Principal's Message
Dear St Philomena's School Community,
As we near the end of another eventful year at St Philomena's, I am delighted to share some highlights and important updates with you all.
This week, our Year 5 and Year 9 students have embarked on a transformative journey toward leadership. The preparations for 2024 commenced with the "Growing into Leadership" retreat led by the La Sallian Youth Ministry Team. This immersive experience allowed our students to delve into team-building activities and leadership workshops, offering insights into the rewards and challenges of student leadership. The process of selecting our student leaders for the upcoming year is underway. 2024 student leaders will be announced at the end of year prizegiving.
A heartfelt congratulations to the St Philomena's Parents and Friends (P&F) for orchestrating yet another successful Color Explosion Fun Run last Friday, 17 November. It was great to see the excitement on students faces as they navigated through the vibrant obstacle course. A special thank you to Mr. Scott Antees and the dedicated team of volunteers for their unwavering support in making this event a remarkable success.
With only a few weeks of the school year remaining, I urge parents and families to stay engaged and monitor the Compass Parent Portal diligently. There are still numerous school events scheduled and your involvement is invaluable during this bustling time of the year.
I extend my gratitude to the members of our school community who have shown interest in becoming part of the St Philomena's School Advisor Council for the 2024 Academic Year. The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 29th. Additionally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to departing council members Sarah Osborn, Anna Humphries, and Scott Antees. Your dedicated service and unwavering support have significantly contributed to the betterment of our school, and your presence will be deeply missed.
In recent weeks, we have observed an increase in vandalism to our school property and facilities by some of our own students. Instances of damage to the toilets, basketball hoops and the inappropriate use of our new cricket net facilities have been reported. This behavior is unacceptable and I implore parents to engage in conversations with their children about the importance of respecting and valuing school property. The financial resources spent on repairing and replacing these damages detract from other vital areas of our school.
As we navigate these challenges together, I sincerely thank all parents in advance for their support and cooperation in addressing this issue.
May I remind everyone of the importance of caring not just for one another but also for the incredible facilities provided to us. Let us reinforce these values within our school community and continue fostering an environment built on respect and responsibility.
In closing, I extend my heartfelt blessings to each member of our St Philomena's family.
Let us continue working together in nurturing a culture of respect, responsibility and care within our school.
God bless,
Jamie McDowall
Principal