WELCOME BACK TO TERM THREE!

Dear Parents,

The staff and I hope you had a wonderful, relaxing break after a l-o-n-g Term Two. Everyone needed a good rest! This term is quite the contrast - blink and it will be over. It’s just nine weeks, and we have already completed two!

It has been great to be back with the students and staff as we begin the new term and the second half of our school year. The report provided to you regarding your child’s Semester One learning is a guide to their goals for Semester Two. The Learning Conversations at the end of Term Three then provide another springboard for the goals to be focused on in Term Four. We all need to set goals, to challenge ourselves and keep us on track. Even in Prep, students can tell you what they need to practise more or learn next, so as we move higher in the school, the students are more articulate regarding their ‘next steps’.

Across the term, the focus in InquiRE Learning is Science. As you will have seen from the comprehensive Term Newsletter provided by each Level, the knowledge of science is a focus, so there will be many links made to explanations, scientific or information writing styles and non-fiction texts.

The term also contains a number of special events, including First Eucharist celebrations, Book Week, including our Parade, the Great Book Swap (with funds raised for Indigenous communities), the PFA Disco, Winter Interschool Sport, 100 Days for the Preps, the Father’s Day Stall, Dance Classes leading to the ‘Step into the Spotlight’ Performance, and Footy/Sports Day.

STAFF NEWS

Last week we welcomed back Ms Jasmine Victoire into 3JM, and will soon welcome Ms Bianca Di Giovanni into 2RO to replace Mrs Dinesha Rajasingam.

Stepping into the dual role of Intervention Teacher and Learning Diversity Leader is Mrs Simone Vesey, who will oversee the Prep-Year 3 PSGs and I will oversee the Year 4-6 PSGs.

ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Each year all schools are required as part of government compliance to write an annual report on the previous year. Our 2024 Annual Report to the Community has been completed and is available to view on our school website. There is also a hard copy in the office.

YEAR FOUR FIRST EUCHARIST MASSES

Over the next two weekends, our Year Four students will celebrate their First Eucharist with their families, friends, the staff and the parish.

This is a prayerful, wonderful occasion, so I ask that you keep the following students in your prayers as they make their First Eucharist this weekend.

Tommy, Jacob, Sofia, Ethan, Tobias, Alexander, Sidney, Harper, Evie, Freddie, Hannah W, Georgia B, Harrison, Harry C, Bosco, Arthur, Mila, William, Georgia J, Luca, Liam, Siena, Hannah D, Annalise, Emma, Samuel, Kaede, Jack, Lachlan, Chiara K, Rosie, Ella, Oliver, Jessica, Lucia, Ayesha, Audrey, Archie D, Harry D, Eva, Alice, Noah, Archie P, Anna, Hazel, Miles, Owen, Chiara A, Ava, James, Hailey, Janice, Maryam, Michael, Gabriel, Ivy, Alyssa, Orlando, Olivia.

Special thanks to the parents, teachers, school and parish staff for your efforts to prepare the students for this day, and assist with the many tasks to organise the Mass and prepare the Church.

May God bless these children always.

PERFORMANCE - 18 SEPTEMBER - GET READY!

As you have seen, we are beginning the preparations for our Dance Performance at the end of this term at Parade College in Bundoora.

The classes have had their first Dance rehearsal yesterday with our teachers from Footsteps, and will be learning more about the choreography and need for working together so that the dance looks uniform as the term progresses.

Ticket information and costume requirements will be shared with you in the coming weeks.

STUDENT SAFETY - STRANGER DANGER

It’s timely to remind ourselves and the children of safety as they begin a new term, particularly those who walk to and from school. If a child is ever concerned about someone following them, they can return to school (if close by), or go into a shop and ask the shopkeeper to call the police and parent/s. These discussions need to occur at home and school, so the child has a plan and is clear about what to do in a situation where they feel unsafe.

Some essential tips are listed below:

Walk together

Younger children should always walk with an adult.
For older students, walk with a friend or two whenever possible.
Pick a safe route to school that parents have approved. Avoid dangerous intersections.
Stick to the route, even if friends want to take a shortcut.

Cross the street safely

Watch out for cars and trucks at every driveway and intersection. Look for drivers in parked cars. They may be getting ready to move.
When near the street, don’t push, shove, or chase.
Obey traffic signs, signals and crossing supervisors.

Avoid strangers

Avoid clothing or gear that has a student's name visibly displayed so that strangers can’t use that information to approach or engage children in conversation.
Never leave school with a stranger, hitchhike or take rides not previously arranged by parents.
If strangers offer a ride, say NO. Stay away from unknown cars and people.
If someone follows them in a car or on foot, get away as quickly as possible, run in the other direction, and yell for help.
Encourage children to report suspicious behaviour or strangers to the school or to another trusted adult.
For students who arrive home alone, remind them to lock doors, to call a parent to check-in, and to never open the door for a stranger. Students should not share with others that they are home alone after school.

(Adapted from https://garlandisd.net/school-operations/student-and-staff-safety/walking-safety-tips)

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

ASSEMBLIES THIS TERM

Weather permitting, we will have an Assembly next Monday morning, 4 August, our first due to the Professional Learning Day last week.

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.

100 DAYS OF PREP

The 100 Days of School for the Preps was celebrated in grand style on Wednesday! There were some very old-looking Preps, as well as some bright (1980s style!) looking Preps. I’m sure you can’t believe that your child has already achieved so much, and there’s lots of time for more learning! Thank you to Andrea (and Davina), Jess and Brigitte who prepared the classroom and themselves for a memorable day for the students. They looked pretty good for their ages too!

PFA MEETING

Thank you to our PFA who met this week and who are planning for our Family Fun Day in October (keep Sunday 26 October clear in the afternoon).

This term, the fundraising and social events occurring are the Father’s Day Stall, the Fathers’ Night Out, a Sushi Day and the School Disco.

Our community is very fortunate to have these activities offered. Please volunteer to help out when you can so that we can share our appreciation for the Committee’s efforts.

We are seeking new members to come along and see what happens and how we plan. No-one has to take on something on their own, but you can join the current committee to help out.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

The SAC will meet on Monday 11 August at 7.00pm, with some discussion focused on Refurbishment, Marketing and Literacy through an update from Sandra Tieppo.

At the following meeting, we will share the fees for 2026 and be updated about Wellbeing, planning for the 2026 Harmony Day.

Please see this poster for the list of our 2025 SAC Representatives.

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.

NCCD PARENT INFORMATION

Please take a moment to read the NCCD Parent Information flyer which was shared in previous Newsletter.

‘COME AND SEE’ SESSIONS

The ‘Come and See’ sessions for Term Three are:

Wednesday 6 August and Wednesday 20 August.

There will also be a chance to come along to the Book Week Parade and a Story afternoon in Book Week - see the information later in the Newsletter.

HEAD LICE, COVID, FLU AND VIRUSES

Please be aware of sending your child to school if they are unwell or have obvious symptoms. We do not want germs to be shared in the classroom, so please keep them home to monitor these.

COVID is around again, so please test your child if anyone in the house develops COVID. There is a minimum of five days absence in a school setting and the student cannot return if they still have symptoms which could impact others.

There have also been levels who have experienced head lice, which requires you to check your child’s hair.

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.

ALTAR SERVERS

A training session for those from Years 3-6 interested in Altar Serving, will be held on 28 August at 3.45pm for approximately an hour. I’m sharing the date so you can add it to your calendar if your child is wanting to learn how to become a server.

PREP 2026 - TERM THREE LIBRARY VISIT

We look forward to welcoming our Prep 2026 students for their first library visit on Wednesday 3 September.

BOOK WEEK PARENT INFORMATION

Sandra Tieppo, our Literacy Leader, has shared a plan (see information in the Newsletter) for the celebration of Book Week this year. Please see what is happening across the week, as well as the Book Swap occurring during the week. Book Week is an exciting time for our students and parents. Please read the Book Week Activities article in this newsletter.

CONGRATULATIONS

We congratulate Kayleigh from Year 6 for competing in the School Sport Victoria State Cross Country Championships last week. Please read Kayleigh’s reflection.

Last Thursday, on the 24th of July, I competed at the School Sport Victoria State Cross Country Championships. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed just being there and knowing that I am in the top 70 across the state of Victoria. That wasn’t all I enjoyed though, I also had lots of fun practising with some of my friends in our year level. The journey was tough but great fun especially when doing it with my friends. Out of all of the courses, I found this one the hardest but that helped me overcome my challenge of huge hills. It is great to have found a new individual sport that I am good at.

Kayleigh (Year 6)

FIRST EUCHARIST REFLECTION

The memory of your First Eucharist Day is one which stays with you forever ~ the feelings of excitement, family gathered to celebrate with you and participating fully in the Mass.

We pray…

We wish all our Year Four students a very special day this weekend, celebrating their First Eucharist.

Have a fabulous weekend! God bless.

THANK YOU AND WELL DONE!

This 'Thank you' also applies to the school!

Project Compassion—a personal thank you!

Dear Father Michael,

Thank you! St Martin's was one of the very most generous parishes for Project Compassion this year in the entire Archdiocese. We are so grateful.

What a wonderful community.

Thank you for your life-giving vision of faith that does justice.

With deep gratitude and all good wishes —Michael McGirr, Caritas Australia

CLASS MASSES

Term 3	Class
Monday 4 August	1BG
Friday 8 August	Whole school
Friday 15 August	Whole school
Thursday 21 August	1LA
Thursday 28 August	2MT
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

School Calendar

Please check the dates on the calendar regularly, as they m change