Newsletter - Friday, 5th September, 2025
- Prayer
- From the Principals
- 2026 Information/transition evening
- From the sports desk
- Umbrella holders
- Father's Day celebration
- Year 5/6 Passover meal
- From Carine - Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Child safety
- Horsham Grand Final school holiday program
- Monivae College 2027 enrolments
- Foster carers urgently needed
- What's coming up this Term?
Prayer
Dear God,
God took the strength of a mountain, the majesty of a tree, the warmth of a summer sun, the calm of a quiet sea, the generous soul of nature, the comforting arm of night, the wisdom of the ages, the power of the eagle’s flight, the joy of a morning in spring, the faith of a mustard seed, the patience of eternity, the depth of a family need,
then God combined these qualities, when there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, and so, He called it …
Dad.
Thank you for the dads in our lives.
Thank you for their unwavering guidance, even when it leads us to do something silly.
Grant them the patience of a saint, the strength of a superhero, and a lifetime supply of their favorite snacks.
May their socks always match, their Wi-Fi signal be strong, and their ability to find the TV remote be as legendary as their dad jokes.
Amen!
From the Principals
Dear Families,
This week we celebrated the Kowree Sports Day on Wednesday, where all of our students represented St. Malachy’s with great enthusiasm and school spirit. It was fantastic to see everyone giving their best effort and supporting one another. We were very proud to finish in second place overall! A big thank you to all members of the community who helped out on the day; we could not have done it without you. We congratulate and wish all the best to the following students in qualifying for the Little Desert Athletics: Lucy Dillon, Archer Ferguson, Markus Flynn, Sarah Holland, Lucius King, Thomas Lee, Rhianna McClure, Maggie Oliver, Felix White, Milly Whitehead and Roy Williams.
We had a great time celebrating Father's Day today with all of the special men in our lives and served them some egg and bacon rolls for smoko.
It is with a heavy heart that at the end of this school year, we will be saying farewell to our Year 1/2 teacher, Cassie Stringer. Cassie and her family will be relocating to Ballarat to begin an exciting new chapter in their lives. While we are sad to see her family leave St. Malachy’s, we are truly grateful for the care, dedication and energy Cassie has brought to our school community. This move is a wonderful opportunity for Cassie and her family and we wish them every happiness and success in the future.
There'll be no newsletter next week as Barb's offline so we will have a bumper edition for the last week of term.
- Gorgia + Sherryn
2026 Information/transition evening
From the sports desk
Kowree Athletics Sports
Hockey Equipment Thanks
St. Malachy’s is extremely grateful for West Wimmera Hockey Club's generosity and kindness shown in the act of giving us 16 sets of hockey sticks, shin pads and balls. The students at St. Malachy’s will be sure to care and look after this equipment with respect and safety. We cannot thank you enough for this generous donation.
- Lizzie & Finlay
Umbrella holders
A few rainy mornings and we are grateful to our umbrella holders who have walked us from the bus to school and kept us dry!
Father's Day celebration
To celebrate Father's Day, we invited all of the dads to school for the morning of activities and smoko. The dads followed their child/ren around the school to do some drawing, paper aeroplane building, sports and cream tossing. They were then treated by the 5/6 class with some bacon and egg rolls and slices for smoko.
Year 5/6 Passover meal
This week, students in Year 5 & 6 planned a prepared a passover meal. This consisted of the traditional seder plate- where the food symbolised the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt to freedom. We then shared a meal and participated in activities prepared by students to learn about Passover.
From Carine - Mental Health & Wellbeing
Celebrating Father’s Day
Over the centuries, the role of fathers has evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were more detached, spending long hours working in factories, whilst mothers took on the role of primary socialiser and educator of children. Men tended to show their love and devotion from a distance, choosing to leave the child rearing to their wives.
Today things have changed dramatically with many dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on. Research has shown that the amount of time fathers are now spending teaching, helping and playing with their children, has trebled. This has transformed our understanding of how fathers shape their children’s lives from the start, challenging conventional ideas of parenthood and gender.
Fathers who involve themselves in physical activity with their children, play a key role in influencing them to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks.
However, to be a great dad, you need to also indulge in self-care and look after your own mental health. This allows you to be more responsive to your child’s needs, and engage more readily in play and learning activities.
If you are a dad and struggling a little bit, it is advisable to seek help from a medical professional. Or, if you just want to talk to someone who understands, you can call one of the following organisations.
MensLine on 1300 78 99 78 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36.
Have a look at this interesting video by Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg, it’s only 09:09 minutes in duration:
https://smedenhope.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/celebrating-fathers-day
Child safety
As Spring and Summer are now approaching, so does the hayfever and the dangers of thunderstorm asthma. There's a great article link below for you to read.
Horsham Grand Final school holiday program
Kick Off the Fun These Holidays! Get ready for an action-packed A.F.L. School Holiday Program at Horsham City Oval! Whether your child is just starting out or looking to refine their footy skills, this program is perfect for kids aged 5-12.
5-7 Year Olds – Enjoy a fun and safe introduction to A.F.L. with experienced coaches, mini-games, and skill-building activities in a supportive environment. Registration: https://www.playhq.com/afl/
8-12 Year Olds – Experience N.A.B. A.F.L. Superkick, where skill development, modified gameplay and teamwork come together for an exciting day of footy, friends and fun! Registration: https://www.playhq.com/afl/
Date: Wednesday, September 24th
Location: Horsham City Oval
Time: 9 A.M. - 3 P.M.
Cost: $55 (includes a football!)
Don’t miss out on this fantastic holiday experience - register now and get ready to play!
Monivae College 2027 enrolments
Foster carers urgently needed
What's coming up this Term?
- Wednesday, 10th September - Little Desert Athletics @ Stawell (Years 3-6 qualifying students only)
- Thursday, 18th September - Last day of term for students
- Friday, 19th September - Staff P.D. Structured Literacy - PUPIL FREE DAY
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.