Principal's Message

Dear Families,

We would like to thank you all for a wonderful first term. It has been a busy term with lots of learning happening in and out of the classrooms.

Many students have participated in camps, swimming programs, sporting events, incursions, excursions, guest speakers, reflection days, liturgies and many school wide events like our recent Open day, Ride2School day and Funky Hair day.

Throughout the term students have been actively engaged in the inquiry process of investigating, processing, organising, synthesizing, refining, and extending their knowledge and skills. Each year level has been focusing on building literacy and numeracy skills and knowledge, inquiring into History and integrating Religious Educaiotn and STEAM based learning throughout the curriculum. It has been exciting to see the students enthusiastically engage in a wide range of learning opportunities throughout the term.

Child Safety

The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a central and fundamental responsibility of Catholic education. On 26th November 2015, the Victorian Parliament passed the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Bill 2015 (Vic.) to introduce the Victorian Child Safe Standards into law. Preventing and responding to child abuse requires a whole of community response to bring about broad cultural change. To this end, the Victorian Child Safe Standards apply to a broad range of organisations that provide services for children, including schools, churches, sporting clubs and youth services.

Galilee's Child Safety Policy has been uploaded to the school's website, along with our Code of Conduct and Working With Children Check application. Within the policy, our Child Obligation: Reporting Obligations Policy can be found.

Galilee is a Child Safe Institution and requires all relevant staff and volunteers to have a current Working With Children Check and our Code of Conduct read and signed prior to working with our students in any capacity, on and off site. It is also required that any volunteer working in the classroom has received an appropriate induction (Classroom Helper Course) and are aware of their child safety responsibilities, including reporting obligations (see Child Safety Policy on school website).

Ride2School

On Tuesday 28th March, the children participated in the Ride2School program. Ride2School is a nation wide initiative by Bicycle Network, supported through the Victorian State Government, New South Wales Government and Tasmanian Government. This support team addresses physical inactivity in young Australians by empowering and enabling schools to ride and walk to school.

Over the past 40 years the number of children who are physically active everyday has significantly dropped. Today, levels of physical activity are at an all time low. In the 1970s, eight out of ten students rode or walked to school. Today, that number has dropped to just two out of ten.

By riding and walking to school, students contribute to their minimum physical activity level of 60 minutes per day. Research shows that students who ride and walk as part of their journey to school are more focused and ready to learn when compared with those who are driven.

Congratulations to Gypsy (5F) and John (3C) for winning the prize for best decorated bike. Well done to all the students and families for participating in the day. A huge thank you to Shane and Monica (parents of Lily 6H and Sadie 3C) from Fruit Addicts for donating the apples, bananas, nectarines and plums.

Thank you to Tarren Otte for organising the event for our school and to the children and their families for supporting the cause.

Taco Bill Award

Each month a student from Galilee is the recipient of a Taco Bill Citizen of the Month Award. Teachers nominate a student from each class, who has demonstrated positive attitude and kindness to others. The winner receives a voucher for a free meal at Taco Bill, South Melbourne. The winner also receives a mexican hat, a certificate and a football.

Congratulations to our February and March winners, Lila (6H) and Isaac (2R).

Funky Hair Day

A reminder to come to school with funky hair tomorrow to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. A gold coin donation is greatly appreciated.

Ideas for funky hair:

Spray your locks with a bright hair colour. We recommend you use non-permanent hair spray that washes out the same day.
Cinta Intense Hair Colour Sprays are ideal and are available from all good pharmacies.
You can also try hair chalks - they wash out easily as well.
Wear a wig for the day.
Wear a wacky style for the day - try some serious backcombing or go the beehive!
Go crazy with clips, scrunchies and hair extensions.

Year 5/6 Soccer Lightning Premiership

Congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 Boys and Girls soccer teams for winning their Grand Final events!

The Premiership was held on Thursday 30th March at Elwood Park, located on Ormond Esplanade Elwood. The students participated in a round robin competition against our other Dendy District schools.

A fantastic effort by all our students.

Thank you to Shaun Tobin for organising the teams and coordinating the event, Mark (father of Mark 5O, Dylan 4G and Aidan 2C) for coaching the Boys Team, Kayla Hart for coaching the Girls Team, Tegan Stuart and Rosa Serratore for assisting the teachers and students on the day.

Visitor Lanyards

Lots of our visitor lanyards from the office have gone missing.

If any have been found at your house, please return them to the office.

Head Lice

We have been alerted to an outbreak of head lice across the school in various classrooms. Please check your child's hair for any sign of head lice.

This link has some useful information regarding management of head lice.

Aboriginal for a day!

On Friday, March 24, we had a whole-school incursion called ‘Aboriginal for a Day’. We had our faces painted by the teachers at the start of the program. Then we moved on to our first activity: either Dancing with Pancakes, Art with Azza or Storytelling with Big Al. Throughout the day, we rotated through the activities. At the end of the day we all gathered in the hall for a dance show where everyone had the choice to dance. Overall, it was a great day with so much excitement and fun and a big thank you to Mrs Ferris who organised the whole day.

By Arnika, Ella, Gwyn and Jeslyn

Year 2 News

Exciting things have been happening in Year 2 this week.

On Monday the Year 2 students participated in a wonderful excursion to ACMI. During Term 1, students have been learning about how technology has changed over time and this excursion allowed them to further their understandings. From all accounts the students had a fantastic time exploring, investigating and learning. Thank you Jessica Casey and Kristina Reid for organsing this learning opportunity for the students to participate in. We would also like to thank the parents who volunteered to assist with this excursion.

On Tuesday, families were invited into the Year 2 classrooms to view the magnificent toys that the students have been creating as part of their inquiry unit focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Thank you to all the parents who attended the afternoon and made this celebration of learning so special for the students.

Holy Week Liturgy

On Wednesday the whole school participated in a moving re-enactment of the events of Holy Week during our Holy Week Liturgy.

Each Year level presented a scene and sang a song while the Year 6 students narrated the events and told stories about what happened during Holy Week.

We would like to thank the students for their participation in the Liturgy and their reverence throughout the Liturgy. We would also like to thank the teachers and parents for preparing the students so beautifully.

Brittany Ford, our Leader in Faith organised the Holy Week Liturgy, which was a re-introduced to our Liturgy Calendar this year. We would like to thank Brittany for giving our students the opportunity to participate in such a special event and the chance to enhance their understanding of the events of Holy Week.

Project Compassion

We would like to thank you for generously donating to Project Compassion during Lent. Many of the classroom boxes have been filled to the brim with coins. Our Social Justice Leaders will collect all Project Compassion boxes tomorrow and will be busy preparing the money to send to Caritas Australia.

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. The appeal is just one demonstration of the faith, love and generosity that the Catholic community participates in. Caritas Australia aims to end poverty, promote justice and uphold the sacred dignity of each person.

Year 4 Camp

Last week the Year 4 students attended Angahook Camp in Aireys Inlet. The students had a wonderful time while they were away. Camp gives our students the opportunity for personal growth, allowing students to challenge themselves with activities they don't often get the chance to participate in. While at camp, students challenged themselves on the Giant Swing, Low Ropes Course, Mountain Biking, Archery and Canoeing. It was wonderful to watch many students take calculated risks and overcome their fears while participating in these activities. During hut building and initiative activities, students worked on their problem solving and team work skills . Many of the students dazzled us with their varied talents at a very entertaining talent show on the first night. The staff at Angahook looked after us while we were away with beautiful food, excellent accommodation and well organised and run activities. We would like to thank Tarren Otte, Anastasia Romios, Collen Giles, Kingsley Hill and Amy Burns for for volunteering their time to attend camp and care for the the students.

Beachside Swimming Carnival

On Friday the 10th of March, Siena, Bridget, Anabelle and Matilda went to the Beachside Swimming Carnival in Oakleigh, representing Galilee. When we got there and dropped our bags in the Dendy area and we got ready for our relay race. At 10:30 they called us to the marshaling area for our race. Bridget was the first swimmer, Anabelle was the second swimmer, Siena was the third swimmer and then it was Matilda. We were in the third lane. When the buzzer went Bridget was off and

then Anabelle started, when Anabelle hit the wall Siena dove off the block and then Matilda started the final leg. We finished a really close fifth and Armadale won. Siena also competed in the 50 meter individual freestyle race and came fifth. In the end it was a fantastic day!

Thank you to all parents that made this day possible.

All the girls that went were in 4GR!

By Siena and Bridget

Beginning of Term 2 and School Photos

Term 2 will commence Wednesday 19th April for all students. A reminder that all students need to wear their full summer uniform for the school photos on Thursday 20th April. If your child has sport on that day, they can change into their runners for their lesson.

Uniform

In Term 2 students need to begin transitioning to the winter uniform. For the first two weeks of school students will be allowed to wear summer uniform or winter uniform as we understand that the weather can often be warm at the beginning of Term 2. From Monday 1st May all students will be required to wear winter uniform.

For information regarding purchasing the winter uniform please refer to the PSW Website.

If you are purchasing new school shoes over the holidays, please ensure that they are black school shoes and not black runners.

Please Note: School Photo Day is Thursday 20th April and all students are required to wear summer uniform on this day.

Term 2 Specialist Timetable Change

There will be a change to the timetable in the first week back, due to the school closure day on Tuesday 18th April. 4R, 5O, 5F, 6H and 6C will need to wear their sport uniform on Friday 21st April.

Update Contact Details

Please ensure that the office has updated contact and information details for your child such as, email addresses, phone numbers, current residential address, medical plans and court orders.

Reflection for Holy Week

Lord Jesus, by your Passion and Resurrection you brought life to the world.

But the glory of the Resurrection came only after the sufferings of the Passion.

When darkness overwhelms us, may your dawn beck on.

When fear paralyses us, may your touch release us.

When grief torments us, may your peace enfold us.

When memories haunt us, may your presence heal us.

When apathy stagnates us, may your challenge renew us.

When courage leaves us, may your spirit inspire us.

And when death threatens us, may your resurrection light lead us.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your contribution to Term 1. It has been a fantastic term.

We wish you and your families a wonderful Easter break.

Amy Burns and Danielle Gerecke

Acting Principals

Local Connections

Camp Australia Holiday Program