Dear Families and School Community,

Wow, two weeks down in Term 4 and It has been a wonderful start to the final term of the school year. The energy, enthusiasm, and focus across all our classrooms have set a fantastic tone for the exciting weeks ahead.

A massive thank you to all the wonderful students and families who came out to support and celebrate at our Happiness Disco last Friday evening! It was an incredible night filled with glowing smiles, great music, and fantastic dance moves from all ages. Seeing our school community come together to celebrate joy, friendship, and connection was a highlight and huge reminder of how much our community looks forward to this annual event to kick start Term 4. Our 2027 Happiness Disco has already been booked in! We are so grateful to 180+ families who purchased a ticket. All raised funds $3000 will be directly used by the school for our students, such as extending our bike rack area. you have any suggestions please send me an email.

As our school community continues to grow, we are shifting our process for class placements. To ensure balanced, supportive classrooms for every student, we will no longer be able to accept parent requests regarding specific teacher’s, friendship pairings or separations moving forward. Our priority is to ensure the best possible outcomes for all students across the school. 

This week, our School Advisory Council met to discuss our proposed school fees for 2027. Attached to this newsletter (below), you will find an important letter alongside a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document outlining these changes in line with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) budget procedures. Extensive work was undertaken to ensure we were in a position to keep our school fees increase to a minimal 2%.

Please note that moving forward, our fee structure will transition to a tiered family fee in accordance with MACS guidelines. Additionally, we are currently reviewing our camp program model for 2027 and beyond. These updates are designed to streamline our operational processes, ensure long-term financial sustainability, and ultimately deliver the best possible educational outcomes for all students across the school.

School Fee Letter

School Fee FAQ

Please also find links to some very exciting Sports & Art News

Sports News

Art News

Next week, our school will come alive with creativity, imagination and a little bit of magic as we open the doors to our Enchanted Forest Art Show!

As the Art Teacher, I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible work our students have created over the past two terms. Every student has put so much time, effort and imagination into their artworks, exploring new techniques, experimenting with different materials and bringing their own ideas to life. From whimsical fairy gardens and woodland creatures to glowing lanterns and magical forest scenes, our arts show is filled with the creativity, personality and talent of our amazing young artists.

The students are so excited to share their creations with our school community, and I can’t wait for families to see just how much they have achieved. There is something truly special about seeing children stand beside their artwork, knowing how much thought, care and effort has gone into creating it.

A huge and heartfelt thank you also goes to the wonderful teachers who have volunteered their time to help bring our Enchanted Forest to life. The displays look absolutely amazing, and the time, care and enthusiasm they have given to transforming our spaces into an enchanted gallery has been so appreciated. It really has been a team effort, and I am so grateful for everyone's help in making this special event possible.

Our Enchanted Forest Art Show will be held on Thursday, 22 October, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The event is completely free, and everyone is welcome! We would love to see our families, friends and wider community come along to celebrate the wonderful achievements of our students.

When you arrive, begin your enchanted adventure through the main gate and Prep building, then follow the signs as you wander through our magical gallery and discover the incredible artworks along the way.

You can also visit Art Club Gift Shop, featuring beautiful handmade creations made by our talented Art Club students. All proceeds will be donated to The Outpost, helping support people in our local community who are experiencing hardship. It is a lovely way for our students to share their creativity while giving back to others.

I feel incredibly lucky to teach such creative and enthusiastic young artists, and I am so excited to share their hard work with you all. 

So, bring your family, invite your friends and come along for a magical evening of art, imagination and community. We can't wait to welcome you into our Enchanted Forest! 

It has been a busy and exciting time for sport at St Catherine, with students representing our school at a range of competitions!

National Cross Country Championships

Last term, Arnie travelled to Sydney to compete in the National Cross Country Championships, representing not only St Catherine but the whole state of Victoria! Arnie put in an outstanding performance, finishing 18th in the individual 2km race before helping his Victorian team secure an impressive 3rd place in the relay. This is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of Arnie for his efforts on the national stage!

Divisional Cricket

Last week, our cricket team competed at the Divisional Cricket Competition, putting together a fantastic series of performances. The boys won all but one of their games and came agonisingly close to qualifying for the grand final, narrowly missing out by just a few runs. The team showed great determination, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the competition. Well done to all the boys on a terrific effort!

Regional Athletics

We wish Arnie, Kai and Matisse all the very best as they represent St Catherine at the Regional Athletics Championships next Tuesday! They have been training hard in preparation for the event, and we look forward to seeing them put their skills and hard work into action. Good luck, athletes!

Congratulations to all our students who continue to represent St Catherine with pride, commitment and great sportsmanship!

What is Mission Month?

Mission Month is celebrated throughout the Catholic Church during October. It is a time for prayer, reflection and generosity as we support mission work and communities around the world.

In 2026, we celebrate 100 years of World Mission Sunday. This year’s theme, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, is ‘One in Christ, united in mission’. It reminds us that, although we are from different cultures and communities, we are united in Christ and called to share hope, compassion and the Good News.

We look forward to joining Catholic Mission communities across Australia as we recognise World Mission Sunday on Sunday 18 October, 2026.

Please find below link to the Dates for your Diary - Updated for Term 4 Week 2

These are subject to change and will be updated with new events regularly. Please ensure you check SIMON /PAM and the What's on Weekly.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY