Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been a chilly start to Term 3, especially following my warm winter break in Rome. I felt truly blessed to have been selected to attend the Pilgrimage to Rome alongside colleagues from across the Archdiocese. During this Jubilee Year, we were deeply inspired as we walked in the footsteps of some of the Church’s greatest saints.

One of the highlights of the pilgrimage for me was our visit to Siena, the birthplace of Saint Catherine. We explored her childhood home and were captivated by the beauty of the chapel dedicated to her remarkable contributions to the Catholic Church in Italy. Born into a lower middle-class family as one of 25 children, Saint Catherine is remembered for her unwavering service to the sick and poor.

After celebrating Mass in the Chapel of St Catherine, we enjoyed a short walk to the magnificent Cathedral of Siena. From its rooftop, we were treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside—an unforgettable moment that beautifully blended faith, history, and the natural beauty of Siena.

Storyline 

This week, classes have begun their Storyline learning with engaging provocations and experiences that spark curiosity. Storyline is a dynamic teaching approach that brings learning to life by allowing students to explore the perspectives of characters and, over time, develop their own unique 'storyline' as they build knowledge and deepen understanding. Families are warmly invited to join us at school on Tuesday, 23 September, to celebrate and share in their child's Storyline learning journey.

ICAS

ICAS is an academic assessment program aimed at challenging students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills across a range of subjects, including English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling, and Digital Technologies. Students in Years 2 to 6 are invited to participate in this online competition, with Writing available exclusively to students in Years 3 to 6. These assessments are ideal for students seeking to extend themselves academically and embrace the personal challenge of competing in an international context.

ICAS Assessments Sitting Date Schedule
Digital Technologies        Monday 4 August
Writing (Years 3-6)         Tuesday 5 August
English                          Wednesday 13 August
Science                         Monday 18 August
Spelling Bee                  Tuesday 19 August
Mathematics                  Tuesday 26 August
Cost for each Assessment (excluding Writing)- $20.95
Cost for Writing Assessment- $24.95

The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments. Payment can be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or credit card.

Our parent page link is:https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/TUG359

Our Parent payment system code is TUG359

Closing date for entry and the online payment system is next Monday 28 July, 2025 

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch—my door is always open for a chat or visit.

Kind regards,

Jeni

Jeni McCarthy

Assistant Principal