Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace. - Confucius

Preserving instructional time is a key foundation in our approach to ensuring that all students receive an outstanding education during their time at Nazareth. It is all about maximising the time that your child has with their subject teachers. When combined with high rates of student attendance, fewer disruptions that take teachers and/or students away from their classes gives all students the best chance to learn.

Over the last two years, we also have worked to better coordinate disruptions caused by camps, excursions and so forth to enable teachers and students to get into a better rhythm of learning and assessment. In this regard, the splitting of Secondary into Middle and Senior schools has halved the volume of disruption in both. The absence of teachers attending Year 12 Retreats, for example, has no impact on Middle School Classes in Year 7 to Year 9.

As you know, Friday this week is a Pupil Free Day. ‘So much for fewer disruptions,’ I hear you say. Coming into 2026 we have aligned the pupil free days across Primary, Middle and Senior Schools except for Term 4 when offsetting the days for Primary and Middle allows us to host the Primary Sports day at Flinders Park Campus. We have also eliminated the remaining half days at the end of term.

Why Week 6? It’s all about setting ourselves up for a strong second half of term. During the pupil free day our teachers make the most of the opportunity to compare notes, evaluate courses and undertake final planning for Weeks 7-11. Using Friday of Week 6 also creates an opportunity for many families to get away for an even longer weekend while there are many Year 12 students who welcome the break from regular classes to complete major assessment tasks due at this time.

Lastly, as the weather cools I extend our congratulations to Nazareth’s talented swimmers from Year 7 to Year 12 who represented the college brilliantly on Tuesday evening at the Catholic Coeducational Swim Meet for Secondary Students and for our Year 4 to Year 6 primary stars who competed in the Western District Swim Meet at Immanuel College on Wednesday.

Best wishes for the long weekend.

Brian Schumacher
College Principal

Our Open Day showcases the start of your child's secondary schooling journey at Nazareth.

At Nazareth, we believe in thinking big…
…not because we are big in numbers, but because we are proud of what our size creates: A Big Welcome. Big Opportunities. Big Futures. Big Hearts.

Being part of something bigger means belonging to a vibrant and inclusive community - where every student finds their place, and every family is connected.

Big means offering diverse choices, because each young person is unique and has the right to create their own pathway to success.

Big means our students always have the support and opportunities to challenge themselves, try new things, and inspire their own growth as they shape their futures.

Big means a call to lead with compassion, grounded in our Catholic faith, and to make a lasting impact on the world around them.

We invite our current families to experience Open Day alongside new families, as we showcase the dynamic learning environment and opportunities that make Nazareth special.

Wednesday 18 March | 5pm – 7pm | Flinders Park Campus
Principal’s Address at 5:45pm

Explore our state-of-the-art facilities, see learning in action, and connect with our passionate educators. Be part of something big - join us for Open Day!

Activating Identity & Futures (AIF) is a Year 12 subject that encourages students to take ownership of their learning by exploring an area of personal interest and planning future pathways. As part of this process, students seek feedback from mentors with relevant experience to help refine their ideas and goals.

To support this program, we invite parents and guardians to join a 45-minute mentoring session with a small group of year 12 students where you will listen to project ideas and offer feedback. These sessions will take place at the Nazareth Kidman Park Campus from 8:15am – 9:00am on:

Thursday 26 March | 8:15am - 9:00am
or
Monday 30 March | 8:15am - 9:00am

As student topics are diverse, we welcome experience gained in many ways — through your profession, cultural background, travel, life experiences, hobbies, interests or industries you’ve been part of. Areas may include health, sport, science, arts, hospitality, business, food, cultural identity and more. Your unique perspective can help students think more broadly and confidently about their futures.

If you have something to share, please register your interest here or contact Sarah Eley for more information.

A current Working With Children Check is required.

Grounded by our Catholic beliefs, we aspire to be a living experience of Church, with every family at the heart.

The 'Nazareth Connects’ food relief program offers care and support through preparing meals and snacks and other short-term help for families who may find themselves “running on empty”.

You only need to help once to make a difference! It’s also a great way to meet other families if you are new to our community.

Would you like to be involved in the next Naz Connects Cook up?

Monday 23 March

6pm - 7:30pm

Flinders Park Campus

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Sarah Eley.

A reminder that tomorrow, Friday 6 March (Week 6) is a Pupil Free Day for all students from Reception to Year 12. OSHC services will be available for R-6 students - please contact OSHC directly to book.

Thank you for your understanding.

As we move toward the latter part of Term 1, we encourage all Reception, Year 7 and new families to the College to organise their child’s winter uniform through our Uniform Shop.

To ensure a smooth fitting experience, please make a booking here.

If your child is involved in sport, music or any other co-curricular activity in 2026, Clipboard will be your go-to platform.

All families have received login details via email — even if your child is not currently participating. Please log in and set up your profile as soon as possible.

7–12 Co-curricular Sport and Music is now live on Clipboard. Families with students in Years 7–12 summer sport can view grading trials scheduled for this week.

Other year levels (e.g. R–6) and programs (music, dance, etc.) will transition to Clipboard progressively throughout the term. Families will be notified as each area comes online. Until then, some accounts may appear blank.

You can access:

A Clipboard Guide 2026 can be found here.

A Link to the Portal is now available here. 

In the meantime, please continue to visit the Hub Pages for Key information 

• R-6 Sport 
• 7-12 Sport - Girls 
• 7-12 Sport - Boys  

The annual tuition fee has been billed to your account and statements posted to you along with the financial information booklet.

Other student charges such as music instrument hire and co-curricular sport etc are billed to your account throughout the year.

Statements via Email

From March 2026, in approximately the first week of every month, all statements will be emailed to the main parent/guardian contact, unless your account has already been paid in full. Please check your statement regularly to confirm your payments made as well as any new charges that have been added to your account.   

If your family is not receiving statements via email from March, please contact the Finance Office.

When are fees due to be paid?

All annual fees are required to be paid regularly (weekly or fortnightly) by direct debit starting no later than 27 March 2026 (unless the account is paid in full by 27 March 2026). Annual accounts must be finalised by 13 November 2026.

Direct debit by BPAY is the College’s preferred payment method. 

Families seeking to make payments outside our required payment cycle must contact the Finance Office to discuss their proposed plan.

Early Payment Discount

An early payment discount of 5% is applicable to the net tuition fee (gross fee less all applicable discounts) if paid in full by 27 March 2026. 

Other Discounts or Fee Remissions

Please refer to the College Financial Information for Families for 2026 at www.nazareth.org.au/college/finance for information in relation to discounts such as external sibling, school card or fee remissions. 

The Finance Office is located at the Kidman Park Campus (Senior Years) and can be contacted on 8406 5032 or [email protected] for further assistance.

The R-12 Music Information page online continues to be updated with important information.

This week’s updates include important information about: 

• Clipboard
• Open Day 
• Generations in Jazz
• Stage 2 Performance Evening
• 2026 State Music Camp

...and more.

Please visit the link and take the time to read this information: R-12 Music Information.

Each year, schools in Australia are required to participate in the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing, which assesses students’ literacy and numeracy skills in years 3, 5, 7, and 9. NAPLAN testing aims to provide valuable information to students, parents, carers, and teachers about each student’s strengths and areas of improvement. It also allows parents, carers, and teachers to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time.

For further information, including key dates for this year's assessment period, please view the Information for Schools and Privacy Collection Notice.

NAPLAN – Year 7 & Year 9 Reminders

NAPLAN testing will commence on Wednesday 11 March. As we approach the testing period, families are asked to support students in ensuring they arrive prepared with the correct equipment for each session.

All students must bring the following to every testing session:

• A fully charged laptop
• Corded (wired) headphones

Year 9 students
Students are required to bring their own corded headphones to every testing session.

Year 7 students
Students were issued a set of corded headphones during last week’s practice test. These headphones must be brought to each testing session. If your child did not receive a pair, they should speak with their Mentor Group teacher as soon as possible.

To ensure devices are ready for testing, students are encouraged to charge their laptops each evening in preparation for the following day.

Thank you for your support in ensuring students are organised and prepared so that testing sessions can run smoothly.

Harmony Day will be celebrated nationally on 21 March, and as a college community we will mark this important occasion on Friday 20 March.

On this day, students are invited to wear a splash of orange with their usual uniform. This might be orange ribbons, socks, a t-shirt under their jumper, hair clips or other small accessories. Orange is the colour of Harmony Day and represents respect, inclusion and belonging for all Australians.

To help us celebrate the rich cultural diversity within our Nazareth community, we invite families from R-6 to email a photo that showcases an aspect of your culture. This might include celebrating a special feast day, preparing traditional foods, wearing cultural dress at a wedding, decorating red eggs at Easter, or gathering for a significant cultural celebration. Photos can be sent to [email protected] by Friday 13 March to ensure they are printed and displayed in our Library for all students to enjoy.

On Friday 13 March (week 7), all Middle School students (7-9) will participate in a shared meal during Mentor Group time. Students are encouraged to bring a food item that represents their cultural background or family heritage. In many cultures around the world, sharing food is a meaningful way to build connection, show hospitality and strengthen community, and we look forward to celebrating this together.

On Friday 20 March (week 8), R-6 families are invited to pack something in their child’s lunchbox that reflects their cultural background. Students will meet with their buddies at lunchtime and eat lunch together, with the opportunity to talk about the significance of their food and traditions.

Harmony Day provides a valuable opportunity for our students to recognise and celebrate the many cultures that enrich our College.

A gentle reminder for all families, particularly those new to our community, that the Early Childhood Centre (ECC) car park is strictly reserved for families dropping off or collecting children attending the ECC on that day.

We’ve noticed some families using this space as a quick kiss and drop for school students, which creates safety concerns and congestion – particularly when children exit vehicles to walk through the adjoining gate.

Please note:

• The ECC car park must not be used by families whose children do not attend the ECC.

• If you have children at both the ECC and Findon Campus, the car park may only be used for the brief time it takes to drop off or collect your ECC child.

• Do not leave your car parked in the ECC area while walking into school or waiting for after-school activities.

We appreciate your understanding and support in keeping this space safe and accessible for our ECC families. For more information, visit our website.

Games have now commenced for Semester 1 teams!

Please check this page regularly for updated R-6 Co-curricular Sports information.

Bookings are now open for Learning Conversations for all R-6 students at the Findon Campus.

Learning Conversations form an important part of your child’s education and provide the opportunity to formally meet with your child’s class teacher/s to discuss your child’s learning and well-being. It is an expectation that each family engage in this process, and it is strongly recommended that your child attend so that they can contribute to the conversation and share their goals for their learning.

Learning Conversations will take place across weeks 8–10, with most of the conversations occurring in week 9, and Tuesday 24 March, being a late-night option.

Booking your Learning Conversation

Each class teacher has nominated the times they are available, and the online booking system, ‘School Interviews’ will allow you to manage your bookings. In many cases, where a class has more than one teacher, the Learning Conversation will be with both teachers.

To enable staff to adequately prepare for your child’s Learning Conversation, bookings will close on Friday 13 March. Should you need to make a time after this date, please contact your child’s class teacher/s.

Click here to begin your booking

Follow the on-screen prompts to make your booking.  You will receive an email confirmation when your booking has been made, and you can use the provided link to modify your existing booking if required.

Need Support?

If you are having trouble making a booking, or have any queries, please contact your child’s class teacher.

Week 7 | Friday 13 March, 2:15pm
MacKillop Hall, Findon Campus

Next Friday 13 March (Week 7), we will have an R-6 Assembly, hosted by Year 1 at 2:15pm in the MacKillop Hall. All parents/family members are warmly welcome to attend. Entry via the OLM Church gate entrance will be available from 2:10pm.

As we have now settled into term 1, we would like families to reconsider the tradition of children bringing in chocolates or lollies to celebrate their birthdays. We are encouraging a no-food approach for these celebrations. This aligns with our college’s commitment to fostering equity amongst students and healthy food choices.

We would like to propose some alternatives for celebrating birthdays, such as:

• Distributing stickers to all students in the class
• Wearing a special ‘Birthday badge’ on the day

It is also important to remember that our students are always celebrated on their birthday by their teacher and their classmates. 

We appreciate our families considering these options.

Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist

Thank you for attending Monday night's Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation information session. If you were unable to attend and require further information, please contact Catherine Hamilton.

Families whose children completed their Sacrament of Reconciliation in 2025 and will be continuing their sacramental journey in 2026 to celebrate the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation are required to make a payment of $35 and can be made via the QkR app or at the Kidman Park Finance Office. Upon payment, a link will be emailed to you for you to book your preferred presentation and celebration dates. 

All candidates enrolled in the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation program will be formally presented to our Parish community at Our Lady of the Manger Church on one of the following dates:

• Saturday 21 March at 6:00pm
• Sunday 22 March at 11:00am

Following the presentation, candidates will participate in their Sacrament ceremony on one of the following dates. Each Mass will celebrate a limited number of candidates per date. Once this capacity is reached, we can no longer accommodate bookings on this date.

• Saturday 1 August at 3:00pm, Our Lady of the Manger Church (Findon)
• Saturday 1 August at 6:00pm, Our Lady of the Manger Church (Findon)
• Sunday 30 August at 9:00am, Sacred Heart Church (Hindmarsh)

For any queries, please contact Catherine Hamilton.

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 3)

Enrolments for the Reconciliation program will be open soon for all children who are Baptised in the Catholic Faith and in Year 3 to 6. An Information Night will be held on Monday 30 March at 6:00pm in the OLM Church.

The 7-12 Girls and Boys Sport pages are regularly updated with weekly fixtures, results, reminders and other important information.

This week’s updates include important information about the Term 1 Summer Sports Season (and more).

Please take a moment to visit the links below and stay up to date:

• 7-12 Girls Sport | Nazareth Catholic Community
• 7-12 Boys Sport | Nazareth Catholic Community

Career & Pathways Information Hub

Whether you’re exploring future study options, looking for work experience, or starting to consider life after school, our Careers & Pathways Hub is the place to start.

This week’s updates, reminders & information includes:

• Born to Build 2026 handbook out now
• SAE University College “Create for a Day”
• 2026 SATAC guide

...and more! 

Visit the online Careers & Pathways Hub to explore what’s on offer, or book in with our Careers Counsellors to chat about your next step.

Throughout Week 9, the Year 9 cohort will be taking part in the BIG water walk for Project Compassion. This is to support people in Africa, Asia and the Pacific who have to walk long distances to collect clean water everyday. Students will receive more information from their Rite Journey teacher in the coming weeks.

Senior Years Information Hub

This hub page continues to be updated. Please check back regularly, as content may change throughout the year.

The current updates include:

• Year 12 | Future Ready: Navigating Year 12
• Standing Information and Reminders

The link to the page is below. You’ll also be able to access these links anytime via the Quick Links menu on our website.

Senior Years Information Hub