Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to St Helena's Catholic Primary School as we commence Term 2! It is wonderful to see our students back, eager to learn and discover new things this term. Our staff too, are keen and ready to continue assisting all our students on their learning journeys. This term we have welcomed on to staff at St Helena's Catholic Primary School Ms Natalie Cheverall as a Special Needs Education Assistant. Next week we will also welcome Mrs Jessica Stewart as our new Little Adventurers Teacher. Welcome Natalie and Jessica! We also welcome back Mrs Jemma Trimboli from leave. Jemma and Abbey Lamb will both be at St Helena's as our Social Workers, Jemma on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Abbey on a Tuesday and Thursday.

In amongst all the teaching and learning this term, we have so many wonderful co-curricular and extra-curricular activities continuing or commencing. We have our School Library open at lunchtimes (thanks Mrs Tracy Turpin for all that you do to make our Library a special place), we have an awesome Gardening Club that has students in amongst all the harvest each lunch time (thanks Mrs Emma White for the awesome job that you do in coordinating the Gardening Club) and we have Chess Club on a Friday (thanks Mrs Julia O'Meara for coordinating this) and our Mindfullness sessions that are coordinated by Mrs Trimboli and Miss Lamb. This term as well as Senior Sport, we have Junior Sport starting with our Year 1 and Year 2 students and staff (great coordinating Mrs Simone Hesse).

I strongly encourage our families to get involved where you can to assist in maintaining the community feel that St Helena's has prided itself on all these years. Our staff do an amazing job caring for and teaching our students, we would love to have more of our parents and carers get involved in extra-curricular activities when requested so that we can continue to give all our students the most memorable and enjoyable school experiences in 2023. We have been sharing lots of important information and dates this week via our communication channels. Please also keep an eye on our calendar on our website to ensure you are up-to-date with events coming up.

Come along to our P&F Meeting this evening - Wednesday 3 May @ 6:00pm in our Library and hear about some of the ideas and events that are being planned for 2023 at St Helena's Catholic Primary School. Come and support our P&F committee and each other for the best interests of all our students!

Thank you to all at St Helena's for your efforts and contributions to Project Compassion during Lent last term. We raised $2 024.55. An AWESOME effort!

Enrolment interviews for Kindergarten in 2024 will continue this term. Families with siblings seeking a place in our Kindergarten next year at St Helena's need to ensure that you have sent in your enrolment applications to Administration as places are filling.

All the best to our Swimming Team on Thursday as they compete in the Division B Interschool Swimming Competition at HBF Stadium. The team has been training since last term and I would like to acknowledge and thank Mrs Simone Hesse for running the training sessions, Miss Melissa Myles for her assistance and the parents for your support in getting the students to and from training. Go SHCPS!

Keep in our prayers all the students at St Helena's and in our Parish preparing for their First Eucharist this term, as well as the students preparing for their First Reconciliation. It is wonderful to see our students and parents/carers attending workshops, as they prepare for these very special Sacraments.

It was great to have Ms Lina Bertolini back at St Helena's last Friday to celebrate the Blessing and Official Opening of our Administration Building and Music Room that Lina was involved in building in her time as Principal. I know that Ms Bertolini loved seeing the students and staff, just as much as everyone enjoyed seeing her back! Thank you to Fr Bona for blessing our new facilities - very much appreciated! Read more about the day in the Blessing and Official Opening section of the eNewsletter.

Mrs Katie Bogdanich commences Parental Leave at the end of next week. Wishing Katie, her husband and rest of the family all the best on the arrival of their new baby. Very exciting!

Have you got your tickets to the Quiz Night on the 19 May? You still have time!

Looking forward to our Mother's Day Breakfast and Liturgy on Friday 12 May. Don't forget to RSVP and let us also know if there are any dads who can help out on the morning.

Peace & Happy Days!

Santino Giancono

Principal

Care for the Earth

Gardening Club