Show respect to everyone - we are all made in the image of God

A copy of our Bushfire Plan can be found here on our website - https://www.padcath.wa.edu.au/formsandprocedures

Friday 30 May

Tuesday 3 June

Friday 15 August

Monday 15 September

Please check the PCPS community calendar for upcoming and future dates as the calendar is regularly updated https://www.padcath.wa.edu.au/community-calendar

Dear Parents

Easter this year falls during the holidays commencing with Palm Sunday, this coming weekend. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and the final week of Lent. We reflect upon the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, during which palm branches were placed in his path, before his arrest on Holy Thursday, his crucifixion on Good Friday and finally the celebration of our Risen Lord on Easter Sunday. On Monday we had a beautiful prayer service as a whole where we reflected upon the Holy Week events.

We loved listening to the Easter story and telling all of our friends what happened at Easter time. Mrs Westrope used palm leaves, dolls and and the cross to help tell the story.

We visited the chicks in Pre Primary and talked about how they hatch from the eggs to crate new life. We also planted some bean sprout seeds to take home that have also come to life.

We have made crosses for Jesus and added sparkles and gems to show that Jesus sparkles in our hearts.

Lastly, we snipped and cut some beautiful flowers that God made for us.

In Pre Kindy we planted seeds to show that our tiny seeds lay quiet and still but then soon they will come alive at Easter time just like Jesus!

New life is all around us and our PP children have been witnessing it firsthand!

From the magical transformation of butterflies, the leap into life of tiny frogs and the wonder of eggs hatching, they have been learning about growth, renewal, and new beginnings.

Through these experiences, they have also been exploring the story of Jesus - His love, sacrifice and the promise of new life. What a beautiful journey of discovery!

This week PCPS underwent a School Review. The comprehensive review provides an opportunity for a panel of educators, external to the school, to affirm and report on the improvement journey at the school, strategic direction, the Principals leadership and the Leadership Team.

As part of the process the external panel met with the Principal, Leadership Team, a selection of staff, a selection of students, Parish Priest and parent representatives, the Advisory Council and P&F Executive.

I am extremely proud to announce that we past with flying colours! We received an absolutely fantastic report in the four pillars of catholic Identity, Education, Community and Stewardship.

I have included below some snippets from our report.

· The school possesses a comprehensive understanding of Catholic Identity, which is distinctly manifested in the school's daily practices and culture.

· The school maintains a robust relationship with the Parish.

· The longstanding collaboration between the school and the parish has significantly contributed to the development of a strong Catholic Identity and a shared language between the two entities. This strong partnership reinforces the school’s community ethos and its faith-based mission.

· The school upholds long standing rituals and practices that reflect a robust Catholic culture.

· The religious education programs are enriched by the school's broader story and rich Mercy identity.

The Parish Priest commended the school and leadership team on the high standard of student preparation when students received their sacraments.

· Faith formation constitutes a cornerstone of the school's ethos, with staff members receiving numerous opportunities to establish personalized spiritual growth objectives. Staff expressed appreciation for faith formation opportunities.

· The panel has observed that decisions made by the leadership team are Christ-centred and child-focused.

· Decisions are made through a combination of leadership-led and collaborative processes, which is a positive approach.

· There is a vibrant professional culture at PCPS, characterized by "laughter, goodwill and camaraderie". Staff retention remains high because employees experience a workplace that values their holistic development—professionally, personally, and spiritually.

· There are high ratings for staff morale and satisfaction from the Climate Survey.

· Parents and students recognise the depth of academic and specialist programmes opportunities PCPS students have within the community.

· PCPS celebrates its academic achievements, with a significantly larger proportion of students meeting and exceeding national NAPLAN benchmarks compared to national averages in all domains.

· All students and teachers enjoy well-resourced classrooms, a variety of specialist learning spaces and extensive sporting and play facilities to support the learning opportunities of students at PCPS.

· Teachers and parents felt very supported with the ongoing education of students with special needs.

· The collective effort to build a professional learning culture, led by school leadership, has placed learning at the centre of Padbury Catholic Primary School.

· Teachers felt very supported by leadership in their professional roles and appreciated the collaborative culture among colleagues and the opportunity to work with professionals from other schools.

· Parents and students celebrated their teachers, recognising the quality and professionalism of the staff at PCPS.

· Students benefit from well-rounded programs that foster leadership, peer connections, and active engagement. Climate survey results highlight positive student support and clarity of rules.

· The Leadership Team views staff as highly competent, confident, and pastoral professionals. Teachers are empowered with significant autonomy in addressing school-based challenges and managing home-school relationships. This culture of trust fosters professional agency and respect for educators' decisions and actions. Decisions are made after careful consideration and wide consultation.

· It was widely acknowledged by stakeholders that educators and staff are the most important resource in nurturing growth and progress in students. The manner in which their expertise and dedication provides fun-filled, enjoyable, differentiated and learning opportunities is to be commended.

· PCPS thrives in fostering a strong sense of community and nurturing a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect.

· The pastoral care work and initiatives the school community undertakes is exemplary and is commended by all stakeholders.

· The efforts to prioritise well-being, emphasise respectful relationships, firmly grounded in Catholic Social Teachings and guided by the ‘Mercy’ lens.

· Pastoral care is evident amongst staff where there is culture of trust and learning. Leadership fosters an atmosphere where both teachers and students feel valued and empowered to express themselves.

· PCPS recognises parents as the first educators of their children, and partners with them, to support their children.

· The school has a positive, supportive parent body, who work with the school for the benefit of all the students.

· Active and engaged parents contribute significantly to the school’s positive culture. The motto "Love one another" resonates strongly across learning areas, further solidifying the bonds between families and the school. This was often referred to from parent data sources.

· Parents’ satisfaction levels are reflected in survey results indicate a very welcoming school environment, affirmation of diversity, communication effectiveness, quality assessment and feedback and very high overall satisfaction.

· The P&F plays an enthusiastic and vital role in the school community.

· The School Advisory Council represents the Catholic school’s community and plays an active role in nurturing and strengthening the Catholic culture of the school.

· The staff community plays a pivotal role in the school’s success, demonstrating strong collaboration and a pastoral ethos.

· Leadership actively supports and fosters positive relationships among staff and the wider school community.

· Parents frequently mention the high quality of staff as a primary reason for selecting the school.

· Survey results reflect strong satisfaction levels among staff, with staff collegiality, psychological safety, job satisfaction, and equity and diversity all achieving highly.

· The staffing culture and practices at PCPS demonstrate exemplary alignment with Catholic Education Western Australia's stewardship expectations, reflecting a profound commitment to Catholic identity and values across multiple dimensions, thereby ensuring a structured, educational, and collaborative approach to teaching and learning.

· PCPS demonstrates exemplary alignment with the tenets of the Finance, Infrastructure and Compliance framework, balancing fiscal responsibility with Gospel values and strategic planning.

· PCPS demonstrates comprehensive implementation of the relevant Finance, Infrastructure and Compliance expectations demanded of a school operating under the CEWA umbrella. The financial stability results from collaborative efforts between school leadership, the Advisory Council, and key stakeholders in practicing sound fiscal management.

· School leadership demonstrates pastoral sensitivity through an open, receptive approach to families facing challenges. This approach, combined with practical support mechanisms, reflects the school's deeper commitment to justice, fairness and equity.

· Particularly noteworthy is the school's commitment to economic inclusivity. PCPS implements a fee structure incorporating Health Care Card discounts for eligible families. PCPS acts in an ethical and respectful manner in ensuring fees are set at an appropriate level. The fee collection policy follows CEWA directives.

· PCPS operates with clear foresight and strategic planning embracing sound governance principles, Work Health and Safety considerations and regulatory compliance.

· Staff demonstrate thorough knowledge of and adherence to the school's code of conduct through their professional knowledge and actions.

· The comprehensive alignment with CEWA's stewardship expectations has cultivated a staff community that not only delivers excellent education but also authentically models Catholic values for students, families and the broader community.

· Guided by Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si', the school recognises the profound interconnectedness between humanity and nature, embedding values of respect, justice, and compassion in environmental practices to preserve God's creation for current and future generations.

· The way in which the school has beautified its learning areas and grounds was acknowledged and valued enthusiastically by all. The school's natural environment continues to evolve through thoughtful development.

Wishing all PCPS families a joyous and peaceful Easter. May this season of renewal bring hope, happiness and cherished moments with loved ones. Enjoy the Easter celebrations together!

Mrs Margaret Williamson

Principal

If a family would like to place a note in the Pastoral Care section of the newsletter in relation to a birth or death, or if a family would like the whole school community to pray for any special intentions e.g. a family member who is ill, please send a message to please let your child’s class teacher or Mrs Ellen at the front office know or send an email to admin@padcath.wa.edu.au

After reviewing over 1000 entries for our Easter Colouring in Competition CEWA Projects is very pleased to announce that the following PCPS children will be receiving a Highly Commendable certificate for their entries. Year 5 students - Luca C and Mackenzie D

Congratulations to our Mercy Award winners for term one:

PPO John James Greene Excellence

PPW Charlie Delort Excellence

Yr 1O Avery Fletcher Mercy

Yr 1W Lachlan Knights Excellence

Yr 2O Rowan Simpson Mercy

Yr 2W Chloe St Ledger Mercy

Yr 3O Tommaso Da Rui Excellence

Yr 3W Jasper Maseyk Excellence

Yr 4O Harry Padmanabhan Compassion

Yr 4W Lia Milan Excellence

Yr 5O Molly Epding Compassion

Yr 5W Thomas Morcos Excellence

Yr 6O Juliet Oliver Dignity

Yr 6W Honey Charlton Hospitality

We are pleased to welcome Rev. Fr. Huu Tri (Tree) Nguyen to our parish from Tuesday, 8th April.

To read the current newsletter please follow the link below

Our Lady of the Mission

We would like to thank the volunteers who made quick work of moving soil from the front carpark to the raised garden beds and future sensory garden in the Early Learning Centre on Wednesday 2 April. The school received a Waste Sorted and a Woolworths grant that has made these future usable spaces possible.

There was great teamwork with the mums Tara Clifford, Renae Main-Wilkinson and Mairead Stafford on the shovels out the front and then our wonderful Dad’s wheelbarrowing the soil into the beds which included Reece Blechynden and his apprentice, Tom Crackel, and Brendan Rooney. Also a thank you to Brittany Kelsall for assembling the garden beds last year.

Ms Passera

Kindy Teacher

To celebrate World Maths Day each year group got together to have a fun and interactive maths session. Groups challenged themselves to build the tallest tower, complete a range of code breaking exercises, become human calculators, create maths art and play a range of team games. The sessions were a great way for the students to engage with mathematics in a variety of forms and to really think about how maths shapes our everyday life.

We congratulate the students for their collaboration, creativity and wonderful problem-solving!

Mrs Gerber

Maths Support Teacher

Today, our Year 5 and 6 extension students had the privilege of hosting a very special guest speaker, Joel, a university student with a passion for philosophy. Joel joined us for an insightful and engaging session that sparked thoughtful discussions among the students.

Throughout the session, Joel introduced the students to the fascinating world of philosophy, guiding them through thought-provoking questions and real-life experiences that encouraged deep reflection. The students were able to engage with ideas that challenged their thinking and inspired them to consider different perspectives.

The conversations were both lively and reflective, with many students eagerly sharing their thoughts and exploring new concepts. It was an incredible opportunity for our students to not only learn about philosophy but to also apply critical thinking to everyday scenarios.

We are so grateful to Joel for taking the time to visit and share his knowledge with us. It was an enriching experience that encouraged our students to think outside the box and engage in meaningful discussions about life, knowledge, and the world around them.

A huge thank you to Joel for making today so memorable!

Mrs Bottega

Extension Teacher

Starting in Term 2 we will be having a knitting Club every Tuesday morning and Wednesday lunch time.

When: Tuesday mornings at 7:45 a.m. and Wednesday lunch time at 12:50pm

Where: Tuesday Year 3W classroom and Wednesday Library

Who: Children from Year 3 to Year 6

What you need: To start children don’t need to bring anything just a love of wanting to learn a great hobby!

Helpers: If any parents or grandparents would like to assist with helping the ‘beginners’ learn to knit please get in contact with me either by dropping in to speak to me or emailing me.

I look forward to seeing our results in a few months’ time!

Mrs Bubnich

Coordinator

The Interschool Swimming Carnival took place at Perth HPC stadium on Friday 4th April. Our students have been training hard before school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at State Swim Whitfords. Thanks to Mr O’Mara and Mrs Eccles for assisting with training.

The day was a cold and wet day, not ideal for our athletes but they showed great resilience to try their hardest for our school. Whitfords Catholic were champions this year. Padbury competed strongly but finished 6th on the day.

The final scores were:

1st Whitfords 572 points

2nd St Marks 556 points

3rd St Stephens Duncraig 528 points

4th Peter Moyes 430 points

5th LJBC 408 points

6th Padbury Catholic 378 points

7th St Simon Peter 306 points

8th St Stephens Carramar 180 points

Running Club will be returning after the holidays. Students from all Year levels are invited to walk or run every Wednesday morning, weather permitting on the school oval. Running Club will commence at 7:55am and conclude at 8:20am. Students wishing to attend may wear sports uniform.

Mr Hignett

Sport Teacher

Congratulations to Isabelle Cousins from Year 5 Orange who won the Watson perpetual trophy for highest total overall points out of all athletes from Hamersley Little Athletics Centre and Hamersley U/10 Champion Girl!

Congratulations to Mackenzie Dell’orso who recently competed at the Australian Karate Open Championships in Sydney. She won a Gold medal in the U12 Kumite division and is currently the Australian Open Champion.

We are writing to inform you about some upcoming changes to the uniform shop operations on site at Padbury Catholic Primary School that will take place starting Term 2.

After discussions with the Leadership Team, the uniform shop on site will now be open the first Friday of each month, on a Friday morning, 8.15am-9.15am.

This change is intended to accommodate the community needs, especially since we have observed that the majority of parents prefer utilising the online shopping option or visiting our Osborne Park Showroom directly.

Our showroom at Unit 1 Guthrie St is open everyday of the week Mon-Thur 8am-4pm and Fri 8am-1pm. In addition, at the end of Term 2 (4 July 2025), the remaining stock will be moved offsite to our Osborne Park site and the uniform shop on the school site will no longer be open.

We appreciate your support and understanding as we transition though these changes. An updated schedule of opening dates will be made available asap.

Jodie Muskarovsky

Business Development Manager

JENNY FRANKLIN ENTERPRISES

Enrolments and interviews are now taking place for Pre Kindy 2026 and 2027

Please note that Kindy 2026 is full!

Don’t forget to enrol siblings as some families have missed out.

IF YOU HAVE A BABY ENROL THEM NOW!

If you have friends or neighbours who have children who are 3 years old , please talk to them about our exciting Pre-Kindy programme and encourage them to enrol for future years.

We’re excited to roll out our Containers for Change fundraising initiative! It’s a simple and effective way our PCPS community can support sustainability while raising funds for school projects.

Students can pop eligible 10c containers into the Containers for Change bin located in the amphitheatre during school hours.

Families are also welcome to support this initiative by:

• Scanning our P&F barcode at any official Containers for Change return centre.
• Dropping off bags of eligible containers at designated drop points using our scheme ID.
• Bringing containers to school and adding them to the collection bin.

Already collecting containers at home for your own refund? That’s totally fine—this is just another way to give back if you're keen to contribute!

Every 10c goes directly to projects that benefit our kids—whether it’s enhancing school facilities, adding new resources, or bringing our community events to life. Little actions, big impact.

Keep an eye out in Term 2 for more information from our Containers for Change team!

Dads and Kids Campout
Saturday, 24 May – Ern Halliday Recreation Camp, Hillarys
A much-loved P&F tradition that’s all about making memories!
Tickets available now via Flexischools

Neuro-Inclusion Seminar with Claire Britton
Wednesday, 14 May @ 6pm – School Hall
A valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of neurodiversity.
Free event – bookings via Flexischools

Want to get involved but not sure where to start? We’re currently filling a few key roles for next year and beyond—there’s something for everyone, and you’ll be part of a supportive team.

• Family Fair 2026 – 5 of 8 planning spots filled. Join the dream team bringing this much-anticipated event to life!
• Mother’s Day 2026 – Shadow Dan this year and step up in 2026 to help celebrate our amazing mums.
• Sausage Sizzle (Terms 2 & 3) – Ann’s looking for a cooking buddy and someone to learn the ropes for future events.

Whether you've got a few hours or want to dive right in, we'd love to hear from you. Community events only happen with the help of amazing volunteers like you!

Congratulations to The Oliver Family, winners of our VIP Car Bay for Term 2! Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful nominations over the last 2 weeks!

Got a brilliant idea for a fundraising event, workshop, or community activity for 2026? We’re all ears! We’re especially keen to hear from those passionate about sustainability to join forces with our Containers for Change team or pitch us something new—we’d love to collaborate.

Wishing everyone a wonderful easter!

Cathy Farrell

P&F Chair