Deputy Principals' Report

Dear Families,

Congratulations to the students selected for the Semester 2 class roles of SRC, Sustainability and Social Justice. A full list can be found on the Student Leadership page, and students will be presented with their badges at tomorrow’s assembly.

It was wonderful to see so many Grandparents and special friends on Tuesday this week, a testament to the strong community we have here at St Patrick’s. 

A reminder that in week 4 we have another major school event, our annual Italian Day. Signora Bassily has been putting together a wonderful educational experience for this day. Students are invited to dress up in their favourite Italian-themed costumes or colours. There will also be a special canteen lunch available on this day but must be pre-ordered. For further information please see the Italian Day page.

Warm Regards,

Deputy Principals: Joelle Diakrousis and Anthony Speranza

Release of 2025 Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN reports

We are pleased to advise that the Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN reports have become available, and were issued to families this week. A guide to reading the reports as well as a helpful video can be found on the Acara NAPLAN website. An understanding of the proficiency level descriptions is also recommended. 

Please note that the NAPLAN reports are only one aspect of a child’s assessment and reporting. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide families with additional information about students’ educational progress. The school will use aggregated NAPLAN data, along with other assessment data, to continuously monitor the growth of each individual and cohort in the school.

Labelling of uniform 

As the colder weather sets in, we’re noticing an increasing number of jumpers and jackets being misplaced or left around the school. To help us return lost items promptly and ensure no child is left cold during the day, we kindly ask families to clearly label all uniform items, especially outerwear.

A quick check to ensure your child’s name is on their jumper or jacket makes a big difference!

Smart Watches at School

We kindly remind families that smart watches are not permitted at school. These devices can be a distraction to learning and may pose privacy concerns. If a student is wearing a smart watch, they will be asked to remove it and store it in their bag for the duration of the school day. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a focused and respectful learning environment for all students.

Resilience Groups Year 3 & 4 (Formerly Bounceback)

Mrs Diakrousis has resumed her small group Resilience sessions. At this stage, the groups will be offered to Year 3 and 4 students only.

These sessions will explore a range of strategies designed to support the development of resilience through small group activities and discussion. Our first focus will be on worry—what it is, how it affects us, and what we can do about it.

During the sessions, students will:

• Develop an understanding of what worry is and how it feels in the body
• Learn strategies to manage worry, such as Worry Time and mindfulness
• Build resilience through strengthening emotional literacy and self-regulation
• Recognise what makes us worried and match our worry with helpful strategies.                

The program will run as an eight-week block, with sessions held once a fortnight in the afternoon.

We look forward to supporting our students as they continue to grow in confidence and emotional wellbeing.

Seasons for Growth – Grief and Loss Support Program

We would like to let families know that Mrs Diakrousis will resume the Seasons for Growth program this term.  Seasons for Growth is a small-group program designed to support children who have experienced significant change, loss, or grief—such as the death of a loved one, family separation, or other major life changes.

The program helps students explore their feelings in a safe and supportive environment through age-appropriate discussions, stories, creative activities, and personal reflection. It aims to build emotional resilience and equip students with strategies to cope with change.

The program will be available for students from Prep to Year 6, and groups will be organised by level: Junior (Prep–Year 2), Middle (Years 3–4), and Senior (Years 5–6).

If you feel your child would benefit from being part of this program, please contact Mrs Diakrousis at jdiakrousis@spmentone.catholic.edu.au.

The program will begin in Week 3, Term 3