This year our School Improvement Agenda for 2025 is

• Student Voice and Agency
• Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus on Mathematics and Reading

Student Learning Portfolios

We hope you enjoyed going through the Portfolios over the holidays with your children. Work samples were carefully considered by the students in consultation with their teachers. We encourage you to write feedback, for your child’s learning in Term 3, on the feedback sheet provided in your child’s student learning portfolio. Please return the Student Learning Portfolio this week so your child can continue documenting their learning journey. 

Car Park Safety - Thank you 

Thank you to the many families who have accepted the slight change to our front car park (Ernst Wanke Road) arrangements at the end of each day. By parking and waiting until 3.10pm to move out of car park spaces, many more cars are able to access the car park and less queuing on Ernst Wanke Road occurs. Please continue to follow this for everyone’s safety. Please do not leave your vehicle (to go and collect a child from a classroom) if it is parked in this area.

Whole School Athletics

A reminder that we have our whole school Athletics day next wednesday at Casey Fields. Students are departing from school so please ensure they are not late on this day. The first buses (3-6) depart at 9am. We still have more than 45 outstanding permission forms to be completed. If you have not done this please go to PAM today and complete the consent form.

Father Michael - An Update

Bishop Greg provided a letter to OLHC parishioners on 4 Oct 2025 with an update on Father Michael. Below is part of the letter:

Father Michael remains in ICU and continues to receive wonderful clinical care. His family are close by his side ensuring he has the presence of familiar faces and voices. Those who have experienced ICU will understand the level of care, attention and precision of those specialised doctors and nurses attending to patients. Father Michael is in the best hands. Please continue to pray for Father Michael’s full recovery.

We thank Father Ajin and Father Siju for their ongoing support for Mary MacKillop school at this time.

Important Dates for Term 4

Level Newsletters will be sent out this Friday 10 Oct but you may like to diarise these dates now.

• Wednesday 15 October Whole School Athletics Day (Casey Fields)
• Tuesday 21 October Storytime for Foundation 2026 students with Year 5 students
• Wednesday 22 October Regional Athletics (for students who succeeded in getting through Division)
• Thursday 30 October Grandparents Afternoon from 1.15pm (please note this is an afternoon time slot this year)
• Monday 3 November School Closure Day 
• Tuesday 9 December Year 6 Graduation from 5pm
• Thursday 11 December End of Year Mass 9am
• Friday 12 December Christmas Concert (during school time)
• Monday 15 December Meet and Greet 2026 (students)
• Tuesday 16 December Last Student day

2026

• The first student day for 2026 will be Thursday 29 January 2026

Staffing Updates for 2026

• I am pleased to announce that Gabby Nicoll and Breanna Cahill will be our Foundation teachers in 2026.
• Claire Stapledon (Marshall) will take another year of leave. 
• Jasmine Hay has accepted a full time ongoing position at our school and we are very excited to have her as a permanent member of staff.
• Chris McAleer has resigned in order to take a break from full time teaching.
• Aymie Brent has accepted a position at another DOSCEL school and so, will transfer to that school.
• Claire Knight will be returning from parental leave to a full time teaching position.
• Katie Best will be commencing parental leave at the end of this year as she is expecting a baby in February 2026.

Over the holidays Liz Privitera and myself continued to interview candidates and staffing for 2026 is currently being finalised.

SLIP, SLOP, SLAP…….HAT! HAT! HAT!

It’s that time of year when students must have their hats on every day for recess and lunch regardless of the temperature. Please ensure your child has a hat.