08 8287 7900
82 Fairfield Road,
Elizabeth Grove SA 5112
Report Student Absence
Uncategorised

Newsletter, Week 7, Term 4, 2025

Dear Families

Here we are in Week 7 with only 2 weeks to go until the end of the year. Our school is a hub of activity at the moment with all the end of year events and 2026 planning in full swing. We strongly encourage you to regularly revisit the website for all relevant end of year dates so that you are aware of everything that is happening within the next few weeks.

Christmas Carols…

What a wonderful and festive afternoon we had for our SMM Christmas Carols event. It was a lovely afternoon of fun and joyful singing. Thank you to the huge amount of parents and friends who gathered to celebrate the start of the Christmas Season with us. We would like to take the opportunity to publicly thank Mrs Villano for her monumental efforts in organising this event and to Stella for her incredible leadership in MC the afternoon. Thanks also to Frank for ensuring every voice was heard!

The Nativity Liturgy…

All families are invited to our Nativity Liturgy NEXT Friday, December 5th. Our Reception/Year 1 classes will host a special Liturgy to share with us the true meaning of Christmas. Please come along to the Yarning Place from 9am ready to celebrate this special morning with our youngest students.

Coloured Sand…

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigated the recent ‘sand recall’ and planned and acted to ensure student safety. We worked closely with Catholic Safety and Injury Management (CSaIM) to ensure all protocols were followed correctly. Some rooms within our school were closed until the sand was tested and it was business as usual from Thursday morning. Please feel reassured that currently there are no health or safety impacts for our students or staff.

2026 Staffing

We are excited to announce that Ms Jacinta Nye has accepted a teaching position at our school for 2026. Jacinta is currently working at St Raphael’s Primary School in Parkside. She is very excited to meet everyone and join our community.

We also farewell Ms Tara Haylock at the end of the year as she commences maternity leave. As Tara prepares to embark on the exciting journey of motherhood, we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank her for the incredible contributions she has made to our school community. Her dedication to the children and the care, creativity, and commitment she has shown will leave a lasting impact on the students she has worked with. Within our PBIS team, Tara has been a driving force, bringing positivity, fresh ideas, and a collaborative spirit that has strengthened our efforts and enriched our school culture. We will miss her energy and presence, but we are also thrilled for the new chapter ahead. We wish her all the joy, love, and wonder that comes with motherhood.

Please be aware that teachers will not be announced until Week 9. This information will be included within your child’s end of year report.

Final Week of School…

School finishes for the year for all students on Wednesday of Week 9 (December 10th). Our Year 6s have the option to finish on Monday after their Graduation Assembly however are still welcome to come to school. During week 9, the End of Year Report will be sent home on Monday. You will be informed of your child’s 2026 teacher within this report. On Tuesday (December 9th) all students will take part in our 2026 Transition Morning where they will spend time with their new teacher and classmates.

Warmer Weather…

As the warm weather starts to arrive it is important that we make sure our students are sun smart and well hydrated throughout the day. Please ensure your child is coming to school with enough water for the day. Chilled water is available for your child to refill their bottle throughout the day. Sugary drinks such as cordial are not permitted at school. Please ensure your child has a hat each and every day. Sunscreen is also available, and it has been great to see some students coming to school with it already applied at the start of the day.

Car Parking…

Recently we have had some families ask about car parking and suggesting potential changes to parking availability within our neighbourhood. Please be aware that all parking zones are set by the Playford Council and as such we encourage all families to park in designated zones and follow the signage and road rules. It is not uncommon to have the council do spot checks within our neighbourhood. Please be aware that families are welcome to park in the church carpark across the road on Fairfield Road.

Thank you…

We are looking forward to a busy few weeks as we round out 2026. It is hard to believe that the year is nearly over. 2025 has been a year of great change at our school with many new faces amongst our staff and students. We are quickly becoming a desired school within our region and that is testament to all the amazing people who make up our community. On behalf of our staff, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the School Board for their ongoing commitment throughout 2025. Your dedication and vision continue to strengthen our community.

We are equally grateful to all our families for the support you give and the spirit of collaboration you bring. Working together in partnership with our staff ensures that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Shaping our future together
Belinda and Gareth

 

Important Dates

  • Wednesday 3rd December – New Reception Transition Morning – 9.15 AM – 11.45 AM – Kiss and Drop at front desk
  • Wednesday 3rd December – Year 6 Graduation Dinner 6.30pm – Midway Tavern
  • Friday 5th December – Reception/Year 1 Nativity Liturgy from 9 am
  • Monday 8th December – Farewell Assembly 2:15pm
  • Monday 8th December – School Reports sent home
  • Tuesday 9th December – Transition Morning – students visiting 2026 class/teacher
  • Tuesday 9th December – Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and Ceremony 7pm
  • Wednesday 10th December – Last day of the school year for Reception – Year 5 (3pm finish)
  • Thursday 11th December – Pupil Free Day- Bookings for OSHC are essential – Jenn 0437 609 637
  • Friday 12th December – Pupil Free Day – Bookings for OSHC are essential – Jenn 0437 609 637
  • Tuesday 27th January – Term 1, 2026 Begins

News from the APRIM

What a busy term we have had so far! A few weeks ago, we hosted Andrew Chinn with a wonderful celebration of music, faith and joy. We thank Andrew for his generosity of sharing his joy of music and faith with us so beautifully and thank all the parents that joined us for the concert at the end of the day. This week we celebrated our End of year Mass with the whole school and were guided in this Mass with Fr Santosh who helped us understand the gift of being thankful and grateful for the year that we have had as a school community. During this mass the Year 6 Leavers came forward for a blessing form Fr Santosh who prayed for them with the whole school community to take the learning of Mercy with them on their journey into High school and into their lives.

What do the 4 weeks of Advent mean?

Week 1: Hope – also known as The Prophecy Candle reminds us that God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us

Week 2: Peace – also known as The Bethlehem Candle reminds us that God promised that the saviour would be born in Bethlehem and it also reminds us to ‘get ready’ for Jesus’s coming. Week 3: Joy – also known as The Shepherd Candle reminds us that the angels sang the message of Joy to the shepherds.

Week 4 Love – also known as The Angle Candle the angels announced the good news of a Saviour being born, that God sent his only Son to earth to save us because God loves us!

Sacramental Program – 2026

The Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist form the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. If your child is 8 years of age (or older) and you would like them to be involved in the program for 2026, please contact Amiee Tullio or Edna Dumbrell at the Elizabeth Catholic Parish.

Masses and Liturgies

Please keep an eye on the newsletter for upcoming masses and liturgies hosted by our students and their classes. This is always a special time for our young people and provides an opportunity to connect with our families in a more connected way as a community and allows us to also connect with our faith. All families are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Christmas Carols Magic

Our Christmas Carols afternoon was nothing short of magical.

As our students, staff, families, and friends filled the Hall on Tuesday afternoon, you couldn’t help but feel instantly lifted by the joy and warmth of the Christmas spirit. The children sang beautifully! Every voice full of heart, pride, and enthusiasm. It was clear just how much effort had gone into preparing for this afternoon!
A huge thank you to all the children who practised so hard and performed with such confidence and joy, and another to our Performing Arts teacher, whose dedication and creativity shaped the entire event.
The afternoon was a beautiful reminder of the hope, love, and togetherness that makes our St Mary Magdalene’s School community so special.

Children's University Graduation!

Congratulations and Well Done!

Please join us in congratulating the 24 students who proudly walked the stage last week at the Children’s University Graduation ceremony, held in the prestigious Bonython Hall at Adelaide University. Dressed in their caps and gowns, the students received awards in celebration of all the out of school learning they have achieved this year.

These students worked incredibly hard to make our first year in the program a massive success.
We are excited to welcome Luca from Children’s University back to our school early in Term 1, to begin our 2026 sign up process. Children’s University will be on offer to students from students from our Year 3 to 6 classes.
Back to Latest News

Related Posts