Below you will find a translatable version of our latest newsletter. It has only simple formatting. For the fully formatted version please see our Newsletters page.
Friday, 20th June 2025
Dear Parents, Carers, & Students,
Two weeks ago, the school invited families to participate in the Inform and Empower Information Evening that focused on raising children in a digital world.
The timing of this was uncanny given that within a week of this, the school learnt of a TikTok site that had been created by students using the school’s logo and posting derogatory and inappropriate content. In speaking further with students, we had also learnt of the inappropriate use of social media by several students who were making inappropriate comments about other students online.
We as a school, can only control what happens within the school, while our students are at school. When it comes to the use of social media by our students, this matter is very much a parental responsibility. We, as a school community, rely on each and every parent to actively supervise their child’s use of this when not in school.
Our children are exposed to technology from an early age, making parental oversight crucial. When canvasing our Year 6 students earlier this week as to how many had a social media account, it was concerning as to the number of students who had raised their hand in comparison to the number that indicated their family’s participation in the Inform & Empower evening.
The internet, while beneficial for learning and communication, poses risks like cyberbullying, inappropriate content and excessive screen time.
Parents play a vital role in ensuring their children navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
Active supervision helps protect your child/ren from online dangers. By monitoring their online activities, parents can prevent exposure to harmful content and teach them about privacy and security. It can also make a parent aware if their child is the child who is causing emotional and psychological harm to others through the use of social media.
Open communication about responsible internet use fosters trust and encourages children to seek guidance when faced with online challenges.
Ultimately, parental oversight is not about restricting freedom but guiding children to make informed choices. By staying involved, parents equip their children with the skills to use technology wisely, ensuring a safer and more positive digital experience.
We strongly encourage all families to visit the link below in assisting you to better understand how you can support your child in managing their exposure to and engagement with technology. The link is open for the next 21 days.
Raising Kids in a Digital World – Parent Resources
www.informandempower.com.au/schools-webinars/st-catherine-of-siena
Parent – Teacher Learning Conversations
Bookings will open on Wednesday, June 18th, at 5pm and they will be closed on June 26th at 7pm.
To book for this event click on the link:
https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/pgdzb
or book using the QR code
Parents can change their interview bookings, any time prior to the closing date, by re-visiting the site using the above link or QR code shown. Remember to use the same name and email address, you used when you made your original booking. Should you have any questions please see your child’s teacher or contact the office on 9743 -2166.
The Impact That Staff Shortages Have On School Activities And Learning
Last Tuesday, we experienced 14 staff away due to illness or their requirement to attend external professional meetings regarding key learning and teaching initiatives. This number could have been higher if we had not made the decision to also pull staff from external activities to assist in ensuring that we did not have to split classes across the school.
This action, as well as considering the weather forecast early Tuesday morning, impacted upon our ability to facilitate our school’s participation in the Year 3 & 4 Soccer Tournament.
Thank you to the many parents who expressed their understanding when discussing this with me last Tuesday at pickup time. Your understanding and appreciation for what the school does makes a difference to all who are doing their best to manage unusual circumstances such as these.
New House Names at St Catherine of Siena
Over the last few weeks of the term, a Google form was sent out to families to vote for the new House Names for St Catherine of Siena Primary School.
After receiving 279 responses from our students, parents and staff, the new House Names have been chosen. They are as follows:
Mackillop House (Blue) will remain as Mackillop House.
Being a part of this house means you will need to show Mary MacKillop’s values of Compassion, Hope and Respect.
Roberts House (Red) will change to Anne House representing St Anne.
Being a part of this house means you will need to show St Anne’s values of Respect, Responsibility and Excellence.
Freeman House (Green) will change to Patrick House representing St Patrick.
Being a part of this house means you will need to show St Patrick’s values of Compassion, Faithfulness, and Mercy.
Hollows House (Gold) will change to Teresa House representing Mother Teresa.
Being a part of this house means you will need to show Mother Teresa’s values of Compassion, Service, Faith and Humility.
Thank you to all who voted and particularly our student leaders who worked extremely hard to choose the saints, research them and decide on which saint will represent each house.
Week 10
Monday 23/06
- Saint Paulinus of Nola
Tuesday 24/06
- The Nativity Of Saint John The Baptist
Wednesday 25/06
- Saint Romuald
- Year 5 Talent Show 11:30am – 1:30pm
- 2026 Prep Enrolments Close
- Whole school Mass for the Feast of the Sacred
- Heart @ 9:15am
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 26/06
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Friday 27/06
- Saint Cyril of Alexandria
- Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Semester 1 Student Reports Sent Home
Saturday 28/06
- The Most Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sunday 29/06
- Saints Peter and Paul – RED
Week 11
Monday 30/06
- The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
Tuesday 01/07
- Parent Teacher Learning Conversations 3.45pm to 8pm
Wednesday 02/07
- YEAR 5 ATTENDING PARISH MASS @ 9:15am
- Parent helper afternoon tea
- Whole School Assembly 2:15pm
Thursday 03/07
- Saint Thomas
- Parent Teacher Learning Conversations 3.45pm to 8pm
Friday 04/07
- Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
- Last Day of Term 2 – Dismissal @ 3.15pm
5/6 Soccer Tournament: 5th June
On Thursday the 5th of June, St Catherines sent 26 students over to Arnolds Creek reserve for the 5 & 6 Soccer Tournament. Our students were very excited to go out and play against several schools from our district.
Our girls’ team was coached by Mrs. Santos and started off the day great putting a win and a draw on the board. They managed to finish the day in the top 8, getting the chance to play in a few finals’ games.
Our boys’ team was coached by Mr. Galea. Playing amazing all day, they finished the group stage undefeated and went into the finals with excitement. We played a tuff game in the semi finals but managed to win 1- 0 to book our spot in the grand finale. The final game of the day was really tuff and the game remained scoreless for majority of the time. St Catherines dug deep and scored a goal in the final minutes of the game and took home the premiership flag for the tournament. The boys’ team will now go off and play in the divisional rounds on the 27th of June.
We are so proud of both teams’ efforts and congratulate all our students on representing our school in such a positive way.
This weekend’s Gospel reading is the holy Gospel according to Luke 9:11-17
They all ate and were filled.
Jesus made the crowds welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.
It was late afternoon when the Twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.’ He replied, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, ‘Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.’ They did so and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected they filled twelve baskets.
Gospel Reflection
The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ celebrates the central celebration of Christianity – the Eucharist. All three readings relate to this Eucharistic theme. In the second reading, we have the first written account of the Last Supper and what came to be seen as Jesus instigating the Eucharist. Paul’s account, written well before the gospels, was entrenched in the tradition by the time the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke echoed these words of Jesus at the Last Supper. Of course, it is these same words that are spoken by the priest at the consecration in the Eucharistic Prayer each Mass. The words used today are the very same words that have been used in the Church for two millennia.
Rather than a gospel account of the Last Supper to celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are presented with what is widely regarded as another ‘eucharistic’ story from the gospel of Luke. The feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish is regarded as a eucharistic story because it was a clear example of God’s presence in a miraculous meal. All of the meal stories in the gospel of Luke are instructive for the audience. Whenever the gospel writer refers to a meal, the meal is used to teach about the reign of God. The gospel writer uses meals to demonstrate who is welcome in the reign of God. Like in today’s gospel, the author of Luke’s gospel was keen to show that the reign of God is available to anyone who wishes to be a part of it. The reign of God is inclusive and welcoming; no one will be turned away.
Historical context – Table fellowship
In 1st Century Palestine, who you shared a meal with was a very political act. Your status in society was judged by who you kept company with and particularly with whom you shared food. At times, Jesus broke these rules and practised open table fellowship – sharing meals with people of all stations in life and often being criticised for his actions by the Scribes and Pharisees. Part of Jesus’ open table fellowship meant that he also ate with dignitaries and religious leaders, but he used these occasions to remind them of the inclusive message of God that they were ignoring.
Gospel focus – Give them something yourselves
In the gospel, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the crowds away to find food for themselves. Jesus tells the disciples, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” This is a challenge and a test of the disciples – a chance for them to be like Jesus. He calls them to act with compassion and do what he would do to feed the people. But the disciples fail to grasp either his meaning or the opportunity and the miracle is left to Jesus. Jesus believed that they could feed the people if they tried but the disciples didn’t have that same faith in themselves.
Have you thought – Twelve baskets?
The gospel passage tells us that after the five thousand people had eaten as much as they wanted, the remaining scraps filled twelve baskets. What is significant about twelve baskets of left-overs? Twelve was an important number – it represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Whenever the gospels mention twelve things they are symbolically talking about the nation of Israel. In this case, the message is that no matter how many people feast on the message of Jesus and accept the reign of God, there will still be enough to ‘feed’ the twelve tribes of Israel. No one need be left out!
Week 1
Monday 21/07
- School Closure – Staff Catholic Identity PD
- Saint Lawrence of Brindisi
Tuesday 22/07
- Students Return To School
- Saint Mary Magdalene
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday 23/07
- Saint Bridget
- YEAR 6 and Prep ATTENDING PARISH MASS @ 9:15am
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 24/07
- Saint Sharbel Mahkluf
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Friday 25/07
- Saint James
Saturday 26/07
- Saints Joachim and Anne
Sunday 27/07
- World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
- 17th Sunday In Ordinary Time-GREEN
Week 2
Monday 28/07
- Emergency Displan Practice
- Parent Support Group Meetings
Tuesday 29/07
- Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
- Parent Support Group Meetings
Wednesday 30/07
- Saint Peter Chrysologus
- Parent Support Group Meetings
- Grandparents Day Mass (Whole School) & Celebration
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 31/07
- Saint Ignatius Loyola
- Incursion Professor Bunsen – Year 3
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
- Parent Support Group Meetings
Friday 01/08
- Saint Alphonsus Liguori
- Parent Support Group Meetings
- Year 6 Excursion to Scienceworks
Saturday 02/08
- Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
- Saint Peter Julian Eymard
Sunday 03/08
- 18th Sunday In Ordinary Time-GREEN
Week 3
Monday 04/08
- Saint John Vianney
- Parent Support Group Meetings
Tuesday 05/08
- The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
- Confirmation Family Night @ 6:30pm
- Parent Support Group Meetings
Wednesday 06/08
- The Transfiguration Of The Lord
- YEAR 5 ATTENDING PARISH MASS @ 9:15am
- Parent Support Group Meetings
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 07/08
- Saints Sixtus II and companions
- Saint Cajetan
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
- Yr 4 Camp – Lady Northcote
- Parent Support Group Meetings
Friday 08/08
- Saint Mary Of The Cross
- Saint Dominic
- 100 Days of Learning for Preps
- Morning Tea for Prep Parents 9am
- 100 Days of Learning Assembly 2:30pm – Prep & Year 6
- Yr 4 Camp – Lady Northcote
- Parent Support Group Meetings
Saturday 09/08
- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
- Confirmation Presentation and Commitment Mass @ 6pm
Sunday 10/08
- Saint Lawrence
- 19th Sunday In Ordinary Time-GREEN
Week 4
Monday 11/08
- Saint Clare
- Team Leaders Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Tuesday 12/08
- Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday 13/08
- Saints Pontian and Hippolytus
- Saint Cajetan
- Whole School Mass – St Mary of the Cross Mackillop 9.30am
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 14/08
- Saint Maximilian Kolbe
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Friday 15/08
- The Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Wear Purple for Bullying No Way
Saturday 16/08
- Saint Stephen of Hungary
- Sacrament of Confirmation @11am and 2pm
Sunday 17/08
- 20th Sunday In Ordinary Time-GREEN
Week 5 – Book Week
Monday 18/08
Tuesday 19/08
- Saint John Eudes
- Book Week Parade
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday 20/08
- Saint Bernard
- Whole School Mass – Feast of the Assumption
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 21/08
- Saint Pius X
- LSO Meeting 2:15pm – 3:15pm
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Friday 22/08
- The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday 23/08
- Saint Rose of Lima
Sunday 24/08
- Saint Bartholomew
- 21st Sunday In Ordinary Time-GREEN
Week 6
Monday 25/08
- Saint Joseph Calasanz and Saint Louis
Tuesday 26/08
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday 27/08
- Saint Monica
- YEAR 3 and 4 ATTENDING PARISH MASS @ 9:15am
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 28/08
- Saint Augustine
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Friday 29/08
- The Passion of Saint John the Baptist
- Year 6 Mad about Science Incursion
Sunday 31/08
- Social Justice Sunday
- 22nd Sunday In Ordinary Time -GREEN
- MACSIS Open for Input this week – Students, Families, Staff
Week 7
Monday 01/09
Tuesday 02/09
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday 03/09
- Saint Gregory the Great
- Father’s Day Breakfast 7am & Mass (Whole School) 9.15am
- Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Thursday 04/09
- Father’s Day Stall
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Friday 05/09
- ONWZ Principals Network
Sunday 07/09
- 23rd Sunday In Ordinary Time-GREEN
- Father’s Day
Week 8
Monday 08/09
- Shelter Building Incursion – Year 4
- Team Leaders Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Tuesday 09/09
- Saint Peter Claver
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday 10/09
- YEAR 1 and 2 ATTENDING PARISH MASS @ 9:15am
- Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
- 2025 Year 6 School Matinee Production 30am
- 2025 Year 6 School Production 6.30pm
Thursday 11/09
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
- 2025 Year 6 School Production 6.30pm
Friday 12/09
- The Most Holy Name of Mary
- Instalment 3 – Family Fee Payment Due
Saturday 13/09
- Saint John Chrysostom
Sunday 14/09
- The Exaltation of the Holy Cross-RED
- MACSIS Open for Input this week – Students, Families, Staff
Week 9
Monday 15/09
- Our Lady of Sorrows
Tuesday 16/09
- Saints Cornelius and Cyprian
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesday 17/09
- Saint Hildegard of Bingen and Saint Robert Bellarmine
- Whole School Assembly 2.15pm
Thursday 18/09s
- Staff Meeting 30pm – 4:30pm
Friday 19/09
- Saint Januarius
- End of Term 3
Prep A
Rylee C – For great participation during our literacy lessons while mapping out each sound in a CVC word. You are a superstar!
Marina T – For showing persistence and having a go during our daily Heggerty lessons. Keep it up!
Prep B
Conleth G – For showing wonderful progress as a knowledgeable learner by beginning to blend sounds together to read words and segment sounds to spell them.
Luna R – For being a knowledgeable learner during writing and applying your letter sound understanding to your writing.
Prep C
Awek Y – For reading decodable texts and answering comprehension questions with growing confidence and accuracy. Your reading skills are getting stronger every day.
James L – For using your knowledge of heart words and letter-sound relationships to write detailed sentences about our story ‘The bear who loved to dance’. Keep being an amazing learner!
Year 1A
Emily K – For always giving her best effort, embracing every challenge with a growth mindset, and showing amazing determination in all learning tasks. Keep up the fantastic work!
Dorin L – For trying her hardest in every task and using her sounding out skills to connect letters and sounds when spelling words. Well done on your amazing effort!
Year 1B
Yakise O – For following PBL values. Keep it up!
Gabriella G – For following PBL values. Keep it up!
Year 1C
Nelson B – For consistently being ready to learn and willing to share your ideas with the class.
Cody S – For working hard to demonstrate our PBL values throughout the school day. We are so proud of you.
Year 2A
Aluel A – For solving addition equations by partitioning numbers and using empty number lines correctly. Well done Aluel!
Daniel W – For writing terrific sentences about the BFG novel using because, but and so conjunctions. Great work Daniel!
Year 2B
Zemichael G – For fantastic effort and progress in learning your times tables up to 12 at home. You’re becoming a multiplication superstar.
Dakota S – For showing incredible growth in her PAT R- reading assessment and for consistently working hard to read with expression and confidence.
Year 2C
Arsema G – For showing a growth mindset when learning a variety of addition and subtraction strategies this term. Excellent work, Arsema on all your hard work in this unit.
Ebony B – For showing outstanding imagination and originality in reading comprehension responses for our novel study, BFG. Keep up the fantastic work, Ebony.
Year 3A
Vern S – For demonstrating amazing pace and accuracy in your fluency practice. Your consistent efforts are clearly showing in your results!
Taylah D – For showing fantastic improvement in your writing. Great work using a range of adjectives and punctuation to support your ideas. Keep it up!
Year 3B
Mateo L – For consistently demonstrating the PBL values in our class, by engaging in learning tasks with a positive attitude and demonstrating respect for everyone.
Sanaya D – For your inquiry presentation about your family history. You have included lots of interesting details about your family’s culture in your presentation.
Year 3C
Deng G – For showing great improvement in your addition tests on Westwood from Term 1 to Term 2.
Liam D – Following our PBL focus and demonstrating responsibility by completing tasks accurately and independently.
Year 4A
Emily D – For writing a creative complex sentence using one of the -en prefix words. Awesome!
Maan T – For showing the PBL value of responsibility for your learning. You are an AMAZING role model.
Year 4B
Rose L – For making clear connections to words and meanings using the en and em prefix.
Bonnie R – For taking initiative by writing an information report on school PBLs in her own time.
Year 4C
Irah K – For achieving fluency in multiplication facts up to 12 × 12. Your hard work is amazing, you should be so proud!
Abraham T – For achieving fluency in multiplication facts up to 12 × 12. Your hard work is amazing, you should be so proud!
Year 5A
Adau D – For your outstanding improvement in the probability assessment. Your hard work has led to great growth in your mathematical understanding. Well done!
Logan F – For your incredible growth in showing a positive attitude toward your learning. You’ve been working hard to try and stay focused, avoid distractions and complete your work. Your commitment to doing your best is noticed and appreciated. Keep it up!
Year 5B
Jedidiah R – For achieving an outstanding result of 100% on you r Probability post-test. Keep up the amazing work.
Tatiana T – For demonstrating fantastic growth in your Probability post-test. Keep up the great effort.
Year 5C
Sarah B – For your consistent focus and outstanding participation in all the lessons. You always contribute and share your ideas. Well done!
Moses D – For your great work and positive attitude in Maths. You always listen carefully, join in class discussions, and share your thinking with confidence. Keep it up!
Year 6B
Chadhor M – For always getting on with the job, completing every task without complaining and showing a great attitude towards learning. Well done!
Aguer A – For carefully following the structure of a fable and successfully creating an engaging and original story with a clear moral. Well done!
Year 6C
Aaliyah F – For always working hard, listening attentively and showing a true desire to learn and grow.
Luchelle D – For consistently showing excellent behaviour, leading by example and demonstrating the core values of PBL.
Year 5/6 Police incursion
On Thursday 12th of June, the Year 5 and 6 students participated in a valuable incursion with members of Victoria Police, focusing on the important topics of bullying and cyber safety.The session helped students understand the impact of bullying- both in-person and online and the role they each play in creating a respectful, safe school community. The two officers spoke about how to identify different types of bullying, how to respond safely and the importance of speaking up and supporting others.
The cyber safety component reminded students about the risks and responsibilities of being online. They learned practical tips for protecting their personal information, being respectful digital citizens and what to do if they experience or witness unsafe online behaviour.
Our students were engaged, respectful and asked thoughtful questions throughout. This session has given them greater awareness and confidence to make safe, responsible choices both at school and online.
Miss Di Falco
Last week, the Year 5 and 6 students had a special visit from members of Victoria Police. They came to talk to us about the importance of cyber safety and how to handle bullying, both online and in person.
We learned how our actions online can have real consequences and how important it is to protect our personal information. The officers also explained what bullying can look like and encouraged us to speak up and support others.
It was really interesting to hear real-life stories and get advice directly from the police. We walked away with some great tips on how to stay safe and make good choices, both at school and online.
Chelsea 6C
