St Catherine's Catholic Primary School Berwick eNewsletter

Dear Families,

On Friday we have closure day for TIL for all teachers. This is as Time In Lieu for Family Learning Conversations being held this week. Family Learning Conversations (FLCs) are being held over the next couple of days after school and are done via a Google Meet.

You will be sent the FLC form early next week which will reflect the conversation you will have at your online meeting this week and these will need to be signed and returned to school for filing. Should you want a copy of this, please take a photocopy before returning these.

We will once again be surveying parents again as to the preferred mode for FLCs to ensure we are catering for the majority of families and their preferences.

On Monday, just gone (11 August) our School Advisory Committee (SAC) held its AGM.

We have new members in preparation for 2026 when we lose some of our current members because their children are going to secondary school, or their tenure is up.

We welcome Alex Barbieri and Louisa Chalk to the committee and welcome their feedback and contributions.

We thank all the staff and parents who assisted with Grade 2 and Grade 4 swimming. It is a busy and tiring activity for all those involved. A huge thank you goes to Mr. Pawlukowski for all the work he did behind the scenes and for Grades 2 and 4 as always these are very busy weeks.

The Grade Prep’s went on an excursion to Chesterfield Farm. It was a great day for all and I believe there were a number of students who had a sleep on the bus on the way home. Thank you to the Prep teaching team for organising this and to our Educational Support Officers and Parents who went along to assist with the excursion.

Interschool sports also began two weeks ago for our Grade 6 students. These games have been played in the true spirit of the home and away games and displayed the qualities of a great sportsperson.

Illness is hitting St Catherine’s hard again. We have students presenting with many symptoms, and ask that if your child is unwell or has any symptoms, that they be kept home to assist with reducing the risk of infection to other students and staff.

If you have changed your address recently, could you please notify us via email at info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au

Warm regards

Anna

What beautiful weather we have been blessed with lately. We love it when students are able to go outside and enjoy our lovely grounds. Special shout out to all of our Year 2s and Year 4s who completed their swimming.

Religious Education

Jubilee Pilgrimage Video

As part of our celebration of Catholic Education Week and the Year of Jubilee, St Catherine’s Primary School invited the family community to participate in a special on-site pilgrimage.

A pilgrimage is a sacred journey undertaken for spiritual reflection and connection. While we are unable to travel abroad, we are delighted to bring this meaningful experience to our school community by opening our doors to you.

Each year level was assigned a theme from the song "We Are Your Instruments" by James Wahl. Students created thoughtful displays that reflect these themes and highlight the Catholic values that underpin and inspire our school.

Please click here, or visit our school website and click on ‘Catholic Identity’ and ‘Religious Education.Year 5 Mass

Tomorrow, our Year 5 students will be holding mass at 9:30am in the Chapel. Anyone can attend, regardless if your child’s year level will be present. Everyone is invited and welcome. We hope to see you there.

Family Prayer Afternoons

Thank you to everyone who has been able to make it out to our Family Prayer Afternoons in the Chapel. The Prep and Year 1s did a fantastic job and it is the turn of Year 2s this Thursday 14 August, and Year 3s next Friday, 22 August. Please see the flyer further in this newsletter. As with any Level Mass, everyone is welcome and invited.

Family Prayer Afternoon

As we progress through term 3, it is now time for us to start considering class groupings for 2026. A large amount of information and considerations goes into setting up classes, including parent requests. Please note the following carefully:

-Parents may submit a separation request.

-We do not consider pairing requests as this is managed by the learning buddies process outlined below.

-Separation requests must be submitted every year.

-If you submitted one last year, they do not roll over.

-All requests are considered a one off.

-Separation requests must come via the office to info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.

-Requests submitted verbally, via individual teachers or staff may not be included, please submit your request via this email. Please clearly state your child and the person you would like your child separated from (full name).

-Separations may be for personal reasons or because of a pre existing relationship such as family friendship, family members, etc.

-Parents of twins are also asked to advise the school their preference for their children being placed together or separately.

-The deadline for requests is the end of Term 3.

We do our best to cater for parent requests but cannot guarantee as there are many factors which must be taken into consideration.

Later in the year, students will nominate 5 Learning Buddies that they learn well with and would like to have in their class. We ensure they are placed with at least one of these.

VICTORIA DONLAN

Curriculum/ICT Leader and Learning Adjustment Leader

St Catherine's School, Berwick

73 Ridgemont Drive Berwick VIC 3806

P O Box 557 Berwick VIC 3806

Phone: 03 9702 1466

Enrolments 2026

School Fee Statements will be emailed to families today. If you do not receive your statement please contact the Office.

If you wish to commence payment by direct debit please complete the direct debit form and return to the school office or email accounts@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.

Payment can also be made by BPay, EFTPOS, or cash. If paying fees by the term the due date for payment is Thursday 28 August 2025, unless alternative payment arrangements (eg Direct Debit) have been made.

For any queries, please contact Margaret Lonergan on 9702 1466 or email accounts@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au

Direct Debit Form

Library Timetable

Book Week Parade Flyer

BOOK WEEK READING CHALLENGE

Spotlight on Science

Whats happening in ArtSt Catherine’s.png

Book Character Art Display

Mental and Health and Wellbeing.

School TV Bullying

Casey South Division Winter Sport Finals-Soccer

Defensive Masterclass

On Wednesday 30 July, the Grade 6 Girls Soccer Team competed in the Divisionals. The event was held at Casey Fields, home of Melbourne City FC. The sun was shining brightly as the girls were put through their paces with an intense warm up by master coach, Miss C.

The first game against Clyde Creek got off to a tough start with the girls taking some time to get familiar and comfortable with the pitch. After twelve minutes the deadlock was finally broken by an own goal from our attacking corner. Syierra whipped in a brilliant right footed cross before the defender buried it into her own net.

The second match saw the girls playing fluently with Syierra and Koah dominating the middle of the park and linking up effortlessly to create plenty of chances. Koah finally got rewarded for her efforts with a goal in the second half. The final score saw the girls run out 3-0 victors against Rivergum PS.

The third match saw the girls take on Barton PS in an end to end seesawing battle. Syierra got St Catherine’s off to the perfect start by striking a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the goal within 30 seconds from kick off. The girls were beginning to show some signs of fatigue as no subs meant that a rest was hard to come by. Shumi and Tiana held the fort defensively by cleaning up anything that went near them. The girls showed their class running out winners 5-0.

The final match of the day was against Wilandra Rise PS. All the girls needed was a draw to secure the title and claim territorial bragging rights. The opposition team ‘parked the bus’ and fought gallantly to withhold the firepower of St Catherine’s as shot after shot echoed by the opposition defence even knocking the phones out of one of the spectators hands! The dam wall finally burst with the girls running out three goals to the good.

Extraordinarily the girls did not concede a single goal! They will now play in the Southern Metro Regional event. So drop everything you're doing, cancel any plans that you might have had and come along to support our soccer girls!

Details about Southern Metro Girls Soccer:

Date: Monday 25 August

Time: 10am-2:45pm

Location: Casey Fields-160 Berwick-Cranbourne Rd, Cranbourne East

Results:

Game 1

Clyde Creek 0-2 St Catherine’s (Goals: 2 own goals; assists Syierra, Koah)

Game 2

Rivergum 0-3 St Catherine’s (Goals: Aurora 2, Koah)

Game 3

St Catherine’s 5-0 Barton (Goals: Koah 3, Syierra 2)

Game 4