Term 2 finishes at 12.30pm Friday 4th July

Term 3 starts on Tuesday 22nd July

(Note: Student Free Day Monday 21st July)

Dear Families,

As we draw to a close on what has been another incredibly busy and rewarding Term 2 at St. Vincent's, I find myself filled with immense pride and gratitude. It's truly wonderful to take a moment to reflect on the numerous achievements, vibrant activities, and the sense of community that has thrived within our school over the past few months. Our students, staff, and families have all contributed to making this term a success.

A significant faith highlight of this term was the celebration of Confirmation. It was a privilege to witness our students take this important step in their faith journey, surrounded by their families and the wider parish community. Their commitment and understanding were truly inspiring, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Beyond our spiritual growth, our students continued to shine brightly in many other areas. We were absolutely thrilled with their outstanding success in the Mid Valley Art competition, where their creativity and dedication were on full display, culminating in a fantastic win for St. Vincent's! This achievement not only highlights the artistic talents within our school but also underscores the importance we place on fostering imagination and self-expression in all our learners.  Congratulations to our students and thanks to Mrs.Monacella, Mrs. Jackson and anyone who helped make this happen. 

On the sporting front, winter sport has been in full swing, with our students demonstrating incredible determination, teamwork, and resilience on the fields and courts. It’s been fantastic to see them embrace healthy competition. Win or lose, their effort and positive attitudes have made us all proud.  Thanks to the staff for their efforts in coordinating our participation.

Our commitment to student holistic development continues through our wellbeing initiatives. These programs are designed to foster a supportive and nurturing environment where every child feels valued, understood, and equipped with the social and emotional tools to thrive. We believe that a strong foundation in wellbeing is crucial for academic success and personal growth.  Last week we held an introductory meeting about the Peaceful Kids program we hope to offer next term.  Please out to either myself or Mrs.Burke if you would like further information.

A definite highlight to finish up the term  was the highly anticipated Year 3/4 camp. This immersive experience provided invaluable opportunities for our students to develop independence, build new friendships, and engage in hands-on learning experiences outside the classroom. From challenging activities to building relationships, the camp was a resounding success and created lasting memories for all involved.  Thanks to those staff who gave up their time to attend and in particular Mrs.Francolino and Mrs.Vandenbroek for their many hours of preparation.

As always, we reinforce our core school-wide expectations: We are Respectful, We are Responsible, We are Resilient, We are Safe. These fundamental pillars are integrated into every aspect of school life, guiding our students daily in their interactions, learning, and personal conduct. By living these expectations, we collectively foster a positive, productive, and secure learning environment for every member of our school community.

Earlier in the month I attended the Gippsland Catholic Principal Conference.  There were many interesting topics discussed but a particular area I would like to share with you was the work we did around Digital Citizenship.  At St Vincent’s we heavily engage with the ‘Inform & Empower’ team to support our broad school community - students, families and staff.  In this newsletter edition I have included the Term 2 Parent Information sheets.  I urge everyone to read through each of the sheets, regardless of your child’s age.  The growth in what the cyber-world looks like is mind blowing and I am a firm believer that the adults need to be fully committed to trying to keep up with developments so we can assist our children navigate this space.  Since returning from my meeting I have deliberately engaged with our students to discuss related topics and I have walked away impressed with the proactive way our students report being digital-citizens.  Although we can easily find negative examples of cybersafety I have had students report to me many positive, kind and mature examples of how they are coping as digital natives.

Thank you once again for your partnership and support throughout Term 2. Your involvement is vital to our school's success. We wish you and your families a safe and relaxing mid-year break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for an exciting Term 3!

Dave

As we hit the end of the term it is great time to check your child's uniform to ensure they are named.  Having items labelled allows them to be returned easier to your child and makes it easier when we are trying to return items left in lost property.  

We also have a number of children that have misplaced labelled items.  Can all families please check to make sure they have not any other child's uniform pieces.

At the end of the term we will be giving the  lost property tubs near the student entry doors a thorough clean out.  Please drop by if you are missing clothing, forks, drink bottles, headbands or random 8 year old sons!

The Second-hand Uniform Shop continues to have a good range, so reach out to the office or Kelly if you are after specific items or fresh pair of school shoes.

Finally, remember that our popular school beanies are available for purchase via CDFPay.