Dear Families

Welcome back to Semester Two. I hope the holiday break provided an opportunity for rest, renewal and valuable family time. As we begin Term 3, there is a great sense of excitement across our school community, with many wonderful events, opportunities and milestones ahead.

Firstly, I am delighted to share some fantastic news for our school community.

Congratulations, Mr Miggy Podosky!

It was recently announced that Mr Miggy Podosky has been appointed Principal of St Kilian's School, commencing in 2027. This exciting announcement has been met with great enthusiasm and pride throughout our community.

Mr Podosky has made an outstanding contribution to the life of St Kilian's through his leadership, commitment to Catholic education, and genuine care for students, staff and families. His passion for learning, strong relationships and dedication to our school's mission have helped shape the vibrant community we enjoy today.

We have every confidence that St Kilian's will continue to flourish under his leadership, and we look forward to supporting him as he prepares to take on this important role.

Congratulations, Mr P! This appointment is richly deserved, and we wish you every success for the future.

Looking Ahead to Term 3

Term 3 is traditionally one of our busiest and most rewarding terms. There is certainly much to look forward to in the weeks ahead as students engage in a variety of learning, faith and community experiences.

Throughout the term we will:

Celebrate St Kilian's Feast Day as a school community.
Foster a love of reading and learning through Book Week.
Support our Year 5 students as they participate in their highly anticipated camp experience.
Welcome families to our Learning Conversations, providing valuable opportunities to discuss student growth, progress and future learning goals.
Participate in a range of sporting and community events.
Conduct Foundation interviews for prospective 2027 families.

Alongside these significant events will be the many everyday moments of teaching, learning, friendship and connection that make St Kilian's such a special place.

A particularly exciting milestone this term will be the completion and occupation of our new staff and administration facilities. This development represents an important investment in the future of our school and will provide enhanced spaces to support both staff and families for many years to come.

Staffing Updates

Farewell Mrs Alana Vaughan

Tomorrow, we farewell a valued member of our staff, Mrs Alana Vaughan, who has accepted an administration position at Girton College.

Over the past six years, Alana has made an outstanding contribution to St Kilian's through her work as our Physical Education teacher and through her leadership of school sporting events. Her enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment to students have been greatly appreciated by staff, students and families alike.

We sincerely thank Alana for her dedication and wish her every success and happiness in this exciting new chapter.

Farewell Mrs Tara McMahon

I would also like to inform families that Mrs Tara McMahon has decided to pursue a new career pathway and will be leaving St Kilian's.

During her seven years as a Learning Support Officer, Tara has made a significant contribution to the learning and wellbeing of many students. Her caring nature, commitment and support have had a positive impact on both students and staff.

Tara will conclude her time at St Kilian's on Friday 24 August. We thank her for her service to our community and wish her every success for the future.

Welcome Miss Ruby Barkmeyer

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Miss Ruby Barkmeyer to the St Kilian's staff as our new Physical Education teacher.

Ruby is already familiar to many students and staff through her casual teaching work at St Kilian's throughout the year. We look forward to the expertise, energy and enthusiasm she will bring to our school community.

Important Notice to Families

Please note that St Kilian's School will be closed on Thursday 30 July.

Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd has advised that on this day Bishop René Ramirez will be formally installed at Sacred Heart Cathedral, with a significant gathering to follow at St Kilian's Hall.

Due to the large number of visitors expected in the area and the increased traffic surrounding the event, the school will be closed to ensure the safety of students, staff and families.

We thank families for their understanding and support.

New Website

We are excited to launch our refreshed school website.

The updated site has been designed to make information easier to find and provides families with improved access to important school information, news and resources.

We encourage all families to take a few moments to explore the new website and discover the improvements.

Jared Cooney Horvath Parent Resources

Families are reminded that we have only a few months remaining to access the excellent parent resources prepared by educational neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath for Sandhurst schools.

These engaging sessions provide valuable insights into learning, wellbeing and how parents can best support their children.

Session 1: Sleep, Tech and Stress (50 mins) https://vimeo.com/1102066450/6f1c9d2218

Session 2: Surviving Study (50 mins) https://vimeo.com/1102068293/eebb560b41

Session 3: A Tour Through Your Child's Brain (30 mins) https://vimeo.com/1102069365/c7ab744186

School Uniform

We ask all families to ensure students are wearing the correct school uniform each day.

Recently, a small number of non-uniform items have begun appearing, and we are working with students to maintain consistent uniform standards. Wearing the school uniform correctly helps foster a sense of identity, pride and belonging within our community.

Uniform items are available through the school and can be ordered via the school uniform link.

School Supervision Hours

Before School

Please note that the school grounds are unsupervised before 8:30am.

For the safety of all students, children should not be dropped at school before this time unless attending a supervised program.

After School

Students should be collected by 3:30pm, as staff supervision concludes at this time.

If you anticipate being delayed, please contact the school office. Families requiring care beyond 3:30pm are encouraged to use the YMCA After School Care program, which operates from the school hall.

New Playground and Landscaping Project

We are excited to share that our architects and builders are currently working alongside Omnitech Playgrounds and a specialist shade-sail company to design an engaging and vibrant new play environment for our students.

The project will transform this area through new landscaping, shade structures and contemporary play equipment designed to support active play, creativity and connection.

We are hopeful construction will commence early next term.

McAuley Building Refurbishment Project

Work on the McAuley Building refurbishment continues to progress well and remains on track for practical completion in mid-August.

Current Progress:

Art room completed.
Internal painting approximately 80% complete.
Vinyl flooring installation underway.
Cabinetry installation has commenced and will continue over the next two weeks.
Carpet installation scheduled during Weeks 3 and 4.
Front entrance landscaping and new garden beds to be installed.
Anticipated handover date: mid-August.

We look forward to sharing further updates as this exciting project nears completion.

Parents & Friends Association

The Parents & Friends Association continues to play a vital role in strengthening our school community through both social and fundraising initiatives.

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of the P&F, funds raised this year will support:

Significant landscaping surrounding the new playground.
Line marking improvements across hard-surface play areas.
Re-turfing of the school oval and associated improvements.
Installation of aluminium doors with viewing panels in the Paderborn Building.

2026 Committee Members

Presidents: Alisha Bahen & Abbey Meggs Secretary: Bec Reid Communications Officers: Sharelle Patten, Bec Richie & Kim Fisher

We sincerely thank the committee and all volunteers for their ongoing support of our school.

Catholic School Parents Victoria

Families may be interested in exploring the newly refreshed website of Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV).

CSPV supports parents as partners in their child's learning by strengthening the connection between home and school while providing information, guidance and advocacy. The website offers a range of resources to help families feel informed, empowered and engaged throughout their child's educational journey.

Visit: https://cspv.catholic.edu.au/

Thank you for your continued support of St Kilian's School. I look forward to a productive and rewarding Term 3 and the many opportunities we will share together as a community.

Peter Teggelove

Principal

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