Week 7 Newsletter

As Winter arrives and the temperatures begin to drop, we reflect warmly on a week that truly captured the spirit of care, connection and community at St Agnes’.

Last Thursday, we proudly gathered for the 10th annual St Agnes’ Biggest Morning Tea, a special tradition that honours the strength, courage and resilience of those in our community whose lives have been touched by cancer. In the weeks leading up to the event, many of our students embraced the morning skipping challenge before school, promoting healthy habits, movement and wellbeing with incredible enthusiasm and positivity.

A sincere thank you to Mrs Miller and Mrs Phyland for their dedication in leading this meaningful initiative and coordinating such a wonderful event for our community. We are incredibly grateful for the care and energy they invested in making the morning such a success.

A highlight of the event was our school choir’s beautiful performance of One Million Dreams, led by our performing arts teacher Mrs Gugliucciello, a wonderful glimpse of what is to come in our 2027 school production. We also loved seeing several of our talented young musicians share solo and group performances, adding to the joyful atmosphere of the morning.

Cancer has touched many members of our St Agnes’ community over the years, making occasions such as the Biggest Morning Tea especially meaningful. The generosity of our families through raffle donations and participation, combined with the positivity and togetherness of the event, reminds us of the power of community in supporting important causes.

All funds raised will be donated directly to the Cancer Council, and we look forward to sharing the final fundraising total with our community very soon.

We are also incredibly grateful to the many local businesses who have generously donated hampers, prizes and vouchers for our raffle, including: Bare Laser and Skin, The Little Elephant, Very Zen Candle and Co, Active Feet, MOPA, Royal Stacks, Bunnings Warehouse, Jump Central, Live Wire Park, Amcal, Hunky Dory, Chocablock Chocolate, Ella Baché Hampton, Chicken Lads, Spring Park Golf Course, Dilmah, Luna Park Melbourne, Puffing Billy Railway, Hologram Zoo, Toby Haenen Swim Centre, Gravity Zone, Inflatable World, Super Zoo Play Centre, Twisted Science, Ballarat Wildlife Park, NOONE and Power Play. Their support and generosity is greatly appreciated.

Classroom Climate

One of the great joys of my role is visiting classrooms and seeing the wonderful learning taking place across our school. In my recent walks around classrooms, I have been so impressed by the calm, focused and hardworking learning environments our students and staff continue to create each day. Particularly as we head towards the end of Term Two, one of the busiest times of the year. it has been wonderful to see students engaged and giving their best.

I am incredibly proud of our staff for their commitment to their craft and the care, professionalism and dedication they bring each day. The calm and positive culture across our classrooms is a wonderful reflection of the high expectations and strong learning environment we continue to foster at St Agnes’.

Prep Prayers in Pyjamas

Our annual Prep Prayers in Pyjamas evening was once again a delightful celebration of faith, family and community. It was wonderful to see our Prep students gather with their families to pray, sing and share in this special experience together.

A sincere thank you to Mrs Barton, Ms Hobart, Mrs Georgiou and Mrs Gorski for leading the evening. As our first faith-based family gathering for Prep students, this event is always a meaningful milestone, and it was wonderful to see such strong attendance and enthusiastic participation from families. Thank you to all parents for helping make the evening such a warm and memorable occasion.

Parent Helpers

It has been so pleasing to see so many of our wonderful parent helpers supporting reading in our junior classrooms across the week. These moments of extra practice, encouragement and connection make such a difference to our students as they continue to build confidence and fluency in their reading. We are incredibly grateful to the parents who generously give up their time to support learning at St Agnes’, our parent partnerships are deeply appreciated and play such an important role in helping our students develop and learn.

Kilbreda College Visit

A few weeks ago, we were delighted to welcome the Principal of Kilbreda College, Stephanie Smyth, along with several student leaders, to speak with our Year 4 and 5 girls about life at Kilbreda and the exciting opportunities that await students in secondary school.

Stephanie and the students shared insights into the many opportunities available at Kilbreda, including learning programs, leadership, co-curricular activities, friendships and the strong sense of community that supports students to grow and thrive. It was wonderful for our students to hear firsthand about a school that places such strong emphasis on wellbeing, personal growth and helping girls flourish.

The visit also gave students the opportunity to ask questions about the transition to secondary school and gain a clearer understanding of what life beyond St Agnes’ may look like, regardless of their pathway. We hope the experience eased worries and sparked excitement about the years ahead.

Following the visit, Kilbreda staff shared how impressed they were with the warm, welcoming environment at St Agnes’, which was lovely feedback and a wonderful reflection of our school community.

Parent/Teacher Interviews and Semester Reports

Our teachers are currently deep into what is always a busy but incredibly important time of the semester: assessment, reporting and reflecting on student growth. Over the past week, it has been a real pleasure to share in conversations with teachers and curriculum leaders about the progress of individual students and year levels, celebrating the many successes, improvements and achievements that have taken place throughout the first half of the year.

We are incredibly proud of our students for their efforts and growth, and equally grateful to our teachers and Learning Support Officers for the care, expertise and commitment they bring each day to supporting every learner at St Agnes’.

Earlier this week, our Leadership Team also met to unpack key assessment and school data sets. This important work allows us to celebrate areas of strength, identify next steps and refine teaching approaches to ensure we continue meeting the needs of all learners as we move into Semester Two.

As part of this process, Parent/Teacher Interviews will take place in the final week of term on Tuesday 23 June. School will conclude at 1:00pm, with interviews commencing from 1:30pm. We thank families for their understanding and support of the early finish, allowing staff and parents valuable time to meet and discuss student progress, celebrate growth and work together to support continued success. The booking link for parent teacher interviews was sent out earlier this week. If you are having any issues booking your interviews, please get in contact with the office at your earliest convenience.

For families requiring care, Extend will be available from 1:00pm on the day.

Peaceful Kids

This week, we proudly concluded our first cycle of Peaceful Kids for 2026, a program that continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many students at St Agnes’.

Peaceful Kids is a mindfulness and positive psychology program designed to support children in building emotional resilience, managing anxiety, strengthening self-regulation and developing practical strategies for navigating challenges in everyday life.

Leading Peaceful Kids at St Agnes’ is the wonderful Amanda Moloney. On top of being an outstanding Learning Support Officer, inspirational netball coach and incredibly positive role model for many of our senior students, Amanda generously shares her expertise and care in facilitating this important program under the guidance of our Wellbeing Leader, Mrs Melinda Phyland. Amanda also brings with her a Master’s degree in Counselling, providing a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding in supporting student wellbeing.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Amanda leading Peaceful Kids at St Agnes’. The warmth, empathy and skill she brings to the program helps create a safe and supportive space for students, and we know the positive impact of the program is felt well beyond the sessions themselves as students build confidence, resilience and strategies to support their wellbeing both at school and at home.

Gaga Pit Arrives

This past fortnight saw the exciting arrival of our new Gaga Pit, a fantastic addition to student play spaces that has already proven to be incredibly popular with students across the school.

The Gaga Pit came to us from St Joseph’s, Black Rock and was an initiative championed by our School Captains, Niamh and Leo, as part of their ongoing efforts to improve play opportunities and student experiences at St Agnes’. It has been wonderful to see student voice and leadership translated into something so positive for our community.

Beyond simply being fun, the Gaga Pit has already created meaningful leadership opportunities for our senior students. Students have worked collaboratively to establish and refine an evolving set of game expectations and rules to ensure play remains inclusive, fair and enjoyable for everyone involved.

To support safe and enjoyable use, we currently have designated times for different age groups, with senior students accessing the Gaga Pit at recess and junior students at lunch. This helps ensure the space remains manageable, enjoyable and accessible for all students.

The Gaga Pit has also been a highly strategic addition to our play environment. As football season arrived, we noticed increasing numbers of students gathering around the football goals, creating congestion in one area of the yard. Introducing the Gaga Pit has helped disperse active play across different spaces, providing another engaging outlet for movement, teamwork and fun. An additional benefit has been a more natural balance in the use of our play areas, with recess increasingly becoming a time for junior students to access the football goals and lunchtime evolving into more of a senior space.

One of the highlights of the first fortnight has been seeing staff enthusiastically embrace the new space too, with Mr Otto and Miss Maddi very quickly jumping into the Gaga Pit to take on students in some spirited competition!

A huge thank you to our Fete Committee and Parents & Friends Association for the incredible work they do to raise funds that directly benefit our students. A massive thank you to Prep parent Ben Nicholson who generously gave up his time on a Saturday to dismantle, pick up and drop off the pit at St Agnes'. Their commitment and generosity have helped make additions such as this possible, and we are already seeing the positive impact this investment is having on student connection in the yard.

After-School Activities

We’re excited to share that we are expanding the range of learning and sporting opportunities available to students outside of school hours.

Beginning this term, James Hartley, a PGA Professional and Head of Junior Development, will be running golf lessons on Friday afternoons. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their skills, build confidence and enjoy the game in a fun and supportive environment.

We are also pleased to announce the introduction of an after-school football (soccer) program commencing next term. Coach Paolo will be offering a free trial session for families interested in learning more about the program. Sessions will be held on Thursdays after school.

We are excited to provide families with additional opportunities for students to participate in sport, develop new skills and stay active, all within the familiar environment of our school grounds.

For further details regarding session times, bookings and program costs, please visit the respective Golf and Football pages.

Fire Fighters Return

After the excitement of the firefighters visiting Prep a few weeks ago, we were delighted to welcome them back last week to show our students how the fire engines themselves work. Our Prep students loved exploring the many features of the truck, learning about the important equipment firefighters use and seeing firsthand just how powerful the fire hose can be. It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience our students won't quickly forget. A sincere thank you to Michael Castellano and his team for once again giving their time to provide such an engaging and memorable experience for our students.

Beachside Cross Country

Last week, five St Agnes’ students proudly represented our school at the Beachside Division Cross Country event after qualifying through strong performances at the HOLT District Cross Country, where students were required to finish in the top eight of their race.

Congratulations to Wilhelm, Irene, Georgie, Finley and Gracelyn, who competed with determination and represented St Agnes’ with pride.

A special congratulations to Gracelyn, who won the Under 10 Girls race and will now progress to the Regional Cross Country event later this year, a fantastic achievement!

Well done to all of our students, and thank you to the parents who supported by transporting and cheering on students throughout the day.

Friday Interschool Sport

Congratulations to our Year 5/6 students who were successful in their football and netball matches against St Anthony’s, Glen Huntly last Friday. It was wonderful to see students succeed and prosper in their passions, while others have enjoyed the experience of learning a new sport.

Their final home-and-away round takes place today against St Joseph’s, Malvern, before attention turns to next week’s Lightning Premierships. Netball will take place on Thursday 11th June at Ashwood Netball Courts and football on Friday 12th June at Sir Zelman Cowan Park in Kooyong.

Well done to all students for the enthusiasm and positive way they have participated in Winter Sport throughout the term. A sincere thank you also to the many parents who have supported our teams from the sidelines, your encouragement and support are greatly appreciated.

Reconciliation Day Assembly

Last week, students participated in a special National Reconciliation Week assembly led by our Social Justice Captains. We reflected on the meaning of National Sorry Day and the importance of reconciliation, guided by the 2026 theme, 'All In For Reconciliation – Make a Change, Take Action.' Students created and shared pledge cards showing how they can promote respect, inclusion, and fairness in their daily lives, which were displayed as a whole-school commitment to reconciliation. Well done to Mrs Gorski for the fantastic way she leads our social justice and Mini-Vinnie leaders

A Healthy Reminder

It has certainly been a challenging few weeks across the school community with a significant wave of illness making its way through classrooms. While this year’s winter bugs have felt more widespread than in previous years, we know from experience that these periods do eventually settle and brighter, healthier days are ahead.

Thank you to all families for your support in keeping children home when they are unwell, it makes a real difference in helping protect the broader school community. Once students are feeling better, we strongly encourage a return to school as soon as possible so learning routines and classroom connections can continue with minimal disruption.

Thankfully, our staff team has remained largely unaffected so far, which has helped maintain consistency and continuity for students during what has been a particularly busy period of the term.

A gentle reminder that if your child will be absent, please notify both their classroom teacher and copy in absences@sahighett.catholic.edu.au so we can ensure attendance records are kept up to date.

Eucharist Reflection Day

Our Year Four students are continuing their preparation for the Sacrament of Eucharist, which will take place later this month. On Wednesday the 17th of June, our Year Four students are invited to wear casual clothes as they spend the day participating in activities and preparations to support this special milestone in their faith journey. The Sacrament of Eucharist Mass will then be celebrated on Saturday 20th June at 6:00pm, and we look forward to sharing this important occasion with our Year Four families.

P&F Meeting and Events

Our next Parents & Friends meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st July at 7:30pm. A key focus for the evening will be planning for our upcoming P&F Social Event in mid-August.

All parents are warmly invited to attend, and we particularly encourage our Class Representatives to make every effort to join us as we continue building opportunities for community connection at St Agnes’.

Fun Lunch: A huge thank you to Kate Hulsman, who will once again coordinate our Term Two Fun Lunch, taking place on Tuesday, 9th June. These days are always a highlight for our students and we are very grateful for the time and effort that goes into organising them.

Student Disco: On Friday, 19th June, our much-anticipated Student Disco will take place in the school hall. Our junior disco for Prep to Year 2 students will begin at 6:00pm, followed by the senior disco for Years 3–6 students from 7:30pm–8:45pm. A sincere thank you to Sarah and Bree, our P&F Co-Presidents, for their work preparing this exciting event for our students. We know it will be another fantastic evening filled with fun, music and community spirit.

Friday BBQs: Thank you to Amy Anderson for her work coordinating the Friday afternoon BBQ. This week our 1M families take on the tongs. Thank you to those families who are able to volunteer and support this lovely tradition at St Agnes'.

Please head over to our P&F page for further information about these upcoming events.

Whole-School Photo

Due to an unexpected camera issue on the original photography day, our traditional whole-school photo has been rescheduled to Tuesday 9th June. Students are asked to wear their full winter uniform on the day. While several classes have PE scheduled for Tuesday, students should bring their runners in their school bag and change into them for their lesson.

For families who missed sibling photos on the original day, photographers will also be available to capture these.

Term Two School Fees

Term Two school fees are now due. Thank you to the many families who have already finalised payment.

We kindly ask families to attend to fees promptly where possible. If you would like to discuss a payment arrangement or set up a direct debit plan, please contact Shannon Shine at sshine@sahighett.catholic.edu.au, who will be very happy to assist.

Parking Reminder: Lucinder Street

A friendly reminder to families to please be mindful of parking signage during morning drop-off, particularly along Lucinda Street. We have been made aware that parking inspectors have recently been present in the area, with fines being issued to vehicles stopping in designated no parking zones.

We understand mornings can be busy, however we encourage all families to take a moment to check signage carefully and ensure parking regulations are followed. We would hate to see anyone receive an avoidable fine during the school rush while also helping to maintain safe traffic flow for all members of our community.

Keeping Naomi Field in Our Thoughts

As a school community, we ask that you keep Naomi Field and her family in your thoughts and prayers following the passing of Naomi’s father this week.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Naomi and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. May they find peace, strength and comfort in the love and support of family, friends and our St Agnes’ community.

Please keep Naomi and her family in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead.

Well Done Mollie

Congratulations to Year 6 student Mollie, who recently travelled to Hawaii to compete at an international cheerleading championship. Competing against teams from across the United States and Canada, her team won a silver medal. Well done Mollie, we're incredibly proud of your achievements.

A reminder to all families that this weekend is the King’s Birthday long weekend. After a busy and eventful few weeks, the timing feels especially welcome, providing an opportunity for some extra rest and time together before we begin the final three-week stretch of Term Two.

We wish all families a safe, restful and enjoyable long weekend and look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday morning, winter uniforms on and smiles ready, for our rescheduled whole-school photo.

Tom.

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