Principal's Report

Dear Families,

It has been another exciting week at Galilee. With a wide range of learning experiences and opportunities offered to our students, it is clear that at Galilee we are developing the whole child; academically, spiritually, physically and socially.

YEAR FIVE AND SIX CAMP

On Tuesday Year Five and Six students and eight staff members  boarded a bus headed for Valley Homestead Camp in Ovens.

Valley Homestead is one of Victoria’s premium school adventure camps. It is located at the foothills of the High Country near Myrtleford and offers students the opportunity to participate in adventure, team building and outdoor educational activities.

From all reports the students and staff are having a fabulous time. The flying fox has been a hit, with many of our students and a few staff members challenging themselves to take calculated risks and achieve things they may not have experienced before.

Camp provides students with opportunities for personal growth, building the community spirit and being immersed in the natural world. We look forward to hear all about their experiences when they return on Friday afternoon.

Our camping program would not be possible without the staff who work tirelessly to organise and facilitate such rich learning experiences for our students. We thank Simon Millar, Danielle Gerecke, Tarren Otte, Kayla Hart, Joss Coaley, Brittany Ford, Pauline Semmens and Tegan Stuart for volunteering to take the Year Five and Six students on camp.

YEAR FOUR CAMP

Year Four parents were invited to attend a Camp Information session on Monday afternoon as the Year Four students prepare for their camp to Anglesea in two weeks’ time.  Tarren Otte (Outdoor Environment Leader) led the Camp Information Session. It was exciting to hear about the activities that the students will be involved in while they are away. 

We thank Tarren Otte and the Year Four teachers for preparing the camp. It sounds like our Year Four students will have a wonderful time.

The camping program at Galilee has been carefully planned with each camp providing the students progressive learning opportunities with varied environments and activities. Students are able to build on their learning as they progress through the experiences that are offered at each of the camps. Students develop skills at camp  and memories that they will keep for a lifetime. We thank Tarren Otte for working in collaboration with the teachers to design such a wonderful program for our students.

NEW FLAGS

Some of you will have noticed that this week we have  had new flagpoles installed. The  Australian Flag we are flying  was very kindly donated by Harry in Prep F's 'Pop' - Peter.  We are also flying the Aboriginal Flag, to acknowledge the earliest inhabitants of the area now covered by the City of Port Phillip, who were the Yalukit Wilam, one of the five clans of the Boon Wurrung, known as the coastal tribe and who were members of the Kulin nation.

YEAR ONE INCURSION

When I walked into the hall on Tuesday afternoon it was wonderful to see the Grade One students engrossed in hands on activities designed to get them thinking about how toys have changed over time.  The excitement on the students faces as they discovered how to operate toys from the ‘olden days’ was priceless.  The students were investigating how springs, forces and materials impacted how different toys operated. They discovered that toys from the ‘olden days’ certainly look different to the toys of today. Thank you Laura Cox and Cassandra Smith for organising this engaging learning opportunity for the students.

RECONCILIATION REFLECTION DAY AT GALILEE

This week Galilee hosted a Reconciliation Reflection Day for Year Three students at Galilee. We extended an invitation to students who attend other schools within our parishes, who are also preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation later in the term.

Brittany Ford (Leader of Faith) organised the Reconciliation Reflection Day and Carmen Carnovale and Helen Rochecouste assisted Brittany in facilitating the day.

Students participated in a range of activities focusing on the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Students were involved in Christian Meditation, Parish Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul, Question and Answer session with Fr. Dean and reflective activities based on The Prodigal Son, mending a broken relationship and becoming closer to God.

All the students had a fabulous time and walked away from the day with a greater understanding about the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Our prayers are with the Grade Three students as they prepare for this special Sacrament.

OPEN DAY AT GALILEE

Next Wednesday, 15th March, is Open Day at Galilee. We are encouraging new families to come and have a look at all the wonderful things that are happening at our school.

Open day will start at 9am. We ask that anyone attending Open Day please enter the school via Park Street and register at the desk before moving to the hall for a School Assembly.  

The day will start with a student led School Assembly and it will give new families a taste of the exciting learning opportunities that our students are involved in. After the Assembly, Year Six leaders will be conducting school tours and giving new families an insight into what happens in our classrooms.  At the conclusion of the school tours we will be inviting new families to join us for Morning Tea in the hall.

Please not that we are still accepting enrolments for 2018. 

PREP 2018 ENROLMENT

In order to ensure your child's place in Prep 2018 is secured we need to have their Enrolment Application Form completed and either delivered to the office or emailed to Wendy at wdalton@gsmelbournesth.catholic.edu.au  by FRIDAY MARCH 10

Forms can be downloaded from the school website.

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

Tuesday 14th March is a School Closure Day at Galilee.

While the students are enjoying an extra-long weekend this weekend, staff will be gathering together on Tuesday for a professional learning day in the area of Religious Education. Catholic Education Melbourne has renewed the Religious Education Curriculum and they have asked that all Catholic Schools become familiar with the renewed  curriculum in 2017. Staff at Galilee will work through a series of workshops designed to assist them in unpacking the renewed curriculum and implementing the renewed curriculum into their planning. 

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Developing leadership qualities in each student has been a focus at Galilee this year. We have developed our students leadership structure to include SRC Leaders and Social Justice Leaders from each class. This has enhanced the opportunities for student voice and leadership across the school. 

While the Year Five and Six students have been at camp our Year Four students have been asked to take on many of their leadership roles. I would like to commend the Year Four students on their outstanding leadership this week. I was especially impressed with the way that Amelia, Charlie, Ioanna and Drew lead us in Assembly on Wednesday.

Student leadership will continue to be a focus in 2017 as we develop the leader within each student at Galilee. 

Thank you all for another wonderful week at Galilee. I wish each and every one of you happy and safe extra-long  weekend. 

Amy Burns

Deputy Principal