Dear Parents and Friends

Welcome back! I hope you had a happy Easter and an enjoyable holiday.

We have a very busy term ahead with so many things happening - please read through the newsletter to find out about the fantastic learning at St Carlo's!

Easter Paraliturgy

Our Easter Paraliturgy at the end of term one, was a very prayerful and moving expression of our Catholic faith for our school community. Thank you to Mrs. Kuric and the staff and a special thanks to our students who performed so reverently. It was wonderful to see so many parents join us for this special event.

Easter Raffle

The P&F did an outstanding job organising our Easter raffle. Thank you to all families for your support and congratulations to our many excited winners! A list of our lucky winners can be found in the P&F section of today's newsletter.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Congratulations to our Year Three students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation last Wednesday in our Chapel. The ceremonies were very prayerful, and the students demonstrated a deep understanding of God’s forgiveness. Special thanks to Father Dishan, Fr Val, Mrs. Kuric, and our Year three team for preparing the children so well for this Sacrament.

Playground and Car Park Redevelopment

We appreciate your support and patience while the school undertakes these renovations which will create amazing new play spaces for students to enjoy!

Our wonderful students have quickly adapted to our temporary changes, and everything is progressing very smoothly. We encourage families with older students to drop them on Drummond Street in the morning and they can enter the school through the council oval. Our Year 3/4 pick-up area behind the classrooms on Haddington Cres is working well.

Key reminders:

The Council Oval playground is not supervised. Students should only play on this public playground if supervised by their parents.
Murray Court and Drummond Street pedestrian access will be closed.
A new entry has been created through the Council Oval to the soccer pitch. (With Murray Court closed, we encourage parents to use this access point, particularly for the older students)
The main entrance courtyard (Haddington Cres) will remain open for student access.
The school office can be accessed as normal.
No balls or sports equipment from home.

In the afternoon

Year 3 and Year 4: Students will be dismissed from the 3L and 4W classrooms and will exit through Haddington Cres (Gate at the crossing). Parents can wait inside the school grounds in the area behind the Year 3 and Year 4 classrooms (along Haddington Cres).
Year 5 and Year 6: Students will be dismissed on to the soccer pitch area and can exit either through the Council Oval or from the main entrance on Haddington Cres.
Parents can wait on the oval or wait inside on the soccer pitch area and can exit either through the Council Oval or from the main entrance on Haddington Cres.
Siblings can walk to their younger family members' class to collect them.

Year Six Camp

I was fortunate to join the Year 6 children and teachers last week at Campaspe Downs near Kyneton, for their school camp. It was a fantastic camp, and the children had a wonderful time participating in many activities including: Laser Tag, Giant Swing, Aeroball, Archery, Leap of Faith, Orienteering, and Abseiling.

Many thanks to Mrs. Fimiani. Mrs. Clarke, Mr. Troy, Mr. Dundovic, Mrs. Zaffina. Miss. La Scala, Miss. Sardo and Mrs. Meacco for their excellent care and supervision. I know that parents really appreciate the staff giving up their time to attend school camps. The camp staff commented that as usual, our children were the best group that they have had in a very long time. Their behaviour and manners, and their willingness to have ago and challenge themselves was so impressive. We are all very proud of our year six students.

School Uniform

Students are required to continue to wear the school hat for the first three weeks of term two. Traditionally at the commencement of term two, we move to our winter uniform, however we know that with changing weather patterns, we are often treated to continued mild weather. For this reason, for the first three weeks, we are leaving the decision to parents to choose when their child moves to the winter uniform so that we can ensure that your child is comfortable at school. Students must wear the correct uniform at all times and can wear either the full summer or the full winter uniform to begin this term, but not a mix of both.

Commencing Monday May 6, all students should be in the full winter uniform. It is most important that children are not wearing a mixture of summer and winter uniform and they are correctly attired in our full school winter uniform. The school hat becomes optional from May 6. Thank you for your ongoing assistance in ensuring your children are meeting the dress code of our school.

ANZAC Day Prayer Service

This Wednesday April 24, we will come together as a school community for our ANZAC commemoration remembering the sacrifices of our service men and women from Australia and New Zealand. Parents and friends are very welcome to join us at 10:45 a.m. in the Junior Courtyard for our ANZAC Day Service.

God of Help, God of Love, and God of Peace, in this season of Easter we rejoice in the New Life your Son the Risen Jesus gives us. You offer us hope. You offer us peace.

We thank you for these treasured lands of ours, New Zealand and Australia. May we learn from the suffering of the past; And show the spirit of the ANZACs in our lives – courage, resilience, persistence, selflessness, mateship, enjoyment, initiative. May we strive to live by the values of Your son Jesus - the values of love, compassion, peace and forgiveness, that will lead us all to true freedom.

We ask this through Jesus who shows us the way of peace. Amen.

Parent Helpers

We love to have parent helpers in the classrooms. Parents need to have completed our Parent Helper Training and have a current Working with Children Card. It was wonderful to see so many parents who are eager to help, attend our training for classroom helpers and excursions today. Thank you to Nella and Jessica for running this session.

Birthday Treats - a reminder

Some parents, particularly from the junior classes, like to send a birthday treat to share with your child's class. Items need to be individually wrapped, not require refrigeration or special care, and will be given out at the end of the school day.

School Fees

A further reminder as we still have some families who have not yet paid the Student Levy fee and the First Instalment of school fees. If you have not settled these very overdue accounts, can this be done immediately or make an appointment to see me to discuss this situation.

Australia's Best Teacher!

News Corp is running its 'Australia’s Best Teachers' campaign, recognising inspirational and innovative educators across the country. The campaign will launch on Sunday 28 April, calling on the community to nominate teachers who have had an incredible impact on our students and all our lives. You are invited to nominate St Carlo’s best teacher by visiting: Australia's Best Teachers Campaign.

Important Dates for Term Two

Please keep an eye on the school calendar on Audiri or click here for our Google Parent calendar.

Thursday April 25 is a public holiday for ANZAC Day
Friday April 26 is a student free day.
Monday May 13 is a student free day.

We ask St Carlo Borromeo to continue to bless our wonderful Parish and School Community.

I hope that you have a great week!

Kevin Gleeson.

Community News

Ave Maria College

Penola

Craigieburn War Memorial and Remembrance Committee