Principal's Update

Principal's Update

Dear St Margaret’s Community,

What an incredible few weeks we have had at St Margaret’s Primary School! It has been fantastic to witness the enthusiasm and dedication of our students, staff, and families as we engage in learning, faith, and community-building activities.

Year 4 Holy Communion Preparation 

Our Year 4 students have continued their preparations for their First Holy Communion with great excitement and commitment. Over the last two weeks, they have participated in an Enrichment Day at school, a Family Sacramental Evening, and a Commitment Mass at St Margaret’s Church on Sunday morning. It was wonderful to see so many families supporting these events, and to witness the joy of our students as they take this important step in their faith journey. We will continue to keep our Year 4 students in our prayers as they prepare for this significant occasion.

Engaging Learning Experiences 

I have been thrilled to see our teachers and students engaging in a range of hands-on learning experiences recently. Our Year 3 students have been actively involved in their Civics and Citizenship studies, focusing on democracy. This included an incursion on Wednesday, as well as a visit from the Federal MP for Fraser, Dr Daniel Mulino. Our students posed thought-provoking and insightful questions, even challenging Dr Mulino on key topics! It was also a pleasure to speak with Dr Mulino following his visit, where he reaffirmed his support for our school community. He encouraged families to reach out to his office if they had any local issues requiring attention.

Year 6 Water Safety Program 

A special thanks to Mr Hogan and the Year 6 teachers for organising the Year 6 Water Safety Program at URBNSURF last Friday. This essential component of our curriculum provided students with valuable water safety and lifesaving skills, including practising how to escape a surf rip in a controlled environment. The Year 6 swimming program will continue in the coming weeks as students work towards the Victorian Water Safety Certificate. We are also reviewing our swimming curriculum to expand practical swimming programs in 2026.

Year 5 STEM Excursion 

Another highlight of the past fortnight was the Year 5 "Game Day" STEM excursion to North Melbourne Football Club. This hands-on learning experience showcased our commitment to innovative education. Ms Macpherson’s class was even fortunate enough to meet Emma Kearney, one of the greatest players in AFLW history. It has been wonderful to receive such positive feedback from families and students about this excursion.

Staff Professional Learning 

Last week, our School Leadership Team attended a professional learning day alongside other schools in the Northern Region. This session furthered our work on MACS' Vision for Instruction, particularly exploring strategies to assess student understanding and applying recent research on how the human brain learns. Additionally, our learning leaders attended an inspiring literacy workshop led by Dr Lorraine Hammond, a world-renowned expert in literacy teaching. These opportunities ensure our staff remain at the forefront of best teaching practices.

School Building Project Update 

I am delighted to share that Stage 2 of our building masterplan is fully funded! We are currently in the tender process, with builders submitting offers. We hope to finalise this process by the end of the term and will share a timeline for construction as soon as it becomes available.

End-of-Day Routine Trial 

We are currently trialling a new end-of-day procedure with two exit points available for students. A letter outlining the new procedure was sent to families via School Stream. Please ensure you discuss this change with your children. The additional exit aims to improve safety and efficiency at pick-up time. Both gates will be supervised by staff, and we remind students using bikes and scooters to walk while on school grounds. We appreciate your cooperation and will review the trial at the end of the term.

Start of Lent 

This Wednesday marks Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. This sacred time encourages us to reflect on our lives and consider ways we can make positive changes. The themes of prayer, fasting, and giving are central to our faith and will be a focus throughout this season. I also ask that you keep Pope Francis in your prayers as he faces serious health challenges. 

Thank you for your ongoing support. St Margaret’s continues to be a vibrant and faith-filled learning community, and I am grateful for the dedication of our students, staff, and families.

Warm regards,

John