Courage, Faith, Love

Dear St Agatha’s Community,

I am delighted to be back after an extended period of leave. Following an 8-week long service leave, I required an additional two weeks of personal leave due to a bicycle accident, during which I unfortunately broke my arm. The children have been incredibly kind and thoughtful in expressing their concern. I’ve reassured them that I am expected to make a full recovery in the coming months. It has been truly heartwarming to return to school, and I have greatly enjoyed reconnecting with our wonderful students and staff. I am deeply grateful to be back.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Meegan Blakeney for her outstanding leadership during my absence. Meegan has done an exceptional job managing all aspects of the school, from overseeing the building project and supporting the staff to coordinating the school production and everything in between. I also want to acknowledge Nicola, Emily, and all the staff at St Agatha's for their invaluable support in ensuring a smooth transition during this time.

What an eventful week to return! This week, we are celebrating the Book Week Festival, production rehearsals, Grandparents Day, and Japanese Day. I encourage you to visit the Book Week Fair and explore the wonderful selection of books with your children. It's a fantastic opportunity to foster a love of reading, and we would love to see you there! A special thank you to our Learning Support Officer, Kerryn, for her fantastic work in organising the festival, and to Mel, Brooke, and Shamila for their help in making it such a success.

On Friday, we are thrilled to be celebrating Japanese Day, expertly organised by Sensei Andrews and Sensei Ashcroft. The day will be filled with exciting cultural activities, and we invite all students to come dressed as their favourite Japanese characters to join in the fun. We look forward to seeing the creativity and enthusiasm from our students as they embrace this special event.

I would also like to highlight the Turning of the Sod ceremony, which took place last week, marking the beginning of the Stage 3 redevelopment of St Agatha's Primary School. The ceremony was officiated by Bishop Greg Bennet, alongside key members of the school community and leadership team. This new development will include a two-storey building with state-of-the-art learning spaces designed to support our growing enrolments and future educational needs.

Despite the busy schedule, I have been impressed by how calm, respectful, and engaged our students have been. Thank you to all of you for your continued support in fostering strong values within your children. The partnership between families, the school, and the parish is essential to our success, and we are truly appreciative of your involvement.

Looking ahead to next week, we are excited to present the Aladdin musical, which will be performed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets are now available to purchase via CDFPAY. For any ticket inquiries or if your child is unable to participate, please reach out to Natalie in the office via email at nlemiere@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible.

The children have been rehearsing diligently and are eagerly looking forward to showcasing their talents. We hope to see you there!

Warm regards,

Michelle Bruitzman

Day for Daniel