St Luke the Evangelist School Newsletter

Hello Families and Friends,

What unseasonably mild weather we are enjoying in July and August. It is a great bonus to our outdoor play, to our extra-curricular activities and to enjoy the more relaxed routines on the weekend. I don’t know what got into everyone today but everyone wore their pyjamas!

It has been an exciting couple of weeks for our Seniors. On Monday, our school came third in the District Schools Footy Competition. This is a wonderful accomplishment for our considerably smaller school and shows what great spirit and determination our children have. Congratulations to all children who participated on the day and many thanks to David Fakhry who coached the teams and to the other parents who helped out on the day.

Another shout out goes to our Senior netballers who attended the district competition on Wednesday. The teams played really well and the mixed team won the grand-final which sees them move onto the Regional Finals on our closure day, 14th August. We are super excited for them. Our thanks to Micaela Debney who has done a brilliant job coaching the teams. She will coach them on the day. Thanks Micaela.

We have some very excited Middle schoolers who will be packing their bags, rolling up (or stuffing) their sleeping bags and getting ready for Urban Camp on Monday- Tuesday of this coming week. It’s the first school camp for these children and we have a couple of days packed with FUN. Tremain Lynch, Kathryn Fitt, Pauline Answerth, Sue Bottomley and myself will be attending and we are very excited. Make sure you keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

First Eucharist for our Year 4 children is just around the corner. We are looking forward to sharing a very special time with the candidates as they reach a milestone moment in their faith journey. As members of our Parish community, YOU are invited and welcome to join us on Sunday 13th August at 10.30 am mass to bear witness to these children receiving Jesus for the first time.

The Feast of the Assumption occurs on 15th August each year. It is a day of obligation for Catholics. Please join us on that Tuesday for a whole school mass at 10 am. Morning tea for families is offered afterwards.

The P&F Committee is currently running a Cookie Dough fundraiser. A flyer has been sent home and if you haven’t seen it yet, you can check it out later in this newsletter. Please support the efforts this band of parents put into creating strong community spirit with the social events they organise and the funds they raise for much needed school resources. They would love to have more people join the group. It is a lovely mix of fun, organising events and socialising at the same time. If you are curious, have some ideas or want to join, please make contact with Candi at candicouto@gmail.com 

We are planning another Father’s Day Breakfast for the Dads, Grand-dads and Special Men in your child’s life. DADS- please make sure you don’t miss this: Wednesday, 30th August starting at 7.45 am and ending at 8.45 am. Look out for the invite being sent out next week.

Notes were posted on Audiri (formerly Skoolbag app) this week giving details about the school production. This is a school event that we hope ALL CHILDREN will attend. Details of tickets will be sent through in the next fortnight. Please make sure you action your ticket purchase promptly. We are currently singing, dancing and performing our way through each week!

Please note on your calendars… the last day of the school year is Friday, 15th December. We will finish at 3.30 pm. It seems early but is a reflection of the introduction of Time in Lieu for our teachers who accrue many additional hours of extra-curricular activity in their role (attending school camps, information evenings, sacramental workshops, set up and pack up for special community days like Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Father’s Day etc . )

Have a fabulous weekend and go Hawks- it’s not our year this year but maybe next.

Clare

principal@slblackburnsth.catholic.edu.au

Dear Parishioners,

The Archbishop's Visitation to both Parishes of St Luke the Evangelist and St Timothy's on the weekend of August 25-27 is fast approaching. He is coming to meet us, yes YOU, members of both Primary School Communities and I. Please put this event in your diary as there will be a number of opportunities across the weekend for him to meet all parishioners of both parishes.

Fr Gerard

Parish Priest

Thankyou to our St Luke's community.  We have raised today $254.30, which will be donated to the St Vincent De Paul, Blackburn South Conference.  These monies will be used in our local community for families and individuals who are finding it tough at the moment.

Just three sleeps to go until our Middles make history at St Luke’s, being the first Middle year level to embark on an overnight camp.  We wish everyone a fantastic experience at Urban Camp, and thank Kathryn Fitt, Tremain Lynch, Pauline Answerth, Clare Ryan and Sue Bottomley in advance for their care and nurturing of the student group throughout their two day adventure.

On Wednesday July 26th we celebrated Grandparents-Special Grand People Day at St Luke’s. 

A special liturgy in the hall was followed by classroom visits and morning tea. We would like to thank all the grandparents, grandfriends, parents and relatives who were able to come along and be a part of this happy and memorable occasion. The students absolutely loved having you all there and enjoyed the opportunity to share part of their school life with you who mean so much to them. 

Special thanks to our principal Clare Ryan for initiating and organising this event. We hope that it will become one of the favourite annual community events on our school calendar in the future.

Pauline Answerth

School Family Community Partnerships

On Friday 28th July, Prep A celebrated 100 days of learning. They have been eagerly counting each school day throughout term One, Two and Three and finally the big arrived.  We explored all things 100.  We collected 100 items and wrote clues for others to guess what the collection of 100 was.

Here are some of our reflections about the day.

Emiliana...  We played a guessing game where you had to guess what 100 things were in the paper bag.  

Jamie...  100 Days was fun because we got to dress up in bright colours. 

Evelyn... We did lots of activities about the number 100.  

Harry...  We had to make something out of 100 dominoes. 

Samantha... We listened to a story about 100 things that make us happy. Playing with my little brother makes me happy. 

Ryan... We made the number 100 out of 100 shapes and then we decorated it. 

Bella... I was excited to wear bright colours on 100 Days of Prep. 

Chloe... I liked it when we made a book about 100. I would not like 100 ice creams. 

What a huge start to Term 3 it has been!  We saw two of our Senior Winter Sporting teams progressing through to the Monash-Waverley Division Finals.  Congratulations to both our Mixed AFL team and Mixed Netball team for making it through this far.  Our Mixed AFL team was very well supported by a fantastic crew of parent helpers.  To Head Coach David, Dale, Patrick, David and Rachel - thank you so much for giving up your time.  Our footballers gave it their all and finished third at their finals day on Monday 31st July.  Well done to all!

Our Senior Mixed Netballers finished PREMIERS at their finals day on Wednesday 2nd August meaning they are through to the Eastern Metro Regional finals in 2 weeks!!  I was lucky enough to be a part of this day at Waverley Netball Centre and I was just so proud of the way this group stuck together, took on feedback and grew their game as the tournament went on.  Thank you to Vini for your enthusiasm (and hot chips!), and to Kylie, Maureen and Di - our very generous taxi service for the day!! Regionals here we come.

Moving into Year 3/4 Sport now, we have exactly two weeks to go until our much anticipated Hoop Time basketball tournament at Nunawading Basketball Stadium.  Middle students have been fine tuning their skills and are very excited to get out on court and compete against other schools.  Good luck to our five teams “St Lukes Lakers”, “Blackburn Blazers”, “St Lukes Magic”, “Pink Champions” and the “Nuggets”!  I hope you have a memorable day.

Micaela Debney

A reminder to Year 5 families that enrolments to Catholic High Schools for Year 7 2025 are closing Friday 18th August 2023.

Please see High School websites for application forms and process.  Some links to local schools:

EMMAUS: https://www.emmaus.vic.edu.au/enrolment/forms-and-key-dates/

SIENA College: https://www.siena.vic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-procedure

Our Lady of Sion College: https://www.sion.catholic.edu.au/embrace-life-at-sion/application-for-enrolment-process

Whitefriars Catholic College:  https://www.whitefriars.vic.edu.au/enrolment/local-students/

Note:  Applications to Government High Schools are available in 2024.

Term 3 statements were issued via email this week.  Please check your SPAM/JUNK folder if you have not received your statement.

Various payment option are available, with our preferred method of payment being BPAY, please see the bottom of your statement for your BPAY details.

Term 3 fees are due Friday 8th September.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE... we take enrolments for all years and at all times so... If you know of family or friends who are looking to move into the area OR are considering moving schools for their child OR want to commence their child at a great primary school, please encourage them to come by for a tour. A quick phone call to Debbie in the office or email via our website will get the ball rolling. 

LOST PROPERTY:

Please check the lost property cupboard if you are missing jumpers, jackets or food containers.  

WINTER UNIFORMS:

With the colder weather coming on, please make sure your child has his/her school jumper EVERY day. Many children are choosing to wear a rain jacket instead of their jumpers. The rain jacket is for outside use only.

CHILDREN ARRIVING AFTER THE BELL OR LEAVING EARLY:

As part of our wellbeing care of children at St Luke's, every class engages in a morning routine at 8.50 am.  This quiet, calm time allows children to gather together in a circle, to greet each other by name, to pray and/or enter into some Christian meditation and get ready for the day.  Please make sure you allow enough time to get your child to school BEFORE the student entry doors close at 8.50 am.

If children arrive after the gate and student entry doors are locked, parents/carers are required to walk their child/ren to the school office and sign them in on the VPass iPad.

If leaving early (before the end of the day), parents/carers are required to sign their child/ren out on the VPASS iPad.