Carmel's News
Celebrating the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
This week, we celebrate a very special day in the Church’s calendar, The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi. This feast reminds us of the great gift Jesus gave us at the Last Supper, the Eucharist.
At the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with His disciples and said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood.” He asked them to continue this meal in memory of Him. Every time we go to Mass and receive Holy Communion, we are sharing in that same sacred meal. It’s a beautiful way of being close to Jesus and remembering how much He loves us.
This Sunday’s Gospel, the story of the Loaves and Fishes, helps us understand this even more. In the story, a large crowd had gathered to listen to Jesus, and they were hungry. A young boy offered five loaves and two fish, and Jesus used this small gift to feed thousands of people. Everyone had enough, and there were even leftovers!
This miracle shows us that Jesus can take something small and make it more than enough. It also reminds us that Jesus feeds us spiritually through the Eucharist – giving us the strength, love and grace we need to live as His followers.
This feast is especially meaningful for our Year 4 students, who are preparing to receive Holy Communion for the first time in Term 3. Just like the crowd in the Gospel, they will be nourished by Jesus in a very special way. We are proud of their journey so far and keep them in our prayers as they continue to learn about this wonderful sacrament
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the gift of the Eucharist.
Thank You for feeding us with Your love and helping us grow closer to You.
Please bless our Year 4 students as they begin preparing for their First Holy Communion.
Help them to always know how much You love them.
May we all come to Your table with open hearts, ready to be filled with Your peace.
Amen.
Year 4 First Eucharist- Important Dates
Family Sacrament Workshop- 6:00pm Wednesday, 23rd July (Learning Hub)
Presentation to the Parish Community- 10:30am Sunday, 3rd August (Church)
Student Reflection Day- 9:00am-3:20pm Wednesday, 6th August (Learning Hub)
Celebration of the Sacrament- 10:30am Sunday, 24th August (Church)
Detailed information will be sent home to eligible Year 4 families today. Please read the information and return the ‘Eucharist Enrolment Form’ to school by Friday, 4th July.
Year 6 Confirmation - St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne
2.30pm Sunday, 27th July
The Year 6 students are continuing to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation early in Term 3. This year, our students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with the students from St Peter’s, East Bentleigh and St Paul’s, Bentleigh.
Monday, 23rd June- Readers’ practice at the Cathedral with students from St Peter’s and St Paul’s. Duke and Leona will represent the St Catherine’s candidates.
Thursday 24th July- Year 6 Confirmation Reflection Day & Meet Bishop Tony Ireland (St Peter’s School)
Sunday 27th July- 2.00pm Year 6 Confirmation (St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne)
Parent/Teacher/Student Meetings
Semester 1 student reports will go home on Friday, 27th June.
Term 2 Parent/Teacher/Student Meetings will take place in your child’s classroom.
Please do not book back-to-back sessions for siblings. Leave at least 15 minutes between bookings.
Students are required to attend to share their learning and achievements.
Parent/Teacher/Student Meetings will take place on:
Monday, 30th June
Tuesday, 31st June.
Please click on the link to make a booking.
Bookings are now open.
St Catherine’s School Improvement Plan 2025-2028
With support from the MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) School Improvement Team, we have set our goals for the SIP 2025-2028. We have used data and recommendations from the 2024 School Review Process to formulate the Goals.
Goal 1: Learning & Teaching
To pursue excellence and equity in explicit instruction by:
- Implementing the MACS Flourishing Learners position statement, Vision for Instruction to embed knowledge-rich evidence by embedding the L&T SIF rubric-based teaching practice, where consistent pedagogy and explicit teaching enable all students to achieve proficiency in numeracy in literacy;
- Deepening teachers’ knowledge of the cognitive sciences, embedding the L&T rubric to continue to improve teacher practice.
Goal 2: Instructional Leadership
To enable instructional leadership that enhances teaching, learning and continuous improvement by:
- Ensuring professional learning and collaboration within and beyond the school encourages reflective practice to ensure a positive impact on student learning and wellbeing;
- Determining and enacting strategic priorities and actions for leadership growth.
Goal 3: Enabling Learners
To develop student agency in learning and wellbeing by:
- Identifying and implementing the high impact wellbeing and teaching strategies embedding the Vision for Engagement that promotes students’ readiness to learn, optimise cognitive load and develop resilience;
- Ensuring formative assessment fosters students’ self-efficacy by monitoring learning progress and being responsive to students’ learning needs.
Goal 4: Faith-Filled Community
To promote collaboration and inclusion as a faith-filled community by:
- Developing teachers’ capacity to engage students in interpreting their lives and the world, in dialogue and encounters with others and the Catholic tradition, identifying the interconnections between faith, culture and life;
- Promoting flourishing partnerships between parish and school, school and home, focusing on formation, learning and wellbeing outcomes.
Year 5/6 Learning Assembly
Congratulations to the Year 5/6 students and staff for a fantastic Learning Assembly last Thursday. They showcased their learning across all areas of the curriculum. Congratulations to Andrea Harvey, Joyce Dunne, Caherine Dudley and Paula Hamilton for all the work they did to prepare the students to showcase their learning. They all spoke articulately, confidently and were proud to share their learning.
MACSEYE- Onsite School Holiday Program
I’m pleased to announce that MACSEYE will be running a School Holiday Program onsite at St Catherine’s during the July School Holidays. Please see the PDF for more information and booking details.
See MACSEye News section for more information
Term 3 Afterschool Chess Club- ‘Chess Fanatics’
I have engaged an outside provider to run an after school Chess Club on Tuesday afternoon during term 3. The Chess Club will run from Week 2 until Week 8 (7 sessions). The Chess Master, Felix Chandler has offered a great introductory price of $90 for the term. Classes will run in the Learning Hub from 3.30-4.30pm. Beginners and experienced players are welcome. Please see the PDF for more information. Payments are to be made directly to Felix. I will supervise the students before the class begins (send an extra snack to school). MACSEYE will collect any students for After School Care if required after the class.
ADVANCE NOTICE
Remaining 2025 School Closure days
Term 3
Week 9 Friday 19th September
Term 4
Week 5 Monday 3rd November (Day before Melbourne Cup Day)
Week 7 Friday 21st November
Last day of school for 2025
Week 11 - Yr 6 Monday 15th December @ 3:20 p.m.
Week 11 - Foundation - Year 5 & Staff 16th December @ 3:20 p.m.
Term 2 Dates
Week 10
Monday 23rd June - Walking club @ 8:40am
Monday 23rd June - School choir @ 1:45pm
Tuesday 24th June - Playgroup 9-11am
Tuesday 24th June - Chess club @ 1:45pm
Thursday 26th June - Playgroup 9-11am
Friday 27th June- Semester 1 Reports sent home
Week 11
Monday 30th June - Walking club @ 8:40am
Monday 30th June - School choir @ 1:45pm
Monday 30th June - Parent / Student / Teacher meeting
Tuesday 1st July - Playgroup 9-11am
Tuesday 1st July - Chess club @ 1:45pm
Tuesday 1st July - Parent / Student / Teacher meeting
Thursday 3rd July - Playgroup 9-11am
Friday 4th July- Last day of Term 2 @ 3:20pm (Term 3 begins Monday 21st July)