St Denis School Newsletter
Term 4 Week 1
- Principal's Message
- Staffing News
- Other News
A Prayer of Gratitude
Loving God,
We thank You for the many blessings You place in our lives each day
for the gift of family and friends,
for the joy of learning and serving,
and for the moments that remind us of Your presence.
At St Denis, help us to be people of gratitude,
always recognising Your goodness and sharing it with others.
May our thankful hearts draw us closer to You
and inspire us to live with generosity and love.
Amen.
Week 1
Friday 24 October
P&F Disco
Principal’s Message
I hope everyone enjoyed a restful break. I have loved hearing from the students about their activities and adventures over the past two weeks. I was fortunate to spend some time with my family in beautiful Albany, where we completed a few stunning day hikes, including Bluff Knoll and Bald Head. I must admit, I was a little nervous about taking my boys on the climbs, but I was so proud of the way they tackled the trails, climbing and clambering over rocks and boulders with determination and smiles. I would recommend hiking boots over running shoes, but despite one tiny fall, I came away feeling refreshed by the magnificent views and grateful for the chance to enjoy the beauty of spring in full bloom.
As we begin Term 4, I am reminded of last weekend’s Gospel, which called us to live with a spirit of gratitude, recognising God’s blessings in both the simple and extraordinary moments of our lives. Gratitude helps us to see the goodness around us and to respond with joy and generosity.
This term promises to be both busy and joyful, filled with many opportunities to celebrate our students’ growth and achievements. I look forward to sharing these moments with our community as we journey together through the final part of our school year.
Staffing Updates
At the end of Term 3, School Advisory Chair Chris Gooch, Peer Principal Santino Giancono
(St Helena’s, Ellenbrook), and I had the pleasure of interviewing candidates for the Assistant Principal position. It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Dani Scaddan to the role of Assistant Principal from 2026.
Dani has been Assistant Principal at Mercy College for the past five years and brings with her a wealth of experience, energy and passion for Catholic education. We are delighted to welcome her to our beautiful school community and look forward to the wonderful contributions she will make in the years ahead.
Other News
On Monday, our staff spent the Professional Learning Day completing the fourth module of the Berry Street Education Model training. It was a wonderful way to culminate our two-year commitment to this program, which has had a significant impact on supporting student engagement and wellbeing across the school.
In addition, we are currently completing standardised testing for students across the year levels. This data, together with classroom assessments, helps us identify areas of growth for our students and plan for future learning opportunities. Over the coming months, the leadership team, in conjunction with staff, will be delving deeper into this data to continue shaping learning programs that best support our students’ needs.
Next week, we look forward to another Biblical Storytelling professional development session with Lisa Harrison from CEWA.
Finally, in the weeks ahead, you will see some updates regarding our School Values and Factions as we prepare for the transition into 2026. The community, staff and students have already been part of the consultation process, and we look forward to the final round of voting, an opportunity for all families to have their say.
Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us provide the very best learning opportunities for our students.
Warm Regards,
Sarah Potts
PRINCIPAL
Athletics Carnival 2025
What a spectacular day we had for our Athletics Carnival on Friday 26th September at the WA Athletics Stadium! The perfect weather, enthusiastic students, and wonderful parent spectators made it a day to remember.
Although our buses arrived a little late, it certainly didn’t dampen the excitement or the fun. The cheering throughout the day was incredible — with Nolan taking out the Faction Cheering Award after some truly energetic and creative chants!
Our marching performances reached a whole new level this year, complete with acrobatics and funky songs that had everyone smiling. There were outstanding individual achievements across the track and field events, with several records broken on the day.
The day wrapped up with the always-popular Teachers vs Year 6 Tug-o-War, where the teachers claimed victory once again! The teachers also took part in a hilarious inflatable race, featuring unicorns, lobsters, martians, and clowns — much to everyone’s amusement.
The inter-school team will be finalised this week with letters being sent home to parents. It will be held at the same venue, WA Athletics Stadium on Wednesday 5th November. Training for long jump and turbo javelin began last term on Wednesday morning from 8.15am and will continue until the carnival day.
Thank you to all the teachers, education assistants and our wonderful first aid ladies for making the day run so smoothly.
🏆 Final Faction Results
🥇 Nolan – 563 points
🥈 Keane – 478 points
🥉 Philip – 425 points
Our amazing individual results are:
📅 Save the Date – Parent Night (P&F)
The P&F warmly invites all parents to join us for a fun and social evening together.
Event Details:
• Date: Saturday, 1st November
• Time: 5-8pm (To be confirmed)
• Venue: Osborne Park Bowling Club, 31 Park Street, Tuart Hill
• Price: $20 per person
Save the date! Ticket will include lawn bowls and shared platters/nibbles. More information will come through the P&F reps soon! We look forward to seeing you there!
St Denis receives 20% of every membership sold and goes directly to our fundraiser”
St Denis Playgroup
Playgroup is a beautiful space for families to connect. It’s a joy to see new friendships form and to share in the fun of songs, stories, and playtime together.
We meet every week during term time—can’t wait to see you at our next session! More fun, new friends, and great memories are just around the corner.
Tennis Coaching
Before-School Tennis Coaching – Term 4
We’re excited to announce that before-school tennis coaching with Tennis Excellence is back for Term 4.
These fun and inclusive sessions are open to all students in Years 1-6 and will be held every week in school.
Program Details
• Year 1-3, Monday at 7:30 - 8:30 am
• Year 4-6, Monday at 7:30 - 8:30 am
Led by our qualified Tennis Excellence coaching team who all have Working with Children checks, these sessions are a great way for kids to build confidence, stay active, and start the school day with a smile.
Spots are limited – enrol now!
https://www.tennisexcellence.com.au/enrol/programs/school-programs/
Tennis Excellence – Where Great Tennis Begins!
Music Lessons
Keyed Up Music is a full teaching member of ASME (Australian Society of Music Educators). All of our teachers either currently studying music at an Australian University or Conservatorium or have already completed their tertiary musical studies, you can rest assured that your child is receiving the best possible instrumental education.
Scout Adventures
Carine Calisthenics Club
Carine Calisthenics Club are looking for new members in term 4. What is Calisthenics? It’s everything in one class! It’s equipment work, free exercise, marching, basic ballet, dancing and more! We are a family friendly club promoting fun, fitness and friendships! Visit our website for more details. www.carinecalisthenics.com.au
