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Dear Parents and Carers,
We are at the end of week 9. I hope you are looking forward to a break over the holiday period. A reminder that school finishes for all students next Thursday, 25th September. Staff will be offsite on Friday, participating in our annual spirituality retreat. Congratulations to Elliot Reid and his family, who yesterday shaved their heads for Cancer before they head off next week on the Lunchbox Rally. The Reids have raised almost $6000 for cancer research, a much-needed cause. If you would like to donate to their trip, details are included below.
Remembering Bishop Pat Power
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the recent passing of Bishop Pat Power, a devoted leader who served the church and the wider Archdiocese for more than sixty years. His unwavering commitment, compassion, and vision have left a lasting legacy, not only within the church but throughout the entire community. Bishop Pat’s funeral will be held next week, offering us the opportunity to reflect on his extraordinary contributions and to pay our respects.
Casey Crescent – Parking Reminder
We have received several complaints from local residents regarding congestion and blocked access on Casey Crescent before and after school. The main cause has been parents parking in the ring road between 8:30–9:00 am, and queuing for Pickers before 3:15 pm. To ensure the safety and convenience of all, please avoid parking on the ring road during these peak times. Over the past few days, I have been asking drivers to move along or loop around as needed. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Our New Digital Sign
We are excited to announce that our new digital sign was installed yesterday! This sign is expected to be operational at the start of next term. It will provide timely reminders for parents and serve as an additional platform for communication, complementing Compass, our newsletter, and social media. We look forward to using this new tool to keep our school community informed and engaged.
NAPLAN Results & Analysis
Our recent NAPLAN analysis has been completed, and we will be running follow-up sessions with staff next term to discuss the insights. As with previous years, our students continue to perform at or above national norms. Notably, Year 3 Reading saw 76% of students achieving in the Strong or Exceeding proficiency bands, and an impressive 86% reached these bands in Writing. Year 5 Numeracy results were also strong, with 73% of students performing in the strong band. Our targeted interventions in Literacy and Numeracy continue to have a positive impact, as evidenced by a low proportion of students in the Developing and Needs Additional Support bands.
NAPLAN is just one indicator among many; when combined with other standardised assessments, it gives us a well-rounded understanding of our students’ progress. As we look toward our 2026–2028 strategic plan, increasing data literacy and sharing these insights with parents in meaningful ways will be a focus for our school.
Blessings and best wishes
Sean Rutledge
Principal
SACRAMENTS
Now that we have celebrated the Sacrament of Eucharist, we look forward to our Term 4 Sacrament; Reconciliation. ALL children who are in Year 4 who are baptised in the Catholic Faith are eligible to receive this Sacrament.
KEY DATES
If you have NOT registered your child via the Corpus Christi QkR! account, this will open again on Monday 22nd September and will close them at the end Week 1, Term 4. ALL students who wish to celebrate this Sacrament MUST be registered.
Parent Formation Evening (Parents MUST attend 1). 22nd October 7-8pm OR 23rd October 5:30 - 6:30pm
Commitment Masses -Child must attend 1 parish mass over either weekend. 26th/26th October OR 1/2 November (6pm Sat, 8am, 10am or 6pm Sun)
Year 2 Retreat Day- 11th November
Sacrament of Reconciliation- Thursday 4th December 6-7pm
Kindergarten Retreat Experience
They experienced a meditative, nature-inspired prayer to reflect on God’s creation;
They took part in a scavenger hunt to learn about the special objects and spaces within the church; and,
Created lanterns to represent Jesus as our light.25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-13
‘You cannot be the slave of both God and money.’ To be a slave is to be owned by somebody or something. As Christians we are owned by God in as much as we are made in God’s image and at baptism we are claimed for Christ in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. To be owned by God is to be secure in our deepest identity. But we only need look around us to see that we live in a world where many are a slave not to God, but to money - that is, rather than earn money as a means of paying for things they need. They are owned by money or the pursuit of it. This kind of disordered attachment can have serious consequences for our lives. It might mean we never see our spouse or children because of the long hours spent at the office. It might mean we start to look for morally or legally dubious short cuts for making money and getting rich quick. When we live with God as our first priority, our life is ordered rightly and everything else flows in right order.
From God’s Word, Daily Reflections, 2025
Elliott’s Big Shave for Cancer Council!
We’re so proud to share that Elliott shaved his head on the 18th of September at school to raise money for the Cancer Council!
Earlier this year, he made the incredible commitment to grow out his hair and now he’s ready to chop it all off in front of his school community — all for a great cause!
But that’s not all… his family is also taking part in the Lunchbox Rally. These rallies have raised over $58 million for cancer research over the past 15 years. This isn’t a race – it’s a challenge! We’ll be driving cars worth just $1,500 across some of Australia’s toughest roads, all in the name of cancer research. And to take part, each team must raise at least $3,000 – every dollar goes directly to Cancer Council. That is where they need your help. Both teams have not hit the $3000 mark and need your help with any donation to help them get to the goal amount.
Elliott would love your support! Fundraising is the toughest part, and every donation counts. All donations over $2 are tax deductible, and we’ve got two teams registered – you can donate through the link below. Let’s come together to support Elliott’s brave shave and help fund vital cancer research.
https://2025.lunchboxrally.com.au/loch-nessy https://2025.lunchboxrally.com.au/braveheart