Deputy Principals' Report

Dear Families,

What an amazing day we had yesterday celebrating Italian Day! Congratulations to all the students for their participation and efforts of wearing costumes and Italian colours.

As we navigate the winter months, we've noticed an increase in student and staff absences, and we're working hard to ensure continuity in learning. To help us keep our community healthy, we'd like to gently remind families about the importance of keeping children at home when they are unwell. It can be a difficult decision, but it's crucial for preventing the spread of illnesses. We also ask that you reinforce good hygiene practices at home, such as frequent hand-washing, as we will be doing the same at school. We appreciate your ongoing support in keeping our school community safe and well.

Warm Regards, Deputy Principals: Joelle Diakrousis and Anthony Speranza

Labelling of uniform 

As the colder weather sets in, we’re noticing an increasing number of jumpers and jackets being misplaced or left around the school. To help us return lost items promptly and ensure no child is left cold during the day, we kindly ask families to clearly label all uniform items, especially outerwear.

A quick check to ensure your child’s name is on their jumper or jacket makes a big difference!

Smart Watches at School

We kindly remind families that smart watches are not permitted at school. These devices can be a distraction to learning and may pose privacy concerns. If a student is wearing a smart watch, they will be asked to remove it and store it in their bag for the duration of the school day. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a focused and respectful learning environment for all students.

Resilience Groups Year 3 & 4 (Formerly Bounceback)

Mrs Diakrousis has resumed her small group Resilience sessions. At this stage, the groups will be offered to Year 3 and 4 students only.

These sessions will explore a range of strategies designed to support the development of resilience through small group activities and discussion. Our second focus will be on Resilience —Building Inner Strength.

During the sessions, students will:

• Recognise thoughts and feelings during challenges.
• Learn calming and coping strategies to bounce back.
• Develop positive self-talk skills to stay strong and motivated           

The program will run as an eight-week block, with sessions held once a fortnight in the afternoon.

We look forward to supporting our students as they continue to grow in confidence and emotional wellbeing.

Seasons for Growth – Grief and Loss Support Program

We would like to let families know that Mrs Diakrousis will resume the Seasons for Growth program this term.  Seasons for Growth is a small-group program designed to support children who have experienced significant change, loss, or grief—such as the death of a loved one, family separation, or other major life changes.

The program helps students explore their feelings in a safe and supportive environment through age-appropriate discussions, stories, creative activities, and personal reflection. It aims to build emotional resilience and equip students with strategies to cope with change.

The program will be available for students from Prep to Year 6, and groups will be organised by level: Junior (Prep–Year 2), Middle (Years 3–4), and Senior (Years 5–6).

If you feel your child would benefit from being part of this program, please contact Mrs Diakrousis at jdiakrousis@spmentone.catholic.edu.au.

The program will begin in Week 4, Term 3

Random Acts of Kindness 

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following students for their outstanding display of kindness and compassion towards others. Your willingness to support, encourage, and uplift those around you has set a wonderful example for our entire school community. It’s incredibly inspiring to see students across different year levels go out of their way to make others feel valued, included, and respected.

Your acts of kindness—whether through small gestures or significant efforts—are powerful reminders of the positive impact we can all have. Thank you for embodying the values that make our school a welcoming and caring place for everyone. Keep up the amazing work!