Dear Families,

As we come to the close of Term 3, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many wonderful experiences we have shared as a community over the past nine weeks weeks.

Last week Mrs Dear, Mrs Graham and four students; Marian, Michael, Evan and Chloe, were selected to be the first FIRE Carriers of St Lawrence Primary School. A FIRE Carrier is a student or staff member within a Victorian Catholic school who participates in the FIRE Carrier Program, an initiative that stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. FIRE Carriers are leaders committed to promoting reconciliation, fostering respect and understanding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, and histories, and keeping the "flame of reconciliation" alive within their schools and communities. We look forward to hearing more from our Fire Carriers as they help educate us and promote reconciliation.

This term has been filled with joy, learning, and togetherness. A highlight was our Shrek Junior musical, where our students shone brightly on stage, sharing their talents with confidence, energy, and enthusiasm. It was a true celebration of creativity, teamwork, and courage – and one we will remember for years to come. I am extremely grateful to Thomas Carr College who so generously allowed us to use their auditorium for the two nights. They do not usually let other schools use their auditorium and we are very thankful that they chose to support us, as a fellow Catholic school in our predicament due to Quin Auditorium's unfortunate circumstances. 

Our community spirit has also been alive and well in so many other ways. We gathered for a heartwarming Father’s Day breakfast, where students and families came together to celebrate the special men in their lives. The Neon Disco, organised in partnership with our dedicated parent group, lit up the hall and Innovation centre with music, colour and laughter – such a fantastic way for our children to have fun together. Thank you  to the Parents in Partnership group who rolled up their sleeves for the Bunnings sausage sizzle, helping raise funds to support our school to offer special events like Mother's Day and Father's Day breakfast, free of charge, as well as subsidising buses and taxis for some of the sport competitions.

Bookweek which is always a calendar highlight began with an amazing array of costumes at our annual parade. We were especially impressed with our grade 6 students for getting into the spirit of the parade by dressing up and being great role models for our younger students.

Spiritually, our class liturgies have given us the gift of pausing together in prayer and reflection, grounding us in faith and community. These moments remind us of the heart of who we are as a Catholic school – walking together with Christ at the centre.

I am so grateful for the hard work of our staff, the commitment of our families, and the energy and joy of our students. Together, we have made this term a rich and rewarding one.

I wish you all a restful and safe holiday break. We look forward to welcoming you back for Term 4, ready for the final chapter of another wonderful school year.

God bless,

Trish Mulhern