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- Principal News
- Deputy Principal
- Class separation requests - extended until the end of October!
- Term 4 - Overviews
- Specialist - Term 4
- Important Dates - This can be found in your Simon App under Calendar
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- SPORT News
- Year 3 Mass - Term 3
- Crazy Hat and Sunnies Day last Term
- Student Celebrations
- 2026 Enrolments!
- Lost Property
- Lunch time Club
- Library timetable
- Uniform
- Camp Australia
Welcome back for Term 4.
Although a longer term than Term 3 it is a very busy term.
As has been communicated, Our Deputy Principal , Mr Rian Prestwich will be leaving us at the end of the year to take up the Principal position at St Brigid’s in Officer. Although he will be dearly missed, this was a fantastic opportunity and he will do a terrific job. The connection between St Brigid’s and St Catherine’s has just become even stronger and St Brigid’s are extremely lucky to have him.
We are currently going through the Process of appointing a new Deputy. As soon as I have information regarding this, I will let the community know.
We had the first of our wellbeing afternoons last week. Our school focus was gratitude. We thank all those parents who came to join us for this.
These will be continuing with a different focus each time.
All information is sent out via PAM/SIMON everywhere.
Last Monday was a closure day and the whole staff worked on the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 for Inquiry areas other than Maths and English. Teachers worked on developing scopes and sequences of work across each level and collaborated across the school to ensure progressions of learning were comprehensive.
Swimming is commencing for Grade 6 this term and as always these are very busy weeks.
Grade 4 also go to Pollywoodside for an excursion this week, we hope they are blessed with good weather.
We also have students competing at the Southern Metropolitan Athletics Carnival next Wednesday. We wish them well.
Once again illness is hitting St Catherine’s hard. Hayfever is an issue at this time of year. We ask if your child suffers with this to make sure they take the appropriate medication before school. If needed during the day notify the office and a medication form can be sent home to fill in and return to the office with the labelled box of medication.
We have students presenting with many symptoms, and ask that if your child is unwell or has any symptoms, that they be kept home to assist with reducing the risk of infection to other students and staff.
Our Term 3 Glowtastic Fundraiser made $7190
Thanks to the top 5 who raised the most amount.
Antonio 2M8
Joaquin 4S4
Chi Chi 4S4
Riley PM4
Renata 1M12
Our next fundraiser will be our Christmas Raffle! More details to come!
Warm regards
Anna
Address Changes
Please email info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au if you have recently changed your address.
School Fees 2025
The final school fee statement for 2025 was emailed to families today.
Please check your emails and contact the office as soon as possible if you have not received your copy.
Annual accounts should be settled prior to Friday 14 November 2025, unless a direct debit/payment plan is in place.
If you wish to commence a direct debit, implement a plan and/or wish to have a confidential discussion regarding your account please contact Margaret Lonergan via email - accounts@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.
School Fees 2026
Information regarding fees for 2026 will be sent to families via SIMON in the coming week.
Deputy Principal
Welcome back to Term 4. It’s been a pleasure seeing the students coming in with a big smile while I’m on the front gate duty. We do have a busy term - including organising teachers for 2026. Important information will be coming out to students regarding choosing their 5 Learning Buddies, which will be spoken about by Victoria Donlan and Rebecca Cox. The Executive Team are none-the-less hard at work preparing for next year.
Holiday Works
We did have some trees cut down in ‘The Vines’ over the holidays, which is the garden area near the Administration area. We are required to continue trimming trees around buildings to comply with Fire Safety. These works will continue during the term, but we are almost done with this endeavour.
Religious Education
Level Masses
Today (Wednesday 15 October) we held our Year 2 Level Mass in the Chapel. On Friday 31 October, our Year 1s will have their Level Mass. Finally, Friday 14 November our Preps will have Level Mass. All are at 9:30am in the Chapel and the entire community are invited to each and every Mass. We would love to see you there.
Our Year 6s will not have a Level Mass this term; they will still have their Family prayer afternoon on Friday. Later in November they will be joining St Brigids and St Michaels for a Parish Level Mass. A permission form will go out to Year 6 families early next month. Unfortunately, due to the size of the group, parents won’t be able to attend this Mass as we fill up the St Michael’s Parish Church.
Family Prayer Afternoons
Thank you to the families who responded to the survey sent out in last term’s newsletter asking for feedback on this initiative. A flier was sent out, and is attached to this newsletter, with the dates and times for our Family Prayer Afternoons. Students will have a greater focus and participation this term. We look forward to people attending. As with Level Masses, anyone is welcome to a prayer afternoon regardless if your child is in the level or not.
First Holy Communion
It has been excellent seeing our students completing their First Holy Communion over the past two weekends. We have 41 students completing this Sacrament this year. Thank you to the staff who are volunteering their time to support our students, and to the Parish for their consistent effort in the Sacramental Program. I am asking any families who have taken photos, and would like them shared in the newsletter, to please send the images to deputy@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.
We have extended the time frame for parent requests 2026 due to the recent holidays.
It will be open until the end of this Month.
A large amount of information and considerations goes into setting up classes, including parent requests. Please note the following carefully:
-Parents may submit a separation request.
-We do not consider pairing requests as this is managed by the learning buddies process outlined below.
-Separation requests must be submitted every year.
-If you submitted one last year, they do not roll over.
-All requests are considered a one off.
-Separation requests must come via the office to info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.
-Requests submitted verbally, via individual teachers or staff may not be included, please submit your request via this email. Please clearly state your child and the person you would like your child separated from (full name).
-Separations may be for personal reasons or because of a pre existing relationship such as family friendship, family members, etc.
-Parents of twins are also asked to advise the school their preference for their children being placed together or separately.
-The deadline for requests is the end of Term 3.
We do our best to cater for parent requests but cannot guarantee as there are many factors which must be taken into consideration.
Later in the year, students will nominate 5 Learning Buddies that they learn well with and would like to have in their class. We ensure they are placed with at least one of these.
VICTORIA DONLAN
Curriculum/ICT Leader and Learning Adjustment Leader
St Catherine's School, Berwick
73 Ridgemont Drive Berwick VIC 3806
P O Box 557 Berwick VIC 3806
Phone: 03 9702 1466
Hello Everyone,
Welcome Back to Term 4
Each new term brings a range of feelings and emotions as students return to school after a well-deserved break. Classroom teachers understand the challenges students may face as they readjust to the routines and expectations of school life. They support students by creating organised, well-structured classroom environments and by clearly communicating expectations both in and out of the classroom.
Term 4 is always a busy time as we approach the end of the school year. Many students will begin thinking about the year ahead — wondering what their new classroom will look like, who their teacher might be, and which friends they’ll have in their class. These upcoming changes can bring feelings of uncertainty or worry for some students, and teachers will continue to provide support and reassurance during this time.
In recognition of World Mental Health Day last week, we held our first Wellbeing Afternoon on the theme of Gratitude. A big thank you to all teachers for facilitating the afternoon session and to the families who were able to come along and take part. If you have any feedback or suggestions for future Wellbeing Afternoons, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via email.
Wishing everyone a positive and productive start to Term 4.
Warm Regards,
Jasmine Bentley
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader
Email: jasmine.bentley@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au
Division Athletics
On Wednesday 8 October 15 students represented St Catherine’s at the Casey South Divisional Athletics at Casey Athletics track. The cloudy and windy conditions soon turned into sunshine as the students competed in various track and field events. All the students made the St Catherine’s community really proud competing with great resilience. Congratulations to Emilia.J, Jacob.O and Kepler.P in Year 6 and Kashmere.K in Year 5 for qualifying for Regionals in two weeks time, what an amazing achievement!
Thank you to the parents that came and supported their child on this day. A big shout out to Ms Ebbage for accompanying the students on the day.
Results:
|
Event |
Student |
Position |
|
1500m |
Maddi Chalk |
9th |
|
Munesu Chitsatso |
9th |
|
|
Emilia Johnstone |
1st |
|
|
800m |
Emilia Johnstone |
1st |
|
Aurora Pelikan |
8th |
|
|
200m |
Chloe Smyth |
4th |
|
Jacob Orisijinmi |
1st |
|
|
100m |
Jacob Orisijinmi |
1st |
|
80m hurdles |
Kepler Pereira |
2nd |
|
Syierra Theoung-Hatzaras |
3rd |
|
|
Discus |
Kashmere Khera |
2nd |
|
Wenyasha Chitsatso |
7th |
|
|
Shot Put |
Wenyasha Chitsatso |
4th |
|
Long Jump |
Syierra Theoung-Hatzaras |
5th |
|
4x100 Relays |
Kepler Pereira, Ryder Terek, Mason Ngong and Zane McCarthy |
3rd |
|
Syierra Theoung-Hatzaras, Charlotte Couper, Chloe Smyth and Olivia Tony |
5th |
2026 ENROLMENTS
We are currently taking 2026 Enrolments. If you are an existing family please get your forms in asap to guarantee you a spot. Our Prep numbers are getting quite high so if you know of anyone considering St Catherine’s for their child please ask them to contact the Office for a tour.
