Principals' Report
Dear Families,
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful Year 2 teachers – Mrs Presnell, Miss Crough, and Miss Parkinson – for the care, preparation and faith-filled guidance they have provided as our students get ready to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday, 30th October. Their commitment and thoughtful teaching have helped nurture the children’s understanding of this important milestone in their faith journey.
We also thank our families for their participation in the family faith evening held on Tuesday, 21st October. It was a beautiful opportunity for parents, carers, and children to share prayer, reflection, and conversation together in preparation for the sacrament.
A sincere thank you to Fr Justin Ford for visiting and spending time with the children last week. His gentle wisdom and engaging discussion helped the students appreciate the meaning and grace of Reconciliation in a truly personal way.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge Mrs Kathryn Ady for her outstanding leadership and organisation as our Religious Education Leader. Her coordination and attention to detail ensure that each part of this special event runs smoothly and meaningfully.
We are truly blessed to have such a devoted and faith-filled team supporting our students as they take this important step in their spiritual lives.
School Review
Next week, St. Patrick’s School will be undertaking the School Review process, which occurs every four years. This is an exciting opportunity for us to celebrate the many things we do well, while also identifying areas where we can continue to grow and improve as a school community.
Our school reviewer, Mr. Craig Tanner, visited earlier this week to see our school in action and will return on Monday and Tuesday next week. During his visit, he will meet with members of the school leadership team, visit classrooms, review data sets and observe staff planning sessions. He will also take the opportunity to speak with some students from Years 3 & 4 and Years 5 & 6, as well as various staff and parent groups.
School operations updates
In the coming weeks, we will be expanding our use of the nForma platform to include most of our school communication functions. While we already use nForma for the daily roll, student reports and school website, this transition will allow us to make full use of the additional features available within the system.
This change has been prompted in part by Operoo ceasing operations in Australia, making it timely for us to consolidate our processes within one integrated platform. Having the majority of our operations in nForma will streamline communication with families, allowing easier management of medical information, permission forms, updates and general correspondence. We are confident this will make communication clearer, more consistent, and more convenient for families in the long term.
In addition, I will be sharing information in the coming weeks regarding changes to the structure of school fees for 2026. These changes have been directed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) as part of a broader review of school fee structures across the system. I have been in ongoing discussions with both MACS Finance Administration and our School Advisory Council, and I will communicate the outcomes and details of these changes to families towards the end of this term.
Please be assured that we are committed to keeping any fee increases to an absolute minimum, and to ensuring that a St. Patrick’s education remains accessible and affordable for all families. Support will continue to be available for any family experiencing financial difficulty.
Staffing Updates
It is my duty to inform our community that Mrs Amanda Evans will be leaving us at the end of this year. We thank Mrs Evans sincerely for her wonderful work in Year 4 and for her leadership as Mathematics Leader throughout 2025. Her dedication and commitment to both her students and colleagues have been greatly appreciated, and we wish her every success and happiness in her future endeavours.
I am pleased to share that Mrs Charlotte Spence will take on the Mathematics Leader portfolio in 2026 and beyond. Charlotte’s enthusiasm for teaching and learning will continue to strengthen our focus on high-quality mathematics instruction across the school.
We also warmly welcome back Mrs Emily Thorley and Mrs Bianca Daidone, who will be returning in part-time support teaching roles next year. It is wonderful to have them rejoining our team and bringing their experience and expertise to support our students.
Finally, I am delighted to announce that we have appointed three new teachers who will be joining our staff in 2026: Miss Sophie Mackey, Miss Courtney Day, and Miss Tess Campigli. We look forward to welcoming them into our community and know they will make a great contribution to our school.
As always, I am incredibly proud of the strength, professionalism, and care shown by all our staff. The full staffing list for 2026 will be published in our final newsletter of the year.
Sustainability Captains Work around the School
Thank you to Danny for his wonderful support and guidance in helping our Sustainability Leader continue to make our school grounds even more beautiful. On Tuesday, students planted a variety of Australian natives in the new garden bed beside the Mitchell Street playground. These plants will not only brighten our school environment but also support local biodiversity. In the coming weeks, we’ll continue our sustainability efforts by refreshing the garden bed outside the Prep classrooms in the undercover walkway and the garden bed at the front of the school entrance. It’s wonderful to see our students taking such pride in caring for our school environment!
Prep 2026 Orientation
The orientation process for our 2026 Prep classes will begin next month. I am pleased to announce that our 2026 Prep teachers will be Mrs Charlotte Spence, Miss Nikahla Short, and Miss Laura Smith.
Our Prep teachers do an outstanding job each year in preparing and supporting our newest students as they begin their school journey. The orientation process is an important and exciting time for children and families, helping everyone to feel comfortable, confident and connected to our school community. Charlotte, Nikahla and Laura put great care into planning engaging, welcoming and developmentally appropriate experiences that ensure our new Preps are ready for a smooth transition into school life.
I am very excited about the Prep team we have for next year and look forward to meeting our 2026 students and families during the upcoming orientation sessions:
- Wednesday 12th November – Parent Information Evening
- Tuesday 18th November – Prep 2026 Orientation Session #1
- Tuesday 25th November – Prep 2026 Orientation Session #2
Parent communication regarding prep 2026 orientatiton has been sent out on Wednesday of this week.
School Fees
Please note that all school fees are now due, unless prior arrangements have been made with the office.
Taekwondo @ St. Patrick's School
School Calendar
Please use the following google link to add the school calendar to your own calendar for ease of information exchange. School Google Calendar HERE.
God Bless
Pat Berlingeri
Principal