Principal's Update

Dear Families,

As we draw near to the end of Term 2, it’s hard to believe we’re already at the halfway point of the year. What a fantastic first semester it has been! There is so much to celebrate and be proud of across our school, from the learning and growth of our students, to the vibrancy of our community. With 11 weeks in this term, we are certainly starting to see some tired faces… and that’s just the teachers! A well-earned rest is just around the corner.

I’m thrilled to share the exciting news that Raysett Constructions Australia have been formally awarded the contract for our upcoming building project. With over 30 years of experience partnering with Catholic schools in Melbourne, Raysett comes highly regarded, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing work commence. The first stage of the project involves the removal of our Italian and Performing Arts rooms, both of which are relocatable classrooms that will be replaced as part of the works. We are hopeful for minimal disruption to student learning and will keep families informed as construction progresses.

Last weekend, our Year 6 students celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation, and what a beautiful celebration it was. In this Jubilee Year, we were fortunate to join with our parish partner school, St Mary’s, for a shared Confirmation Mass held at the stunning St Patrick’s Cathedral. The beauty and reverence of the Cathedral added something truly special to an already meaningful occasion. I was incredibly proud of how confidently and respectfully our students participated in the liturgy. My huge thanks to Ms Alison, our Religious Education Leader, and to Ms Pickles and Ms Parker, our Year 6 teachers, for their care, preparation and commitment in guiding the students on their Confirmation journey. A sincere thank you also to Father Desmond for supporting the joint celebration at the Cathedral.

Earlier in the week, I had the privilege of joining the Year 6s again as they met with Bishop Rene Ramirez at St Patrick’s Cathedral to reflect on their faith and their preparation for the Sacrament. Bishop Rene spent time talking with the students and was clearly impressed by their thoughtful reflections and understanding of their faith journey. It was a proud moment for us all.

As a school, we have also recently begun our journey to becoming a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) school. PBL is a whole-school, evidence-based framework that supports positive behaviour and student wellbeing. Through our partnership with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), we are working to strengthen our behaviour management practices and to further foster a learning environment that enables every child to thrive. This approach is closely aligned with MACS’ recently launched Vision for Engagement, which was launched last week and you may have seen in the media recently.

A big thank you to our Parents and Friends Association, led by Lisa Morley, for organising our recent School Disco. Events like these take a lot of effort behind the scenes, and it was wonderful to hear the buzz of excitement from our students who had an absolute ball! Thank you also to the many parent volunteers who gave up their time to help on the night, your support is deeply appreciated by staff and students alike.

Congratulations to our Year 5 and 6 students who represented St Margaret’s in the Winter Interschool Sports carnival. Across Football, Netball, and Tee-Ball, our students showed great teamwork, skill and sportsmanship. I was particularly proud to hear reports of the respectful and enthusiastic way our students played each match. Some students even stepped into coaching roles, further developing their leadership and communication skills. Thank you to our PE teacher Mr Hogan and the staff who supported these events.

Finally, one of the best parts of my week was welcoming Kai and Max from Prep into the office to share their wonderful writing with me. It’s always a joy to see the pride and excitement in our students’ learning.

As we wrap up the semester, I want to wish all our families a safe and restful holiday break. To those who are leaving St Margaret’s at the end of this term; Riley (4C), Ahura (4C), Avesta (4B), Thomas (5C), Martina (2C) and Olivia (PA) we wish you every blessing and success in your new schools and we thank you for what you have contributed to St Margaret’s. 

God bless,

John