Principal's Report

Dear Members of the St. Cecilia’s School Community,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of you for your dedication, hard work, and unwavering support throughout the term. Together, we have continued to achieve a great deal and maintained a thriving learning environment that fosters growth and success.

First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to our wonderful parents. Your continuous involvement and collaboration in your child's education have been instrumental in their progress and overall development. From attending parent-teacher meetings to volunteering for school events, your commitment to our school community is truly commendable. We value your partnership and recognize the vital role you play in your child's academic journey.

To our exceptional teaching and support staff, I cannot thank you enough for your tireless efforts and unwavering dedication. Your passion for education and commitment to nurturing our students' potential is evident in the vibrant and engaging classrooms we witness every day. Your creativity, patience, and enthusiasm inspire our students to do their best. You go above and beyond, not only imparting knowledge but also instilling values and shaping the future leaders of tomorrow. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for your exceptional contributions.

Last but certainly not least, I want to extend my gratitude to our amazing students. Your eagerness to learn, positive attitude, and remarkable achievements have made this term highly successful. You have demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and determination in the face of challenges, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of you.

It is time for a well-deserved break. Whether you embark on exciting adventures (as many have already) or simply relax and rejuvenate, I hope the holidays bring you happiness, peace, and fulfillment.

We eagerly anticipate the start of Term 3, as we are excited to welcome you all back on Wednesday, 12th July. 

Beginning of next term

As I recently indicated, next term our school will be involved in the preparation phase for our School Review which occurs in Term 4. 

Every four years, all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne undertake a review. The School Review is used to support deep learning and ongoing monitoring of improvement throughout a four-year continuous improvement process.

Our school review will support us to foster improvement in an ongoing and continuous way, as well as ensuring we meet external legislative and regulatory requirements.

School Review has two main dimensions – improvement and compliance.

What does this mean:

We will commence Term 3 with two Pupil Free days in order for our staff to be involved in data collection sessions for this review. 

Monday 10th July: Pupil Free Day

Tuesday 11th July:  Pupil Free Day

Wednesday 12th July: Students commence Term 3

We will support families that require assistance on these two days by offering a pupil free day service through Camp Australia. This will be available between 7:15am and 6:30pm on both days. Families that are interested in this option simply log in and book with Camp Australia. 

Please see the flyer below with more information from Camp Australia.

In summary:

School will resume in Term Three on Wednesday 12th July for all students.

Traffic Issues

As we are at the end of term, I would like to take a moment to remind all parents about the importance of adhering to the parking and no standing laws surrounding our school. In particular, I would like to draw your attention to the corner of Van Ness Ave and Hillside Parade, as well as Malvern Ave.

We have experienced several near misses recently and one minor accident. 

Recently, we have received reports from council enforcement officers regarding some unsafe actions by drivers during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up periods. These reports have expressed concerns and dismay at the disregard for parking restrictions and child safety exhibited by some individuals who pick up our students. As the principal of our school, I want to stress that child safety is our highest priority.

The main area of concern is the issue of cars hovering over or near the school crossing as well as on the corner of Van Ness Ave and Hillside Parade. We are working with council to have line markings painted so that drivers will know where they can and cannot wait. The other problematic area is the congestion on Malvern Ave. 

It is imperative that we all work together to ensure a safe environment for our students. By following the parking and no standing laws, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and maintain a smooth flow of traffic around our school. I kindly request that you familiarize yourself with the specific parking restrictions in these areas and adhere to them diligently.

Furthermore, I urge all parents to inform any visitors to our school about the parking restrictions as well. Whether they are family members, friends, or other acquaintances, it is essential for everyone entering our school premises to be aware of and comply with these regulations. By doing so, we can collectively create a safer and more secure environment for all.

We will continue to provide all families with clear instructions about where and when it is permitted to park safely at drop off and pick up times. We are here to support you in ensuring the safety of our students and maintaining a positive community environment.

Let us set an example for our children by demonstrating responsible and considerate behavior when it comes to parking and traffic regulations. Together, we can make a significant difference in enhancing the safety and well-being of our school community.

Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing commitment to the safety of our students. 

Principal For A Day

As you all know, at St. Cecilia's Primary School, we strive to create and maintain a positive, safe and faith filled learning community which includes every single one of our  students. 

We do this by living the values of Faith, Acceptance, Compassion and Excellence.

To celebrate the wonderful, creative and inspiring students in our school, we want to remind you about a very exciting part of our Weekly Assemblies.

As you may know, we have a little segment each Friday during our whole school assembly called Spin It To Win It! This part of our assembly is particularly popular, as it involves 4 students winning an opportunity to spin the wheel and win a prize. Our students can win a GOTCHA TICKET by demonstrating or living the values of Faith, Acceptance, Compassion and Excellence.

Over the past few weeks, 3 lucky students won a special prize called Principal For A Day. If you click on the link below, you will see what our 3 wonderful Principals (Jack, Katerina and Remy) got up to! 

It was a fun day! I may very well be out of a job!

Save the Date!

We are thrilled to announce that the St. Cecilia's Whole School Concert is coming on

WEDNESDAY 13th SEPTEMBER

More info to follow!

Social Media @ St Cecilia's

Another way of keeping up with what is happening at St Cecilia's is by following us on Instagram (@stceciliasgleniris). We often post photos of what learning has been happening in our classrooms, photos of events such as camp and reminders of what is coming up in our school and community. Thank you to two of our staff members (Fiona Walsh and Bella Lasscock) who have taken over coordinating our social pages. They are doing an outstanding job! Check it out!

Enjoy the holidays everyone, 

Marty McKenna

Principal

St Cecilia’s School