Dear Families,

This term continues to provide me with highlights, both and out of the classrooms.  Across the past three weeks I have witnessed so many positives while at the same time received plenty of compliments about our school.  These compliments range across a range of areas including the behaviour of our students, the excellent facilities we have, the positivity of the staff and the learning culture of the school.  Too often it is easy to get lost in the chaos of the day but to have people reach out to share their experiences and observations is really rewarding. 

Already this term....

- We have shared in the First Communion celebration of our Year 4's.  The feedback from Fr.James and various parishioners was stunning.  Just how wonderful were these children!

- Our Student Leaders have travelled to Melbourne to represent the school at the ANZAC Commemoration Service.  They looked amazing and so did the flower wreath from Dear Delilah (Thanks Donna)

- Our student leaders represented the school at the Morwell RSL ANZAC Day Parade.  Again they looked spectacular considering they only arrived home from camp the day before.  I know the parents in attendance were so proud of you all and the positive feedback I received from random strangers on the day made me feel so proud of you all.

- The Year 5/6 staff delivered an outstanding Camp due in part to their preparation and the positive engagement of the students.  The Camp commended the children but also the constant positive engagement of our staff with our students. 

- St.Vincent's hosted the GCPPA Gippsland Principal's Conference.  We received a huge amount of feedback ranging from our facilities through to how engaged the classes were when the principals were moving around the school.

- Across the term we have welcomed a number of new families from the UK and from local schools.  I have also conducted a large number of 2025 Enrolment Tours with the feedback again highlighting the calm and industrious culture of the school.  St.Vincent's has a proud history of being a welcoming school community, established in 1954 to support the needs of a growing Morwell due to young families and migrants.  How wonderful to be in a position to replicate that now as we welcome new families to the Latrobe Valley.

- The staff have participated in two professional learning opportunities.  First was our Well-being and School Improvement Day to start the term and this week a faith-based session with Dr.Sr.Rose Duffy CSB.

- We have installed a new Bell and PA system.  This has dramatically increased our responsiveness in Emergency Management but also created a few giggles as the messaging page does have a certain Rydell High feel to it!

- Concert preparation is heating up!! Stay tuned for our SAVE THE DAY newsflash

Moving forward we also have much to be excited about and celebrate, with a key event being Confirmation for our Year 6 candidates.  In this newsletter we have included updated the calendar of events so please take note of any new or modified dates.

Wishing you all a great finish to the week,

Dave

We have continued to add some more garden edging outside the library so we are about to have two loads of mulch delivered.  Just wondering if anyone was keen to be involved to move and rake the mulch into place - or even willing to dob in a grandparent to do it!

Also, the school has recently purchased a yard blower and vacuum.  They are both battery operated Ryobi devices and easy to handle.  This has enabled us to keep the entry ways to the school looking tidy but also reduces leaf litter and bark being carried into the corridors.  If you are available to do a few minutes every now and again please let the office know, a perfect task to do while you are waiting around at pick-up or drop off.  

Mr.Cooper is developing a bit of an obsession for the task so we are looking for someone take away some of his fun!

Some of you might recall the information we have shared the past few ANZAC Days about our military links to Barry, Hunt and Rowell.  This year the story became more fascinating when we read on the day via the Herald-Sun a story about our Hunt - Lt. Ralph Hunt.  Our local Federal Member of Parliament Darren Chester is a previous Minster of Veteran's Affairs and a strong advocate for our local schools.  I have received correspondence this week from his office that he has put in a request to various government organisations to do some additional research about our St.Vinnie's Diggers.  Imagine having some photos to display about them?