School Review Update

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, our school underwent its formal review as part of the four-year review cycle. This process provides a vital point-in-time assessment to acknowledge our progress under our current plan and directly informs the development of our upcoming four-year School Improvement Plan.

We were pleased to welcome our Valad Reviewers, Marita Richardson and Chris Bence, who led the evaluation across five key spheres:

• Leadership
• Learning and Teaching
• Student Engagement
• Religious Education
• School Community

To prepare for this visit, our staff engaged in a comprehensive self-assessment within each sphere. This required matching school data and evidence against specific capability indicators—for example, evaluating our practices in the Learning and Teaching sphere across Capability 1: Coherent Knowledge-Rich Learning, Capability 2: Effective Teaching, and Capability 3: Assessment and Monitoring Progress.

During their two days on-site, the reviewers conducted an extensive series of panel interviews and discussions with key stakeholders across our school community, including:

• The Senior Leadership Team
• Middle Leaders and Curriculum Leaders
• CCed Year 5 and Year 6 students
• Class teacher representatives from every year level
• Learning Support staff
• Administration staff
• A representative group of parents

The reviewers also conducted a guided Learning Walk across all year levels to observe our teaching methodologies, classroom environments, and student engagement in real time.

We are currently awaiting the final report from the review team. Once received, we look forward to sharing the key commendations and recommendations with our school community as we shape our strategic goals for the next four years. Thank you to all the staff, students, and parents who participated and contributed to this rigorous process.

The best days - Grandparents and Special People Day - Year 1

There’s something truly special about connecting the youngest generation with the stories and treasures of the past, especially when it’s wrapped up in the warmth of family, a shared meal, and a community gathering at Clairvaux. Seeing the pride on the grandparents' faces and the genuine wonder in the 6- and 7-year-olds' eyes as they learn about those old artefacts was pure magic.

Events like last Friday  remind you just how powerful story-sharing and intergenerational love really are. 

Well done Year 1 children and teachers and LSOs.  It was a magnificent day.

Brendan

• 9.15 am Whole School Mass - St. Bernard’s Church (all welcome)
• 12:00 - 1:00 pm Lap-a-thon for Mannya - Clairvuax senior oval (all welcome)
• from 1:30 pm Free Sausage Sizzle second lunch & lollipop end of day

• Afternoon In-class fun activities:

• Students wear their sports uniform and bring a filled water bottle.

• Support the construction of St Aloysius Primary School
• Provide sporting equipment
• Provide books and stationery
• Support the breakfast and lunch programs
• Provide cows to supply milk
• Support the coffee-growing initiative, creating employment and income for local families and helping the community become more self-sufficient

How You Can Help
                                                                                 
This year, we encourage everyone in our Clairvaux community to once again support our annual Lap-a-thon for Mannya.             
Students can ask family and friends to sponsor them by either:

• donating an amount per lap, (using sponsor form sent home earlier) or
• making a one-off donation.

A Visit from the Paramedics

Our Prep students were very excited to welcome some paramedics and an ambulance to our school!

During the visit, the children had the opportunity to learn all about the important job paramedics do and how they help people when they are sick or injured. The paramedics showed us their ambulance and explained some of the equipment they use to care for patients.

The children were able to explore inside the ambulance, see the stretcher and look at some of the medical equipment. They also had the chance to sit in the ambulance and learn about the different features.

The students were very excited to see the flashing lights and learn about how paramedics travel quickly to help people in an emergency. They asked lots of questions and shared what they already knew about ambulances and emergency services.

It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience that helped the children understand the important role paramedics play in keeping our community safe. A big thank you to the paramedics for taking the time to visit our Prep classroom! 

St Bernard's Parish is Looking for a Playgroup Leader!

St Bernard's Parish is seeking someone with a warm and welcoming heart to lead our Playgroup on Mondays from 9:00–10:30am.

This is a wonderful opportunity to support young families, build friendships, and help our parish community grow.

If you would like to know more, please contact the Parish Office at belmont@cam.org.au.

In week 6 2026 we recognise Bullying No Way Week at our school. This is an important opportunity for students to learn about the impact of bullying and how we can all play a part in creating a safe, caring and respectful school environment. Throughout the week, every class will take part in a range of activities designed to raise awareness about positive behaviour, inclusion and the importance of speaking up.

Students will explore what bullying is, how it can make others feel, and why it’s important to stand together against it. They will learn practical strategies for being an upstander, someone who supports others and helps stop bullying, rather than a bystander. These discussions and activities will help students understand that their words and actions matter, and that everyone has the right to feel safe and respected.

Sometimes you might have a fight or argument with someone. If it happens once or twice, it is not bullying even though it can be upsetting. It is also not bullying if you sometimes fight with a friend and you can sort it out.

Sometimes people can be rude - this is not bullying. Sometimes people are mean on purpose  - this is not bullying, but when this happens repeatedly it could be bullying

As a school, we are committed to building a culture where kindness and respect are at the heart of everything we do. Bullying No Way Week is a great chance to reinforce these values and empower our students to make positive choices, both in the classroom and the playground. Together, we can make a difference!

Hosted by Clarivaux Connect, this is your chance to enjoy an unforgettable night out with our school community.

Bring your partner, organise a girls' night, round up the guys, or come along solo – however you arrive, you're in for a fantastic night.

Catch up with familiar faces, make some new connections, and enjoy great food, music and plenty of laughs on the dance floor.

Book via: www.trybooking.com/DOQJX

Father’s Day Stall

 On Thursday 3 September, members of Clairvaux Connect will once again be running our Father’s Day Stall.

Good news – there is no need for students to bring money on the day, as the cost of gifts has already been covered through the 2026 fee structure.

We have a fantastic range of fun and thoughtful gifts for dads, and we would love some help preparing them for the stall.

We are seeking volunteers to assist with sorting, wrapping and packing gifts on Tuesday 1 September, straight after school until 5:00pm.

Please sign up using the link: https://signup.com/go/vWWfmfv

We are also looking for volunteers to help at the stall on Thursday 3 September. Shifts are one hour long, and volunteers will assist students in choosing the perfect gift for their dad.

If you are available to help, please sign up using the link below: https://signup.com/go/SgSEvbx

If you have any issues signing up or any other questions, please email canteenclairvaux@gmail.com.

Kind regards, Jamie and Caity

This free interactive video invites primary school students to ‘choose their own journey’ while navigating feelings and choices during R U OK? conversations. https://lifeed.org.au/ruok-day/

Produced in collaboration with Life Ed, the video journey features Healthy Harold, joined by two new characters, the ‘Thoughts’, who contemplate the different approaches to various peer-to-peer situations that may arise in the school day. Students will learn personal and social skills and increase their confidence to able to have an R U OK? conversation with a friend. 

Are you ready to bounce?!

Join us for an afternoon of fun where both the Grade 3's and 4's (and their siblings) can bounce around on an inflatable obstacle course and play arcade games.

Where: Inflatable World South Geelong

When: Sunday 13 September 3-5pm

Cost: $20 per child

Other: Arcade tokens can be purchased for $2 each. Food/drinks also available to purchase also.

Please book a ticket for each child attending, along with adult supervisors (free). Siblings are welcome.

Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DOQJP