Dear Parents and Carers,

2022 School Fair

Of all our calendar events, I believe that the Annual School Fair is the one occassion that truly tippifies and stands alone as an event that captures what St. Cecilia's is all about. Despite challenging weather, last Saturday's St Cecilia's School Fair was a remarkable success! We are so grateful to everyone in our community who supported this great day. We had storeholders, sponsors, neighbours, students, past families, brand new families, parishoners, current families and staff all connecting and enjoying the day.

I am so pleased to announce that we have raised approx. $30,000 from the Fair Day!

This is absolutely fantastic! What a result! These funds will go towards our Landscaping Masterplan which is due to commence on December 5th this year! If you would like to see more about this Landscape Masterplan, please view the designs on the window outside the library. There is more information regarding this major project below.

I would like to pay special thanks to the incredibly hardworking and energising 2022 Fair Commitee. Their commitment to this day was contagious and the results speak for themselves.

Fair committee: Coordinated by Jen McGrath

Together with:

Chris Knott

Andrew Maxwell

Audrey Territt

Bridie Andriske

Niki Judd

Amy Pana

Kylie Zennaro

Mark Cooray

Dries Swerts

Special mention to Sarah Styring for organising the hugely successful raffle.

We have also attached below our incredibly supportive and generous sponsors.

We are looking forward to watching our Landscape Masterplan unfold beginning in less than 6 weeks. This Phase One work is hoped to be completed before the 2023 school year!

Congratulations to everyone for continuing to support our school and our community so well.

Naplan Results

Recently we received our 2022 Naplan results for all Year 3 and 5 students. We are so proud of the wonderful results that have been produced. Students and families involved have been sent detailed information about their individual results. In summary:

Group Summary Report Year 3

Reading: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 100%

Writing: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 100%

Spelling: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 98%

Grammar and Punctuation: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 100%

Numeracy: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 98%

Group Summary Report Year 5

Reading: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 100%

Writing: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 100%

Spelling: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 100%

Grammar and Punctuation: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 100%

Numeracy: Students ABOVE the National Minimum Standard: 93%

Landscape Masterplan

We are extremely pleased to announce that our Landscape Masterplan will commence very shortly on December 5th.

Please come and view the plans on the window just outside the library. We are commencing Stage One which is circled in red and essentially the entrance area as you walk in the main gate off Van Ness Ave.

In regard to the entire project, which will be staged over the following 2 or 3 years, the emphasis is to be placed on the incorporation of the landscape to sit in harmony with the architecture and the sites environment. ie. topography, trees, views, aspect, student movement, existing areas such as the produce gardens and chicken coop.

Including features such:

Outdoor classrooms
Boardwalk
Opening up a new nature play trail behind the existing basketball courts giving students a good connection to natural materials, plants, sensory gardens etc.
More seating
Access around the chicken run area and into produce gardens.
Improving the produce gardens with storage, access, water management, vertical gardens, workstations, and overall aesthetics.
The inclusion of Sculptures
Student voice, students to contribute ideas, incorporation of outdoor spaces in curriculum, be involved in the planting etc.
Outdoor games such as chess tables
School History, local and indigenous history and stories.
Peace gardens.
Gardens to have a strong link to the schools Education for Sustainability Vision.
Improve overall areas throughout the school; such as existing playgrounds and sandpit area as discussed on site.

We are extemely excited for this next chapter to begin.

Foundation Information Session

We are also very excited to be soon welcoming our new St Cecilia’s families for 2023.

Our orientation process, which is an integral part of the transition into school life for all new foundation students, has commenced last week with our Inform and Empower: Starting School 2023 session in the hall on Wednesday 19th October. The "Parent Toolkit" (notes & links from the session) is available via the link below.

https://www.informandempower.com.au/parent-resources

Our next session will be a Parent Information Night, where the foundation teachers and members of the leadership team will provide a detailed overview of what school life involves for our foundation students.

This year our program includes three orientation sessions for the students, each of increasing duration. These sessions will be an opportunity for the students to meet the foundation teachers for 2023, meet their classmates and to start to become familiar with the school itself.

ORIENTATION 2023

Wednesday 9th November 2023 Foundation Parent Info Night 7:00pm

Thursday 10th November 2023 Foundation Orientation Session 1 9:30 - 10:30am

Monday 14th November 2023 Foundation Orientation Session 2 9:30 - 11:00am

Thursday 24th November 2023 Foundation Orientation Session 3 9:30 - 12:00am

BYOD (bring your own device) Program Information

Please see the Digital Technology News for a reminder about the upcoming information session. Just a reminder that program will be rolled out for the 2023 year 3 students and will be made optional for students in year 4, 5, 6 in 2023.

EASTERN REGION ATHLETICS

Last Thursday October 20th, in glorious sunny conditions, Alice Gallagher and Lucy Reed competed at the SSV Eastern Metropolitan Region Track and Field Championships.

This was after they qualified through the Glen Iris District and Boroondara Division events last month.

The competition in the Eastern Region is very strong, with all APS schools in this region.

Alice ran a blistering 15.22 in the 100m event and won the bronze medal! Congratulations on this wonderful achievement Alice!

Lucy ran 2 personal best times on the day, winning a bronze medal in the 800m in a time of 2 mins 38 seconds. In the 1500m, Lucy ran 5 mins and 21 seconds to claim the silver medal. This means Lucy now moves on to compete at the SSV State Track and Field event next Wednesday, November 2.

Good luck Lucy!!

A huge congratulations to Alice and Lucy

School Fees

Could I ask that any outstanding school fees please be paid by Friday 4th Novemeber. Please contact me directly if there is any need to discuss this issue.

Road Crossing Supervisor

Our regular School Crossing Supervisor on Van Ness Ave is unfortunately no longer able to provide her wonderful service for our school. The council is currently undergoing a process to replace her with an ongoing supervisor. They have requested our support in raising awareness among our school community about the ongoing School Crossing Supervisor shortage by including this message to ensure parents and guardians are aware of this.

If there is anyone within our community that would be interested in such a position (or knows of anyone) please contact the school and we will put you in contact with the appropriate person.

Sports Day - Save the Date: Monday November 28

This year the St Cecilia’s Sports Carnival has changed from a twilight event to a

DAY EVENT!

The date is set for Monday 28th November from 9.30am-3.00pm at Bill Sewart Athletics Centre.

This decision has been made to provide students from all levels a broader experience when it comes to Athletics Track and Field.

Further details are to follow in regards to transport to the event however ALL students will need to be collected from the running track instead of school at the end of the day!

Preparations have already begun to make the St Cecilia’s Sports Day bigger and better than ever before. We can’t wait to have you all there to see our wonderful students showcase their skills!

World Teacher's Day

Today is World Teachers Day. On behalf of our school community, we would like to thank each and every one of our staff for all the work you do in educating, nurturing, protecting, supporting and growing the mind and spirit of each child and young person in our school.

Our Catholic vision is for all those in our care to be given the opportunity to develop to their full potential, and to be given opportunities to succeed and contribute in ways that deepen their faith and benefit humanity. This work is impossible without the expertise and skills that you offer every day, day after day.

So to Matt Mooney, Jacqui Chalkley, Kate Sutherland, Marnie Chapman, Tracey Toner, Annmaree Hoy, Libby Watkin, Hollie French, Trish Revere, Pauline Kilduff, Helen Lloyd, Carmel Brownhill, Jacqueline Everitt, Kerryn Aikman, Gavin Griffith, Joanne Hurley, Louise Jury, Fiona Walsh, Teresa Galgani, Allison Tucci, Caterina Cerrina, Antonella Gray, Donna Evans, Voula Theonas, Robyn Mustey, Bella Lascock, Irene Poulton, Stefania Miller, Clint Johnson, Cecile Dutrieux, Sharon Simpson and Lucy Csaplar...

...THANKYOU

Have a fantastic long weekend everyone,

Marty McKenna

Principal

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