Principal's Report

After a very hot spell we look forward to a cooler weekend to rest and refresh. We have made a great start to the year and visits to classrooms and a walk across the yard indicates we have had a pretty settled and enthusiastic start to the year despite the heat.  

Last week I attended the leaders gathering in Bendigo for all principals across the Diocese. It was an opportunity to network and discuss the introduction of the Magnify project across our schools. I came away feeling incredibly proud of where we stand in our teaching and learning and the professional and enthusiastic manner in which our teachers have ‘tweaked’ their programs and our children have engaged in the learning. Magnify sits well with what we are doing and have done, it is exciting to be part of the strong and focused project that will benefit our children.  

Welcome night 

Families are warmly invited to drop into your child’s classroom and meet their teacher on Tuesday, February 18th, anytime between 5:00–6:00 pm. Take the opportunity to connect, explore the learning space, and enjoy a BBQ while you're here! We’ve had a great response to our RSVP note and look forward to seeing families around the school. 

School Advisory Council & Parents and Friends 

A combined Parents & Friends and School Advisory Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 26 at 6.00pm. We warmly invite parents to join us as we plan social and fundraising events for the year and, importantly, discuss our restructure and the new terms of reference for our separate Advisory Council. As we continue to renew and strengthen our wonderful school community, we are excited about the opportunities ahead and encourage parents to come along to support our new initiatives. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me via email or phone. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Cyber Safety 

Next Thursday 20th February, our Grade 3–6 students will be attending an important presentation at St Liborius on social media and navigating the digital space safely. 

Parents are also invited to a special session from 7:00–8:00 pm at St Liborius, Eaglehawk, presented by Safe on Social. This session will provide expert insights on supporting your child's online safety, covering key topics such as social media risks, cyberbullying, privacy settings, and practical strategies for responsible digital use. 

We have partnered with schools across Bendigo for this important event and strongly encourage parents to attend and gain valuable knowledge about this growing aspect of our children's lives. Stay informed and help your child navigate the online world safely! 

Learning Conversations 

We had a fantastic attendance of our learning conversations last week. It was great to see 92% of families attend with an opportunity to meet and discuss our start to the year and goals for the short and long term. Thanks to all involved especially the staff who ensured they were present and prepared.  

Uniform Shop 

Our uniform shop (onsite) is one of our great assets, allowing us to support local businesses while keeping costs to a minimum. This year, Helen Hughan in the office will be coordinating the uniform shop. After many years (about eight, I believe), Deb Tresize has stepped down from the role. She has made an incredible impact, ensuring the resource is sustained and has grown with the support of a band of volunteers. A huge thanks to Deb for her time and effort—we look forward to seeing her volunteering throughout the year. 

It has been great to see all the students return to school taking pride in their uniform. We ask for your continuous support, ensuring your child/children leave home each day wearing the correct uniform. Students have been informed of their sports and specialist's days where they are to wear their sports uniform on these days only. I also ask that the school sports shorts are adhered to, with no brand names or stripes appearing on them. The sports shorts are available for purchase from the uniform shop  

Canteen 

Our canteen is another important resource/service offered at school. Lindy Vance does a tremendous job providing a range of options for lunch and snacks on Friday with the support of volunteers. We urge parents and grandparents to volunteer to help out as we need more to ensure the ongoing success of the service. It’s a great way to contribute, meet others and have a fun time. Importantly, when we volunteer, we model to our children the importance of helping and supporting others.  

School Photos

Next Friday 21st February we will be taking our school photos. You can order both individual and family photos online. Codes and information are available in Reminders section of this newsletter. All photos must be ordered by Thursday 20th February. 

Paul Wilkinson