Dear Parents,

Being a parent is the toughest job you’ll ever have. It’s a lifelong endeavor that includes long days, sleepless nights, lots of worry, and plenty of unexpected surprises. However, it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. Because parenthood is an experience like no other, in the end, it’s a journey you take with your child. Being there for your child’s major life milestones is one of the great rewards of parenthood. These moments, whether big or small, are the ones that make it all worth it.

This week I was fortunate enough to attend my youngest child's (Tom) Valedictory Dinner having completed Year 12 last year. This was a fantastic night of celebration and connection. Watching my youngest engage with his peers and teachers caused me great pride and a wonderful parent moment. But it left me wondering - how fast this journey has been. It was seemingly yesterday that I was attending a Prep Info session for his first year. So many of his milestone moments have been and gone.

In the most literal definition of the word, milestones were the stones placed along the side of the road for travelers to mark the distance of miles between destinations. They kept travelers on track and from getting bored. The term applies to our lives as well. They are the significant events or experiences in life that generally signify a change in a person. Sometimes, these changes are growth or developmental in nature. Sometimes, milestones are less physically tangible but still just as important.

Reaching those important milestones in life is what makes us grow and bring us closer to self-actualization and true happiness. There are always hurdles and hardships along the way and when we’re watching our children stumble, it can be difficult to stay on the sidelines.

I urge all parents to notice, enjoy and celebrate these milestones in your children.

They are happening every day. Tell them. Be proud.

2023 Enrolment Process

We have provided many school tours for prospective parents already this year for Foundation 2023. The level of enthusiasm and interest is enormously encouraging.

This note is simply a check in to see that we have accurate numbers of siblings that are intending to commence Foundation next year at St. Cecilia's.

Our school tours for Term 1 were fully booked and our enrolment numbers for foundation/prep 2023 are building quickly. If you have a child starting school in 2023 please ensure you have submitted your application form by 27th May 2022 (available on our website). http://www.scgleniris.catholic.edu.au/

If you are a current family and intend to enrol your child into Foundation next year, please complete this short form.

Parent Survey (Religious Education)

Catholic schools across Victoria were created through the vision, dedication, hard work and commitment of the whole Catholic community.

Today, schools are challenged to:

articulate their identity and vision
express their distinctiveness as Catholic schools in a society where the Christian faith is increasingly marginalised.

To assist schools in facing these present realities the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) and the Catholic Education Offices of Melbourne, have entered into a research partnership with the Catholic university in Leuven, Belgium (KULeuven) to profile and develop the Catholic identity of Catholic schools.

The Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project will assist schools to understand better how their Catholic Identity is expressed in work and practice and support them in their future development.

Below is the link to all St. Cecilia's families inviting them to complete a survey which will assist us with this work.

The purpose of this survey research is to gain meaningful insights into how your son or daughter’s school views its Catholic identity today and how such identity might be shaped for tomorrow. Everyone’s input is important. Your responses are anonymous and your personal data is treated confidentially in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines. Only you will be able to view your individual results and this can be done once you’ve completed the questionnaires.

Senior Camp

How fortunate and grateful do we feel that we were able to proceed with our Senior Camp this year!

After a few nervous days before camp, we were delighted that ALL students and staff were ultimately able to enjoy this experience. School Camps are often pivotal moments in a young persons educational life. The behaviour, curiosity, respect and absolute fun that our senior students exhibited was exemplary.

On behalf of all students and parents can I extend our enormous gratitude to our amazing attending staff - Louise Jury, Fiona Walsh, Matt Mooney, Jacqui Chalkley, Teresa Galgani, Clint Johnson and Kate Sutherland. May they sleep for the entire weekend!

School Disco

Please note that our St Cecilia’s Annual Disco will be held on Friday 1st April in the school hall.

Dress-code: Casual with a touch of FLURO

Times: 4:00pm to 5:00pm (Foundation to Year 2) 5:15pm to 6:30pm (Years 3 to 6)

Cost: $10 per child (includes Pizza and an Icy Pole. Please BYO filled water bottle)

Please pay via CDF by Monday 28th March.

Note: if your child requires gluten free pizza please advise by this date.

Contact: if you have any questions about the event please contact:

• Fern Barrett – neylanfern@hotmail.com • Dana Fleming – Dana@Dana.net.au

Click here to purchase and pay

Early Arrivals at School

Parents are reminded that children should not be arriving at school before 8.30am in the morning. The students are not supervised until 8:30am as teachers are preparing their classrooms for the day. Before and After Care facilities are available for parents who need to get to work early. All students are asked to gather in either the courtyard or SCG (the back playground) before school as these will be the areas supervised after 8:30am.

Schools Fees

Just a reminder that Term One School Fees are now due. This includes Curriculum Levy, Capital Levy and Term One fees. Thank you!

Please contact me directly if you would like to discuss anything connected with school fees. mmckenna@scgleniris.catholic.edu.au

Special Writing

Frequently I am lucky to have students visit me to show me some of their best work. It is often the first time they've been to the Principal's Office so it is always a significant moment (possibly underwhelming for some!!) I love these small moments of sharing. It is so important that we recognise and showcase great effort and excellent work.

Last week I was sent a wonderful piece of writing which was composed by one of our senior students - Ivy Foster. Reading Ivy's work caused me to think of the incredible vision and stirring honesty our young people are capable of.

Thank you Ivy, for articulating your message so passionately and with such wisdom.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Warm regards,

Marty McKenna

Principal

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Holy Week Re-enactment & Prayers - Friday April 8