Week 9 has been another busy, engaging and eventful week at St. Leonard's!

Reading with the Principal

The week began with our prospective 2026 Prep students and their families joining our Principal, Mrs Foale, to Read with the Principal.

The children were introduced to 'Thelma the Unicorn.' This was a wonderful opportunity to provide future students with a welcoming and enjoyable introduction to the reading culture at St Leonard's.

Our next Prep Experience Day will be held on May 1st, where Cathy Ellis will showcase the fun of performing arts and puppetry. If you know of any Kindergarten students who might be interested in participating in this free event, they can secure their spot at https://www.leonardsgwav.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/prep-experience-day/.

Staff Meeting with New Principal Alyce Lowther

On Thursday 27th April, our staff had the pleasure of meeting our new Principal, Alyce Lowther. It was a great opportunity to begin getting to know her, and we eagerly anticipate building a strong relationship with her next term.

Confirmation Date Change

We have an important update regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation. Fr. John has informed us that due to unforeseen circumstances, the Bishop originally scheduled for the event will be unable to officiate on Thursday, September 18th.

We are delighted to announce that Bishop Tomlinson has graciously agreed to step in. However, he is only available on Wednesday, September 17th. Therefore, the Confirmation ceremony has been moved to:

Wednesday, September 17th
Grade 6 Student Reflection Day: Tuesday, September 16th

PSG Meetings

This week, Patricia Zomer and our dedicated teachers have been actively engaged in PSG

meetings. At St Leonard's, we pride ourselves on nurturing each child's individual learning journey towards their personal best. These meetings provide a valuable platform for parents of students with diverse learning needs to gain a deeper understanding of their child's progress and enable teachers to further tailor their support.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Patricia and all the families who participated in this week's meetings, as well as those scheduled for next week.

Roar Student Session

This week, our students participated in Roar Students Session focused on Protective

Behaviours. These sessions aim to empower students with essential personal safety skills. By fostering an awareness of 'safe' behaviours, we aim to equip individuals with strategies to prevent abuse, reduce violence, and promote positive health and well-being. The students responded very positively to the key messages: "We all have the right to feel safe at all times," and "We can talk about anything with someone we trust, no matter what it is."

We are confident that this session will further enhance their Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).

Grade 6 Leader's Assembly

On Wednesday 26th March, our School Captains led our whole-school assembly. During this assembly, the Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Library, and Italian Monitors shared insights into their leadership roles and how they support our Specialist teachers. They were also proudly presented with their monitor badges. Additionally, our Guardians of St Leonard's received their badges and spoke about their role and the upcoming Wear It Wild day.

Congratulations to all our leaders!

Class Mass for Lent

During this season of Lent, all year levels will be participating in a class Mass. We commenced with the Year 5/6 Level, who attended Mass on Tuesday and Year 1/2 today. We extend our sincere thanks to Fr John for celebrating Mass with them.

Prayer Over the Air

In addition to class Masses, our school continued our Prayer Over the Air liturgy on Monday. This week, the liturgy was led by 3/4H. The students focused on what people need to grow and thrive, both physically and spiritually. Through prayer, acts of kindness, and sacrifices during Lent, we further cultivate our spiritual well-being.

Mazenod/Avila Experience Day

The Grade 4 and 5 students enjoyed an enriching High School Experience Day today at Mazenod College and Avila College. The students enthusiastically participated in a variety of fun and educational activities and returned to school excited about their future high school journey.

Mazenod College - Mission Action Day 2025

Don't forget to donate to the "Mazenod College - Mission Action Day 2025" by visiting: www.mycause.com.au/events/mazmad25.

Wear It Wild - Friday 28th March

This Friday, St Leonard's will be holding our "Wear It Wild" day fundraiser. Student will be wear animal themed clothing.

In the unique land of the koala, the quoll, and the platypus, Australia's mammals are truly distinctive, with 86% found nowhere else in the world. Sadly, Australia faces the highest mammal extinction rate globally, placing these iconic species at severe risk of disappearing forever. The aim of our Wear It Wild day is to raise awareness about nature loss by encouraging everyone to Wear it Wild and to raise funds to support the protection and restoration of our precious natural environment.

Stations of the Cross Next Week

As Easter approaches, each year level at St Leonard's will participate in a reflective liturgy on the Stations of the Cross next week, tailored to their level. The Stations of the Cross provide an opportunity for all Christians to contemplate a significant part of the Christian story, the death of Jesus, and to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice while drawing connections to our own lives and challenges.

Easter Bonnet Construction

Our students (and parents!) will be fully engaged in some exciting STEM construction activities this week and next as they prepare their Easter bonnets for our biannual Easter Bonnet Parade.

Prep: The challenge is to create the most colourful Easter Bonnet.
Year 1/2: The task is to design a bonnet with the greatest number of Easter-themed items attached or hanging.
Year 3/4: The objective is to construct the tallest freestanding Easter Bonnet that can be comfortably worn on a student's head.
Year 5/6: The aim is to create an Easter Bonnet featuring moving parts or integrated lights.

We hope these challenges provide a fun and collaborative experience for families to enjoy together during this busy time of year. We eagerly look forward to seeing these creative Easter bonnets next Friday at 9:00 am.

Easter Parade

Our Easter Parade will take place next Friday, commencing at 9:00 am. Join us for a morning filled with fun, music, and the spectacular display of Easter bonnets. We extend our sincere thanks to the PFA for their generous contribution of Easter treats to be distributed on the day.

A Reminder Regarding School Uniform and Nails

We have recently observed a few instances where students have deviated from our school uniform. As such, we thought it would be a timely opportunity to remind all families of our uniform expectations. The St Leonard's school uniform is designed to be practical, comfortable for learning, and to foster a strong sense of unity and pride within our school community.

Summer Uniform (Terms 1 & 4):

Boys: Grey shorts, short-sleeved grey shirt, grey ankle socks, and black school shoes. A woollen knit jumper with the school logo is optional.
Girls: School dress, white ankle socks, black school shoes, and hair ties/ribbons in white, green, or gold. A woollen knit jumper with the school logo is optional.

Winter Uniform (Terms 2 & 3):

Boys: Grey trousers, long-sleeved grey shirt or yellow skivvy, grey socks, and the woollen knit jumper with the school logo.
Girls: Winter tunic or bottle green trousers, long-sleeved lemon blouse or yellow skivvy, green tights or white socks, and the woollen knit jumper with the school logo.

Hats:

Legionnaire or slouch hats are compulsory for both boys and girls during outdoor activities in Terms 1 & 4, and whenever the UV index is 3 or higher, to ensure sun safety.

Sports Uniform:

Bottle green shorts or tracksuit pants (girls also have the option of a skirt or skort), gold short-sleeved polo shirt, white sports socks and runners, and a sports windcheater.

Optional Items (for both Boys and Girls):

Bottle green rain jacket, bottle green gloves and scarf (with the school logo), bottle green beanie (with the school logo), and sports jacket.

We also wish to reiterate that synthetic nails and nail polish are not permitted as part of the school uniform policy.

In a separate matter, we have noticed a few instances of students presenting to sick bay with scratches sustained in the playground. To ensure the safety and comfort of all our students, we kindly request that parents regularly check their child's fingernails to ensure they are appropriately trimmed.

Your support in ensuring your child adheres to the school uniform policy and maintaining appropriate nail hygiene is greatly appreciated. Together, we can continue to create a positive and safe environment for all students at St Leonard's.

Early Finish - 1:30 pm

A friendly reminder that school will conclude early at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 4th, as it is our final day of Term 1.

Thank you to everyone for making the week a busy but enjoyable one!

Angela Foale

Acting Principal

OSHC