Dear Parents,

I've seen the photos and read the reports about our Book Week activities and it sounds like it was a huge success and lots of fun! There are many creative people whose costumes are a clever take on a character or a book. Special thanks to Sandra Tieppo, our Literacy Leader, and Fiona Robinson and Patsy Lynch, who work in our Library for the focus and dedication to celebrating Book Week so well.

Having just arrived back from Cairns, I packed a very different bag of clothes to head to Phillip Island for the Year 5 and 6 Camp, with approximately 141 students and 16 staff. The students were very well behaved and really enjoyed the challenge of the outdoor activities, as well as the cuteness of the penguins at the Penguin Parade. Given the large group, it was fabulous to see the students mixing in their activity groups and having fun together. I'm sure there will be photos and stories shared in the next Newsletter!

Special thanks to the staff for their time and support over the three days ~

Neesha Valvo, Danni Ibbott, Brady Mulcahy, Kristina Reid, Fiona Henderson, Gayle Carrazza, Stella Crawford, Sean Martin, Teresa Michelangeli, Robyn Vorster, Elaine Priest, Lauren Addati, Alya D'Souza, Jamie Atherton and special thanks to Marita Anderson for her extensive organisation of the Camp. Thanks also to Sandra and the staff back at school who managed the rest of the students.

On Monday 1 September, the school is closed as the staff participate in our annual faith formation day, which involves a trip into the city to explore the Mary MacKillop Centre. OSHC is operating.

PERFORMANCE - 18 SEPTEMBER - GET READY!

Early next week, you will receive the list of costume items your child needs for their dance piece.

The next item to be learned is the finale.

Ticket information and video recording details are provided in this edition of the Newsletter.

PREP 2026 - TERM THREE LIBRARY VISIT

We look forward to welcoming our Prep 2026 students for their first library visit next Wednesday 3 September. It will be good to see them all again!

YEAR FOUR CAMP MEETING ONLINE

Next Wednesday, 3 September, at 7pm, an online meeting will be held for Year Four parents to help prepare the children for the upcoming Camp. The link has been shared with you in the Compass alert.

SEXUALITY EDUCATION - YEARS 5 AND 6

The program for Year 5 and 6 students begins next week, with the Family Forum to be held in the GECCO on Wednesday 10 September from 6.30-7.45pm. If you have any questions about the content or arrangement of the sessions, please speak with your child's teacher/s or Jamie Atherton, our Wellbeing Leader.

FATHER'S DAY STALL

The students will shop for Dad or other special males in their lives NEXT THURSDAY, so please send money to school with your child. The raffle is also a great way to add an extra gift for Dad, so please support our PFA in this activity.

If you are able to assist with the set up and pack up of the Community Centre where the stall is held, please let Michelle Don Paul know.

We wish all the Dads a great Father's Day and a wonderful time catching up on Friday Night at the Dads' Night Out!

FOOTY DAY

Friday 12 September will be our Footy Day this year, as the last day of school is the day after our Performance and everyone will be a little tired! As always, the students can wear their favourite footy team colours, tops or any other code colours. A Compass alert will be sent to remind you of this event closer to the time.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION

Our Graduation dates and activities are as follows:

Monday 8 December - 9.15am Graduation Mass in the Church Graduation Dinner at the Manningham Club

Wednesday 10 December Year Six Big Day Out

LEARNING CONVERSATIONS

On Monday 8 September, we will hold our Learning Conversations session, with parent/s, the student and teacher/s coming together to discuss strengths and next steps in learning.

This is a great time for this to occur, as there is plenty of time to focus on the goals across different learning areas during Term Four. Further information will be shared as the term progresses, but please note that as these meetings are of 15 minutes duration, we need a longer time period. As such, the students will NOT attend school on this day, but should accompany you to their Learning Conversation.

As a support to parents who do not have the option of attending during the day, we will commence these meetings at 10am and finish at 6.30pm. If you need longer than that, please book a separate time with your child’s teacher/s. This is NOT classed as a school closure day, rather a chance to spend time in important dialogue about learning.

Our OSHClub will be operating that day, so please book into that if you need care for your child / children.

CLASS MASSES

Please note that the days and dates for Class Masses have been included in the Diary Dates. Please check your child’s class as some of these may have changed. Teachers will send you an alert approximately three weeks prior to the Mass so you can change work if you would like to attend.

SCHOOL CALENDAR AND PUPIL FREE DAYS

Our Pupil Free Days (School Closure Dates) for the rest of the year are:

Monday 1 September, Monday 3 November and Monday 1 December

Please note all dates on the school calendar, as there are sometimes changes from the Level Newsletters which are sent out at the start of the term. Thank you.

BAPTISM

If your child has not yet been baptised, please consider whether you would like to celebrate this sacrament prior to them reaching the sacramental years.

Please contact the Parish Office on P: 9401 6338 to arrange this with Fr Michael.

RECONCILIATION COMMITMENT MASS - THIS WEEKEND

We welcome the Year Three students and their families to Mass on Saturday at 5.30pm or Sunday at 10am to share their commitment to learning and preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation. These will be celebrated in early Term Four over three successive Tuesdays, during school time.

What is Reconciliation?

The Year Three students are beginning their preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament celebrates saying sorry and being forgiven, both essential skills for life. In saying sorry to another, we hopefully learn that what we did hurt the other in some way; we need to learn how to respect and be kind to all, despite what they may say or do to us. Equally, the concept of forgiveness is essential. If we cannot accept an apology from another, and harbour a grudge, we are not as open to love, growth and happiness. We are human, we make mistakes and we learn from them. The greatest example for us all to remember is one of our St Martin's values, to 'Treat others the way we want to be treated.'

Have a fabulous weekend, with the extra day off on Monday! We will see everyone on Tuesday. God bless.

CLASS MASSES

Term 3	Class
Thursday 4 September	2RO
Term 4		Class
Thursday 16 October		2AD
Thursday 23 October		PJL
Tuesday 28 October		PDG
Thursday 6 November		3JM
Tuesday 18 November		PGC

Book Week Highlights

Please click on the images to read the news article