From the Principal

REMINDERS

Student Free Day Monday 2nd November

Student Free Day Friday 13th November

(Staff Professional Learning - Wellbeing and Neuroscience)

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Term Four. I hope the school holiday break gave you a chance to change up the routine, rest, and relax. School holidays give students time to recharge from the previous Term's learning and intensity; however, I appreciate that many families also end up juggling work and care commitments at this time. I do hope there were some pockets of rest for the whole family.

As we return to the final school term, we jump straight into the final rehearsal and performances of our school production, When I Grow Up, and the final steps of readiness for Year Four students receiving the Sacrament of Eucharist.

School Production - Congratulations and Thank You

At the time of writing, our students had just completed their first night of performance of the production

Feedback from families and parents has been thoroughly positive and supportive of the students' efforts and performance.

In our next edition, we will do a full wrap-up of the school production; however, I wanted to acknowledge and congratulate our amazing music teacher, Laura Nackashian, who directed and produced the show with support from the production team. With support from the school staff, Laura guided our students through the whole process of preparing, rehearsing, and performing, and the result was a wonderful, supportive experience that exposed students to the full range of emotions through performance.

Click here for some early release of photos from the foyer display.

In the coming weeks, we will share more content and a link to the recording of the second night's performance.

Finally, thank you to the parents who assisted with car park attendant duty and to the Parents' Association for selling pre-show snacks and drinks.

First Eucharist

As we write, we are putting the final touches in place for Year Four candidates preparing to receive Eucharist for the first time. A big thank you to the Year 4 teachers, Philomena Solari (Religious Education Leader), Fr Jerald, and Parish Sacramental staff for all the preparation and support needed to prepare our Year 4 students for the Sacrament. We look forward to sharing photos from the weekend's celebration in an upcoming newsletter.

Term 4 Year Level Letter - released in Week Two

Please keep an eye on your inbox during Week Two for your child's Year Level Letter, which will outline the term's key curriculum and school activities, plus reminders.

2027 School Structure

Planning and organising for 2027 has been in focus for Term Three with support from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools colleagues. The School Advisory Council has been an important voice in conversations about the reality of funding and the Catholic schools environment at the moment. After careful consideration, I am a to announce we will be organising the school with 14 classes as follows: two classes of Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4, & Four classes of Year 5/6. Our learning support officers will continue to work across the school in groups and with individual students as required. Our intervention team supporting Literacy and Maths will continue to support classroom teachers.

Classlists for 2027

Over the coming weeks, we will begin organising student class placements for 2027. Our staff invests a significant amount of time, care, and thought into this lengthy process to ensure the best outcomes for every child.

In the next two weeks, students will be asked to write the names of 5 students who help them learn in the classroom. These preferences will be fed into the classlist process over the coming weeks.

If you have a specific request regarding your child’s social or emotional development, please email me directly at principal@ssrowville.catholic.edu.au no later than Monday, 26 October. To be considered, your email must include the valid reasons behind the request. Late requests cannot be considered.

Please note that these requests are strictly for well-being needs, not for selecting specific teachers. Furthermore, because students are typically divided into just two classes (four classes for 5\6), requesting a separation from certain peers may inadvertently separate your child from other supportive friends who end up in the opposite room.

My advice is to trust our judgement, because we know and observe the students for many hours in many settings each week of the year.

Carpark and Pedestrian Safety - REMINDER

Recent discussions at a school advisory council meeting have been focused on Car park safety for all members of our school community, including visitors coming to and from the site.

We have put together an updated quick reference document to capture the key messages and instructions users of the school/parish car park need to follow. Thank you Greg Cavenagh and the SAC members for their contrbution to this work.

Code Camp returning for Term 4 - PLACES AVAILABLE! - starts in Week 2

The after-school activity Code Camp opportunity is returning for Term 4. Click here to find out how to get involved.

Supporting the St Simon's Fete - lots of ways

Being present on the Fete Day
Volunteer for one of the school-hosted stalls - BBQ or Show bags.
Sell some raffle tickets to family and friends or at your workplace.
Donate to your child's Classroom Spinning Wheel Hamper collection (more details to come in a separate notice)

St Simon's Fete 2026 - Raffle - Eldest Child

In the last week of the term, the eldest child in the family will receive a St Simon's Fete Raffle book of tickets to help support the fete effort. Click here for more details Please return sold raffle books to the school office marked in an envelope with your family name. Any unsold raffle tickets must also be returned.

Fete fundraising supports the parish and school directly. As a school, we receive 15% of the profits, which bolsters the Parents' Association funds for projects around the school that benefit all the students.

Getting involved in the St Simon’s Fete is one of the most rewarding ways to connect with our vibrant school community, and we welcome help of all kinds. There are many ways to assist, including managing a stall, assisting with setup and pack-down, or lending a hand for just an hour or two. Volunteering not only lightens the load and ensures the day runs smoothly, but it also gives you a fantastic opportunity to meet other parents, forge lasting friendships, and strengthen our school spirit. Most importantly, when our children see parents and carers giving their time and energy to support the community, it sets a powerful, positive example of generosity, teamwork, and service.

However you choose to contribute, your involvement makes a meaningful difference, and we would love to have you on board!

St Simon's Fete - Partnership and Promotional opportunities for local and small businesses

This wonderful event is a highlight of our calendar, bringing together families, friends, and the wider community for a day of fun and celebration. To make this year’s fete our best one yet, we are inviting members of our school community and local businesses to partner with us.

We have a variety of fantastic promotional and sponsorship opportunities available, offering an excellent platform to showcase your business while supporting our community.

If you would like to explore sponsorship options or find out how you can get involved, please contact the Parish Office or reach out directly to Fete Committee member Bill Leane on 0411 289 319.

Child Safety - MACS Care

In this newsletter, as part of our continual commitment to Child Safety awareness, we spotlight Child Safe Standard 8 - “Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.”

Click here to find out more. (and scroll down)

Newsletter Side Sections and Pages

Please take time to browse through the sections and pages of the newsletter. You find more details and information about events and posts you see through Social channels.

Connect with Us on Social Media 📱

Want to see all the latest activities, student achievements, and exciting experiences happening around our school in real time?

Be sure to check out and follow our official school social channels! It’s a wonderful way to stay connected with the vibrant St. Simon the Apostle Primary School community and get a firsthand look at what our students are learning and creating each day.

Facebook: Follow us for community updates, photo galleries, and event reminders.
Instagram: Check out our latest stories, highlights, and snapshots of daily school life.

Search for St. Simon the Apostle Primary School on both platforms, hit follow, and join our growing online community!

School Closure Days Term 4 - 2026

Throughout the year, the school schedules several school closure days for staff to engage in professional learning and compliance activities. There are also days scheduled for time-in-lieu (TIL) activities that staff attend and run outside the normal hours of the school day. These days are used to acquit these hours.

When a school closure day is scheduled, Beyond Edu Care will operate a program of care for the day so that families can have their children looked after on the school site.

Term 4

Monday 2nd November - Student Free Day (Time in lieu)

Friday 13th November - Student Free Day (Staff PL - Student Wellbeing)

Tuesday 15th December - Last day of School for students

St Simon’s Staff and Contact Details

A complete staff list for 2026 is available through the newsletter each week by going to Staff Contacts and General Information section