What an absolute joy it has been to see the smiling faces of our students and their families as they walked onto the school grounds on Tuesday to begin the 2025 school year. A special and very warm welcome to the following new families who have joined the St Monica’s community for the very first time this year. We wish you a long and happy association with us -

Adnan, Akinwumi, Alexander, Barrimore, Berenguer, Bolitho, Brinkley, Cooper, Dauda, Davis, Ehsani, Gilles, Gold, Handoko, Hooper, Howard, Jenkin, Kingsford, Kleber, Lockley, Macleod, Olsthoorn-Franklin, Paccha, Pantano, Peldon, Pitt, Price, Quinton, Sangston, Sidhu, Smith, Smith, Swan, Thwaites, Unga, Wilson-Gemmell.

The start of the school year offers fresh opportunities for your children to discover and achieve new goals. This just doesn’t happen and I am incredibly grateful to the Classroom Teachers who have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks preparing the classrooms and their teaching programs. Our support, administrative and operational staff have been assisting the teachers to create a nurturing environment where every child feels welcome, safe and supported.

Tomorrow, You’re Invited to our Opening School Mass. This important event officially launches the 2025 school year and our theme ‘Opening our Hearts to the Holy Spirit’. All staff and students will be blessed and our Kindergarten and new students warmly welcomed. Please note the Front Office will be closed from 9:10am – 10:00am tomorrow morning as all staff will be up at Mass.

In 2025 you’re invited to:

• find out about what your child will be learning about this year. Please join us next Tuesday 11 February for the Parent Information Evening and book in for an optional ‘Get to Know you Meeting’ with your child’s classroom teacher.
• join in our numerous whole school celebrations such as School Masses, Class Masses, Whole School Prayer Liturgies, Friday Awards Assemblies, the Fete, Sports Carnivals, Book Week, Grandfriend’s Day and the Community Carols evening.
• share your skill set with our community such as helping out with the garden, communications and marketing, fete committee, giving a talk or presentation.
• volunteer in a range of capacities; cover library books, become a reading tutor, assist in the canteen!

Whatever your capacity to offer help, we would love to hear from you.

This year I, in consultation with my Leadership Team, have made one of our school improvement goals to stay focused on annual priorities. As organisations and individuals, we like to add more and more to our plates, when in fact subtracting or 'pruning back' on activities would be more beneficial. As such, one activity we are going to prune back on is the weekly release of the school newsletter. Instead, it will be issued once a fortnight in Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 each term. Important events, messages and alerts will be continue to be sent out via Compass. 

Have a fabulous 2025!

Warm wishes,