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) 

Next week we will be recognising 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!

100 Days of Prep! 

(A Poem for Our Little Legends)

We’ve been counting every single day,
From number 1 up to 100, Hooray!
We’ve laughed, we’ve learned, we’ve jumped with cheer,
Because… 100 days of school are here!

We’ve been playing games and crafting hats,
Telling stories and having chats!
From writing names to counting tens,
We’ve grown our brains and made new friends.

We’re building knowledge, step by step,
Exploring things we haven’t yet!
There’s been laughter, joy and celebration,
100 days of pure dedication!

We’re making memories every day,
With kindness leading all our play.
We’ve danced and sung, had heaps of fun,
With smiles so bright on everyone!

We take great care of our stick insects

Because they are special little pets!
We’re learning, growing, shining bright,
With Jesus' love our guiding light.

Now here’s a cheer for the grown-ups to
The amazing families who help us through.
These little legends, full of heart,
All have you playing a mighty big part!

They talk about you every day,
In the sweetest, funniest Prep-ish way.
You are their heroes, warm and true,
And we’re so grateful to partner with you.

So clap your hands and give a cheer,
We’ve grown so much at Clairvaux this year!