St Luke the Evangelist School Newsletter

Good afternoon Families,

Well, we made it! A thoroughly busy, enjoyable, productive term of learning, growing and building stronger friendships with each other. We have had many highlights, a lot of illness going around and special people leaving and new people joining our community. Our staff team are feeling very excited at the personal learning we have been doing around the Science of Learning. Next term, we will be trialling some knowledge rich units with our children. It will be great to get to a Learning Expo next term and see your children shine again- just like they did yesterday. I was so impressed with the calibre of presentation and presenters. Thank you to the many, many families who visited classrooms and not only listened to their child’s presentation but listened to other children, as well. After many hours of preparation, everyone was so pleased to share what they have learned. 

Next term, your child will have an opportunity to run a Student-Led Conference where they will present pieces of work they have selected to share with you. As parents, you will also have an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with the classroom teacher. Look out for the invitation to book a time through schoolinterviews.

It’s been a big week of goodbyes this week with the last day for Julianne Kelly on Wednesday. Julianne has been part of the team and St Luke’s community for the past twelve and a half years and will be missed greatly. When l asked the children if they had been taught by Mrs Kelly, at least 80% of the children put their hand up. We would say they were so fortunate and Julianne would say she was the luckier one. Another farewell goes to the Palmer-Leeraar family who will head back to the UK. Noah (Year 3) and Henry (Year 1) have stolen our hearts with their energy, bright smiles and curiosity about the world. We will miss them too and wish them and Natalie and Rob safe travels and a smooth transition to a new school and new home.

Next term, we welcome Angie Um who will be in Prep for two days a week. Angie has moved into the area with her family and we are super excited at the prospect of getting to know and love her- just like our children. Make sure you say hi when you see her.

I’m looking forward to Term Three already. Middle School camp, First Eucharist, Production, The P&F Sports Trivia night to name a few. To kick off Term 3, we will be holding our annual Grandparents Day prayer on Wednesday 23rd July at 9 am. Grandparents and Grand friends are warmly invited to attend making sure they stop for the morning to visit classrooms and enjoy some of our St Luke’s hospitality with morning tea.Pop it on your calendar now. Invite to follow.

Well, l think you all deserve a short message from me this week… that doesn’t happen often. 

My sincere thanks to the staff for the mammoth term they have put in, to our children for being the very best learners they can be and to you, our families- we can’t do our job without our partnerships with you. Thank you.

Have a really wonderful break. Stay safe, stay warm and enjoy the family time. See you in Term Three.

Clare

And the winner is........ 

Congratulations to the Broccio family!!

Enjoy use of the dedicated carpark during Term 3, 2025.

Student Led Conferences: Thursday 21 August from 1:30pm. An invitation to book through schoolinterviews will be sent in Week 1 of Term Three.

This term we explored toys to discover what they can teach us about science.  Here are some of our discoveries -

Toys have different ways of moving.  A guitar strums, a ball rolls and a spinning top spins.  I made a doll house.  You use push and pull to open the doors and move the little characters. ~ Samantha

Toys can be made from many different materials.  They also move in different ways.  Toys with wheels move when you push them.  I made a toy hammer guitar.  To play with my toy you have to pull the strings up or down and it will make a sound.  ~Arthur

We discovered how toys work.  Some toys have buttons you can push, some cars can be pulled back and they then go forwards and spinning tops spin.  I made a toy motor bike.  You need to push it to make it roll. ~ Julian

Toys can move in different ways.  They can push, pull, spin, twist or roll.  I made some binoculars.  You hold them up to your eyes and you can see things up close.  ~ Matilda

Toys can be made out of different materials. Lots of toys are made from plastic, some are made from wood or metal. I made a toy car. The materials I used are a tissue box, patty pans, paint, and paper towel. ~ Alexandros

Toys can move, talk and make sounds.  Some toys need to be pushed to move, some toys need to be pulled to move, and battery toys can move on their own.  I made a robot.  To move my robot you need to move the arms and legs by pushing and pulling.  ~ Isabella

I discovered that all toys are different - they can all do different things. They can move - by pushing, pulling, throwing, bouncing and you can do lots of other things with them.  I made some stilts.  To play with my toy, you need to step on them and pull them up when you walk.  ~ Amy

I discovered that some toys play music.  People use their hands to push or pull parts that make music.  I made a guitar.  To make my guitar you use your hands to move the strings up or down. ~ Henry

Today we shared our learning.  We are very proud of our toy creations.

Your child may have been working on an AFL footy design this week. If they have been, they’ll bring it home today and you can submit it into the competition that attracts a prize for best design. Details are on the sheet. Make sure you ask to have a peek- we have some incredible emerging designer-artists at St Luke’s.

Please see the documents attached to this newsletter distribution for costume information as well as prop and set items that we would appreciate your help in sourcing.

Can you donate an hour of your time once every eight weeks to help to clean our parish church?

Teams of four are rostered on and some teams use it as an opportunity to catch up while helping your parish community and have a coffee afterwards!  Create your own team or join another. Cleaning usually takes place on Saturday mornings but can be at anytime during the week too.

If you can assist, please contact Sonya in the parish office: blackurnsouth@cam.org.au.

Do you have family or friends that have children starting school in 2026?

If you have not completed an application for 2026 enrolment, please visit our school website and complete the online application form.  The application will prompt you to attach any documents required for the application.

If you know of a family looking for a wonderful school, please promote our school and encourage them to attend an upcoming open morning or a personal tour.  All dates for open morning are available on our website via the quick tabs 'Book a Tour' or 'Enrol' on the homepage.

Please also encourage families looking for an alternate school for older year levels to consider St Lukes!

Please note:  To start primary school in 2026, children will need to turn 5 years old by 30 April 2026.  Schooling is compulsory for children who have turned 6 years old.

If you wish your child to attend a Catholic Secondary School, you need to apply when your child is in Year 5.

The application cut off date is Friday 15 August 2025.  You will need to submit your application to the Catholic Secondary School by this date to be considered for the Year 7, 2027 intake.  

All secondary schools have information days or tours, allowing you to view the school facilities and ask questions of the appropriate staff.  Selection into a Catholic secondary school is guided by the school’s enrolment policy.  

Applications for a Government Secondary School can be submitted in Year 6 by the published cut-off date.

With this arctic chill that Melbourne is experiencing,we ask parents to ensure that children are sent to school in their school jumper and if needed an outdoor jacket.  A warm singlet may also not go astray.

Please also do a check of your child's drawers at home to check that they have a selection of navy school socks for the school uniform and white socks for the Sports uniform.  We are seeing an increase in the amount of students who are wearing white socks and/or white tights with their school uniform.  To be clear, leggings and white tights are not part of our school uniform.  We ask that you make sure that they are in the correct school uniform/sports uniform before they leave the house.

School uniform items can be purchased from our supplier Spartan School World or please join the St Luke's Primary School Blackburn South Buy/Sell Uniform group on Facebook for secondhand uniform.

Is screen time taking a toll on the mental and physical well-being of your family?  You're not alone.  In today's fast-paced, tech-saturated world, connection and meaningful interaction are being replaced by endless scrolling and digital distractions.

Join The School of Play for a powerful and practical FREE 45-minute webinar designed to help families and schools reclaim joy, movement, and togetherness without devices!!

Using PLAY as the GLUE: Reconnecting Schools and Families, Without Devices or Screentime 

Wed, July 2, 2025  1pm - 2pm Live Online + 7-Day Replay Access

The Issues We're Seeing:

• Rising screen time is reducing physical movement, social interaction, and overall well-being.
• Face-to-face conversations are being replaced by social media and digital messaging.
• Parents and educators are feeling overwhelmed, time-poor, and unsure where to begin to address these challenges.
• Health & Well-Being Benefits of Play:
• This isn't just about fun, play is a powerful tool for improving health and happiness.  In this webinar, you'll learn how playful connection can:
• Boost mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and emotional overload
• Improve physical health by encouraging movement, coordination, and energy
• Strengthen relationships through laughter, teamwork, and shared experiences
• Increase happiness and life satisfaction through positive emotions and social bonding
• Support emotional regulation and resilience in both children and adults

Backed by research and grounded in real-world success, these strategies will help you build a more connected, vibrant, and mentally healthy school or home environment. The Solution: Play as the Glue

Discover how play-based connection can transform relationships at home and school. In this interactive session, you'll learn fun, simple, and time-efficient activities designed to:

1. Rebuild social bonds through real, human connection

2. Improve mental and physical well-being

3. Reduce screen reliance in a way that feels joyful and sustainable

4. Create meaningful family moments and classroom culture, all without needing a screen

 Register HERE

Whether you're a parent or teacher, this webinar will equip you with the tools and confidence to use play as a powerful, science-backed solution for connection, happiness, and well-being.

SMART WATCHES & MOBILE PHONES

If a child wears a smart watch to school, it must be de-activated so the child is not receiving or sending messages etc...

Mobile Phones are requested to be left at the office in the morning and collected at the end of the day. 

FOOD ALLERGIES:

Allergic reactions to food… can be harmful to our children. For that reason we ask parents to think carefully about what they are packing in their child’s lunch boxes. Occasionally, something might slip through and once aware, we take precautions to ensure the safety of every child. As stated in the Family Handbook 2025:

We are an EGG and NUT free school due to the allergies of children within our community.  We ask that parents respect this request and the potential harm this could do to children if brought to school.

Thank you for your care and attention to this.

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 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.

BUY/SELL SECONDHAND UNIFORM:

Join the St Luke's Primary School Blackburn South Buy/Sell Uniform group on Facebook to buy/sell uniform with other parents.