Community Engagement

Walk Safely to School Day - Friday 15 May - Thank you!   

We had the most wonderful start to the day on Friday the 15th of May. This day has become an important event on our calendar and one we all look forward to. It is quite a treat to walk to school on a walking school bus with friends, enjoying the sunshine and marching through piles of autumn leaves. Lots of students, parents and younger siblings met staff on the corner of Glenvale and Malvern Roads to walk up Glenvale Road. We were delighted to be joined again this year by two Police Officers Emma and Michael from the Malvern Proactive Unit.  

After the energetic hike up the hill, students enjoyed a mini muffin, received stickers and a temporary tattoo to say 'Well done!' It was fantastic to have the police car in our playground when we arrived at school! And even better that we had the chance to sit inside it with our friends and hear the loud siren.  

Thanks to all the parents who dropped their children to meet one of the three 'walking school buses' and joined us for the walk to school. It is always fun to walk together and enjoy each others company. We know how good this is for our minds, hearts and bodies. Huge thanks to the staff who supported this event by walking with students, supervising street crossings, handing out stickers, temporary tattoos and serving muffins. Thanks  to our Community Leader Harper Connellan who promoted this event across the school. 

This national initiative,  encourages children and families to build regular walking into their daily routine not just on one day, but every day. The initiative highlights the health, road safety, transport, environmental and social benefits of active travel to and from school.

We were great ambassadors and certainly brightened up Glenvale Road with our chatter and laughter.  

Little Roch Stars had some special visitors...

Our Little Roch Stars were treated to a visit on Friday the 15th May. Not only did they make playdough but two Police Officers, Donna and Michael joined them after Walk Safely to School Day. Emma and Michael had lots of fun meeting the 3 - 5 year old's and we found out that Donna is quite the expert playdough maker.  

The Little Roch Stars at St Roch's Program is an initiative to support the transition of 3 - 5 year old's to school.  Please encourage any interested  3 - 5 year old's to join us on Fridays from 8.30am - 9.30am.  Miss Allen our talented teacher leads this wonderful program. We look forward to the next session this Friday 5 June at 8.30am.

Kindergarten and Pre School Parent Information Sessions 

Rachel and I had the privilege of speaking at two Early Learning Centres recently. At Guardian ELC in Camberwell we spoke to parents about how to support their children to transition to primary school. At Paisley Park ELC in East Malvern we spoke about what St Roch's has to offer in order to assist in their decision making about where to send their children in the coming years. It was a lovely opportunity to meet the parents and staff of both centres.  

Open Morning Tours 

We were delighted to showcase our amazing school on Friday morning at our Open Day morning. We had a big group attend and the families were incredibly impressed with the learning opportunities our students have and the quality of our staff and programs. We look forward to  two more tours in June. Please come along if you have the chance to see what a special place our school is to belong to, to learn and to grow within!     

Future Open Day Tours 

Monday 1 June 9.30am 

Tuesday 23 June 9.30am 

Gardening Club  

Gardening Club is an important component of our Wellbeing Program. Mrs Meseha provides time and space for students to come together in a purposeful and fun way to connect with nature and each other. Last week there was a tiny caterpillar to observe. Mrs Meseha has a true gift for setting up engaging activities involving mud, creativity and care for nature. 

Gardening Club is held every Wednesday at 1.50pm and is open to all students from Prep - Year 6. We love watching our veggies grow!  

Chess Club Fun

Each Wednesday at break time the Hall is a fun place to be! Chess lessons with Zach from Chess for Schools are being enjoyed by an enthusiastic group of chess players all keen to have the right move. Our students are impressive chess players and are always willing to encourage each other. Chess Club is open for students in Prep to Year 6 and will operate each Wednesday at 11.00am for eight weeks throughout Term 2. Please consider registering your child in this popular lunchtime club. There are many benefits both academically, socially and emotionally when children play chess. 

We welcome a new coach, Zach to St Roch's this term. Registration for St Roch's is now open on the Chess for Schools website and Term 2 registrations are open here:  

 Register Here - Chess For Schools

Singing Club, Performing Arts Club, Gardening Club, STEM Club and Dance Club

It's all happening at lunchtime at St Roch's! We are pleased to be able to offer extra curricular activities for our students throughout the week during break times. We are very excited to announce two new clubs at St Roch's...Singing Club and Performing Arts Club. 

Please note the change of day for Singing Club with Mrs O'Gorman.  Singing Club is now held every Thursday at 11.10am in the PA Room. We look forward to hearing their beautiful voices floating down while we are out at playtime. 

STEM Club is led by Mrs Jensen and our STEM Leaders Luka and Conner on Thursdays on a fortnightly basis at 1.50pm. 

Dance Club with Roxanne by Dance Fitness Victoria is held every Thursday at lunchtime at 11.10am and is open to all students from Prep - Year 4.

Please encourage to children to participate in any of these clubs should they wish to come along.  The more the merrier! 

Icy Pole Friday 

Our School Captains Mia and George will be selling icy poles for a gold coin donation at 3.30pm in the playground each Friday afternoon throughout Term 2. Your donations help to improve our school and the Gaga Pit has been a fantastic addition to our playground. Thank you for all of your support to keep improving our school.

Nadine Bolton  

Deputy Principal, Learning Diversity Leader and Student Wellbeing Leader