Dear Parents and Carers,

"Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible, and suddenly, you are doing the impossible." ~ St. Francis of Assisi

This timeless quote from St Francis continues to reflect the journey of learning and growth our students have undertaken this semester. As student reports are published today on Compass, we take a moment to celebrate the effort, perseverance, and achievements of every learner in our school. It has been a joy to read through the reports this week and witness the progress our students have made. I am incredibly proud of their commitment to learning.

As communicated earlier, these reports will not include written comments. Instead, we invite you to book a parent-teacher interview via the Compass Parent Portal. These are scheduled for next week and will focus on your child’s strengths, areas for development, and future learning goals. Students are not required to attend, and meetings will take place in your child’s classroom. If you are unable to attend during the available times, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher to arrange an alternative.

We already have 391 interviews booked, which is a fantastic representation of our school community’s engagement. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education.

Enrolments

Offers of places for 2026 will be sent out this afternoon. To secure your child’s place, please ensure the offer is accepted and digitally signed before the end of July. Courtney has begun scheduling enrolment interviews for kindergarten students with siblings already attending the school, which will take place next term.

Pupil-Free Day

A reminder that Term 2 concludes for all students (K–6) next Thursday, July 3rd. The first day of Term 3, Monday, July 21st, is a designated pupil-free day for staff professional learning. Students return on Tuesday, July 22nd. This is a system-wide practice across all Catholic schools. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Digital Sign

We’re excited to announce that a digital sign will be installed at the front of the school in the coming weeks. This will serve as an additional communication channel between school and home, displaying key messages to complement our newsletter and Compass updates. Keep an eye out for it!

Kindergarten Refresh
The School Community Council has approved a refresh of the kindergarten play space, scheduled to take place over the upcoming school holidays. This project aims to enhance the environment for our kinder students and has been made possible through funds raised by the Community Council and our wider school community over recent years. The parent body identified this upgrade as a critical priority in last year’s Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Survey, highlighting the importance of creating engaging and supportive spaces for our students. Thank you for your ongoing support in our fundraising efforts.

Cookie Dough Drive

A heartfelt thank you to our school community for supporting the Cookie Dough drive, which has been a great success. Special thanks to Cecelia, our Community Council Treasurer, for her outstanding organisational and logistical support in making this initiative happen.

Tuggeranong Athletics Carnival

After running our school Athletics Carnival in term 1, it is finally time for the Tuggeranong Regional Athletics Carnival. This will be held on the 26th of August (Week 6 of next term). Those students who qualified can expect a permission note to be sent home early next term.

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Principal

Vinnies Winter Appeal

A MASSIVE  THANK YOU to everyone for your donations of pantry staples and winter warm clothing and apparel. I know the Calwell St Vincent de Paul Chapter is overwhelmed with gratitude for the support our amazing community has shown to those in our community in need. Everyone looked so cosy in their pyjamas today to celebrate our wonderful community. Thank you to our Year 6 Mission Mates Leadership team for leading the donations over the past few weeks and the collection and delivery today.  

Sunday Gospel Reflection: Sts Peter and Paul Apostles Solemnity - Matthew 16:13-19

Peter and Paul didn’t always see eye to eye in this life. Paul tells us in Galatians how he stood up to Peter and even rebuked him for what he perceived as hypocrisy or double standards. Paul certainly fought many good fights during his years of mission and witnessing to the Good News of God’s grace. We know a little about the later struggles of Peter but have hints through traditions about his martyrdom. Today we remember both for their unwavering devotion to their Lord and learn how each is an example to us of courage, conviction and absolute trust in the power of God to be with them in every circumstance. Jesus’ question to his disciples, ‘Who do you say I am?’, confronts us always. The clear answer Peter gives, together with the letters of Paul and other writings attributed to him or to Peter, are important starting points for our answer to this ever-relevant question. As members of the church of Jesus, founded on the inspired faith of Peter and Paul, we are invited to support each other in the quest. 

From God’s Word, Daily Reflections, 2025

Prayers and Good Wishes for Mrs Macdonald

Please keep Mrs Macdonald in your prayers over the 2 weeks of holidays as she is heading off on pilgrimage with the Archbishop and other teachers and staff members from across the Archdiocese. The pilgrimage heads to Italy where she will travel to Siena, birthplace of Saint Catherine and Saint Bernadine, Florence and then onto Rome. A pilgrimage gives the participant an opportunity to connect in faith with others as well as a journey toward a deeper relationship with God. Having been on a recent pilgrimage to World Youth Day in 2023 I know how special this time is for Mrs Macdonald and know you will, like me hold her in our hearts and prayers during this time. 

This free four-day theatre program is designed for migrant and refugee children aged 8–12, offering a fun and inclusive space to explore creativity, build confidence, and connect with their community through drama and performance. 

Using theatre as a tool for self-expression, social connection, and skill-building, AnOther Home empowers young people to share their stories and shine on stage. Participants will take part in theatre games, improvisation, and creative storytelling, culminating in a performance for family, friends, and community members. 

Led by a passionate and experienced team, the program is tailored to each child’s needs, with transport, translation, and accessibility support available. 

Alongside creative development, the program connects families with essential community services, promoting social cohesion and building lasting relationships between artists, families, and organisations.  

AnOther Home is a collaborative school holiday initiative led by Rebus Theatre in partnership with Libraries ACT, Multicultural Hub Canberra (MHub) and St Vincent de Paul Society ACT (Vinnies). 

Register an Expression of Interest here! 

https://rebustheatre.com/programs/another-home/

For more info, contact chipz@rebustheatre.com!