Dear Families,

Thank you to those parents who have let me know there were concerns around the recent tree removals. May I assure you that the decision was not a light one, but made with the assurance that these will be more than replaced with mature trees. Actually, in line with the Landscape Master Plan, 15 new trees will replace the 3 trees removed in this area and have been selected as very suitable in relation to shade, hardiness and acceptable root coverage.

There already 52 more trees on our site than when the 2017 audit was taken, so may I assure you that, along with the several hundred new shrubs as part of the Stage 2 development, our school will have a significant green footprint.

By way of explanation, when we moved the Brigidine roses from the bed outside OSHC, plane tree roots were throughout the area and advice was that they had made their way under the toilet block in search of water. Our arborists informed us that the trees were planted too close to each other, were competing for water and, when the toilet block area is excavated, would suffer significant damage and become a risk to students.

In the landscape drawing above you will note the significant improvements planned for our next stage which include plantings, appropriate drainage and run off considerations. Our trees will have access to water which is not the case with current paving and synthetic surfaces.

STEM Expo
I am looking forward to next Wednesday's after-school STEM Expo. We will be exhibiting student work in the De Mazenod Hall during the afternoon and there will be an opportunity to view the new building's ‘Learning Terrace’ which is our STEM space from 2022.  

Parents are invited to attend at the following times - 

3:15pm - Reception to Year 2  
4:00pm - Year 3-4 
4:45pm - Year 5-6 

Tours of the new STEM Learning Terrace and a sausage sizzle will be available.  

Please remember that all visitors are required to wear a mask.