School News
Dear Families,
Welcome back to Term 4. It has been wonderful to see students arriving each day feeling refreshed, enthusiastic, and ready for the term ahead after the two-week break. Both students and teachers have jumped straight back into learning, making the most of every opportunity from day one.
Term 4 is always a busy and exciting time, and this year is no exception. We’re looking forward to a range of events and activities, including our Swimming Program, Year 3 Zoo Snooze Camp, Year 6 Urban Experience, Christmas Carols, and the Year 6 Graduation.
An overview of the term was emailed to families during the last week of the holidays. We hope this helps you stay informed and organised in the weeks ahead. Please remember that dates and events are subject to change, and any updates will be shared via ClassDojo and reflected in the school calendar.
*Please note we have two school closure days this term:
- Monday 4th November will be a student free school closure day
- Friday 28th November will be a student free school closure day
GOSH will be open on both of these days. We encourage you to book your children in early if you wish to use this service.
Beachside Athletics
Last Friday, a number of our students proudly represented Galilee at the Beachside Athletics competition. These students advanced to this regional level after impressive performances at both our School Athletics Carnival and the Dendy District Athletics Carnival.
Each of them competed with heart, enthusiasm, and outstanding talent and skill. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they represented our school.
A big thank you to the parents who attended and supported the students, and to Mr Greene for his time and encouragement on the day.
2026 Prep Transition
This week, we welcomed our 2026 Prep students to Galilee for another exciting Transition Session. We are proud to offer an extended Prep Transition Program here at Galilee, providing students with six dedicated transition sessions to attend school, engage with our Prep teachers, and become familiar with daily school routines.
In addition to this program, many of our incoming students have been participating in the highly successful Seeds and Sprouts School Readiness Program, led by Prep teacher Becky Kavanagh. This initiative runs weekly in Term 2 and 3 and supports students in developing the confidence and skills they need for a smooth start to school life at Galilee.
Both the Seeds and Sprouts Program and our extended Prep Transition sessions have proven to be valuable in helping children feel comfortable and prepared as they begin their school journey.
A big thank you to Becky Kavanagh and all our dedicated Prep teachers for their hard work and commitment to these important programs.
Swimming Program
Over the next two weeks we will be running our annual Swimming Program at MSAC. Participation in a Swimming Program is a vital part of every child’s education and safety in Victoria. Learning to swim equips students with essential skills, builds confidence in and around water, and promotes physical fitness. In a country like Australia, where water activities are often such a big part of our lifestyle, developing strong swimming skills from an early age is especially important.
Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to support swimming, your assistance makes this program possible. Thank you also to Mr. Greene for organising the lessons and keeping everyone well informed.
Please see a recent Dojo post that contains tips and tricks about our Swimming Program. If you have any other questions regarding swimming, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.
Dendy Cricket Gala Carnival – Exciting Days Ahead!
We’re thrilled to announce that many of our Year 5/6 and Year 3/4 students will soon be representing Galilee at the upcoming Dendy Cricket Gala Carnivals.
The Year 5/6 carnival is happening tomorrow, Friday 17th October, followed by the Year 3/4 event on Friday 24th October. Both days will feature the fast-paced and fun Super 8s Cricket format, where students will have the chance to showcase their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Students should arrive at school by 8:30am on their event day, dressed in full sports uniform and equipped with snacks, lunch, water bottles, sunscreen, and weather-appropriate clothing. The bus will depart promptly at 8:45am and return by 3:00pm.
Parents are warmly invited to come along and cheer on the teams.
A big thank you to Mr Greene and the teachers and parents supporting these exciting events. We wish all our players the best of luck and look forward to celebrating their efforts and achievements.
Student Achievement
We are continually amazed by the incredible achievements of our students. Each and every one of them makes us proud as they challenge themselves and strive to grow every day.
This week, we would like to celebrate two outstanding accomplishments:
Jay from Year 6 has been working with Leonid, one of our Instrumental Teachers, to learn the keyboard. You might remember his impressive performance at our school concert last term. Jay recently received a ‘Pass with Credit’ for his Grade 3 Piano (Comprehensive) exam—an outstanding achievement. Congratulations, Jay!
Lucy from Year 4 has been selected for the State High Jump team and will compete in Canberra later this term. This is an extraordinary achievement, and we wish her all the best for a successful competition.
Well done to both Jay and Lucy!
Year 6 Fundraising
Once again, our Year 6 students and their families will be selling Zooper Doopers on Friday afternoons for the next five weeks. Funds raised will go towards their Year 6 Graduation. Each Zooper Dooper will be $2. Cash and card will be accepted.
Galilee Mathetes Maths Club
This week, our Year 3–6 and Prep–Year 2 Mathetes took part in the first Maths Lunchtime Club of the term. Students enjoyed a range of games and problem-solving activities designed by the Mathematics Association of Victoria.
It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm and teamwork as they explored different mathematical challenges.
A big thank you to Mr Webster, our Maths Leader, for organising, planning, and running these engaging lunchtime sessions for our students.
New Outside Chessboard and two square court
This week our students arrived at school to discover a new outside chessboard. The new two square court and chessboard are the first step to our playground upgrades that we have planned. Mr. Booth and a group of students wasted no time on Monday morning, getting stuck into the very first chess game on the new board. Interest in chess is very high at Galilee, especially since the introduction of the after school Chess Club. Thank you to Paul Mapley who worked over the weekend to ensure the chessboard and new two square court were installed.
Planning for 2026
As we move through Term 4, our staff will begin preparations for the 2026 school year. A key part of this process is the thoughtful placement of students into 2026 class groupings that best supports their learning and wellbeing.
When forming classes, teachers take into account a wide range of factors, including each student’s academic needs, social and emotional development, learning styles, and peer relationships. This helps us create balanced, supportive, and effective learning environments for all students.
If there is any vitally important information you would like the school to consider when placing your child, please email Amy at admin@gsm.vic.edu.au. Please title the email Attention Amy: 2026 Class Placement. While we welcome vital insights that are important for us to consider, please note that requests for specific teachers will not be accepted. Requests for particular peer placements will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.
In the coming weeks, students will be asked to nominate three friends that they would like to be placed with and teachers will ensure that each student is placed with one of the friends that they nominate.
All information received will be carefully reviewed; however, we cannot guarantee that all considerations brought to our attention can be accommodated.
We wish you and your family every blessing in the comming weeks.
-Amy Burns (Principal), Richard Harding (Deputy Principal) and Holly Evans (Deputy Principal)