A message from the Assistant Principal and Mrs D's "Thought of the Week"

With Nina De Rosa

Welcome back to each of you and welcome to another great school year! I am hopeful that each of you found ways to focus on your personal well-being during the holidays, as we know that our own health plays a significant role in both our happiness and the well-being of the children in our schools. I hope the break was filled with a great deal of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation!

It is hard to believe that we are beginning yet another school year and before we know it, we will be celebrating the Christmas Holidays again! I want to take a moment to sincerely welcome those who are new to us or who are returning to us after being on leave, and to acknowledge that we are missing some of our colleagues. We wish them well!

As Assistant Principal, it is a privilege to support our students in a nurturing and dynamic environment where they feel valued, encouraged, and inspired to achieve their best.Our theme for 2025, ‘Pilgrams of Hope,’ calls us to walk together in faith, perseverance, and optimism, using our gifts and talents to inspire, support, and serve those around us. A special welcome to our youngest learners—our Kindergarten students—who have settled beautifully into their new classrooms! We also warmly welcome Ashton (Yr6), Kiara (Yr5), Zion (Yr5), Naga (Yr3), Raman (Yr3), Kudi (Yr3), Ethan (Yr3), Tino (Yr2), Luke (Yr2), Krivi (Yr1), Joshua (Yr1) and Zachary (Yr1) and their families to our school community.

In the week leading up to the students’ return, our dedicated staff engaged in several professional development sessions, working diligently to enhance their skills and prepare for the new school year. During these sessions, we reaffirmed our
policies and procedures, refined our programming, deepened our understanding of Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum, completed First Aid training, and formalised our whole-staff mentoring program.

On Monday’s Pupil-Free Day,

staff across the Archdiocese participated in a System Day, featuring keynote speakers Natalie Wexler and Professor Daniel Willingham. They explored The Knowledge Gap, offering valuable insights on narrowing it and fostering independent learners. This session provided a meaningful opportunity for reflection, helping us refine our High-Impact Teaching Practices (HITP).

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our teachers, administration staff, and support staff for their tireless efforts in preparing for the new school year. Their dedication ensured a smooth and well-organized start. I also thank our families for setting their children up for success—it has been a calm and positive beginning to the term.

Reminders & Important Information

Starting time is 9.00am sharp. Students arriving after this time will need to be signed in the Front Office using the Compass Portal.
Supervision commences at 8.30 am and NO Student should be at school before then. Students arriving before 8.30am are not supervised. Please note we do have before school care run by Camp Australia if this service could be of assistance to families.
Correct School Uniform is to be worn.
If a student’s hair is longer than shoulder length, it should be tied back.
Parents are requested not to send any nut products to school such as Peanut Butter, Nutella, nut based or topped muesli bars, etc. Please understand bringing these items to school may be life threatening to other students.
Please ensure that all school items are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Students who are collected by their parents during the day for appointments must be signed out/in at the Front Office before and after the appointment.
Parents assisting at the school must have a WWVP card on their person and are also asked to sign in/out at the Front Office and will receive a visitor’s badge.
Please ensure that the school always has up to date parent and emergency contact details for your child.
Please ensure that any notes/envelopes sent to the front office are clearly labelled.
If you or your child are unwell, please do not attend school. We have community members who are vulnerable to illness.

We remain dedicated to fostering academic excellence, character development, and a lifelong love of learning. Our committed teachers and staff are here to support and inspire each child, nurturing their unique talents and guiding them toward their fullest potential.

I encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their child’s education by staying informed about school events, participating in parent-teacher conferences, and volunteering when possible. Your involvement is essential in creating a positive and enriching school experience for our students. As we journey through the year together, let us embrace both the challenges and successes, knowing that through collaboration, we can empower our students to grow into confident, compassionate, resilient and lifelong learners.

I thank the Lord for bringing everyone back safely after the holidays and for the joyful start to the year. May His continued blessings be upon us all throughout 2025. Thank you for entrusting us with your children’s education and growth—here’s to a wonderful term ahead!

Hopefully I will get an opportunity to welcome you back personally on Friday at the Welcome Picnic.

Mrs D’s ‘Thought of the Week….’

“God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us - in the dreariest and most dreaded moments - can see a possibility of hope.”Maya Angelou

Nina De Rosa

Assistant Principal