Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,

The past fortnight has flown by, and we now find ourselves in November — the year truly feels like it’s moving in fast forward!

Last week was especially busy, beginning with the Community Council’s Spring Festival, where our students showcased their creative arts talents. This was followed by our final school disco for the year. What a fantastic day it was! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to its success — the Community Council, staff, students, and families. It is always a joy to host such vibrant community events.

We then celebrated Grandparents Day, welcoming so many grandparents and special friends into our classrooms. The turnout was incredible, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement. Thank you to everyone who came — the children absolutely loved sharing their learning with you.

The celebrations continued with Teacher Appreciation Week, thanks to the amazing efforts of Ellen, her team and all the parents who together generously showed their gratitude. Our staff were truly touched by the generosity and kindness shown through thoughtful gestures and donations. The students also joined in the fun with Team Jersey Day, followed closely by Silly Sock Day — a colourful and cheerful event that raised funds for Catholic Missions through gold coin donations. Thank you for supporting this meaningful and fun initiative. 

On Friday of Week 2, many students and families travelled to Boorowa for the annual Netball and Touch Football Carnival. It was a beautiful spring day, perfect for enjoying sport and camaraderie. This event focuses on participation and fun, and I want to thank our teachers and parent volunteer coaches and managers who made it all possible. A big shout-out to our students who represented St Gregory’s with pride, showing great sportsmanship and respectful behaviour throughout the day.

Looking ahead, next week we will host our Kindergarten Orientation on Wednesday, November 12th, along with our first Year 1 transition day to Macquoid Street. On this day, Year 1 students will be dropped off at Macquoid Street in the morning and collected from Lowe Street in the afternoon. These transition days are vital in helping our children feel confident and comfortable as they prepare for the 2026 school year.

In our Catholic tradition, November is a time to remember and pray for those in our community who have passed away. It begins with All Saints Day on November 1st. When we pray to the saints, we are not worshipping them — we worship God alone. Rather, we ask the saints to pray to God on our behalf, just as we might ask a friend to pray for us in times of need. This was followed by All Souls Day on November 2nd, a day to honour and pray for our dearly departed.

“There is a mysterious solidarity in Christ between those who have already passed to the other life and we pilgrims in this one. Our deceased loved ones continue to take care of us from Heaven. They pray for us, and we pray for them.”
— Pope Francis

Prayer:

Lord, continue to be a light for us, giving us direction and courage.
May we live our lives treasuring the memories of those precious ones we have known and loved.
We trust, Lord, that you are treasuring them with us.
Help us, Lord, to bring light and hope to others. Amen.

Wishing you all a blessed week ahead.

Have a blessed fortnight,
Tiffany Reedy