Reflecting on Father’s Day
Reflecting on Father’s Day always makes me smile when I think of my own dad, who has been my lifelong hero. From the countless afternoons he spent driving me to after-school activities and extra-curricular events, to now coming to my rescue when my car needs a service and giving me a lift to school, he has always been there. Let’s not forget his talent for cooking amazing meals that bring our family together, and the fact that the Potts boys prefer to eat “Grandad’s barbecues” over mine, even though I think the meat is a little too well done! These meals have always been a time to share our lives and keep us happy and well-fed.
My dad’s support has been constant in both big and small ways, and I am excited to celebrate all the wonderful fathers and father figures who do the same for their families here at our school. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing P&F and volunteers for all the work that goes into organising and hosting these events. I am sure our Father’s Day breakfast will be no exception. Following the breakfast, please join us at 9am in the hall for a Father’s Day liturgy prepared by our Pre-Primary class.
🎶 Performing Arts News 🎶
Congratulations to our students who entered individual categories in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival:
Strings Solo (Yrs 4–6)
Certificate of Excellence: Isabella Cianflone
Guitar Solo – Acoustic/Classical (Yrs 4–6)
Certificate of Excellence: Harvey Dowling
Congratulations also to our wonderful Junior and Senior Choirs for their beautiful performances in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. Their joy, talent, and hard work shone through, and we are so proud of them.
An enormous thank you to our dedicated Music Teacher, Cathy Cotton, for her passion and preparation. Cathy’s attention to detail, even knitting hair ties to match the choir uniforms, is such a wonderful reflection of her care for our students and school community.
🏆 St Denis Netball News! 🏐
Congratulations to our Year 5 Netball team, who finished the season as Premiers for their division and proudly sat on top of the ladder on percentages! What an incredible achievement. We are so proud of their teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship throughout the season.
Well done, girls! 🎉
Paul Litherland Student & Parent Workshop (Surf Online Safe)
We are very pleased to welcome Paul Litherland from Surf Online Safe to our school on Wednesday, 10 September. Paul is one of Australia’s leading experts in cyber safety and will be working with both our students and parents.
• Sessions on the day: Student Session (Years 4 – 6): During school hours
Parent Workshop: 5:30pm – 6:30pm (School Hall)
This workshop is a valuable opportunity for parents to learn practical strategies to support your children as they navigate the digital world. We strongly encourage all parents to attend, as the content is highly relevant, engaging and important for our school community.
👉 If you are available to attend, please RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/r/3SFQSxNv3u
For more information about Paul and his work, you can visit Surf Online Safe: https://www.surfonlinesafe.com.au/about.html
Staffing Updates
As we move into Term 4, I would like to share some staffing updates with you.
We warmly welcome Isabella Lacey, who will be working with our Year 3 students until the end of the year while Elizabeth Uchanski commences maternity leave.
I have commenced the recruitment process to fill the position of Eugene Potito, this appointment will take effect from 2026. In Term 4, Casey Bakunowicz will be taking on the responsibilities of both Assistant Principals and relinquishing her teaching load. I sincerely thank her for her willingness to step into both roles.
For specialist areas in Term 4, we are fortunate to have:
• Caroline Pilleria teaching Science and Early Childhood Technology
• Leone McNamara teaching Year 2-6 Technology
• Casey Bakunowicz continuing to provide Enrichment
We are grateful to all staff for their commitment and flexibility in ensuring our students continue to receive high-quality learning experiences.
Retirement News
We acknowledge Lea Williams for her outstanding 33 years of service in Catholic school administration. During this time, Lea has worked with 11 Principals, offering her professionalism, care, and dedication to our school communities.
As she retires at the end of this year, we thank Lea sincerely for all she has given and wish her every blessing for the future. Recruitment has now begun to find a suitable replacement for the 2026 school year.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.
Sarah Potts
PRINCIPAL
