Principal's Update
It has been another super exciting fortnight at St Margaret’s, full of wonderful adventures, important celebrations and of course great learning experiences for our children. I am delighted to share some of the highlights with you.
Fathers Day Celebrations: Over the past week we marked Father’s Day in a very special way at St Margaret’s. Children enjoyed leaving the school with gifts both bought and made, and it was lovely to see their pride in creating something for their dads.
Our Father’s Day Breakfast was a great success, bringing together dads and families in such a positive way. Thank you to everyone who supported this event and to those who assisted our families in organising and running the morning. I would like to particularly acknowledge the work of Lisa Morley and the P&F team for their hard work and support in organising both the Father’s Day Stall and Breakfast.
Father’s Day is a time of joy for many, but it can also be a day of sadness for some. We acknowledge all the fathers in our community, those with us and those who have gone before us, and we give thanks for the love, guidance and care they provide.
First Reconciliation: Another wonderful moment in our community was celebrating with our Year 3 students as they received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. This is a significant step in their faith journey, and it was beautiful to witness. Special thanks go to Ms Alison and the Year 3 team, Ms Deanna, Ms Christian, Ms Dacia and Ms Davidson, together with Father Desmond and Father Joseph, for the dedication and preparation that made this milestone so meaningful.
Italian Day: A highlight for me was celebrating Italian Day. Thank you to our community for supporting this so enthusiastically, and a special thanks to Ms Danielle for all her work in organising the day. It was a wonderful celebration of our LOTE program and Italian culture and it was great to see so many families coming along to support the day!
Meeting Our 2026 Preps: The 2026 Prep interviews were completed this fortnight, and what a joy they were. The energy, excitement and enthusiasm of our future students was uplifting and gave us a glimpse into the wonderful year ahead. Meeting these new members of our community always fills us with hope for the future.
School Review: We are thrilled to have received the draft of our school review report. I am delighted to share that the independent reviewers assessed St Margaret’s even higher than our own self-assessment. The findings reflect a high-performing school that we can all be proud of. On Friday the leadership team will be presented with the formal report and I look forward to sharing more details with you in the coming weeks.
Building Project Update: Important works on the new building continue to progress well. The foundation work is nearly complete and the slab is almost ready to be poured, which marks a significant milestone in this exciting project. I would like to thank our students for their patience as we continue to adapt to the temporary loss of playspace during this time. I know that this squeeze has meant that more students are playing on the oval which has caused some problems. The school is working hard to support everyone to enjoy their playtimes in a safe and happy manner.
Flourishing Learners Conference: Members of our School Leadership Team recently attended the MACS Flourishing Learners conference, where they joined colleagues from across the system. The conference provided access to exceptional speakers such as Dylan Wiliam and Tom Sherrington, who are global leaders in educational research. Their insights align closely with our vision for instruction and will help shape the future direction of learning and teaching at St Margaret’s.
School Improvement Initiatives: Our staff are actively engaged in school improvement work, particularly in the areas of Positive Behaviour for Learning and implementing best practice strategies for full student engagement. This includes visiting other schools, engaging in peer and self-reflection, and collaborating as a team to continually improve our teaching practice. The photos included in this newsletter show our staff working together with great energy and purpose to ensure the very best for our students.
Celebrating Diversity and Wellbeing: We also marked Harmony Day and R U OK? Day over the past fortnight. These occasions gave our students the opportunity to reflect on the importance of mental health, connection and belonging, as well as the richness that diversity brings to our community.
Looking Ahead: It is hard to believe that we are already approaching the end of Term 3. Parent Teacher interviews will take place over the coming weeks. These meetings are an invaluable opportunity to discuss your child’s learning progress and to look forward toward Term 4. We are grateful for the support and engagement of families in these important conversations.
As always, thank you for the many ways you contribute to the life of St Margaret’s. Together, we continue to ensure that our school is a place of joy, faith and learning for all.
God bless,
John