Term 3 Week 8 - Friday 12 September 2025

Father’s Day Celebrations

It was wonderful to see over 600 in attendance for our Father’s Day breakfast, class visits and liturgy last Friday morning. Thank you to our wonderful helpers who arrived just after sun up to set up and cook, we could not have done it without you. Thank you also to Gemma and all involved in the Father’s Day stall on Thursday. We know that being involved in these activities often mean taking time off work, but we could not do it without you. Thank you also to school staff who also went above and beyond in making our dad’s feel special.

R U OK?

Yesterday, staff and students recognised R U OK day. This day has several messages, including, it is ok to not be OK, if you are not OK it’s important to talk to someone, we need to look after each other and my favourite, being KIND costs you nothing. Throughout the year the students have been involved in a variety of wellbeing activities, linked with the Resilience Project. Following is a snapshot of mental health and community support services available for children, young people, families, carers and educators. If you are concerned about someone at risk of immediate harm, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. Click here for a list of support numbers. 

6R Leadership Program – Brown Collective

Over the past 6 months I have been working towards the completion of the Brown Collective’s inaugural.

6R Experienced Principals program on 10 September 2025.

The program is a response to a range of needs expressed by current school principals across Australia, through various forms of consultation and engagement. These are the need for Principals to be provided with structured opportunities to reflect and learn with peers at a similar phase of their leadership formation; to add and deepen knowledge, skills and capabilities required to undertake the role of Principal now and into the future; to encourage Principals to explore what they wish they had known before becoming a Principal; to provide a tangible way to enable Principals to thrive in their role.

Click here to read more about the 6 R Phases.

This has been an invaluable opportunity to work with Principals from across Australia, focussing on current leadership areas, rubbing shoulders and networking with world renowned experts in their fields. Although the program initially had 6 phases, there has been a collective call for a 7^th phase to be hosted by Canberra Principals early in 2026, which will also give us the opportunity to showcase our school as the wonderful community and learning environment that it is. A special thank you to Kerrin Henderson and all school staff who have ensured that we have not just been business as usual, but have continued to thrive in my intermittent absences.

Community Council Meeting 

Everyone is invited to our next community council on Tuesday 16 September at 6.00pm in the Library. 

Employment Opportunities

We have begun to enter the expression phase of employment, meaning that I am meeting with all teachers to begin planning for 2026. We will again have 18 classes and have strong numbers in each year level. At this stage, there will be minimal staff movement, however, any vacancies that do occur will be advertised on the CE website. Please direct anyone you know who may be interested to the CE website.

Sad News

Last weekend the father of Mr Richard Kaltner passed peacefully. Richard has been our IT specialist for many years and has built a strong community family at St Jude’s over this time. Please keep Mr Kaltner and his family in your thoughts and prayers. 

Thank you for your ongoing support 

Cameron Reed - Principal 

Happy Birthday to

Emma R, Reetha J, Valentina F, Teddy M, Teddy W, Hridhaan S, Isla S, Eve L, Hallie O, Benji M, Calista C, Alira K. 

Mini Missions Fete 

On Wednesday in Week 10, Year 6 will hold our annual Mini Missions Fete which will raise funds for Mwamba Academy in Kenya to help build classrooms, supply clean water and schooling necessities. There will be a variety of stalls selling delicious treats and fun experiences to our students.

This year, like previous years, the Mini Missions fete will be cashless. Students will use a 'helping hand' to purchase items from the stalls, which need to be purchased through Qkr! These helping hands will be available for purchase on Qkr! from next Monday, 8 September, until 12noon on Monday 22 September. 

The fingers can then be torn off and used at each stall. There is no limit to the number of ‘Helping Hands’ purchased for each child, however there will be no refunds provided on helping hands at the end of the Missions Fete.  Students will have an opportunity to put any remaining fingers they have left into a raffle which will be drawn at the end of the day.

We are looking forward to the wonderful stalls that Year 6 have planned and thank you in advance for your generous support. 

ELC Car Park

The car park located out the front of the front office is for ELC student pick up ONLY between the times of 8.45-9.15am and 2.45-3.15pm. If you are not dropping off or collecting a student from the ELC, please do not park in this car park between these times. The main collection point for primary students is the shelter shed. Thank you to families who continually support this. 

2025 Dance Concert Video now available 

The video of the Dance Concert 2025 is now available. Pease visit this website: https://www.stjudesps.act.edu.au/dance-concert  to download the file.

Please download the video to your computer. Note that the video file is over 8 GB in size so will take a while.

Alternatively, please provide a USB drive with a minimum space available of 9 GB. The video will be copied to the USB and returned to you. Please enclose the USB in a plastic sealable bag with your name (child’s name) and year to help with the return of the USB.

Students departing St Jude’s at the end of 2025

We currently have waiting lists in several year levels. If your child is leaving St Jude’s at the end of 2025, can I ask that you please let the office know asap by clicking here and completing the online form. This will assist in giving another family an opportunity to join our wonderful community.

50th Anniversary Celebrations 

Seb's Mullet for Cancer

Seb C in year 6 will be cutting his mullet to raise money for the Cancer Council. He has been growing it for the past 4 years! Please click here to support his campaign.

On Monday we marked the canonisation of St Carlo Acutis with an assembly and activities. It was wonderful to see so many students wearing their favourite sports attire, just like Carlo did. The day sparked conversations about what is a saint, miracles and modern day distractions.

What is a saint?

A saint, simply put, is someone who is close to God and as such, is with God after they die. Such a person is recognised as placing God first in their earthly life and sharing their love for God with others. It's a simple task, yet a hard one, especially in today's modern world where there are many distractions pulling our attention in different directions. But Carlo is a perfect example for our students that it is possible.

Well done to Hannah, Molly, Miguel, Karston, Max, Lexi, Michael, Olivia and Pru for teaching everyone about Carlo, with such confidence. Next term, year 4 Gold will celebrate St Carlo's feast day which remains as 12 October. 

Year 1 Retreat

Next Thursday (during school time) our YM team will lead the Year 1 students in a short retreat focused on recognising and acting with the presence of God. Thank you to Katie and the YM team who have dedicated their own time for many weeks, to prepare. 

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make our Fathers Day celebrations so special last Friday and Monday and to all the dads and granddads who were able to join us for breakfast, open classrooms and the liturgy.  We hope you had a wonderful Fathers Day.

This week we celebrated the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the boy who loved Jesus and became our first millennial saint.  The ELC joined the school on Monday for an assembly to learn more about St Carlo’s life. We were invited to wear sports clothes like Carlos.

RU OK? Day - Thursday 11 September 

Lobsters and Turtles were invited to wear yellow clothing or accessories to school on Thursday 11 September for R U OK? Day. This is an important reminder to check in with family, friends and people around us and to ask R U OK any day. A conversation could change a life.

SJV Side Show Alley and Lunch order – Friday 19 September

The ELC will be attending the St John Vianney’s sideshow alley, a fun day to build community connections and raise funds for Catholic Mission. The ELC will cover the cost of the bus to SJV. Please check your note pockets for permission notes and also for the special lunch order that is available on the day. Please note lunch orders are due back by Wednesday 17th and are cash only. A small donation for Catholic Mission would also be appreciated.

Mini Missions Fete - Wednesday 24 September

Year 6 will hold our annual Mini Missions Fete to raise funds for Mwamba Academy in Kenya to help build classrooms, supply clean water and schooling necessities. There will be a variety of delicious treats and fun experiences for our students. Purchases will be made using ‘helping hands’, which must be bought in advance through Qkr! Orders close at 12 noon on Monday, September 22.

For your diary

Friday 31 October - Grandparents Day and Liturgy

Saturday 1 November – SJV Fete

Melissa Garside Author Visit for Year 3

Year 3's Author Pen pal is visiting the library on Friday 12 September at 12noon. Our students have an optional opportunity to purchase her books and have them signed on the day.  The Book Cow website is here.

Book Fair

Thank you all so much for supporting our Book Fair. It was a big hit and we have a healthy amount of credit to spend at the Book Cow for new library books.

Book Swap

Our Year 5/6 Book Club is organising a Book Swap to be run in the library during recess in Week 10. Students are encouraged to bring 1, 2 or 3 books that are good quality and and within a year of being appropriate for them to read.

More details to follow.

Wide Reading at St Jude's

We have been discussing the importance of  reading widely during library lessons this term. It has been so wonderful to see many students borrowing and reading books that have been recommended to them by their peers and myself. Just like we need to eat a balanced diet, we also need to read a variety of books. We will  continue to challenge ourselves to read outside of our comfort zones in the coming weeks.

Happy reading.

Mrs Hind - Teacher Librarian 

ACT Athletics Championships

We wish Zara LF, Marlia B and Aurora R all the very best when they represent St Jude's and the South Weston Region at the ACT Athletics Championships next Tuesday at the Institute of Sport.  We will be cheering you on.  

Uniform shop is next open  -  Pupil Free Day Monday 13 October 10am - 11am 

For second hand requests please email to: uniform.stjudes@gmail.com. Please include your child’s name and classroom for us to deliver to. **Please do not make payment for secondhand items, until we reply to your request confirming stock is available

End of Term Meal Deal - Thursday 25 September 

Meal Deal consists of a sausage, quelch stick and juice and a juice box for $6.50

Orders close Monday 22 September at 12 noon - no late orders will be accepted. 

Regular Canteen menu will not be available on this day 

Canteen Volunteers Week 9

Wednesday 17 September -  Felicity & Andy