Galilee School News
Dear Families,
Grandparents and Special Friends Morning
Grandparents and special people play such an important role in the lives of our children, offering love, guidance, encouragement and a sense of belonging. We recognise and celebrate the wonderful contribution grandparents and special people make to our families and wider school community. Our Grandparents’ and Special People Morning is an opportunity to acknowledge these relationships, share in the joy of learning and celebrate the special bonds that connect generations.
We look forward to welcoming our grandparents and special people for coffee and Running Club from 8am, followed by classroom visits from 8.35–9.15am and our School Assembly at 9.30am, where our Preps will be presenting.
Loving God,
We thank You for the precious gift of our grandparents and special friends.
In Scripture, You remind us that love is patient and love is kind. We see this love reflected in the special people who care for us, encourage us and guide us each day.
Thank You for their patience as they teach us, their kindness when we need comfort and their generosity in sharing their time, stories and wisdom.
Through their gentle words, warm embraces and loving hearts, they remind us of Your unconditional love.
Bless our grandparents and special friends with good health, happiness and peace. May they always know how deeply they are loved, valued and appreciated.
Help us to show them the same patience, kindness and love that they so freely share with us.
May the love we celebrate today continue to grow in our families, our friendships and our school community.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
School Review
On Monday this week we welcomed Chris Bence to Galilee. Chris is an external reviewer who works with Victorian primary and secondary schools as part of their four-year School Review cycle. During his visit, Chris met with the Leadership Team and toured our school. He will return next week on Wednesday and Thursday to spend further time in classrooms and meet with students, parents, staff and the leadership team to gain a deeper understanding of Galilee’s strengths and opportunities for growth.
As a MACS school, Galilee undertakes a School Review examining five spheres within our school: Education in Faith, Learning and Teaching, Leadership and Management, Student Engagement, and School Community. We are excited to engage in this important process, celebrate our achievements and reflect on how we can continue to improve. We look forward to the recommendations that will help shape our strategic direction for the next four years as we continue striving for the very best outcomes for every student in our Galilee community.
Zoo Snooze
This term, our Year 3 students have the exciting opportunity to participate in Zoo Snooze, a memorable overnight experience at the Zoo! Our 3B students will be the first to embark on this adventure, heading off on Monday evening. Students will have the unique experience of sleeping in tents at the zoo, exploring the wonderful world of animals and enjoying time together outside the classroom. This experience provides a fantastic opportunity for students to develop independence, build confidence, strengthen friendships and create lasting memories.
For many students, this may be their first overnight school experience, making it an exciting milestone in their primary school journey. We wish 3B a wonderful adventure and look forward to hearing all about their Zoo Snooze experience! 3K are attending the Zoo Snooze later this term. We extend our sincere thanks to the staff attending for their time, commitment and willingness to support our students during this overnight experience. Opportunities like these would not be possible without the generosity and dedication of our staff.
Swimming
Our Year 4–6 students will commence their swimming lessons from 26th-30th October as part of our 2026 Swimming Program. Students in Prep to Year 2 will participate from 9th–13th November.
Swimming is an important part of our Physical Education curriculum. Throughout the program, students will develop their understanding of water safety, strengthen swimming skills and techniques and build confidence in and around the water. Learning to swim is an essential life skill, particularly in Australia, where children are frequently exposed to aquatic environments such as beaches, swimming pools and waterways.
Permission forms and further information about the Swimming Program will be sent to families through nForma, including session times, what students need to bring and arrangements for each year level. We ask families to carefully read this information and complete the required permission forms prior to their child's scheduled swimming lessons. Participation is compulsory for all students unless a valid medical exemption is provided.
We will also be seeking parent/carer helpers to support students during the program. All parent/carer helpers must hold a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). Families interested in volunteering are encouraged to ensure their WWCC details are up to date and registered with the school.
A special thank you to Charlotte Drake for her time and effort in planning and coordinating the Swimming Program. Organising an experience of this scale requires considerable preparation and we greatly appreciate her work in ensuring students have access to this valuable learning opportunity.
Year 4 High School Experience
This week, our Year 4 students enjoyed a taste of secondary school life, with our girls visiting Academy of Mary Immaculate and our boys visiting Simonds College. These visits provided a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a secondary school environment, experience new learning spaces and gain an insight into the exciting opportunities that await them in the years ahead.
We thank both schools for inviting our students and providing such a valuable experience.
School Tours
We welcomed 19 families to Galilee during our recent school tours. It was a wonderful opportunity for prospective families to explore our learning spaces, learn more about our programs and experience the welcoming and inclusive community that makes Galilee so special.
Our Year 6 students played an important role in welcoming visitors, leading tours of the school, sharing information about life at Galilee and explaining the information packs provided to families. This was a fantastic leadership opportunity, with students demonstrating confidence, responsibility and pride in their school.
We warmly welcome families and members of the wider community who are interested in learning more about Galilee to visit our school. School tours provide a valuable opportunity to see our school in action, meet members of our community and discover what Galilee has to offer.
Speak with Power
Our Year 5 students have commenced working with Ron Thomas as part of the Speak with Power program, designed to develop confidence, communication and public speaking skills. Through engaging and interactive activities, students are learning strategies to express their ideas clearly, speak confidently in front of others and develop effective presentation skills. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Year 5 students to strengthen their communication skills, build self-confidence and prepare for future leadership opportunities.
Adjusted Timetable
Our adjusted playground timetable is now underway, with positive feedback received from both students and staff. The trial aims to provide students with more space and opportunities to play, move and connect with peers during recess and lunch.
As part of this trial, selected year levels access the playground at different times throughout the week, allowing them to enjoy our outdoor spaces with fewer students, creating more opportunities for active play, organised games and positive social interactions.
The adjusted timetable operates as follows:
- Monday and Wednesday – Years 5 and 6
- Tuesday – Prep and Year 2
- Thursday – Years 3 and 4
- Friday – Years 1 and 2
On their allocated days, these year levels have exclusive access to the playground during their adjusted break times. All other year levels continue to enjoy their breaks together at the usual times, with fewer students outside during their regular playtimes.
Adjusted Break Times
- Recess play: 10:00–10:40am
- Lunch play: 1:00–1:40pm
Eating time follows each play time on the adjustment timetable. Lunch orders are not affected, as all students continue to eat at the same time. Specialist lesson times also remain unchanged.
Students have been enjoying the additional space to participate in games such as soccer and basketball, move freely and engage in positive play experiences. Staff feedback has also been encouraging, highlighting the benefits of having fewer students sharing the playground at one time.
Importantly, students continue to have opportunities to play and connect with children from other year levels throughout the week, maintaining a balance between quieter playground experiences and mixed-age social interactions.
We will continue to monitor the trial throughout the term, gathering feedback and evaluating its impact.
Uniform in Term 4
From Monday 19th October, students will be required to wear their full summer uniform. Hats are already compulsory during recess and lunchtime. Students without hats are only able to play up the steps outside the stadium. Other shaded areas do not count.
We also encourage students to wear sunscreen to school and bring along their own sunscreen to reapply themselves before recess and lunchtime. Please note, staff are not able to apply sunscreen to students.
Please see our School Uniform Policy and images of our School Uniform to help with purchasing any uniform you may require over the holidays.
Here is what is coming up
Term 4 Week 3
Monday 19th October
- Running Club at 8am (all welcome)
- 3B Zoo Snooze
- Glee Club After school for students who have signed up
Tuesday 20th October
- 3B Zoo Snooze
- Maths Club during lunchtime for Years 3-6
- Chess Club after school for students who have signed up
Wednesday 21st October
- School Review- Chris Bence visiting
Thursday 22nd October
- School Review- - Chris Bence visiting
Friday 23rd October
- Running Club at 8am (all welcome)
- Ron Thomas ‘Speak with Power’ Year 5s
- 3/4 Dendy Cricket
- Assembly- 8:55am Year 5 presenting
Term 4 Week 4
Monday 26th October
- Running Club at 8am (all welcome)
- School Swimming Program- Year 4, 5 and 6
Glee Club After school for students who have signed up
Tuesday 27th October
- School Swimming Program- Year 4, 5 and 6
Chess Club after school for students who have signed up
Wednesday 28th October
School Swimming Program- Year 4, 5 and 6
Thursday 29th October
School Swimming Program- Year 4, 5 and 6
Friday 30th October
- Running Club at 8am (all welcome)
- School Swimming Program- Year 4, 5 and 6
May God bless our Galilee Community and guide us as we continue to grow together in faith, hope and love. Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead
-Amy Burns (Principal), Richard Harding and Holly Evans (Deputy Principals)