We are now into the final weeks of the school year and we will be very busy with our usual end of year activities. Firstly, I would like to thank the parents who attended the Annual Community Meeting for the School Advisory Council and the P&F. Both bodies are important functions of our community and their efforts are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, we have been advised by CEWA that due to increasing costs, our school fees will have to increase next year by 4%. Please note that this is the first increase here in three years and it works out to be around $1.50 per child per week extra. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our school community.
Reflection Be calm and full of hope. Mary MacKillop 1871
Year 6 Graduation Dinner Once again, a team of Year 6 parents have come together and have organised a very special night for our students who are coming to the end of their time here. On Saturday 30 November, they will be gathering at the Macedonian Club in Malaga for a night of reflection and celebration. For some of our families, this will be their youngest child leaving after many years in our community, and it will be extra sad. However, it is also a time of excitement as our Year 6 students are getting ready for their secondary school adventures. I would like to extend a big thank you to all the parents involved in organising this wonderful evening.
Advent This time of preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus starts on Sunday 1 December. I know Fr John would love to see all of you at Mass this Advent. Please make the effort to support Fr John and our parish as they are an important part of our community.
Reports I have finally read all of the students’ reports and I have been very impressed with the standard of their learning this year. It certainly has been a challenging year and our students have performed really well. The reports go live on Monday 2 December from around 4pm. If you need to see the teachers, you will have the remaining few days of the term to make an appointment.
Concert Night and Mass This will be held on Tuesday 3 December starting at 6pm on the oval. All students are requested to arrive at 5.45pm in their classrooms dressed up as required by their teachers. We will start with a Mass at 6pm and this will be followed by the concert. This is one of the biggest events on our calendar for the year and I am looking forward to seeing you there.
Transition to New Classes On Wednesday 4 December at 9am, all students apart from the Year 6s, will get to meet their new classmates and teachers. As I explained in the last newsletter, organising the classes is an extremely complex and challenging job. Once they are set, we won’t be moving any students so please don’t call us requesting a change. All students were asked to name five friends they wanted to be with, and we guaranteed them they would get at least one of those five. Most students get more. If we move just one student, it throws the whole thing out and causes problems. Thank you in advance for respecting this process.
Talent Show Also on 4 December, is our Talent Show which is very popular with the students. It will be held in the hall from 1.30pm and you are most welcome to come along and watch it.
Thanksgiving/Graduation Mass We finally say farewell to our Year 6 students on Thursday 5 December at a very special Mass from 8.45am in the Church. It starts with a guard of honour from the school to the Church formed by all students and staff. After Mass, the Year 6 students will have a morning tea put on for them and then they get to have their graduation shirts signed after recess. Finally, on 6 December, we take the Year 6 students to Outback Splash for a day of fun and enjoyment. As I said at the beginning of this newsletter, it is going to be a very big last few weeks!
