From Our Principal

Newsletter  ~ Term 2, Week  7, 2024

Principal's Message:

Dear Parents, Carers, Families and Friends of St Mel’s Primary School,

this week across our nation we celebrate our country's rich Indigenous heritage and importantly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We commenced our celebrations with a F.I.R.E. Carrier Commissioning at school on Monday afternoon with senior students and staff inducted into this long standing and important initiative within our  Catholic Education Ltd schools. Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education (F.I.R.E.) Carriers proactively work to learn and understand more about our First Nations people, work with Aboriginal people to promote truth telling, knowledge, understanding, respect and a spirit of reconciliation.

I am grateful for the support of our Indigenous children and their families, the Aboriginal &  Torres Strait Islander Education Team of Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd and our local Aboriginal groups (e.g., ASHE) for their ongoing support of our school as we continue to embed Aboriginal perspectives within our learning and teaching programs and school events. 

We acknowledge the Elders past and present of the Yorta Yorta Nation, including the eight clans: Kailtheban, Wollithiga, Moira, Ulupna, Bangerang, Kwat Kwat, Yalaba Yalaba and Ngurai-illiam-wurrung, and pay our respects as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our school, our parish and church is situated.

Enrolment for 2024:

Families yet to complete enrolment applications are encouraged to do so at this time. Please contact the St Mel's school administration office for our Stage One Enrolment Application Forms. Enrolment Interviews will be held in Term Three.

NAPLAN Trial Test:

Following selection as a NAPLAN Trial Test school, our Year 3 and 5 children have undertaken an additional NAPLAN experience this week in Reading and Language Conventions. We welcomed Jim Davidson to our school who led our students and teachers through the process. These trial tests support the ongoing development, improvement and fidelity of NAPLAN test questions. All results are de-identified and confidential and not reported back to the school. Schools across the country are selected at random to participate in these trial tests. The experience is also an additional practice for our children in answering NAPLAN style questions within a test environment.

Winter Uniform:

A reminder for children to be attired in the correct WINTER uniform items.

A copy of our Winter Uniform is attached to the newsletter.

St Mel's Soccer & Netball Club Hoodies

St Mel's Soccer & Netball Club Hoodies are worn as part of participation in weekend sport. 

These garments are not part of the regular school uniform and not to be worn during the school week.

The St Mel’s school jumper or bomber jacket is to be worn to school as this garment is an important part of the approved Winter Uniform and available to all students.

Feast of St Anthony - Sunday 9 June

We look forward to celebrating the Feast of St Anthony within the St Mel's parish in a fortnight. This important event commences with Mass at 10:00am in the church, followed by a procession of St Anthony's statue, distribution of bread and a shared lunch in the St Mel's Primary School hall. The Feast of St Anthony is a fine and long tradition within our parish.

All welcome (see the flyer under Parish News).

Attendance: Every Day Counts

Reasonable excuses for being absent from school include: illness / accident, attending or observing a religious event and bereavement / Sorry Business.

It is a Victorian State Government directive that children aged between 6 and 17 attend school. Parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school every day and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school unless an exemption from attendance has been granted or an exception to their attendance applies. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of your children and our school.

Kind regards,

Stephen 'Steve' Hicks

Principal