Prayer reflection

The Enduring Legacy of Loved Ones

This week has been a time for quiet reflection, especially around All Souls' Day, when many cultures pause to remember those who have passed away.

In a conversation today with a staff member, we were struck by how quickly time seems to fly, and how clearly we remember what was happening in our lives just one year ago. For this colleague, the year has held a significant challenge: the sudden passing of her father.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of this difficult loss next Saturday, we were reminded of the profound influence and lasting impact those we hold dear have had on our lives.

The shock and grief of loss are challenging times for any family. We extend our collective prayers and thoughts to all members of our school community who have lost family and friends.

May the love, compassion, and mercy that faith models bring comfort to those navigating grief. The legacy and spirit of our departed family members live on, not only in us but also in the generations of children who carry their stories and strength forward.

Class Structures for 2026

The process for determining our 2026 class structures is currently underway. We understand that class placements are important, and we want to assure families that this is an involved process that considers many factors for every child and teacher.

Factors Considered in Placement

All students were recently asked to select up to four friends they wished to be grouped with next year. This is one piece of the puzzle, alongside other critical considerations, including:

• Academic growth and learning needs.
• Social and emotional needs.
• Overall class dynamics and current compositions.
• Any specific adjustments or support required for individual children.

Other Key Dates & Staffing

• Next week marks the beginning of Transition Opportunities for our 2026 Prep children.
• The determination of teacher positions and the appointment of any new staff members will be finalised in the coming weeks. We are fortunate to have a highly qualified teaching group. Our commitment to a low variance approach across all year levels ensures that curriculum content is consistent across each of the four classes.

As we mark the half way of the term lets keep the focus on completing the year in a successful manner.

World  Teachers day

Last Friday, on World Teachers' Day, we honoured  our Clairvaux teachers for their  profound dedication and the moral purpose at the heart of their vocation.

It takes enormous courage to be a teacher.  Every day I watch them walk in, positive and fired up to teach your children.  I would like to thank them for their courage to be adaptable and professional in addressing the academic and social needs of our children.. 

Our teachers behave selflessly for the good of all of the children they meet every single day, and I know that the  children are appreciative for that.

They are all teachers at heart. They were probably role playing as teachers when they were the age of your children. For them there are many unforgettable moments in the classroom when they can hardly contain the joy of teaching, when new learning pathways suddenly open up, and that deep synchronicity with your kids becomes evident. 

Teaching is a journey of hope, and one that will make a huge difference in the learning and future lives of our children.

In  the partnership we share as parents and teachers united together, let’s continue the love, care, and respect for the many reachable moments that occur at school and home, and hold onto hope for a better future.

Enterprise Bargaining Update: A Focus on Staff Conditions and Resourcing.

As many in our community know, employees across various industries are covered by Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs). As we approach the conclusion of the current EBA for Catholic school employees, negotiations are commencing for the next agreement period.

There has been recent media attention regarding the next award, particularly for teachers. While the EBA for Nurses and Midwives was approved in November 2024, our teaching staff's current award period is set to conclude in December 2025.

The Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) recently put forward a comprehensive proposal to the Catholic education sector. This proposal was aimed at addressing critical areas including workload, conditions, and wages for all employees. It reflects a genuine commitment to improving the working environment in our schools.The negotiations will continue and we will as a Catholic school plan around the impact and focus upon our mission of being a high quality Catholic school focussed on the strong teaching and learning program.  

Brendan

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Remembrance Day commemorates the moment in 1918 when World War 1 came to an end. We pay our respects to all Australian men and women who have served in war and peacekeeping activities. It is also a time that we think about the soldiers who are currently stationed in war zones all around the world.

Next Tuesday, 11th November we will take time as a whole school to pause for a minute’s silence to remember all who have served and sacrificed for peace. We invite students to bring a small bunch of flowers from their gardens at home, to place at the foot of our ‘Lone Pine Tree’ at our school entrance, as a sign of respect and remembrance.  Clairvaux was very honored in 2022 to be the recipient of a tree that is a direct descendant of the lone pine tree at Gallipoli.

On Wednesday, 12th November, our Year 5 students will lead a Remembrance Day mass at St. Bernards Church beginning at 9.30 am.  Parents and families are warmly invited to join us for this special celebration.

November is also a time when as a Church we come together to remember all those who have died, especially our family members.  

They went with songs to the battle 

They were young, straight of limb, 

True of eye, steady and aglow, 

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, 

They fell with their faces to the foe. 

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old, 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, 

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, 

We will remember them. 

Lest we forget

Laurence Binyon (1869–1943) 

At Clairvaux, every day is thoughtfully structured to support student wellbeing, engagement and learning success. From arrival in the morning to home time in the afternoon, our routines are designed to provide clarity, consistency and a calm learning environment for every child.

Morning Routine: A Calm Start to the Day

Our school day begins at 8:35am when students enter the yard for a short play before learning begins. To help our younger students feel confident and settled, the playground is separated into Junior and Senior areas. This ensures a welcoming, age-appropriate space for everyone.

To maintain a safe and calm atmosphere, there is no ball play before school. At 8:50am, the bell rings and students head into their classrooms, where they are warmly greeted by their teacher. They then unpack, settle in, and prepare for the day ahead. By 9:00am, classes are underway following roll call and morning prayer. Arriving on time each day is vital, as a calm and unhurried transition into class helps every student feel settled and ready to learn.

Literacy and Numeracy: Our Core Focus Each Morning

At Clairvaux, the first half of our days are dedicated to the core areas of Literacy and Mathematics. Each of these learning blocks begins with a 10-minute Daily Review—a research-informed practice that strengthens memory, consolidates prior learning, and builds mastery over time.

Structured Literacy

Students then engage in a structured literacy block that includes:

• Systematic synthetic phonics, Word study and morphology, Vocabulary development, Fluency practice and Spelling - often taught through the lens of a novel study in our middle and senior levels.

Our literacy program is grounded in explicit teaching strategies aligned with the Science of Learning. We use a consistent, low-variance curriculum across the school, ensuring a clear and connected sequence of learning from year to year. This approach is supported by school-wide engagement norms that create a focused and interactive classroom culture.

We have also implemented the Spelling Mastery program, which provides targeted instruction and systematic skill development to improve spelling outcomes across all year levels.

Mathematics Fluency

Our daily maths lessons also begin with a review, followed by instruction aligned with the Number Fluency Project. This initiative helps students develop speed, accuracy, automatic recall, confidence with number facts, readiness for deeper problem-solving and confidence in their mathematical thinking—essential foundations for more complex learning. 

A Fully-Rounded Curriculum

While Literacy and Numeracy are a strong foundation, our students also benefit from a rich, well-rounded curriculum. This includes:

• Religious Education lessons that reflect our Catholic identity and values
• Social and Emotional Learning, explicitly taught and woven through everyday interactions including an explicit behaviour curriculum
• CCED (Content and Capability Education) Topics that build essential knowledge in:
• History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, Science, Design and Technologies

These are all highly valued areas of learning that help students make sense of the world, develop critical thinking, and grow as informed, capable citizens.

Learning Support: Targeted Help, Every Step of the Way

At Clairvaux, we are proud of our dedicated Learning Support team, who work closely with classroom teachers to ensure every child can access learning at their level. Support is provided in a variety of ways, including:

• In-class support for individuals or small groups, Withdrawal groups for targeted intervention, Break-time support for students needing a quieter or more structured environment, Evidence-based programs such as MacqLit and UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute)

This comprehensive approach ensures that students with additional needs or learning challenges are known, supported, and given every opportunity to grow in confidence and success.

Specialist Program: A Day of Creative and Physical Enrichment

One day each week, students enjoy a specialist program designed to foster creativity, cultural understanding and physical wellbeing. During this time, students participate in:

• Visual Art, Performing Arts, LOTE – Italian, Physical Education

Even on their specialist day, students begin their morning with their class teacher for the first hour. This ensures a smooth and consistent start to every school day, no matter the timetable.

Break Times: Structured, Balanced, and Inclusive

Students enjoy two 40-minute breaks throughout the day, each beginning with an additional 10 minutes of designated eating time. During outdoor breaks, we always offer a quiet indoor play option for the second half of the break, supporting those who may need a calm or sensory-friendly environment.

At our second lunch break, students also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of optional clubs and activities, such as:

• Coding Club, Dance Club, Art Club, Futsal, Choir...and more! These offerings support the development of personal interests and friendships beyond the classroom.

Safe and Supervised Dismissal

The school day concludes at 3:30pm. Students exit the grounds through one of three supervised gates, ensuring a safe and orderly departure. Staff also supervise the drive at McDonald’s Reserve, remaining present until all students have crossed safely. Any children still waiting are supervised to ensure their safety at all times.

Strong Partnerships with Families

At Clairvaux, we believe that learning is most powerful when schools and families work in partnership. We keep families informed and connected through regular school newsletters such as this article, updates via our website where you can find further information in our playbook for example, and by inviting parents to participate in Learning Walks - one is currently open for you to book. These guided sessions offer families a real-time glimpse into the teaching and learning taking place in classrooms, ensuring parents are well-informed and confident in the learning journey their child is experiencing.

At Clairvaux Catholic School, our daily routines and practices are built on care, structure and high expectations. We are proud of our commitment to quality teaching and meaningful learning, and we continue to work in partnership with families to give every student the very best start to their day—and their future.

To start the term we spend time reviewing our expected behaviours by going through Clairvaux’s Big 5 rules, underpinned by RESPECT.  Students discuss how they can follow the Big 5 in the classroom, in the playground, while moving around the school, or when in other learning spaces like the library or the church.  

The Big 5:

• Move safely
• Listen to the speaker
• Hands, feet and objects off others
• Speak appropriately
• Follow directions

As you can see, the Big 5 rules are ways of being kind humans not just at school, but also in the wider community!  All of our rules are underpinned by RESPECT: caring about how words and actions may impact others.  

At the start of the year the Year 3 students made a class pledge identifying how they can make their classroom safe, happy and welcoming.  They are proudly on display in each room and are frequently referred to during the term, and reaffirmed at the start of each term.  We hope you enjoy reading each Year 3 class’s Class Pledge.

Year 3

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Words, Wisdom and Watercolour.

Last term, our students explored a range of Dreamtime stories, learning about their cultural significance and the important lessons they shared. We focused on how morals were woven into these traditional tales and used this as inspiration to create our own stories with meaningful messages. As part of the writing process, students learned how to structure their ideas into clear paragraphs and carefully selected impactful vocabulary to bring their messages to life. They then illustrated their stories with creativity and care. This week, we’re excited to share these special stories with our Prep buddies!

Year 6 work.

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We are so proud of the steps we have taken over the last few years to bring us to the point we are at now with our teaching and learning framework.

Our instructional model based on the Science of Learning is one that we are continuously striving to refine. We have been informing our parent community via a range of modes:

• We launched our 'playbook' for parents to gain an understanding of how we teach and learn at our school - which is able to be viewed on our website in the 'How we learn and teach' section
• Last year we invited parents to join us over two sessions for a Teaching and Learning Open Night where we took you through some key concepts and examples of how and why we teach like we do and then offered a chance to view the classrooms and work samples.  
• Our next step is to continue to offer Learning Walks around our school.

What is a Learning Walk? It is an invitation to parents to come to the school for a set period of time to be led on a facilitated and structured learning walk of the school/ classrooms during the school day. Not to look at the decor - but to learn more about the learning that is happening. The focus of the structured walk is children and their learning as opposed to teachers and the teaching.

We have run some learning walks last year already for parent groups within our school and open up the invitation to our wider school community to enjoy this year.

The date we have selected for an open invitation is term 3 week 3 Tuesday 5th August beginning at 9:10am. Please allow 95 minutes for this event.