Dear Parents and Families,

The first full week back at school feels a little like an Australian Open Final - exciting, but a little tiring! If you stayed up to watch the games last Friday and Sunday night, you know what I mean! It’s the same with our students ~ they have been pumped with excitement and keen to be back, but you may have noticed a change in behaviour as the week has progressed, and they are looking like the players sometimes do in the fourth set of a match. Thankfully, it's Friday so they can rest and regain that beautiful enthusiasm before Monday.

A HUGE ‘Thank you’ to Joel, Jonathan and Michelle for the 'Tea and Tissues' welcome gathering for Prep parents last Monday. It was lovely to see so many parents stay for a chat.

We have our Opening of the School Year Mass on Monday, 9 February at 9.15am. Parents are most welcome to join us for this.

Your children have made an excellent start to the year and their learning. They are managing the weather and the new routine. Thank you for your support of the transition and congratulations to all our students on such a fantastic start!

We are looking forward to celebrating Shrove Tuesday 17 February with your family at the Picnic from 5-7.30pm. It will be great to see the community gather and catch up with one another.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best wishes,

IMPORTANT UPDATES

PRAYER AND MEDITATION

One of the routines which is essential to a smooth and calm start to the day is our Prayer and Meditation time. This requires all students to be on time to school and in their classrooms before the bell so that the environment is conducive for reflecting on God and all we have been given, and thinking about what we are grateful for. There is a time for shared and individual prayer.

Please be on time to school so that your child is part of this settling time. Students who are late will sit quietly with a LSO (Learning Support Officer) in the middle space or at the back of the class so that the other students don’t lose their focus.

ATTENDANCE

There are guidelines for Attendance at school, to ensure quality educational outcomes for students. The curriculum is sequential and builds on skills as it progresses, making it difficult for students who are absent to maintain the flow or retain information. Agreeing to regular days off can have a significant impact on a child’s progress. Please read the flyer so that you understand the impact of time away, and can look for the signs and work with the school if attendance becomes a problem. Thank you.

PARKING REMINDERS

To be respectful to our neighbours, please do not park across ANY driveways. We have had more than one complaint this week, about the difficulties on Silk Street. The residents have the right to call the Council or police if their driveway is not accessible. We would like to maintain positive relations with our neighbours, so please be courteous of their need to go in and out of their driveways. Please also allow vehicles going up the Silk Street hill the right of way.

Please also note that the undercroft is not to be parked in after school.

REPORTING

Later this term on Monday 30 March from 1.30-6pm, we will hold Learning Conversations for all Levels P-6. These have a twofold purpose - the teacher/s will inform you of your child's latest assessment results and areas to focus upon (goals) and your child will talk to you about specific work they have completed and their goals for Term Two. These meetings will be of ten minutes duration. Students will be dismissed at 1pm.

Teachers are always available to meet with you prior to and following this interview, if you wish to discuss your child at ANY TIME. Should you need to make the teacher aware of any issue/s for your child, during the year or particularly if anything has changed over the holiday period, please make an appointment with them to do so next week. We will send home written reports at the end of Terms Two and Four.

FIRST ASSEMBLY

Our first outdoor Assembly will be held on the Top Yard on Monday 16 February at 8.50am. Parents are invited to join us for this. This is weather dependent, so please watch for any changes advised through Compass.

Our new Leaders will have their first experience of leading this for the school.

FIRST MEETING OF THE PFA

The first meeting of the Parents’ and Friends Association has been booked for NEXT Tuesday, 10 February at 7pm in the Seminar Room. Come along and help us brainstorm the activities and fundraisers for the year ahead. All welcome!

NATIONAL LUNCHTIME WEEK

Now that we have returned to school, it is important to focus on the food we eat during the day to keep our brains working at their optimum level.

It's great to have so many options and you can include your children in the discussion regarding what they like to eat at school.

Please visit www.lunchboxweek.org for some new and interesting lunch ideas.

CONFIRMATION PROGRAM COMMENCES

We look forward to commencing the Confirmation program for our Year Six students with the Commitment Mass on Saturday 14 February 5.30pm (or Sunday 15 February at 10am if you can’t make the Saturday evening).

This year, we have decided to hold Parent AND Child Workshops for each sacrament, with the Confirmation Workshop being held on MONDAY 2 March in the GECCO from 6.30-8pm. Our presenter is Jacqui Giuliano, an experienced educator and presenter in the Religious Education field.

YEARS 3-6 DISTRICT SWIMMING TRIALS

The information about our upcoming Swimming Trials was shared this week so that we can find out who is going to represent the school in the District event which is being held in Term One. We need to be organised for this fairly quickly. Thank you for your cooperation.

2026 SCHOOL PHOTOS

The date of our school photos is Tuesday 17 March. Please note this in your diaries.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

The School Advisory Council is seeking some new members. So what does the SAC do?

The SAC is the body which advises on matters concerning the school. It can assist with school promotion, provide information to the school community and skills and perspectives on matters of interest to our parents. You may have a particular skill set which will help on the SAC, or be interested in learning more about our programs and initiatives. Everyone is welcome to apply for a two year term, which will be decided by Fr Michael and myself if we have more applicants than positions. The SAC meets twice a term for approximately 1.5 hours. Please click here for Expression of Interest information.

CAMP

We are busily preparing for our Year 5 and 6 Camp to Rumbug in Foster North from 23-25 February. We look forward to you joining us online next Monday night for the Parent Information Meeting. Following this, the students will have their own time to gather, see the information and ask any questions.

If there are any financial aspects concerning you, please speak with me. No student misses Camp due to financial constraints at the time.

CANTEEN INFORMATION

Lunch order days are Thursday and Friday and will now be provided after the first break, at 11.30am.

Online lunch orders must be completed and paid in full by 9.30pm the night before the lunch order day.

If you do forget to order your child's lunch and you are contacted by the school, the Canteen will unfortunately not be able to provide your child with any hot food rather a vegemite or cheese sandwich will be provided and charged to you for payment.

Any queries please contact: Madelelene 0438 684 468 madelene.martin@bigpond.com

Orders can be placed: www.mymumandi.com.au

Open Days -Secondary Schools and Kinders