Newsletter - Friday, 24th October, 2025
Prayer
Loving God,
We ask for Your protection in this time of strong winds and wild weather.
Keep our homes, families, and communities safe from harm.
Be with those who have suffered damage or loss,
and give them courage and comfort as they rebuild.
Calm the storms around us and within us,
and help us to trust in Your care and strength.
Amen.
From the Principals
Dear Families,
Despite the wild and woolly week outside, lots of things have still been happening at St. Malachy's. Unfortunately the 5/6 cricket event was cancelled due to this dangerous weather.
On Thursday, it was lovely to have Jayne Brumby spend the day at St. Malachy's getting to know the students, staff and the wider community whilst having a 'Mum's Cuppa'.
In weeks 4 and 5, we welcome two university students who will be completing their teaching placements. Ruby Kent will be completing her second year placement and Kate Cameron will be completing her third year placement. Both students will be spending time in multiple classrooms across different subjects.
In weeks 8 and 9, we will be running the Bike Education program for all students F-6. We ask you to please use these upcoming weeks to prepare by checking bike tyres, chains, helmets etc. In the past, we have also had siblings sharing bikes but just ask you to let us know if this is the case so we can timetable the program effectively so all students can participate.
Kind regards,
- Gorgia + Sherryn
Mission Day & The Blessing of the Pets
On Wednesday, the 5th of November, we will be celebrating our Mission Day with a range of activities.
9:00-10:00am: We will be hosting a Pet Blessing, where we invite pets to school. We will have a parade for the pets as well as provide an opportunity to show off any special talents your pet may have. We will follow this with a pet blessing. We ask that any pets attending are restrained appropriately and are only brought in if they are considered safe around other animals and children. In the past, students have also brought in their pet's collars or beloved toys in their pets place to be blessed.
10:00-11:00am: Students will say goodbye to their pets and return to classrooms to participate in an activity celebrating our patron Saint, St. Malachy.
11:30-1:30am: Students will be conducting and participating in Mission Day activities. Students may bring in some coins to donate to the cause and participate in these games. They will not need more than $5 and can give their money to a teacher at the beginning of the day for safe keeping. Students will return to their classrooms for the last hour of the school day.
Around the rooms
Foundation Classroom
Mathematics - I am so proud of how well the students demonstrated their knowledge in Multiplication and Division. We are now moving back into Addition and Subtraction which has proved to be a bit trickier for us. We are really trying to develop our basic facts such as doubles (3+3), friends of ten (8+2) and language and understanding of terms that we frequently come across in questions such as more/less, greater than/less than, add/subtract, one more, one less etc. Discussions at home using this language could really help solidify your child's understanding in these areas. As adults we often forget that once upon a time we did not have these words in our vocabulary.
Literacy - We have just started reading the Velveteen Rabbit and are discussing how items become special to us and what makes them special. Is it how shiny and new the object is? Or is it the way something makes us feel? We are desperately hoping the Velveteen Rabbit toy can feel 'real' like his friend the Skin Horse ... even if it means he might lose some stitching and fluff from too many cuddles and being left outside after being played with.
Show & Tell - Do you have a toy at home that feels real because you have loved it so much? Do you have an item which is very special and dear to you, even if it does not look like it anymore? If you do, we would love to see it at school for Show and Tell, as long as you have had permission from your parents and it is not to be played with at school but kept safe for the day.
1/2 Classroom
It has been a very busy and exciting time in Year 1/2!
In Writing, we have been exploring persuasive texts. Students have enjoyed learning how to share their opinions and convince others using strong reasons and persuasive language. One of our favourite pieces was a letter written to our classroom chairs, asking them to quit their strike and return to class! The students had lots of fun coming up with clever arguments and persuasive phrases.
In Numeracy, we have been focusing on place value, addition and subtraction. Students have been working hard to build their number knowledge and apply their skills in different problem-solving activities. They are also encouraged to continue practising at home through Essential Assessment, where extra numeracy tasks are available for revision and skill building.
In Sounds-Write, we have been learning about the consonant blends th, sh and ch, practising hearing and using these sounds in words and sentences. There has also been lots of testing and spelling practice happening as we continue to build confidence in reading and writing.
The excitement is building as we rehearse our production dances! The students are doing an amazing job remembering their moves and performing with enthusiasm. They can’t wait to show you all their hard work on stage soon!
Please remember to keep up nightly reading at home — it makes a big difference to your child’s progress and confidence.
3/4 Classroom
The Year 3/4 class have been looking at Australia's neighbours. Codey wrote about Papua New Guinea and found some amazing face masks. Madi wrote about New Zealand where you can eat hokey pokey ice cream. Our class novel for this term is The Garden of Empress Cassia, written by Gabrielle Wang. Mimi is a Chinese Australian who is very good at art. In class, we have been looking at decimals and time in Maths. In Handwriting, we have been working on achieving our pen licenses.
5/6 Classroom
We are well into our book 'Around the world in 80 days' and our ability to predict possible plot twists, summarise chapters and scan text for information is improving. More importantly, we are really starting to take sides on whether this trip will take 80 days or not. In Math's, we have completed some end of year testing and I have been very pleased with students' results. But no rest for the intelligent, onwards and upwards into some algebra and problem solving! As part of Inquiry, we have begun to plan our own trip around the world, pricing a round-the-world ticket, reading the fine print and then choosing a theme for all our stops. Itineraries will be completed and then just six years before we can implement them ourselves!
Art
The Year 3-6 students have been busy making set props and costumes for our production that is approaching quickly. The Year 3/4 students have been building our forest trees, while the Year 5/6 students have been creating our knight armour. The F-2 class have been preparing some poppy inspired artworks in time for Remembrance Day.
We are collecting plastic soft drink bottles or the Farmhouse Gold style milk bottles for Remembrance Day poppies if you have any and you're happy to donate.
Wellbeing from Carine
Date / Friendship Nights
Research shows that carving out time for regular date nights is not just a luxury but a necessity for a thriving relationship and family life. These intentional moments of connection can benefit not only you and your partner but also your children in invaluable ways. While it may seem counterintuitive, prioritising your relationship as a parent has direct and lasting benefits for your children. Here’s how:
Modelling a healthy relationship
Children learn about relationships by observing the dynamics between their caregivers. When they see you and your partner prioritising time together, communicating effectively, and treating each other with respect, it sets a strong example. This can have lifelong implications, teaching them to value healthy, respectful relationships in their own lives.
Creating a happier home environment
A strong relationship between parents contributes to a more harmonious household. Children are quick to pick up on conflict or distance between their caregivers. By investing in your relationship through date nights, you create a positive ripple effect that fosters emotional security for your children.
Teaching them the importance of self-care
Including time for yourselves as a couple teaches your children an essential life skill - self-care. Striking a balance between family and personal relationships shows them that it’s okay to take time for themselves and their future partners.
Helping you be better parents
Parenting is demanding and burnout is real! Spending quality time as a couple recharges you both emotionally and mentally, allowing you to approach parenting challenges with more patience and energy. Happy parents are better equipped to create joyful experiences for their children.
Date nights don’t have to be regular or frequent, but it needs to be a consistent feature of your relationship. Diarise it and if you can do once a month, great! Be protective about it. Go, even when at the start you feel grumpy/rushed or it feels too hard – your kids won’t be with you forever, but most likely your partner will be. If you can, don’t speak about children, focus on joint interests, the things that drew you together in the first place. Have fun, laugh. Connect like friends. Vary what you do - expensive/cheap, movies, picnics, restaurants, fish and chips next to the lake, concerts, community events, walks, sunsets with wine and cheese.
All the above is also true of being a single parent – foster the relationships you have with your support network. You and your child/ren will reap the benefits.
Production
Rehearsals are revving up, and costumes and props are planned and beginning to take shape. All students in Years Foundation, One, Two, Three and Four will need to wear black long pants and black long sleeve top. This needs to be brought from home (closer to the date but please check to ensure you have them). We will then have costumes which these students can put on over the top making costume changes easy. The Year 5 & 6 students will have costumes lent to them for their main roles for the night. They will have time to change completely into this costume before the play begins.
Child safety - Bush Fire Preparation
What's coming up
- Monday, 3rd November - PUPIL FREE DAY - staff P.D.
- Tuesday, 4th November - Melbourne Cup Day - PUPIL FREE DAY
- Wednesday, 5th November - Feast Day (pet blessing/Mission Day)
- Thursday, 6th - Friday, 7th November - F-2 Naracoorte excursion and sleepover @ school
- Friday, 7th November - Talent Show @ 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, 11th November - Remembrance Day
- Thursday, 20th November - School Production @ Apsley
- Friday, 21st November - 2026 Foundation Transition until 11 a.m. recess
- Friday, 28th November - 2026 Foundation Transition until 1.30 p.m. lunch
- Thursday, 4th December - Year 3/4 Cultural Day
- Friday, 5th December - F-2 Lake Bike Ride, 3-4 Big Bike Bonanza Ride, 5-6 T.B.C.
- Tuesday, 9th December - Statewide Transition Day
- Friday, 12th December - Year 5 Leadership Speeches
- Tuesday, 16th December - End of Year Mass @ 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, 17th December - F-2 Sports @ Apsley
- Thursday, 18th December - Last day for students
St. Malachy's Mass times are:
1st Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
2nd Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
3rd Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
4th Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
5th Sunday: 11.15 a.m.
St. Malachy's welcomes everyone to join us.
Halloween Disco- 31st October
Pumpkins on the Run Book Launch & W.R.S.A.
A.F.L. Footy adventure
Foundation transition dates
