Dear Parents/Caregivers,
Our Little Dominican Transition Program starts next week, where we welcome 25 new students into our Dominican School Community. This term we also welcomed Sofia (Year 2) Brodie (Year 2), Kasper (Rec), Alayna (Rec) and Joseph (Year 4). We extend a warm welcome to all our new students, and families and we hope that their journey at our school will be full of excitement, new learning and lasting friendships.
PARENTS IN EDUCATION GRANT
This year we applied for the Parents in Education (PIE) grant. The PIE grant program is supported by the Office of the Minister for Education, Training, and Skills, Government of South Australia. Catholic School Parents South Australia is responsible for administering the grants for Catholic Schools in South Australia.
The funding is for projects that demonstrate:
- empowerment of parents to develop strong and positive partnerships with schools and preschools
- parents and staff working together to make schools and preschools safer and more inclusive
- development of parent knowledge and skills on how to support their child to talk about their wellbeing, any safety concerns they have, and to ask for help when needed.
This grant funded our Parent Cyber Safety session with the Carly Ryan Foundation, held earlier this year. I would sincerely like to thank all the families who were in attendance, as the safety of all our students is of our upmost priority.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC PRIMARY PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE: Living Well to Lead
Last week I attended this year’s South Australian Catholic Primary Principal Association (SACPPA) conference, which was centred on the theme, ‘Living Well to Lead’.
The Living Well to Lead Conference provided principals with valuable insights and strategies to enhance their leadership skills and promote well-being within their schools. It aimed to equip principals with the tools and knowledge to lead their schools effectively while prioritising the well-being of themselves and their communities.
All leaders left with a renewed sense of self and a toolkit of strategies to implement in their schools.
The SACPPA conference once again proved to be a pivotal event for educational leaders, providing us with the insights and inspiration needed to lead our schools effectively now and into the future. Together, all Catholic leaders are poised to make a lasting impact, ensuring that South Australian Catholic primary schools remain beacons of high performance and holistic education.
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
Last Week we celebrated National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June), a period dedicated to reflecting on our collective histories and cultures and striving for a brighter future for all Australians.
The theme for Reconciliation Week 2025, "Bridging Now to Next," encourages Australians to look ahead and persist in the journey towards a more united and respectful nation, drawing wisdom from past experiences.
Lord God, bring us together as one, reconciled with you and with each other.
You made us in your likeness. You gave us your Son, Jesus Christ.
He has given us forgiveness from sin.
Lord God, bring us together as one, different in culture, but given new life in Jesus Christ:
Together as your body, your church, your people. Lord God, bring us together as one, reconciled, healed, forgiven, sharing you with others as you have called us to do.
In Jesus Christ, let us be together as one.
PUPIL FREE DAY
This Friday on the Pupil Free Day all staff will be participating in a staff retreat day that will focus on Living Veritas with Hope Filled Hearts and Hands, with a focus on Ecological Conversion.
This staff retreat day is designed to foster personal and professional growth among staff members, to enhance teamwork, deepen individual reflection, and to participate in faith in action.
A huge thank you to Mrs Kovacev for her thorough planning and organisation of this event.
COLOUR RUN - THANKYOU
A huge thank you to all our students, families and wider school community for all your support. It is with great pleasure to share that our Monty’s Colour Fun Run was a huge success.
It was fantastic to see the spirit and enthusiasm that was displayed in supporting our school. Seeing the smiles on the student’s faces during the event and everyone coming together was truly fabulous!
Together, our community raised an amazing $17,157.50 and after all fundraising expenses are deducted, we have a grand total of $9,436.62 which will go toward valuable school resources including our Playground.
The incentive prizes have been ordered and are on their way. Once we receive the prize order at the school, we will sort and distribute them in a timely manner.
Again, we thank you for your support and fundraising efforts, we couldn’t have done it without you!
STUDENTS JOIN NATIONWIDE READING CELEBRATION
Our students had an amazing time participating in National Simultaneous Storytime this year,
joining thousands of children across Australia to read "Truck Cat" together at midday on Wednesday, May 21st. The excitement was palpable as our classes gathered together, knowing that students from schools nationwide were reading the same story at exactly the same time. The children were captivated by the adventures of the clever cat who helps solve problems on the road, and many were inspired to draw their own truck cat characters afterward. This wonderful annual event, organised by the Australian Library and Information Association, helps promote the joy of reading and literacy while creating a sense of connection between students across the country. It was heartwarming to see our students so engaged and enthusiastic about reading, and many have already asked when we can participate again next year!
RECONCILIATION WEEK LITURGY
Last Wednesday, The Nunga Club led an R-6 Reconciliation Week Liturgy, on the theme ‘Bridging Now to Next’. We gathered as one, to give thanks for the diversity of peoples and cultures with which we live. At Dominican, Reconciliation means that we have the grace to say sorry, to hear sorry and to live with forgiveness. We thank the Nunga Club for leading us in prayer and reflection during Reconciliation Week.
VINNIES WINTER APPEAL
As winter sets in, our Justice Leaders are once again showing us what it means to lead with compassion and purpose. Their latest initiative, the Vinnies Winter Appeal, calls on our
school community to step up and support those experiencing homelessness and hardship during the coldest months of the year.
The Vinnies Winter Appeal is more than just a charity drive; it’s a powerful reminder that social justice starts with action. With energy and empathy, our Justice Leaders have been raising awareness about the challenges many Australians face when they don’t have access to warm clothing, safe shelter, or basic necessities. They’ve taken on the role of educating their peers and encouraging everyone to reflect on how we can help make a difference—right here and now.
Through a school-wide campaign, the Justice Leaders are collecting donations of non-perishable food items. These items will go directly to the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies), where they’ll support local individuals and families in need.
The appeal launch day is on Thursday 5th June with a Pyjama Winter Warmers Casual Day. Donations will continue to be collected until Monday Week 10.
Let’s rally behind this important cause and show that our school community stands with those doing it tough this winter. Together, we can warm hearts, one act of kindness at a time.
PHILIP KENNEDY CENTRE VISIT
Our Year 6 Justice Leaders are proudly taking part in a unique and inspiring project as they collaborate with residents of Southern Cross Care, Philip Kennedy Centre for the 2025 South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival.
This intergenerational art initiative is all about connection—through creativity, storytelling, and shared experiences. In their first visit, students spent time getting to know the residents, listening to their life journeys and gathering inspiration to create original portraits.
On their second visit, students returned for a powerful portrait reveal session, where they presented the artworks they had created of their new friends. The joy, surprise, and heartfelt reactions from residents made the moment unforgettable for all involved.
These portraits will become part of a public exhibition in August, as our school proudly takes part in the SALA Festival, celebrating not just art, but the relationships formed across generations.
This project is a wonderful example of how creativity can bring people together and how our Justice Leaders are living out values of empathy, respect, and community engagement.
Matt Kosta
CLASSROOM TEACHER
MASTERING THE BASICS OF MOVEMENT!
This term in Reception PE lessons, students have been developing their fundamental movement skills, focusing on two key areas—balancing and jumping. These essential skills form the foundation for physical activity and play, helping our young learners build confidence, coordination, and strength.
Through a variety of fun and engaging activities, students have explored different ways to balance, from standing on one foot to carefully navigating obstacle courses. They have also practiced jumping with control, experimenting with different techniques such as two-foot jumps, hopping, and landing safely.
It has been wonderful to see students improving each week, growing in their ability to move with stability and confidence.
Matthew Annetta
PE TEACHER AND SPORTS COORDINATOR
INTRODUCING...
ZALI SEDGMAN - EDUCATION SUPPORT OFFICER
1. What inspired you to become an Education Support Officer?
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, and I knew that to become the best teacher I could be, the
best place to start was as an ESO. Being in the classroom every day, learning from today’s kids and the incredible staff here at Dominican—who amaze me in new ways all the time—has been an inspiring and invaluable experience.
2. What do you enjoy most about working with students and staff?
I really enjoy the sense of connection and teamwork. The students make each day meaningful, and I feel lucky to learn from such supportive and knowledgeable ESO/Teacher staff who are always willing to share their time and wisdom.
3. Can you share a memorable experience or success story from your time at the school?
A memorable moment for me has been watching one of the students I work with show incredible progress from Term 1 to now. Seeing their confidence and skills grow over time has been so rewarding—it’s moments like this that remind me why I love this work.
4. What do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies or interests?
Outside of school, I teach dance and musical theatre, which I absolutely love. I also enjoy taking my puppy Ollie on long walks—he’s full of energy and always makes me laugh.
5. Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact about me is that I studied musical theatre in Melbourne and have performed in a range of shows. And now, I even get to work with Bluey and Bingo—which is just as fun as it sounds!
CHARACTER STRENGTH - CREATIVITY
At Dominican, we believe that creativity is more than just painting pretty pictures or building with blocks—it's a vital part of every child's development!
Developing the character strength of creativity helps children to express themselves, solve problems, and think outside the box. Whether they’re drawing a dragon, writing a story, or inventing a new game at recess, they’re learning to use their imagination in powerful ways. Creative play not only enhances artistic skills, but also boosts problem-solving abilities, emotional expression, and social interaction.
Creative activities stimulate the brain and help children develop important skills like critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. These are the same skills they’ll use in Science, Math, and even when making new friends! Creative play can also help children to learn to understand and manage their emotions, develop empathy and improve their capacity to collaborate and connect with others.
How can we nurture children’s creativity? At school they participate in Art, Music and Performing Arts, as well as storytelling and STEM projects. Creativity is part of every child’s day. We also encourage students to ask questions, try new things, and celebrate their ideas—no matter how big or small. Let’s continue to nurture creativity at home too! Try setting aside time for drawing, building, dancing, or even just daydreaming. You never know what amazing ideas your child might come up with!
WELLBEING ARTS SHOWCASE
On Tuesday the 24th of June Dominican School will be having an Arts Showcase Night to present Art we have created based on a positive emotion that classes have been learning about, as part of their Wellbeing program. Some of the emotions that students have been learning about include hope, joy, compassion and love. All classes, as well as OSHC and playgroup, have been busy creating a variety of Artworks that will be on display on the night. It well be held from 5-7pm in the breakout spaces in the Junior Primary and Middle Primary area. We would love to see lots of families coming to see the amazing art on display!
Lisa Osborne
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION COORDINATOR/WELLBEING SUPPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR
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SCHOOL BEANIES
School Beanies will once again be sold via Qkr or from the Front Office for $25. These beanies can be worn before and after school, at break times and at co-curricular and community events; they cannot be worn in the classroom.
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