From the Principal

Staff Professional Learning Day

Today our staff gathered for a professional learning and reflection day.  Our focus was on school improvement in the context of our pending review.

School review has two separate dimensions: improvement and compliance. 

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) oversees the improvement dimension of the school review process and schedules a school improvement review for all MACS schools on a four-year cycle.  This review process considers a range of data sets including but not limited to learning and assessment data and the data from the MACSSIS survey we asked all staff, students (Yrs 4-6) and families to complete last year.  

The Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) assumes the responsibility of reviewing the compliance dimension of school review.  The Compliance review process is independent of the MACS school improvement  review.   The VCEA schedules a compliance review on a five-year cycle, however by chance both our reviews have landed in the same week of August this year.

Today we focused on the school improvement review process by completing a self-assessment and reflection (SAR) of performance and growth in school improvement across five areas.  These five areas are:

• Religious Dimension
• Learning and Teaching
• School Engagement
• School Community and 
• Leadership and Management

The SAR and other data sets are provided to the reviewer, assesses the data sets, visits the school, and conducts interviews and conversation with representatives of all stake holders.  The reviewer then provides a written report to MACS and the school.  Post-review, school leadership with staff support considers the SAR and the reviewer's report to set the future improvement of the school in the form of a School Improvement Plan (SIP) 2027-2030.  Please note the annual MACSSIS surveys provides us with the opportunity to monitor our progress across a range of school related dimensions. 

This process has been shared and will be continued to be shared with the School Advisory Council.  When the timing is right, I will share further updates with the school community.  If you would like more specific information about any of the five spheres I have indicated above or the process we are undertaking for review, please feel free to contact our office or myself directly.

Child Safe Standard Number 7

Children and young people have the right to be heard, believed, and responded to when they raise complaints or concerns about their safety or wellbeing. Child Safe Standard 7 recognises that child safety depends not only on preventing harm, but on how organisations listen and respond when concerns arise. 

Clear, accessible, and child-focused complaint processes help ensure that children feel safe to speak up and trust that adults will act in their best interests. Grounded in our Catholic mission, this standard reflects our responsibility to seek justice, protect dignity, and respond with care and integrity. 

When complaints and concerns are handled respectfully, promptly, and transparently, schools strengthen trust, accountability, and a culture where children’s voices are valued and safeguarded. 

The Impact 

When complaints and concerns are handled through child-focused, accessible, and culturally safe processes, children and young people: 

• Feel safe to raise concerns knowing they will be listened to and taken seriously 
• Experience respectful and supportive responses that prioritise their wellbeing and dignity 
• Develop trusting adults and confidence that the school will act to protect them 
• Are better supported through early identification and response to safety or wellbeing issues 
• Learn that speaking up is valued and contributes to safer, fairer school communities.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

On Thursday 11th June 9:15 a.m we will celebrate a whole school Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. 

At this Mass we are given the opportunity to help those in need by joining in prayer and helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We ask you to send along household products, personal hygiene products and non perishable food items during the week leading up to Thursday 11th June. These will be distributed to the needy in our community by the St Vincent de Paul Group after the Mass. 

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart we are reminded of the love that Jesus has for everyone so we encourage all families to come along. St. Christopher’s families have been very generous in the past with their contributions and the members of the St Vincent de Paul Society are always very grateful for our donations.

Monash Division Cross Country Championships

On Tuesday, 2 June, six St Christopher’s students proudly represented our school at the Monash Division Cross Country Championships after qualifying through the District Cross Country event by finishing in the top 12 of their respective age groups.

Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding performances and determination throughout their 2 to 3 Kilometre race:

• Alexander Archibald
• Marlowe Tran
• Eve Zaras
• David Fan
• Mikkel Mafole
• Gabby Li

All students demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, resilience and determination as they competed against some of the strongest runners from across the division. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they represented St Christopher’s.

Music News

During Music classes in Week 10, students will have the opportunity to perform and/or be an appreciative audience member. 

If your child has private music, dance or drama classes, please encourage them to perform for their classmates. 

Please remind them to bring their instrument and/ or sheet music to school, when they have Music in Week 10.

Thanks for your support,

Fiona Markham