Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Carers, and Community Members,

As we light the first candles on our wreaths, we have officially entered the holy season of Advent. In the Catholic tradition, Advent is far more than just a countdown to Christmas; it is a season of "active waiting." It is a time to slow down, prepare our hearts, and reflect on the coming of Jesus—both in history at Bethlehem and in our lives today.

Over the next two weeks at St Philomena’s, we focus on the four themes of the season: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. I encourage all our families to take a moment amidst the busy end-of-year rush to pray together and embrace the stillness that this season offers.

Speaking of community spirit, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many families who supported the St Francis Xavier's Parish Family Night last Wednesday.

It was a fantastic celebration and a true testament to the strong bond between our school and the wider parish. Seeing families, staff, and parishioners come together to celebrate our faith and friendship was a highlight of the term.

This week, our Year 10 students have been in Melbourne representing St Philomena’s at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival. Judging by the photos and videos streaming back to us, it has been a vibrant and life-giving experience!

It was wonderful to see how our young people immersed themselves in the festival. 

They sang, danced, prayed, and truly made the most of this unique opportunity to connect with the broader Church. They met people from all over the country, including Cardinal Mykola, as well as various Archbishops and Bishops.

We were also incredibly proud to receive feedback from Regina Menz, Director of Schools, Armidale Catholic Schools, who took the time to email me regarding our students:

"I just wanted to write and let you know how amazing your students and staff were at ACYF... It was truly a joy for me to be part of this."

In a moment of great pride for our school, St Philomena’s was one of only 12 groups chosen to carry the World Youth Day Cross and Icon through the streets of Melbourne. This is a significant honour, and our students carried it with reverence and joy.

The end of our academic year is fast approaching. Please note that the final day for students will be Wednesday, 17 December.

We have a wonderful week of celebrations ahead, including the Year 10 Graduation Dinner (11 December) and our annual Prizegiving (12 December).

We will send out a final, condensed newsletter in the last week of term. This edition will highlight student successes from Prizegiving and the Graduation Dinner, and will also contain essential information regarding start dates for the 2026 academic year in February.

Finally, a note for our parents regarding the digital world. On 10 December, the new Social Media Minimum Age Restrictions will come into force.

We understand that this transition may be a difficult time for some of our young people as they navigate these changes. We encourage parents to have open conversations with their children during this time. For support, guidance, and clear information on what these changes mean for your family, please visit the eSafety Commissioner’s website (https://www.esafety.gov.au/).

Have a wonderful weekend.

Alistair Stewart

Principal