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)

Parish News