Principal's Message

Dear St Philomena’s Community,

Time is certainly flying by this term, with next week marking the halfway point of Term 4. Across all year levels, our students have been deeply engaged in learning tasks right across the school. In secondary, our Stage 5 students are currently preparing for their upcoming exams. It has been inspiring to observe the diligence and commitment they are putting into their studies as they get ready for these assessments.

We have also welcomed several visiting groups to St Philomena’s recently for learning walks and specialised student sessions. In particular, we were pleased to host RealTalk (https://www.realtalkaustralia.com/), who worked with our Year 5 to Year 10 students. RealTalk partners with Armidale Catholic Schools to deliver health and wellbeing education covering topics such as puberty, respectful relationships, and personal and mental health. Their team delivers practical, contemporary guidance grounded in an authentically Catholic lens, helping our young people navigate important life topics with confidence and faith.

Today, families received a Compass notification from Regina Menz, Director of Armidale Catholic Schools, outlining the new NSW Anti-Bullying Framework. While this framework becomes mandatory state-wide in 2027, our diocese is introducing key elements early to ensure staff, students, and parents are thoroughly familiar with its reporting and response procedures. This update is important because it aligns with our existing Living Well, Learning Well framework and establishes clear, consistent definitions to help identify unsafe behaviours and distinguish them from bullying. Most importantly, it reinforces our commitment to responding with urgency and care to all safety concerns while strengthening the vital partnership between parents and staff to keep our children safe.   

A warm thank you to all the parents who engaged with our recent visitors from the Council of Catholic School Parents organisation. Our guests were deeply impressed by our school atmosphere and our students, and they expressed sincere gratitude for the candid feedback shared by parents. Representatives will be taking these insights directly to the Premier’s Office and the Department of Education next week. Key themes raised included local cost-of-living pressures, challenges in accessing regional healthcare, and constructive ideas on how government departments can better support student engagement and connection in Moree.

Looking ahead, it was fantastic to welcome our incoming Year 7 cohort for 2027 this week as they begin their secondary transition journey. The students had the opportunity to attend a secondary class and connect with a number of our student leaders. To ensure a smooth transition, we are holding three half-day orientation sessions for this group leading up to 2027. Additionally, our Kindergarten to Year 5 students will soon take part in their annual Move Up Experience, spending valuable time with their 2027 peer groups and meeting their upcoming teachers. Further details regarding dates and arrangements will be shared in the coming weeks.

In our Catholic liturgical calendar, November is a meaningful time of prayer and reflection. We recently celebrated All Saints’ Day on Sunday, honouring the holy men and women whose lives inspire us to live with faith and courage, followed by All Souls’ Day on Monday, where we pause to remember and pray for our departed loved ones in God’s loving mercy. These feast days remind us of our shared call to holiness and the enduring strength of our faith community as we begin preparing our hearts for the upcoming season of Advent.

Thank you for your ongoing support across every aspect of school life. Have a wonderful, safe, and restful weekend with your families before we leap into another vibrant week of learning.

Kind regards & Best wishes

Alistair Stewart

Principal