Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week, we celebrated two very important solemnities in our Church calendar. St Patrick’s Day is often marked by joy and celebration, and rightly so. More importantly, we reflect on St Patrick as a Catholic saint whose deep spirituality continues to be a powerful symbol of our faith today. This spirituality has influenced the Patrician tradition, which remains strong in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Thank you to Mrs Vassallo and 4W for leading such a beautiful and prayerful assembly for our students.

Our special assembly dedicated to St Joseph on March 19 was a profound reminder of the trust and faith God places in each of us. St Joseph was called to love and protect Our Lady and the child Jesus, and in the same way, we are all called to care for and protect those we encounter in our daily lives.

Congratulations to Mr Criniti and the Student Representative Council for ensuring that, despite the rain, the assembly proceeded successfully.

Harmony Day

On Friday, we celebrated one of the most special occasions in our school calendar Harmony Day. This day is recognised across Australia as an opportunity to celebrate both our shared values and the rich diversity of cultures within our community. I continue to encourage students to wear traditional dress, as it provides a meaningful opportunity for families and students to share and appreciate the many cultures represented in our school.

Thank you to Miss Loupis for her organisation of this vibrant and inclusive prayer assembly.

A sincere thank you to all parents who attended our three major assemblies this week. Since introducing parent participation in special prayer assemblies, it has added a wonderful sense of richness and connection to these experiences. The children truly enjoy seeing their parents involved in school life.

Family and Faith

It has also been heartening to see such strong attendance at our Family & Faith afternoons. When I introduced these sessions, we hoped they would foster meaningful engagement, and it has been wonderful to see so many families join us. We are very grateful to our staff for facilitating these special opportunities.

Enrolments

Ms Gaal will be contacting families this week to schedule enrolment interviews. I will meet with all new families in Term 2, while Mrs Scullion, Mr Criniti, Mrs Girgenti, and I will also conduct interviews for sibling enrolments. If you are considering enrolling a sibling, please ensure your application is submitted as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place.

As you may know, we welcomed over 130 families to our Open Days this year the most successful in our school’s history. Our Family Open Day was particularly engaging, with visitors enjoying cricket lessons, music, and robotics activities. Based on parent and staff feedback, our next Open Day will be held in the afternoon, with details to be shared in the Term 2 calendar.

Important dates

Students will conclude Term 1 on Wednesday, 1 April, and return for Term 2 on Tuesday, 21 April. Please note there is an additional public holiday this year to commemorate ANZAC Day, observed on April 27 in which the school will be closed.

Childcare Visits

Last week, I had the pleasure of accompanying our Year 6 students to Ashbury Kidz Academy, where they spent time reading and playing with the preschool children. We are incredibly proud of our partnerships with Ashbury Kidz Academy, Seedling Kids, and Canterbury Childcare Centre over the past two years, and we look forward to seeing these relationships continue to flourish in the future.

Inquiry & Review

This week we look forward to our the two day Inquiry & Review process commencing on Thursday morning. The staff are looking forward to sharing with the review panel our many highlights over the last few years and where we see our next steps. As well as meeting with parents, the panel will meet with Father Richard, the staff and children. They will also visit classes and are looking forward to seeing the many infrastructure updates in the last two years.

Please complete the survey by Wednesday 3.30pm as your insights will be shared with panel members.

Autism Awareness Day

Autism Awareness Day is on the 2th April. We have some links below to share an insight

into what it is like living with autism

“Living with autism is just my normal. I was born with it. I’ll always have it.”

Leos speech on Autism

Farewell Ms Gooch

We celebrated Ms Gooch's retirement on the 10th March 2026. She will be greatly missed and we wish her well in her retirement

Brian

Friends of Francis

Easter Raffle Donations