging celebration of mathematical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving. The event was organised by our Maths Leader, Mr. Adrian Webster, who, along with some of our talented Year 5 and 6 Mathematicians, planned and ran a series of hands-on, collaborative maths challenges for our Year 1 students.
Throughout the day, students rotated through a range of interactive games and problem-solving tasks that encouraged them to think creatively, work together and apply the mathematical skills they have been developing in the classroom. The activities were designed to challenge their thinking in a fun and supportive way, allowing their brains to ‘sweat’ as they explored new ideas, tested strategies and celebrated each small success.
The energy and excitement in the room was contagious. It was wonderful to see our Year 1 students so engaged in their learning, showing perseverance, curiosity and teamwork as they tackled each challenge.
A huge thank you goes to Mr. Webster for organising such a fantastic day of learning and to our Year 5 and 6 Mathematicians for being excellent leaders and role models. Their encouragement and enthusiasm helped make the day a memorable and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
At Galilee, we believe that maths is not just about numbers, it’s about thinking, reasoning and having fun while solving problems together. The Maths Games Day was a wonderful reminder of just how enjoyable and meaningful mathematical learning can be.
Please see more information and a few photos from the day on the next section of our newsletter.
Expressions of Interest – School Advisory Council 2026
At the end of this year, one member of our School Advisory Council (SAC) will be completing their service and another member concluded their service at the end of 2024. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to Allan Menagh (departing at the end of 2025) and Bernie Mandle (departed at the end of 2024) for their outstanding commitment, insight and contribution to the Galilee community.
We are now seeking expressions of interest for two new members to join the School Advisory Council for a three-year term commencing in 2026. The SAC plays a vital role in supporting the Principal and Leadership Team in guiding the mission and strategic direction of our school.
We welcome parents, guardians and parish members who bring a range of skills, experiences and perspectives and who share a strong commitment to providing the best possible education for our students. Individuals with expertise in finance, administration, governance, law, politics, or project management are particularly encouraged to apply.
Please see the links below for further details about the School Advisory Council and how to submit an expression of interest.
Galilee Soirée
We are delighted to invite our community to the Galilee Soirée on Wednesday 26th November from 5:00–7:00pm in the Stadium.
This special biannual event showcases the incredible talents of students who participate in our instrumental music program. Families, friends and community members are warmly invited to come along and enjoy an evening of wonderful performances as our young musicians take to the stage to share what they have been learning.
Performing live is a fantastic opportunity for students to build confidence and celebrate their musical growth. A big thank you to Trent, Richard and Leonard, our dedicated instrumental teachers, for their guidance, encouragement and preparation leading up to this event.
We look forward to a memorable evening of music, celebration and community spirit.
Galilee Day
Thursday 27th November is Galilee Day. We will be celebrating as a school with a liturgy and special activities planned for the students. More details about how we will celebrate will be shared on Dojo.
Galilee Day is the day that we celebrate our school history and tradition. Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School was established in 1994 through the amalgamation of four local parish schools from the parishes of Ss. Peter and Paul South Melbourne, St Joseph's Port Melbourne, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middle Park and Sacred Heart in St. Kilda. The school was founded to serve the local Catholic community and to continue the rich tradition of Catholic education in the area. Since its establishment, Galilee has built a strong reputation for fostering faith, learning and community spirit, providing a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to grow academically, spiritually and personally.
Galilee was named by Fr. Bob, the founding Parish Priest. In the time of Jesus, Galilee was a region in the north, above Samaria, known for its hills and lakes. It was where Jesus spent much of his life and carried out most of his public ministry. The people of Galilee were known to be strong, faithful and courageous. They often faced challenges under Roman rule but remained proud of their faith and traditions, standing up for what they believed in. Galilee was a place of community, faith and hope, making it a fitting name for our school as we too strive to follow Jesus’ example of kindness, inclusion and courage in living out our beliefs each day.
Upcoming School Closure Day on Friday 28th November
There will be a student-free day on Friday 28th November. GOSH our out of hours service will be open on the day. Please book your children in using the Their Care website if you need support looking after your child on this day.
On this day, the teachers will undertake professional development on-site to develop greater skills and capacity in areas of instructional practice in the classroom, led by a distinguished expert in this field, Glen Pearsall.
Christmas Carols at Galilee - Save the Date
What’s coming up:
Week 7
Year 6 Urban City Experience - Monday 17 November to Friday 21st November
2026 Prep transition - Friday 21st November
Week 8
Galilee Day - Thursday 27th November
School Closure Day- Friday 28th November
Week 9
Year 3 Zoo Snooze- Monday 1st December- Tuesday 2nd December
Year 3 Zoo Snooze- Wednesday 3rd December- Thursday 4 December
Year 6 excursion to Funfields- Wednesday 3rd December
2026 Prep Parent Wine and Cheese Night- Wednesday 3rd December 5-7:30pm
Junior Athletics Day- Friday 5th December
2026 Prep Transition
Week 10
2026 classes Transition Session 1- Monday 8th December
Carols by Stadium Lights- Thursday 11th December, 4:30-6:00pm
2026 classes Transition Session 2- Friday 12 December
2026 Prep Transition
Week 11
Year 6 Graduation- Monday 15 December
Year 6 last day of Primary School- Monday 15 December
Last Day of 2025 for students- Tuesday 16 December, 1:30pm finish
We wish you and your family every blessing in the coming weeks.
-Amy Burns (Principal), Richard Harding (Deputy Principal), Holly Evans (Deputy Principal)