Dear Families,

Thank you for a great term of learning and living together. Over the last few weeks, we have had so much to celebrate as a community, with Father’s Day breakfast, the Book Parade, Book Fair, Art show, Prayers in Pyjamas, Eucharist Family Formation night, Confirmation family formation night just to name a few. Each of these events compliment the academic learning children experience at school, providing opportunities to connect, feel a sense of belonging and contribute to positive wellbeing, enabling the full flourishing of our students as people of Christ. Thank you as always for your contribution to these events and the life of your child at our school. A big thank you to all staff for the work they do to enable these opportunities. And a huge thank you to Parents in Partnership who have done extraordinary work in supporting us to run these events, we really could not do them without you.

Next term will begin with our official launch with the students of our Student Voice and agency learning. We will have many exciting learning activities in the first week and we will also hold a special whole school assembly on the Friday of the first week at 2:45pm in the hall, families are very welcome to come and join in the assembly with us.

Also 250 families received a survey through Compass from Orima. This is a MACSIS survey which helps us to work out what we are doing well and what we can improve on. We ask you, if you have received one of these surveys could you please complete it by Sunday 22 September. Your feedback is important to us and this is one of the ways you can use your voice in our school.

Lastly, the Annual General Meeting of our School Advisory Council takes place on Tuesday 22 October at 7pm in the Discovery Centre. This meeting is open to all families who are interested in attending. We hope to see you there. If you are thinking of putting in an expression of interest to be part of our School Advisory Council we strongly encourage you to attend.

I hope you all have a very relaxing holiday and I look forward to seeing you at the start of next term.

In partnership,

Trish Mulhern

Families as it is the church's season of creation, I am sharing Pope Francis's Prayer for the Earth and inviting you to not only pray for our Earth but consciously care for our Earth and it's inhabitants.

Please add the following dates to your family calendar:

TERM 4

P-3 Swimming on Fridays

OCTOBER

Monday 7th October - First Day of Term 4 for students

Tuesday 8th October - Confirmation Sponsor and Candidate Formation Night (G6) 6.30-7.30pm

Thursday 10th October - Prep 2025 Information Night 7.00-8.00pm

Monday 14th October - Grade 1 Excursion Animal Land

Wednesday 16th October - Grade 3 Afternoon Tea, Dinner and Movie

Saturday 19th October - Grade 6 Confirmation (1.00pm, 3.30pm)

Tuesday 22nd October School Advisory Council AGM 7pm

Friday 25th October - Day for Daniel

Tuesday 29 October - Prep JO Class Liturgy 9.00am

Wednesday 30th October Prep G Class Liturgy 2010pm

Thursday 31st October -  Prep C Class Liturgy 9.00am

Thursday 31st October - Prep-Grade 2 Wellbeing Family Learning Night 6.30pm

NOVEMBER

Friday 1st November - All Saints Day Mass (families welcome) 9.00-10.00am

Friday 8th November - Whole School Assembly 2:50PM

Friday 29th November - Advent Liturgy (families welcome) 9.00-10.00am

DECEMBER

Thursday 5th December - 2025 Planning Day - School Closed

Friday 6th December - Advent Liturgy (families welcome) 9.00-10.00am

Tuesday 10th December - Orientation Day 9.30-10.30am

Thursday 12th December - Jingle Mingle 6.30-8.30pm

Friday 13th December - End of Year Mass (families welcome) 9.00-10.00am

Monday 16th December - Graduation Mass 6.30-8.00pm

Tuesday 17th December - Last day of Term 4 for students- 1.00pm finish

Please note, there may be changes to some of these dates, so please frequently check the important dates of each newsletter as well as the family calendar that you can locate on Compass as well as our webite www.stlawrence.com.au

Families are reminded not to use the Goodstart Early Learning Centre carpark or block their driveway when picking up or dropping off their children at St Lawrence.  It is important that families with small children and babies are able to park safely while using the centre. 

We remind St Lawrence families that as well as the parking out the front of the school, there is parking available on Windsor Blvd and that the oval gate is open from 8.30am - 8.45am and 3.10pm - 3.30pm to allow access from this area.  There is also a 5 minute no parking zone out the front of the school where families can stop briefly (without moving away from their vehicle) to drop off or pick up children.

The staff carpark is unavailable to parents during pickup and drop off times as the pedestrian crossing is in operation.

Please help keep all our children, families and neighbours safe by planning ahead and parking responsibly. 

At St Lawrence Primary School, we value the opinions and input of our families.  If you have received an invitation to participate in the MACSSIS school improvement survey during Term 3, we would really appreciate your input. The survey is online and should take less than 20 minutes to complete. Your responses will provide us with valuable information for planning and develoment of the school into the future. The survey closes on Sunday 22nd September.

The collection of resources, which includes fact sheets, videos, animations and podcasts, offers accessible and practical information about what children’s mental health is, what shapes it, how to support it and what to look out for if a child might need some extra support. Click here or visit our wellbeing website http://wellbeingstl.weebly.com

On Saturday 14th September our Grade 4 students made their First Eucharist at our Parish church St Peter Chanel, Deer Park. The weather was a little bleak but our students shone brightly, participating in a very reverant and prayerful manner. Needless to say they also looked lovely! We had two masses presided over by Father John Pham CMF (our school priest). We are grateful to the families for their support of our students by having the children ready and punctual but, most of all, for taking the time to attend our family formation sessions and for actively participating in these sessions. This is one of the key ways you can be involved in preparing your child for their sacraments, so thank you very much for partnering with us in this endeavour.

Sacrament photos are now available - see details below:

Families, we currently have places available for Prep 2025 due to smaller than usual sibling numbers. Please feel free to let friends and family know that.

On Wednesday, August 11th, the St. Lawrence Athletics Team competed with outstanding energy and skill at Keilor Park. Our athletes delivered a series of remarkable performances across a range of events, showcasing both their talent and determination.

Jordan put in a strong effort in the 800m, finishing 3rd, while Aria also excelled in the same event, securing 2nd place. Destinee rounded out a solid performance in the 800m with another 3rd place finish.

Tue demonstrated versatility by clinching 2nd place in both the Long Jump and the 200m, while Miraco soared to victory in the Long Jump, earning 1st place. Emily also impressed by taking 1st place in the Long Jump, continuing the team's successful streak.

In field events, Alekzander achieved 3rd place in Discus, and Emika leaped to 3rd in the Triple Jump. Bastian shone with a 1st place finish in High Jump and a commendable 2nd place in Long Jump. Ruby also achieved top results, securing 1st in Triple Jump.

Our High Jumpers had a strong showing with Hannah and Eva each securing 1st place, while Alex matched that achievement in both High Jump and Long Jump. Eva also placed 3rd in Long Jump.

The relay teams demonstrated great teamwork and spirit. The boys’ relay team, consisting of Jaylen, Long, Nathan B, and Jeremy, finished 2nd. The girls’ relay team, made up of Ella, Georgina, Blythe, and Alex, also finished 2nd, showing excellent coordination and endurance.

Individual performances included Georgia A achieving 2nd in the 800m and Amber securing 2nd in the 200m. In Long Jump, Hannah joined Emily and Miraco in a great showing by finishing 2nd.

The girls’ relay team featuring Alisa, Izzy Z, Eva, and Tenleigh finished 2nd, demonstrating teamwork and determination.

Congratulations to all our athletes for their impressive achievements and sportsmanship. Your hard work and dedication were evident in every event. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you!

Artistic flair was on display at the St Lawrence Art Show on Wednesday 14th August.  Art works from all year levels came together to create a dazzling exhibition which stretched throughout the school.  Families were treated to a night to remember, with a performance by the choir and student dance group and a BBQ sausage to top it all off!

The grade 1 cohort visited Sealife Melbourne Aquarium on Monday the 12th of August. We participated in a guided tour and learned about many marine animals and how to care for their habitat. We had a blast visiting different marine animals such as crocodiles, penguins, turtles and different species of fish. 

The grade 2 students visited Sovereign Hill in Ballarat on Tuesday the 13th of August. We watched gold pouring and confectionary making, and we even got to try some of the lollies! The students loved panning for gold. They learned the difference in life from the 1800s to now. 

During August, some of our Grade 3 and Grade 5 students visited other schools to compete in maths competitions.

The students participated in team problem solving events, individual strategy games, mental maths competitive games and a fun maths relay.

They competed against other schools from all across Melbourne and represented St. Lawrence wonderfully well!

Thank you for representing St. Lawrence and congratulations to our Grade 3s Jennavieve, Isabella, Jacob, Jordan, Anton, Elijah, Mason and Koby and our Grade 5s Sebastian, Lucas, Aanya, Maria, Damon, Tue, Nethwin and Samuel. You were amazing!

Once again, our courtyard was a riot of colours as we launched Book Week with our annual Book Week dress up parade. There was an amazing array of costumes modelled by students and staff in front of the many families that came along to enjoy the parade. We were fortunate to have a beautiful sunny morning for this very special event, which culminated in a constumed dance party. All week the children will take part in special Book Week activities during the reading hour. They will also be able to attend a special book reading before school each morning in the Discovery Centre where different staff members will be reading their favourite books. What a great way to celebrate books and reading!

It was a night of dancing, laughing and glowing at the Crazy Hair Disco on Friday 9th August.  Children from all year levels let their crazy hair down, thanks to the Parents in Partnership who arranged the event.

If you would like to be involved in future events, please email comms@slwderrimut.catholic.edu.au to join.

We welcomed lots of special people to share breakfast and converstion on Friday 30th August.  Thankyou to all the fathers, uncles, grandfathers, friends and others who were able to join us on this special occassion.

The School Advisory Council met twice this term, on the 30 July and the 3rd of September, here is the report from our meeting on the 3 September.

The School Advisory Council met on Tuesday 3 rd September 2024. All members attended onsite in the staff room. Past community events were discussed regarding the amazing crazy hair disco, the outstanding art show and the successful father’s day breakfast. We would like to thank and acknowledge the amazing efforts put into these events with the help of our St Lawrence Parents in Partnership group, the school staff and other volunteers.

This term in our learning about student voice we have been exploring how to use our voices approriately. To share our thoughts and ideas with respect and curiosity. We have also been learning about how we must take responsibilty to act on the suggestions that are made in order to make changes. We have also been exploring the ways we can demonstrate that one another's voice is important, for example by listening to one another and being open to what others' have to say. We are very excited to announce that we offically launch our student voice and agency with the studnets on the first day of term 4.

The School Advisory Council also spoke about supports for families and students impacted following the tragic events at Balmoral park. We have prayed for the family of the young man as well as the community. We invite you to keep them in your thought and prayers too.

The school advisory council were advised of a school fee increase next year as advised by MACS and this will be communicated to our families early next term. Also n
250 families have received a MACSIS Survey – it takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, we ask if you did receive this survey to please complete it by Sunday 22 September.

We will be holding our Annual General Meeting in the Discovery Centre on 22 October at 7pm. We would like to extend an invitation to those who may be interested in joining our School Advisory Council to attend.

Report by Chantelle Yates