2025 Newsletter Term 4 Week 4

Important Dates

Please remember the school closures for next week ...

MONDAY 3rd November - Student Free Day

TUESDAY 4th November  - Public Holiday

Mini-Vinnies Interschool Conference

Thank you to those Year 4 and Year 5 students who went along to the Gippsland Mini-Vinnies School meeting held this week at Sacred Heart Morwell.  We were so impressed with your engagement on the day and look forward to what you will bring back to share with us at school. 

Mini Vinnies Day

Cyber-Safety: INFORM & EMPOWER

As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a cyber-safe environment for our children to interact with both within and beyond the classroom, we continue to partner with the team from INFORM & EMPOWER.  This team have international reach, but were proudly founded by Gippslanders.  This month all classes will be participating in their live-streamed Trm 3 webinars building their knowledge and skills in nvaigating the online world.  Attached are the Parent Information Sheets about the content covered in each session, and we encourage families to take at look at all levels not just the levels relevant to your children.

2026 Planning

As it year comes to an end we also have to deal with the energy, both positive and negative, about the upcoming year.  In the education industry this is a significant time of both stress and excitement as we deal with new Foundation (Prep) students arriving, our much loved Year 6's graduating and the rest of us nervously awaiting our 'spot' for the next year.  Even though we all have to deal with the same scenario, we all respond in different ways which is human nature - some students become quite anxious while others take it all in their stride.  Trust me, the staff give me a wide spectrum of emotional responses as well!

As the principal of our school I am constantly driven by a simple mantra 'every child, every day'.  Decisions I make have to be just for every individual but also the collective.  When making decisions I have the experience of being able to wear a few hats.  At times I wear my principal/teacher hat, but I can also switch hats and consider things as a Dad.  I have empathy with parents as they navigate a new school year with their child/ren as I have lived this too.

Attached I have included a letter I have acquired from another school.  The advice, wisdom and thinking would be relevant though to all schools and families.  Please take the time to read the letter.  I would love your feedback.

Our school's procedure for developing our class lists takes into a variety of factors that prioritising learning and well-being across the whole school.  Last year we adopted software program that enables us to take into account the learning, well-being and social needs of every child.  We have the capacity to take into account any significant information that parents need to contribute.  We also will be working with the students to allow them to identify their positive social networks, so please have a conversation with your child about who you think would be their 'good learning buddies'.

We invite parents to complete the following survey if they need to share any significant pieces of information (eg.links to academic, social, emotional development, not specific request for teachers or friends).  This information needs to be made available to school leadership no later than Thursday 6th November.

Colour Run

Remember to have Friday 28th November saved in your Calendar!

Halloween

School Fees - Primary School Concessional Fee for Centrelink Concession Card (CCC) Holders 2026

The concessional fee to be charged to eligible CCC holders is a fixed amount determined annually by the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL). 

For 2026, the annual amount to be charged to eligible CCC holders remains at $520 per family.

From 1 January 2026, families eligible for Camps Sports Excursion Fund (CSEF) will see an increase in support to $400 for primary students, up from $154 per student in 2025. 

If you are eligible please complete the application form and return it to the school office.

If you require further information please feel free to speak to the office staff.