Principal's Update
Dear Families,
With the Season of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday next week and the old problem of “What to give up for Lent?” circling around us, perhaps the following might offer some new alternatives:
Fast from anger and hatred:
be more patient and understanding.
Fast from judging others:
think kindly thoughts.
Fast from discouragement:
be full of hope.
Fast from complaining:
focus on gratitude.
Fast from resentment or bitterness:
turn to forgiveness.
The season of Lent is a time to review the past, admit to our shortcomings, reaffirm our commitment to the values that we want to live by, and prepare ourselves to try harder in the year ahead. It is a time to acknowledge our less than best choices and to feel sorry for the lost opportunities: it is a time to have a clean room to offer the new life of Easter.
“Jesus,
May we be encouraged this Lent
as we reflect on the difficulties
You had in Your life.
Give us a like courage to face
the challenges that daily enter our lives.
Lead us to the joy of resurrection.
Amen.”
Learning Conversations
Thank you to all parents for assisting our teachers to learn more about your children. The focus of our first learning conversation is aimed at listening and learning more about each of the children in our care.
Our future learning conversations will be focused on communicating with students and parents about all facets of learning, and how students interact with their peers and staff members.
2027 Enrolment – Change of dates
I have been fortunate to receive principal enrichment, which means that I will be able to travel to England, Ireland and Scotland to learn more about the educational Trusts and Academies that have shown considerable academic growth. I have been granted leave from April 20 to June 16 – the majority of Term 2.
In addition, Grace Scalora will be taking five weeks of personal leave from April 1, 2026.
This means we will be required to hold our Enrolment Information night this term, as well as our Principal Led Learning Tours. The dates for these are as follows:
March 23 Principal Led Learning Tour @ 5.00pm
March 24 Principal Led Learning Tour @ 9.30am
March 25 Principal Led Learning Tour @ 12.30pm
We will also hold our Enrolment Information evening on Tuesday 24 March @ 7.30pm in the Meeting Room. Bookings for the Principal Learning Tours and the Information Evening can be made by clicking on the 'Event Registration' button on our school website
Please note that parents can complete the enrolment application form attached to our school website link under the 'Enrolment Application' button.
Please note that enrolments will be open from Tuesday 21 April and will close on Friday 22 May. These dates are the same for all Bendigo Catholic schools.
Pupil Free Days
All Catholic Schools are allocated Pupil Free Days each year. CESL has determined that all Catholic schools in the Sandhurst Diocese will be required to hold Pupil Free days to support all staff members to further refine their practices within the suite of Magnify programs.
In addition, each catholic school has an extra two Pupil Free Days to focus on the professional development that staff members require to achieve the Strategic and Operational Goals set each year. In order for this to happen the school is closed for the day, though Day Care will be provided through YMCA if enough student interest is registered. Please note that we will finalise the dates of the two Pupil Free Days and inform all families once finalised.
Our Pupil Free Days for 2026 are as follows:
Monday 20 April - Learning & Teaching PD
Friday 5 June - Student Wellbeing & Safeguarding PD
Wednesday 5 August - Staff Spirituality Day
Monday 2 November - Report Writing Day
Wednesday 16 December - 2027 Planning day
Swimming Sports
Thank you to our parent volunteers and teachers for helping at our Swimming Sports last week. Also, a big thank you to our students who participated extremely well and had a great day. I want to make a special mention to Danielle Coates for her organisation and preparation leading up to and on the day. Thanks also to Kate Zealley for supporting Danielle in the preparation. Thank you!
Parents & Friends Meetings for Term 1:
All parents are invited to come along and support our children at the following Parents & Friends meetings:
Thursday 12 March @ 7.30pm in the staff room
School Advisory Council Meetings for Term 1:
All council members are invited to come along and help drive our school improvement processes at meetings in the Meeting Room on:
Wednesday 18 March @ 5.30pm in the staff room
Shed Unavailability
The shed will be unavailable for training use on the following dates:
- Thursday 26 March - School Photos
- Friday 27 March - School Photos
Assembly
Our next assembly will be tomorrow, Friday 20 Feb @ 2.45pm in the shed. 6C will be presenting. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend our assembly. We look forward to seeing you there.
Christ has no hands but yours.
Tim Moloney
Principal