Principal's Update

As we come to the end of Term 1, I would like to sincerely thank all of our families for your continued support throughout the term. It has been a busy and rewarding start to the year and your partnership with the school is greatly appreciated. It has been great to be back at school over the past two weeks. While I was not able to travel overseas as planned due to the war in the Middle East, it has been a real joy to return to our school community and reconnect with students and staff.

There is so much to celebrate and be proud of across Term 1. We have welcomed our new Prep students into the school and they have settled into school life beautifully. We are incredibly grateful for our youngest members of the community and are excited about the learning and growth that lies ahead for them in the coming terms. We are also very proud of the way our Year 6 students have embraced their roles as leaders of the school. Our formal student leaders have done a wonderful job stepping into their responsibilities and many others have demonstrated maturity and leadership that deserves recognition.

There have been many highlights across the school this term. Our Year 3 students participated in their first sacrament of Reconciliation. Students in Years 3 and 5 completed NAPLAN assessments. Our Year 6 students attended camp in Canberra. Year 2 and Year 3 students enjoyed enrichment days. We also successfully ran our Year 1 to Year 6 school swimming program along with a range of incursions and excursions. All of this alongside the everyday learning that takes place in classrooms each day is truly remarkable.

As we approach the end of Lent and enter the holy season of Easter, we reflect with gratitude on all that has been achieved and look forward with optimism to the exciting opportunities ahead.

Building Project: I am very pleased to share the exciting news that our new building has now been completed. We have taken ownership of three beautiful new classrooms along with new toilet facilities. Our Year 6 students are currently in the process of moving into these spaces and we are excited about the opportunities for learning in these state of the art facilities.

The final landscaping has also been completed, with new grassed areas ready for use at the beginning of next term. We look forward to families being able to see these new facilities in the coming weeks. Over the holiday period the fencing within the school will be removed, meaning we will begin next term with full access to the entire playground and yard. I would like to thank our students for their flexibility and patience over the past six months as this work has taken place.

The next stage of the project will involve the refurbishment of the current Year 3 classrooms. These spaces will be fully renovated and transformed into modern learning environments. This phase is expected to take approximately six to eight weeks and we look forward to seeing the finished result.

Swimming Program: Last week we successfully ran our swimming program for students in Years 1 to 6 at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre. This five day program ensures that we meet the requirements of the Victorian Curriculum while also providing vital water safety education for our students.

While many of our students participate in swimming lessons outside of school, it was clear that for some students this program provided an important opportunity to begin developing essential water safety skills. The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive.

I would like to thank our families for your support throughout the week and acknowledge the significant effort of our staff in organising and running the program. In particular I would like to thank Mr Hogan for his outstanding work in coordinating the entire program. A great deal of planning and organisation takes place behind the scenes and his efforts are very much appreciated.

Parent Teacher Interviews: Tomorrow afternoon and evening we will hold our Term 1 Parent Teacher interviews. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity for families and teachers to discuss student progress and engagement in learning. We greatly appreciate the time families take to attend and value the conversations that support each child’s learning journey.

First Aid and CPR Training: To ensure the safety of everyone at St Margaret’s, we are committed to maintaining up to date first aid and CPR training for all staff. This afternoon, all staff will participate in their annual refresher training session. While we hope these skills are never required, it is essential that we are well prepared to respond in the event of an emergency.

As the term draws to a close, I would like to wish all families a safe and enjoyable Easter break. Easter is a deeply significant time in our Catholic faith, offering us the opportunity to reflect on hope, renewal and new life.

I wish you all a blessed and holy Easter and look forward to seeing everyone refreshed for the start of Term 2.

God bless,

John