Current News
Dear Families,
What a term!
I would like to thank our families, Parish, staff and students for a magnificent start to our 2025 school year.
We have continued to build connections through community activities thanks to our fabulous Parents and Friends Committee and staff.
- First Day Coffee and Chat
- Welcome drinks (all families)
- Welcome dinner (new families)
- Founders Day Mass (whole school)
- Meet the Teacher Conversations
- Prep Mass (followed by a Parish barbecue)
- Year 6 and Staff Buddy Afternoon Tea
- Commissioning of our FIRE Carrier students
- Commissioning of our Jubilee Ambassador
- School Sports
- Colour Run
- Pancake Making with Father Justel and Chef David
- Ash Wednesday Mass
- Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Catholic Education Week
- St Patrick's Day celebration
- Maria Ruberto Parent Evening
- Avila College Book Buddies
- Parents and Friends Special Lunch
Catholic Education Week
During Catholic Education Week we were blessed by a visit from Father Justel. Father Justel spent time in each classroom and answered questions from the students such as
- How old would God be?
- Where is your favourite place to pray?
- Do you have another job?
- What have you given up for Lent?
Father Justel ended each classroom visit with a prayer and blessing for the Jubilee Year.
St Patrick's Day Mass
Last Friday I had the privilege of accompanying some of our student leaders to the Annual St Patrick's Day Mass at the Cathedral and concert in the gardens.
Our Student Jubilee Ambassador (Sophie) was commissioned during this Mass.
During this Mass the new icon of St Patrick was unveiled. All the Irish Christian symbolism normally associated with St Patrick features in the icon: a Celtic knot, a symbol of the Trinity, on his sleeve; Celtic crosses on his stole; the shamrock, the three-leafed clover St Patrick used to explain the mystery of the Trinity.
His bishop’s crosier is shaped like a shepherd’s crook with a shamrock, a dual reference to his time as an enslaved shepherd in Ireland and to his role as ‘a shepherd of the flock of God’.
His robes are green, even though it was likely he wore blue, because green is the colour of the Emerald Isle and indicates Patrick’s new life in Ireland when he returned in the decades after escaping slavery to convert the Irish to Christianity.
The level of detail in the icon is astonishing. St Patrick is painted with ‘his mouth closed and ears open to signify he is listening to the Father’s voice’.
His hand is in a gesture of blessing. ‘Jesus Christ can also be identified in the shape of the fingers (IX IC),’ she says. ‘In the ancient world this gesture also meant speaker, and Patrick preached the Gospel of Christ.’
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Congratulations to our Year 4 teachers, students and families on a prayerful and respectful reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation last Wednesday night.
I hope these students and their families remember this special evening fondly.
Year 3-6 Reading Evening
Please mark Wednesday 14th May (6:30-8pm) in your diaries.
Parents of students in Year 3-6 will have the opportunity to attend a hands on session which will explain the change in instruction in the upper year levels.
East Central Principals
This Friday we have all the Principals from East Central visiting our school for the day. These Principals will be involved in walk thrus in each classroom to see our 'Spelling' in action.
After these visits the Principals will be briefed by Verity Curtain and Natalie Dib who will outline the changes that have taken place over the last 18 months and the process involved.
Some of our Year 4 students will share their experience of our behaviour curriculum and routines and how these have impacted their learning.
P&F Colour Explosion
It was pleasing to see our community enjoy such a wonderful afternoon last Friday.
A BIG thank you to our parents who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event such a success and to our staff for supporting this event.
I look forward to sharing with you how we allocate the funds raised to continue to enhance our beautiful school. Thank you for your generosity.
NO Parking!
Please be mindful that this parking space is a reserved space between the hours of 8am-4pm. The space will be put up for auction each term, so if you would like to reserve this spot bids will be taken soon!
Watch out for more details.
Prep 2026 Enrolments
If you have a child ready to start school in 2026 please submit your enrolment form to the office by the end of April. We already have enrolments coming in.
Open Days
Open Days run every Tuesday at 9:30am. Please go to our website to book in for a tour.
Our 2025 School Captains (Micah and Georgia) and Vice Captains (Xavier and Sienna) will support these tours.
Soft Plastics Recycling
Thank you to those who have volunteered to help with the soft plastics recycling. Please see this terms roster below-
2025 School Year
Term One and Two Important Dates (refer to our Google Calendar as well)
MARCH
Fri 28 Year 5/6 Summer Sport Gala
Mon 31 P&F Easter Raffle Drawn
APRIL
Fri 4 End of Term Mass (9:15am) All welcome
Fri 4 End of Term 1 (1pm finish)
Thurs 17 Holy Thursday
Fri 18 Good Friday
Sun 20 Easter Sunday
Mon 21 Easter Monday (Public Holiday)
Tues 22 Term 2 Commences
Fri 25 ANZAC Day (Public Holiday)
MAY
Fri 2 House Cross Country (9-11am)
Wed 7 School Photos
Thurs 8 Mother's Day Stall
Fri 9 School Closure Day
Wed 14 Year 3-6 Parent Literacy Information Evening (6:30-8pm)
Fri 16 Walk Safely to School Day
Fri 16 District Cross Country
Wed 21 National Simultaneous Storytime
Mon 26 Year 5/6 Concert
Wed 28-30 Year 5/6 Camp (Anglesea)
Wed 28 Division Cross Country
JUNE
Mon 2 About Real Life Program (Year 5/6)
Wed 4 Maths Family Night
Mon 9 King's Birthday Public Holiday
Tues 10 School Closure Day (Review Preparation)
Thurs 12 EMR Cross Country
Fri 13 District Soccer Round Robin (Year 5/6)
Fri 20 Winter Sport Gala Day (Year 5/6)
Sun 22 Sacrament of First Eucharist (10am)
Fri 27 Winter Sport Gala Day (Year 5/6)
JULY
Fri 4 Last day of Term 2 (1pm finish)
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and Holy Easter,
Julie David (Principal)