Dear parents, students and families,

Welcome back everyone. I hope everyone feels a little more rested and refreshed after what seemed like an 'illness-filled' Third Term.

It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome students, staff and families back to our school to commence our final term of the year. I bet our Foundation and Year 6 families are feeling this the most as I'm sure the year has just flown for them!!

You will have noticed that the build has continued and from talks seems to be progressing at a reasonable pace. I am sure we will see it fully roofed and with the internal wall framing up soon.

On Wednesday this week we had a number of our older students represent our Zone at the Frankston and Peninsula Athletics at Mornington. We can be very proud of all our students on their efforts and in particular to Joseph from Year 4 and Joel from Year 6 who did so well in the sprints that they are progressing to the Regional level. Thanks to all the parents and Mrs Ary that supported the event.

Next week we have a basketball team who have progressed through to the regional finals to which Mrs Ary will be taking them. They are a pretty classy team and I'm sure we wish them all the best on Tuesday.

Next Wednesday 15 October evening we come together with our Leadership Team, current Foundation staff and our incoming parent cohort for our Foundation 2026 parent dinner. We look forward to providing this opportunity to this group of parents to form the connections that belonging to a school and faith community are all about.

As you would be aware this is a Year of Jubilee for our Church. We have acknowledged this many times throughout the year and as a special treat our Year 6 students who wished to, were confirmed at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne. Next Friday 17 October we are joining together for a Jubilee Spirit Day commencing with Mass followed by a day of sporting activities lead by the Kaboom Sports company. Thank you to Mrs Winduss, Mrs Ary and the Our House Spirit Team for organising this.

We are receiving on-going interest from families moving into the area for enrolling their students at a number of year levels. Equally I understand some families will be choosing to move on which is understandable. Can I please ask that you let the office know in writing if your child, who is not in Year 6 and you haven't already let us know, will not be returning in 2026.

God Bless

Rod Shaw

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on

9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with a reason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.

If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school.

If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.

As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:

Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.

If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.

If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.

Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.

This is a legal requirement.

Democratic Principles

The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:

(a) elected government; and

(b) the rule of law; and

(c) equal rights for all before the law; and

(d) freedom of religion; and

(e) freedom of speech and association; and

(f) the values of openness and tolerance

Digital Technologies

Social media changes are coming!