Dear Families,

What an exciting and joy-filled week it has been at St. Patrick’s School! This week we celebrated our annual Italian Day Festival, a much-loved tradition that brings our school community together to experience the beauty, fun, and flavour of Italian culture.

The day began in spectacular style with a colourful parade, where students proudly showcased their creative costumes and Italian colours. Laughter and music filled the air as we all gathered to enjoy a lively stage show in the hall, starring the always-entertaining Mr Oopy. His energy, humour, and interactive performance had the children laughing, clapping, and joining in from start to finish.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our wonderful Italian teacher, Signora Bassily, whose passion and dedication brought this celebration to life. She worked tirelessly to organise a rich cultural immersion for our children, giving them the opportunity to learn, participate, and have fun in such a vibrant way. We also extend our sincere thanks to Anna and the amazing team in the canteen, who prepared and served over 430 delicious Italian-themed lunches – a truly impressive effort that made the day even more special.

It was a day filled with community spirit, delicious food, cultural pride, and plenty of smiles – a wonderful reminder of the joy that comes from celebrating and learning together.

National Catholic Principal's Conference

Next week, I will have the privilege of attending the National Catholic Principal’s Conference in Cairns. This important gathering brings together Catholic school leaders from across the country to share ideas, deepen our faith, and explore new ways to strengthen teaching and learning in our communities. The Southern Region Peninsula Network has chosen to attend this valuable event, recognising the opportunity it provides for professional growth, collaboration, and inspiration.

During my absence, Mrs Joelle Diakrousis and Mr Anthony Speranza will be serving as Co-Acting Principals of St. Patrick’s School. I have every confidence that our school will be in excellent hands, and I know they will continue to lead with care, dedication, and the same commitment to our students’ wellbeing and learning.

Year 7 2027 Enrolment reminder

Just a reminder to Year 5 families that tomorrow - Friday 15th August - is the cut off date to enrol your child in Catholic Secondary Schools for the 2027 school year.

School Advisory Council Meeting

Last night, we held our School Advisory Council meeting for Term 3. It was a productive and engaging evening, with a wide range of important topics discussed, including:

Maintenance Report – an update on recent and upcoming works across the school grounds and facilities.
MACSEYE Update – progress and feedback on our Out of Hours Care provider.
Enrolment & Staffing Updates – current numbers and planning for 2026.
School Review Dates – confirmation of our review schedule and preparation requirements.
Building Levy Adjustment for 2026 – proposed minimal changes to support future development projects.
Sex Education & Protective Behaviours – planning for upcoming programs to support student wellbeing.
Anti-Racism Program (Years 3–6) – initiatives aimed at fostering respect, inclusion, and understanding.
Proposed Signage for St. Patrick’s School – ideas to improve visibility and communication.
Term 4 Parent Cyber Safety Evening – a planned information session to support families in navigating online safety.

I would like to thank all members of the School Advisory Council for their time, insights, and commitment to supporting the ongoing growth and improvement of our school.

Confirmation Rehearsal

A special thank you to Fr. Justin for visiting our Year 6 students this morning to speak with them about the upcoming Sacrament of Confirmation, which will be celebrated on Thursday, 28th August at 6:00pm at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the city. His guidance, encouragement, and insights helped our students to reflect deeply on the meaning of this important step in their faith journey.

In the afternoon, we were delighted to welcome Stella Maris, St. John Vianney’s, and the Parish Confirmation candidates to join us as we finalised our sacrament rehearsals at the church. It was a wonderful opportunity for all candidates to come together in preparation, building a sense of unity and shared purpose ahead of this very special celebration.

We also express our sincere thanks to Mrs Ady, our Religious Education Leader, and the Year 6 teaching team for their support, organisation, and guidance in preparing our students for this milestone in their faith. Their commitment ensures our candidates are well-prepared, both spiritually and practically, for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Upcoming P & F Events

School Calendar

Please use the following google link to add the school calendar to your own calendar for ease of information exchange. School Google Calendar HERE.

God Bless

Pat Berlingeri

Principal

Literacy News

Book Week 2025

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge