Please note the following dates in your diary:
2025 dates are set as best as possible at this point in time.
Please be mindful they may be subject to change and continue to check.

Term 4

Week 10 Tues 9th Dec - Step up day (Prep -Yr 6 2026) Tues 9th Dec - Yr 6 secondary school transition day - no Yr 6 onsite Tues 9th Dec - Parent Teacher Chats (3.40pm-6.30pm) - note date change Wed 10th Dec - Parent Teacher Chats (3.40pm-6.30pm) - note date change Fri 12th Dec - End of year mass whole school Fri 12th Dec - Reports sent home via PAM

Week 11 Mon 15th Dec - End of year assembly 11:45am Mon 15th Dec - Year 6 Graduation (PM) Tues 16th Dec - Last day of the school year - Yr 6 exc. to Adventure Park - 3:30pm dismissal on the basketball court

2026 Wednesday 28th January - Year 1-6 Students Begin Wednesday 28th January - Prep testing Thursday 29th January - Prep testing Friday 30th January - Preps begin Wednesday 4th Feb - No school for Preps Monday 9th Feb - Whole School Mass 9:15 am all welcome Wednesday 11th Feb - No school for Preps Monday 16th Feb - Clairvaux Cross Country Yr 4-6 Wednesday 18th Feb - Ash Wednesday Wednesday 18th Feb - No school for Preps Wednesday 25th Feb - No school for Preps Monday 2nd March - Preps begin full weeks at school Monday 2nd March - Clairvaux Senior Athletics Yr 4-6 Wednesday 4th March - Reconciliation Family Faith Night Year 3 6:30pm Monday 9th March - Public Holiday Tuesday 10th March - School Closure Day Tuesday 10th March - Division Swimmming - selected students Monday 16th March - Year 6 camp (2 nights) Tuesday 17th March - Year 6 camp Wednesday 18th March - Yr 3 Reconciliation Celebration Wednesday 18th March - Year 6 camp Thursday 19th March - Yr 6 students no school Tuesday 24th March - Colour Run (evening) Wednesday 25th March - Prep 2027 information tours 9:30 am and 12:00pm Friday 27th March - Yr 6 Summer Lightning Prem Thursday 2nd April - Last day of term 1 - 2:30 dismissal Monday 20th April - First Day of Term 2 Thursday 23rd April - Prep 2027 information tours 9:30am  Friday 24th April - City to Surf Cross Country - selected students Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May - Sacramental Presentation Masses (Eucharist and Confirmation) Monday May 4th - Swimming begins for Yr 3 and 4 (all week) Monday May 11th - Swimming begins for Yr 1 and 2 Tuesday 19th May - Division cross country - selected students Wednesday 20th May - Eucharist Family Faith Night Year 4 - 6:30pm Friday 29th May - Yr 6 Winter Lightning Prem Tuesday 2nd June - Yr 4 Eucharist preparation day Monday 8th June - Public Holiday Tuesday 9th June - Year 5 Camp (one night) Wednesday 10th June - Year 5 camp Thursday 11th June - Yr 5 students no school Saturday 13th June and Sunday 14th June - Sacrament of Eucharist Celebrations Friday 26th June - Assembly Friday 26th June - Last Day of term 2 - 2:30pm dismissal

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This year Catholic schools actress Australia have dedicated the year to the Jubilee theme calling us to be Pilgrims of Hope.  Pope Francis, who is quite unwell at the moment,  has continually called us to be pilgrims of hope.  He calls us to be the agents  of change.  To demonstrate that as parents and teachers that we generate a hope for peace and compassion in our world.

Pope Francis 

“I invite everyone to renew hope, for hope speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart, independent of our  circumstances and historical conditioning. 

Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of  fulfillment, a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart  and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, goodness and beauty,  justice and love.  

Hope is bold; it can look beyond personal convenience,the petty  securities and compensations which limit our horizon, and it can open  us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile. 

Let us continue, then, to advance along the paths of hope”

Smoking Ceremony

Our reflection on last Friday's Smoking Ceremony beautifully captured the significance of acknowledging and integrating First Nations cultures within our school community. Such ceremonies and symbols serve as powerful reminders of the rich history and traditions of Australia's Indigenous peoples.

Bunjil Mural: Bunjil, the creator spirit depicted as a wedge-tailed eagle, holds profound importance in many Aboriginal cultures. Murals featuring Bunjil, like the one in our school hall, symbolize guidance and protection. Similar artworks, such as the 'Mooroop Yarkeen' mural in Werribee, celebrate Bunjil's enduring legacy. visitwerribee.com

Message Stick: The Message Stick is a traditional communication tool used by Aboriginal Australians to convey messages between different groups. Typically crafted from wood and engraved with symbols, these sticks facilitated the sharing of important information across vast distances.  The Message Stick is used in many of our liturgies.

Aboriginal Flag: The Aboriginal flag, displayed daily at our school, is rich in symbolism. The black represents the Aboriginal people, the red symbolizes the earth and their spiritual connection to the land, and the yellow circle signifies the sun, the giver of life.

By embracing these elements, our school fosters an environment of respect, inclusivity, and education. It's through such initiatives that we can bridge the gap between different histories and work towards a unified and respectful nation.

A heartfelt thank you to Christine for organizing this meaningful event and to everyone who contributed to its success. Days like these encourage deep listening, acknowledgment, and reflection on our shared journey. From Prep to Year 6, we united in mind, heart, and respect, honoring the traditional custodians of this land and their enduring legacy.

Family Faith night - Reconciliation 

Last week we had many parents and children attend the Family faith night with Denise Arnel and the Year 3 teachers. It was an informative Family Faith night session for our Year 3 children and parents. Denise led everyone through the meaning of the sacrament and the need for reconciliation and forgiveness in every day of our lives.  In our friendships, marriage and other family and community occasions.

At times we overlook the importance of these faith gatherings, especially with our parents.  At school we walk past our school motto every day here at Clairvaux.  It is in our foyer.  

"Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in my name I am there among them'.

Recognising the presence of God amongst us.  In our everyday life.  Being open to the presence of God and to be a compassionate and forgiving community.

Denis also left our parents with a provocation

'How are you going to prepare your child for Reconciliation?

Pray with them? Bless them? Even bring them along to Mass!

Important news for Year 2 families

A reminder to all Year 2 parents that children need to be Baptised prior to receiving all sacraments in the following years  Ie Reconciliation Year  3, First Eucharist Year  4, Confirmation Year 6  to contact Jan Fagan at the parish office.  Belmont@cam.org.au 52432729

Cross Country

Thanks to all parents and teachers who assisted in the organisation of the Cross Country. The event could not run if not for the strong support from parents.  Simone is very grateful for the contribution that parents willingly offered, many making arrangements with their workplaces to attend on the day.

Congratulations to all Year 4-6 students on covering the course in conditions that were perfect for running.  Fr Foley as Parish Priest of St Bernards would be thrilled that the House team named (Red) after him for his foresight in establishing Clairvaux school in 1998 who were the successful house.

Totals
Bernard	Foley	McCauley	Mercy
299	362	270	329

Brendan

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Our Prep Enrolments for 2026 are now open. If you have a new child coming to Clairvaux next year please jump on this link to complete the online application form. Enrolments close on 2 May so please ensure you get your application in promptly as preference is given to siblings of current students and so we need your applications in early to gauge how many places can be offered to new families.

If you have any friends or family who are interested in enrolling for Prep 2026 we encourage you to spread the word. You as our families are the best ambassadors for our school.

We also have Prep Tours for new families happening on Wednesday 26 March at 9.30 and 12.00pm which can be booked through our website. Bookings for these tours are essential for those who want to attend.

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School fee statements have now been issued for 2025. For those families who have elected to pay a lump sum annually, your fees are due in full by 28 February. For those who have elected to pay monthly or fortnightly by direct debit your payments will commence on 14/02 for monthly and on 13/02 for fortnightly payments.
If you have a health care card you may wish to apply for the CSEF payment from the government of $154.00 per child. The application form can be obtained through the school office.
For families who are experiencing financial difficulty paying their fees you may wish to apply for a fee concession. This can be done by making an appointment with Brendan Flanagan by calling Vanessa Watts on 52437102 or emailing Vanessa on vwatts@ccsbelmont.com.au

If you have any questions relating to your school fee account please do not hesitate to contact Vanessa Watts on 52437102.

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Embracing Ubuntu in Year 2 

This year, our Year 2 students are embracing the theme of Ubuntu, a powerful concept from African philosophy that means "I am because we are." Ubuntu teaches us about kindness, sharing, and the importance of community, values we strive to foster throughout our school.

A well-known story illustrates the spirit of Ubuntu: An anthropologist placed a basket of fruit near a tree and told a group of African children that the first to reach it would win. Instead of competing, the children held hands and ran together, sharing the prize. When asked why, they simply said, "Ubuntu – how can one of us be happy if others are sad?"

This inspiring message reminds us that true success comes from supporting one another. Through our learning and daily interactions, Year 2 students are exploring ways to embody Ubuntu—working together, showing empathy, and strengthening our sense of belonging.

We encourage our whole school community to embrace the spirit of Ubuntu this year, fostering a culture where everyone feels valued, included, and connected.

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Year 6 Literacy Spotlight: Exploring Settings in Writing

In Year 6 Literacy, we have been diving into the novel Nim’s Island and exploring ways to enhance our writing. Recently, students have been working on expanding sentences, using descriptive language, incorporating conjunctions, and experimenting with different sentence types.

To put these skills into practice, students wrote a detailed paragraph describing a setting. Some chose to bring Nim’s Island to life, while others created their own unique landscapes. Using the Single-Paragraph Outline, they carefully planned their ideas to ensure their writing flowed smoothly.

Please enjoy reading some of our students’ fantastic work below!

Rock Island, a mysterious place located in the South Pacific ocean, is surrounded by aqua shark infested waters. It’s full of wonder and it hasn’t been set foot on in a hundred years. Mystery fills the air, casting an eerie presence as it and its history have been long forgotten. The only thing that is standing is the rocks and ash, Covered with large rocks, the only sand there is around the outside. Below the golden sand that feels like heaven on your feet, lays a cave with a multitude of maps and treasure. Although it seems an unusual place, it used to attract many visitors, claiming the title of the most beautiful island.

Lauren McAlister 6DC

Keyhole Cove, where the reef meets the rocks in one enormous ring. It has smoky black rocks surrounding the peaceful paradise of idyllic, clear water with only large powerful waves being able to shoot over the top of the towering rock barrier. Nim loved Keyhole Cove, she would lay there for hours. If she was daydreaming, the reef would give her a gentle bump before she drifted out to sea. Nim loved watching all the playful seahorse and beautiful shells drift along the seabed. She watched the jaws of clams being opened for creatures to fin fresh food, it was like an eagle ripping open its prey, but underwater. Fred loved the warm bright sun that joyfully tickled him on his scaly tummy and Selkie loved the peaceful breeze and the shimmering sway of the sparkling water. Keyhole Cover is a peaceful, sunny, jaw dropping paradise.

Sienna Williamson 6MM

Along the fierce blue sea, a furious ship soars through challenges with the title Lucky. Lucky is an old but well organised ship with a kitchen bigger than your house. A well baked chocolate scent of mudcake floods Lucky from top to bottom. Although aged, the wood floor boards, marble textured cabinets and countertops, were extremely smooth making for an easy clean up after cooking. Lucky is a well fit ship for a cook as fine as Nora.

Olivia Muraca 6RM

The forest, a gloomy place where all anyone could see was fog and the occasional mysterious black figure darting in the distance. It was isolated, off the grid, dark and haunted. No one knew where all those amazing adventurers went missing because they had seemingly disappeared into thin air, they were gone without a trace. As you enter, the thick green clouds of fog are all you can see, and for those that found their way in - it was the last. The mossy rocks were so slippery you were better off crawling or sliding. Big, towering, rotten tree surrounded you. They were so big you felt like an ant looking up at them. Not to mention that the berries were as poisonous as a rattlesnake's venom. The forest was a gloomy, foggy place where the treacherous berries could be considered the safest thing there.

Ellie Scadden 6IB

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Clairvaux’s Colour Blast Fun Run

Tuesday 1st April 5pm arrival for a 5.30pm run start – oval entry via Reynolds Road

This information is for families of registered students attending.

Entry tickets to bring to the event.
An entry ticket (including sunglasses redemption voucher) has been sent home with each registered student - please check their school bag and bring each student’s ticket to the event.
Volunteers
If you can spare some time to help, the Parents & Friends committee would really appreciate it. The 2 nd BBQ shift and pack up particularly need more volunteers.  

Please volunteer here: https://signup.com/go/dqBjQdF
Thank you to everyone who has put their names down already!

Highest fundraisers
We have raised nearly $8,000 of our $10,000 goal!

Event night - The 10 individual highest fundraising prizes will be awarded at the event.
The individual highest fundraising challenge closes at 4pm on Tuesday 1 April and the recipients will be notified. These fundraisers will receive their packs at the event including backpack, drink bottle, pencil case, cap, and BBQ & drink voucher. They will also be invited to slime the teachers at the end of the run!
 
After school holidays - The highest class and house colour will be announced straight after the school holidays when fundraising closes. The class will get to enjoy hot chips, and house colour will be given icy poles after the holidays. So far, all the Prep classesare leading and Bernard for the house colour.
The Colour Blast platform shows the top 5 fundraisers and highest class
here: https://colourblast.com.au/organisation/?Clairvaux
What students wear and bring
Please note that the powder is non-toxic and washes out, but it may leave a slight discolouration on pure white tops.
- You might want to pack a change of clothes or towels for the car ride home.
- Water bottle.
- A white top.
- Any bottoms that they can get dirty.
- Runners/sneakers.
- Any touches of fluro that they want to add – this could be their headbands from previous years, scrunchies, skirts, have a bit of fun with it!
- Sunglasses UV400 provided on the night.
Food and drink purchases
Clairvaux BBQ selling sausages, veggie burgers, water and soft drinks (EFT preferred by the school). 
We also have an ice-cream van coming and they will donate a percentage of profits back
to the school.
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee food safety for gluten-free or other special dietary
requirements (other than vegetarian with veggie burgers), so please bring your own food
for other dietary requirements.
Questions
If you have any further questions, please email
clairvauxfundraising@gmail.com

It’s always a fun night!

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Please take note of the below information and pass onto babysitters and/or grandparents that pick up your children.

Recently we have had the Geelong city council at school at both pick up and drop off time and they have issued fines based on their observations. 

PICK UP/DROP OFF ZONE

For those who use the drop off/pickup zone or drive down Reynolds Road you would understand that more often than not it becomes very congested.

We have had the Geelong Council review the situation and there has been a LEFT TURN ONLY sign installed at the exit closest to the staff car park. Cars will not be able to turn right or drive straight ahead when exiting the drop off/pick up zone. You will need to go up to the Laura Avenue roundabout to turn back the other way.

We appreciate this is a change but it is very welcomed by the school and we hope it makes a significant difference to the flow of traffic.

Please do not double park on the right hand side of the drop off zone. This is a two way street for bus access and it is illegal to park or stop on the right hand side of the road. Children are not permitted to cross the road to enter a vehicle which is parked illegally. If you are unable to pull in to the left hand side of the curb please drive on and come around again.

STAFF CAR PARK

Another reminder that we consistently need to be communicating is for parents NOT to park in the staff car park at any time. This is clearly signed. We have staff coming and going at all times of the day and especially at pick up and drop off time we are trying to keep the movement to a minimum. Children should not be walking through the staff car park other than on the yellow crossing from the gate to the footpath.

CHURCH CAR PARK

Please ensure you are conscious of where your children are playing in this space and keep ball use under control. We keep children behind the yellow line until they are with their parent/s. It is important that you as parents are also reinforcing safety in this area and keeping in mind that cars have right of way.  Ideally we would like children walking on footpaths at all times.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

We have some accessible parks around our school at gate 2 and also in the church car park. Please do not park in these parks unless you have a permit displayed. We do have families who require these parks and it can be difficult to collect children if access to these is not available.  We appreciate your respect and consideration for those who rely on these spaces."

BIKES
If your child rides their bike to school could you please have a conversation with them about bike safety and expectations in the school yard. We love seeing children being independent but ask that they be respectful of after school crowds particularly along the path to McDonalds Reserve and around the Church car park. We also do not allow any scooters or bikes to be ridden in the school yard.

PLAYGROUND
We welcome parents into our yard after school however ask that toddlers and all school children are not on the play equipment. We kindly ask this from a risk point of view in regards to accidents, supervision and children who should be waiting at gates for their parents to arrive.  

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All Familes are welcome to begin the school year at a Whole School Picnic hosted by our P&F.
We invite all families to the Barwon Valley Playground on Tuesday 4th March between 5pm and 7pm.
There will be flags with year levels for you to congregate with families in like year levels and staff will be in attendance for the first hour.
Please bring your own food, drinks and picnic blankets.

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School Photos 2025 – Clairvaux Primary School
School Photos 2025 – Clairvaux Primary School
Annual school photos have been taken by Arthur Reed Photos.
To view the images of your child and order photos, you will need to first register online.
1. Go to https://order.arphotos.com.au and enter the 2025 image code for your child (from
their personalized flyer)
2. Tap on ‘Add another child’ to enter the image codes of any siblings
3. Fill in your email and mobile details and then review all details before confirming your
registration
That’s it! When 2025 photos are ready, you will be notified by email and SMS.
Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do it again each year using your child’s new
image code to link their photos for the current year with your contact details.
To ensure you are ordering school photos for the current year, please wait for notifications that
2025 images are online before placing orders.
In the webshop you can view photos and customize your photo package; Choose ANY layout, ANY
image and purchase multiple digital image downloads.
All photo orders will be sent directly to the address you provide when ordering.
REGISTER ONLINE NOW to be notified when 2025 school photos can be viewed and ordered.

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Last Monday all students at Clairvaux enjoyed a day of learning about the history of Clairvaux and significance of our house names as well as participating in some team building, house spirit activities.

Our Houses

• Our Yellow house is known as BERNARD to remember St Bernard. We celebrate St Bernard’s day on August 20th every year at Clairvaux.
• Our Blue house is known as McAULEY to remember Sr Catherine McAuley the founder of the Mercy nuns who helped many in Geelong.
• Our Green house is known as MERCY to remember the Sisters of Mercy who established Mercia Primary School.
• Our Red house is known as FOLEY as it was Father Foley who had the vision to bring St Bernard’s and Mercia together to form Clairvaux Catholic School in 1998.

The name of each house at Clairvaux has been chosen to commemorate Clairvaux’s history.

Clairvaux History

St. Bernard’s became a Parish in Geelong in 1941 with a church and school both called St Bernards. 

Catherine McAuley​ founded the order of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland.   Catherine McAuley recognised the needs of those who were marginalised and oppressed by unjust social attitudes and practises of her day. Catherine McAuley was the founding sister of the Mercy sisters. 6 sisters of Mercy travelled to Geelong and showed great kindness to the local community.

It was the Mercy sisters who donated the land for the primary school called Mercia to be built on, and ran the Mercia school in the St Bernards parish.

As time went by it was agreed that the two schools in St Bernards parish should join together to form larger school.

The process began in 1997 at Mercia and St Bernard’s schools. The leaders of the two schools held consultations and combined activities were held for staff and students. A successful amalgamation depended on common understandings and beliefs. Everyone who had been part of Mercia and St Bernard’s schools knew this was a very significant event. The past was honoured by preparing for the future and everyone trusted that this was the right move to make. 

The name of the new school came from the Parish Patron Saint - St Bernard of Clairvaux located in France where he had established a monastery.

At the end of Term 2 1998, school communities walked from the two schools, Mercia in Thornhill Rd, Highton, and St Bernard’s in High St Belmont, to Clairvaux.  In the first two days of Term 3 1998, parents and staff all worked tirelessly to set up the Clairvaux buildings.  Children would come back to school that July in a different building but with the same classmates and teachers. The plan was to finish 1998 still operating as two schools in one building before amalgamating completely in 1999.

On the third day, the school was opened to families. On the oval at twilight there was a fireworks display, a fittingly optimistic and happy beginning to the school term. 

In 2001 plans were drawn for the new Church to be built adjacent to Clairvaux school. On Sunday, May 18th 2003 Fr. Peter Foley celebrated the first Mass in the new church and on June 8th Archbishop Denis Hart conducted the official opening and blessing.  Fr. Peter Foley celebrated his last Mass before his retirement on May 15th 2011.  During his time at St. Bernard’s, Fr. Peter became very involved in the “Mannya Project” for the mission parish in Uganda, which involved financial aid and support.

Our student's now represent their house with a new found focus and appreciation of the dedication so many people before them had to help create the school we know now as Clairvaux.

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As we come to the end of term 4, here are the keys dates for any uniform purchases. 

Friday 5 Dec - FINAL shop open for 2025, 8.45 - 9.15am.  

Tuesday 9 Dec - Special open for Step Up day, 11am - 1pm. 

Thursday 10 Dec - online orders for 2025 CLOSE at 8.00pm. 

Friday 11 Dec - final day online orders are PACKED. 

Orders placed after 10am on Friday 11 Dec cannot be guaranteed for delivery in 2025. 

The first shop open for 2026 is planned for Tuesday 27 January. This will be confirm via the P&F Chatter Facebook page in January 2026. The open will be 30mins only for exchanges for preps or last min items due to growth spurts. No full prep fittings will be done on this day. 

Thanks to all our amazing volunteers for their support in 2025. 

We always need more hands in the shop. You can volunteer to pack orders on a Wednesday or serve customers in the shop on Friday mornings. Babies and toddlers are welcome. To find out more, email clairvauxuniforms@gmail.com 

 

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Iona College warmly invites all prospective families to join us for our annual March Tour and Information Sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity to hear from our Principal, Mr Damian McKew, explore Iona, learn about our programs and meet our passionate staff.

The tours are student-led, giving families the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from our students about life at Iona.

Bookings for the Tour and Information Sessions are now open. Secure your spot online via this link: https://iona.vic.edu.au/tour-and-information-session/

Iona College Year 7 2026 Enrolments Now Open
Enrolments for Year 7 2026 are now open! Applications can be submitted online via the following link: https://iona.vic.edu.au/enrolment-form/

Enrolments close on Friday 9 May 2025.

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