Dear Parents,

Congratulations to our year 3 and Year 5 students who sat for four NAPLAN tests in Writing, Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy this week. I am pleased to report that all students were focused and engaged during the testing. Thank you to our Year 3 and Year 5 / 6 staff for preparing our students so well. Individual student reports, informing parents of students’ performance in these tests, are expected to be delivered in July.

We will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day next Monday (17th March). St. Patrick is the patron Saint of the Melbourne Archdiocese, after whom our Cathedral is named. Thank you to our Parents and Friends who are generously supplying green jelly for all students to enjoy on Monday.

Next week we celebrate Catholic Education week. The theme is "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you (Is 60: 1). There are 291 Catholic schools in Melbourne, which educate 118,300 students, which is one in five of all students. We are very proud of the faith-based education, based on excellence and equity, that our Catholic parish school provides for our students.

Thank you again to our Parents and Friends group, who have funded the purchase of new football and basketball tops for students to wear when representing the school. We are so grateful for the hard work our P & F consistently do to support the school!

Free student broadband - The Australian Government has announced an additional $4.9 million in funding to NBN Co to extend the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) to 30 June 2028 to ease cost-of-living pressures and narrow the digital divide for unconnected families with school-age children. This extension will allow the free service to continue for new and existing families, with up to 30,000 places available in the program. To apply, families are encouraged to contact the National Referral Centre run by Anglicare Victoria on 1800 954 610 (10.00 am – 6.00 pm Monday to Friday) or visit www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.

I will be away on long service leave for the final two weeks of this term. During my absence our Deputy Principal, Irene Stewart, will be Acting Principal. Thank you to Irene for looking after students, staff and families, as always.

Some forthcoming dates for your calendar:

• Wednesday 19th March – School Advisory Council Meeting (starting at 6:30 p.m.)

• Friday 21st March – Out door movie night on the oval (starting at 7:00 p.m.)

• Monday 24th March – St. Joachim’s Annual Athletics competition (2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

• Wednesday 26th March – Divisional Swimming Competition at Rosebud

• Friday 28th March – Summer Lightning Premiership (Year 5 / 6 students)

• Friday 4th April – End of Term 1 (dismissal at 1:00 p.m.)

Regards,

Paul Dwyer, Principal

Project Compassion: Caritas Australia

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Project Compassion assists and empowers communities in Australia and all over the world by helping those in great need to shape a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.

As you would be aware students from our school have been contributing money to this cause through the Project Compassion boxes at school. 

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent by supporting Project Compassion. Donations can be made in the homeroom each morning or at the Front Office.

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Before & After School Care

Camp Australia

The Camp Australia Outside school hours care program provides a safe environment ain which all can explore and play.

More information...