St Luke the Evangelist School Newsletter

Good afternoon Families,

What a time of JOY we have had! Last Friday, we celebrated St Luke’s Feast Day by coming together in the morning to connect with God and give thanks for the influence St Luke has on our community. Being a patron saint of artists, we moved into creating some art masterpieces and then had the best time ever, rotating through some very engaging activities led by Kaboom Sports. Teachers and children alike had a ball. After lunch, our children were cheered on by loads of parents and preschoolers as they completed their laps for the Walk for Tiwi cause. Over $1 700 was raised- an incredible effort by our families. Thank you so much; it will mean the world to St Therese’s Church community. One of my favourite parts of a community day is the morning tea- promoting God’s hospitality is made so much easier when parents, grandparents, friends and younger family members come along for a cuppa and a chat.

Another joyful day was on Tuesday when our new Preplings for 2024 came for the first orientation session. The Year 5 children eagerly assisted Megan Bunter and Julianne Kelly as the children listened to stories, created crowns and got a tiny taste of the great things happening at St Luke’s. We can’t wait for the next orientation session for our Preplings on Tuesday 14th November.

This week, l attended a final session for a Principal Induction Program that MACS lead. It has been an opportunity to meet regularly with other newly appointed principals who have been on the same huge learning curve l have been on over the past year. At this last session, l was asked to reflect on how my faith has served me in my first year as principal. Sometimes, it is so good to stop and take a moment to ponder such things. My faith is fundamental to who l am and how l live my life. I use it to guide me in every aspect of my leadership- my interactions with, responses to and connections with staff, children and families. When l think about our school community, l also think about how each encounter is similar to receiving the eucharist- that we come together in communion with each other. What a gift that is… thank-you to each and every child, to each and every family for the blessings you bring to my life.

As you know, St Luke’s has just completed a school review. One thing l am committed to working on next year is that staff, children and families come to share our renewed vision and strategic plan that will take our school forward as a faith filled, learning community. It will be great to work together with the school leadership team to begin this process. Watch this space…

The long weekend is upon us. I hope the weather is kind, the sleep-ins long and the family time- memorable. EnJOY every moment.

See you next week,

Clare

principal@slblackburnsth.catholic.edu.au

Our students have so many hidden talents!  A lovely afternoon has been had today where students from Prep to Year 6 have shared their many gifts, from dancing and singing to performing in groups or solo.

Last Thursday 26th November, our Middles students ventured out on a brilliant excursion which is connected to their current Inquiry topic, ‘How do stories and cultures help us understand and celebrate diversity?’ Led by their classroom teachers and enthusiastic parent helpers, the Middles boarded a train to Flinders Street Station, which in itself, was very exciting. They then walked through Federation Square and the inner-city park Birrarung Marr, becoming more versed in the history of Melbourne. In the late morning, students commenced a guided tour at the Ian Potter Centre of the National Gallery of Victoria, learning through the theme of ‘Australian Identity and Culture’. After the insightful tour, Middles ate in Federation Square, enjoying Melbourne’s sunny (yes, sunny!) weather. The last stop after lunch was time spent at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), where students continued to learn about stories, cultures (including a feature section on our First Nations Peoples) and the celebration of diversity through media sources. In summary, Middles enjoyed one of their favourite days of the year!

We’re well into our second term of the Smiling Mind program at St Luke’s and this week our students have recently completed the surveys for Term 4. The survey from Smiling Mind measures student wellbeing over several  domains: connectedness, engagement, mindfulness, happiness, perseverance and gratitude. As we move forward with the program next year and survey our students every term, we can continue to monitor these well being domains and compare changes over time.

Our Prep to Year 2 students completed a school-created survey about their favourite thing about Smiling Mind, what they like about it and what they’ve learnt. 

Here are some of their responses:

My favourite thing about Smiling Mind is:

• when we meditate because it makes me feel settled

• meditation because it makes me happy

• learning how to calm yourself down

• breathing mindfully

• when you think with your brain

I like that:

• nearly everyone tries the meditations, and that after them I feel calm and everything is peaceful

• it’s quiet, focused and not loud

• I get to have a time that I can just relax

• I get to share what I felt

• we get to relax and that we get a peaceful meditation

• it makes me calm

I’ve learnt:

• that you can do meditation whenever you want and saying kind words to yourself can help you

• that you can meditate anywhere

• that you can relax your body and be calm

• that rest is very important

• that I can be calm and I am getting better at it

• how to be more relaxed when you’re angry

• to be kind to yourself and don’t worry if you make a mistake

• how to be kind to yourself and love yourself

• that I can relax my body

• how to be calm

It has come to my attention that there has been almost no mobile phones handed in to the school office in the morning. This may be due to children not bringing them in because they are forgetting to. This is vastly different to the regular 8-10 phones we were accustomed to getting in each morning in the office last year.

If your child does bring a mobile phone to school on one or more days, could you please send me a simple message via email stating that your child does bring one in and which days they do, so we can remind him/her to drop it in at the office. This is a safety measure to protect the device as it is stored securely throughout the day. You can email me at: principal@slblackburnsth.catholic.edu.au 

A reminder that if your child wears an iwatch to school, please apply the setting that restricts incoming messages.

As always, St Luke's is keen to work with children in the safe handling of devices. We ask children not to use their phone before or after school with other children, on school grounds. Let's work together to ensure our children understand safe practices are important.

We are currently working on classes and ordering materials for 2024.

If your family is intending to leave St Luke’s at the end of this year which we sincerely hope you are not, please email me as soon as possible. principal@slblackburnsth.catholic.edu.au

We are well aware that life gets in the way of such things as school newsletters, messages coming through on Audiri (Skoolbag) etc…

Today, we will send an Operoo notification about choosing whether you want to receive the school newsletter via Audiri or whether you would like to receive a hard copy. If it is the latter, please, please please make sure you ask your child for it every second Friday- odd weeks on our term calendar.

In 2024, we are looking for TWO parents from each class to become class representatives. The typical role a Class Rep plays is:

• Establishes a class ‘What’s App for parents

• Sends reminders about school or class happenings

• May- but does not have to- organise a social gathering for adults… class dinner at a local restaurant OR coffee morning at a local cafe OR class play date after school at a local reserve etc…

• Promotes and encourages parents to become involved or participate in the fete/ P&F/ community events/ requests for volunteers 

It is not an overwhelming job and with a buddy, it is halved.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email me at principal@slblackburnsth.catholic.edu.au and we can get the ball rolling for 2024.

A reminder that 2023 school fees and levies are due next Friday, 10th November (unless prior arrangements have been made with the school).

An additional reminder to families who will be leaving St Luke's at the end of 2023 that all fees and levies need to be paid no later than Monday 11th December 2023.

2 necklaces have been found and handed in at the office, both found out the front of the school - one mid October and the other on Friday 27 Oct (St Luke's Celebration Day).  Please visit the office if you have lost a necklace.

Our budding Prima Ballerina

Congratulations to Ava on her amazing achievements in jazz, lyrical and classical ballet this competition season.

Ava has received honorable mentions, 2nd and 3rd place rankings and an honorable mention in her Grade 1 Ballet competition.  

Congratulations Ava!

We take enrolments for all years and at all times so... spread the word to friends and neighbours and direct them to our website and/or our school office.  Deb's only to happy to help with initial inquiries and Clare is always happy to take visitors on a school tour.  

LOST PROPERTY:

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

SUMMER UNIFORMS:

As we move to warmer months, we should now be wearing the summer uniform.  Please apply sun cream in the morning before school.

Term 4 = SUNHATS!     

Please make sure your child has a school hat to wear EVERY DAY or else, No hat, No play.

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 9.00 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.