As the year quickly draws to the close, people often believe that schools begin to slow down in preparation for the Christmas and holiday season. It really couldn’t be further than the truth, as this time of the year is one of our busiest and most exciting!

Preparing our students for the transition into next year is a very important part of our work at this time of the year. A lot of care, planning and support is provided to all our students so they all look forward with hope and excitement for what adventures lie ahead.

As well as our focus on transition, this term the OLPS community has participated in many extracurricular opportunities: Year 3/ 4 Camp, Baseball Sports Clinic, Como House Excursion, a Hooptime Grand Final, Prep Family Mass, Prep to 6 Swimming program, hosting our Talent Show, attending Robotics Club and presenting at the Melbourne University Global Citizen Conference. 

Over the next two weeks our Year 5 and 6 students will complete their 3-day Sailing Program at Albert Park Lake, an extracurricular leadership opportunity they have all enjoyed. We are also looking forward to celebrating our Christmas Carols and Family Picnic along with the Graduation of the Class of 2023. We are so very fortunate to work in schools and so lucky to be able to do such wonderful things.

In 2024 we look forward to welcoming 22 prep students and 18 students from across 3 primary schools. We pride ourselves on being a vibrant school that is a place of welcome, hospitality and excellence and I continue to be so grateful to the OLPS staff and families for making this happen.

As this is our final newsletter for 2023, there are some people that I wish to thank on behalf of our school community: to our Parish Community for your expressions of love this year. We are very grateful for your support of our school and look forward to strengthening the relationships that exist between school and parish.

Thank you to Fr Brendan and Fr Hoang for your presence in our lives and especially for the many ways you bring our students into the life of Jesus. Thank you to Nanette for leading our sacramental program. Thanks also to Kate, Tricia and Sally from the Parish Office for supporting us in many ways throughout the year. To our colleagues at Our Holy Redeemer and Our Lady of Good Counsel, it has been a pleasure to work and learn with you this year. 

We are all very blessed to be part of Catholic Education and we look forward to continuing our formation work with you in 2024.

On behalf of our school community, I leave you with this Christmas wish, how beautiful it would be if each of us, every evening, could say:

“Today at school, at home, at work, guided by God, I showed a sign of love towards one of my friends, my parents, an older person! How beautiful!”

(Pope Francis- Homily April 28, 2013).

By Annie Engellenner, Principal

Published: 1 December 2023