Principal's Address

Dear Families,

We hope that everyone enjoyed the weather over the Kings Birthday long weekend. The students have come back excited to see their friends and teachers. They are working hard, with only two weeks of learning to go in Term 2. Yesterday, we held additional school tours for families wishing to join Stella Maris. We observed explicit Literacy teaching (Little Learners Love Literacy) in Prep - Year 2 and wonderful specialist lessons across Years 3-6. The visitors were very impressed by our students and staff.

Communication

Please ensure that you have access to the correct calendar: Please click HERE to add the Stella Parent Calendar to your own Google Calendar. The previous calendar is no longer being updated.

Each fortnight the school will now be publishing a Stella Maris podcast, led by students, updating you on school news. Please open this link to listen to our first episode of our School Podcast.

By Term 3, we will have a new website design available for viewing. As of Term 3, our school newsletter will be published on the school website to provide more information about our wonderful school. Approximately 95-98% of schools publish newsletters on their website (from our web designer). Photos of students who do not have permission for external media will not be used. Student surnames will not be used for identification purposes.

Seesaw posts are being utilised more frequently by teachers to share news about learning. They will be snapshots of learning and not necessarily include photos of all students. We encourage discussions at home about the learning you see from the posts. 

Before/After Care - TheirCare

As previously mentioned, we are proceeding with TheirCare beginning soon at Stella Maris. We are currently working with them to prepare the site for our students. I’m sure that it will be a great relief to families to be able to have your child/ren cared for, before and after school (if required).  The service is planning to start no later than the beginning of Term Three, 2026 (it could be earlier). Please head to the following link for information on how to enrol in the service: Enrolment

2027 Enrolment Intention Survey

If you haven't yet, please ensure you head to nForma and complete the 2027 Enrolment Intention Survey Form that was sent out last week. As part of our annual planning processes, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has requested projected enrolment numbers for all Catholic schools for 2027. Accurate enrolment data assists with staffing, resourcing, budgeting and future planning to ensure we continue to provide the best possible educational experience for our students. If you could please complete the form by Friday 12 June, that would be very helpful for our school community.

School Ideas

We are considering a Kitchen Garden beside the oval. If it proceeds, ideas will be sought from students (SRC), staff and parents. The students will be able to plant vegetables and measure progress through Science and Maths activities. We will consider building some seating to allow for a teaching space. Students have been invited to present their own designs and deliver it to the front office. Ideas will be incorporated into designs and sent out to the school community for voting. 

Please see previous newsletters for other new initiatives in Term 3 such as Protective Behaviours (P-2) and Family Life Program (3-6).

We will be also releasing information shortly on how we educate the students on Cyber Safety at Stella Maris.

2027 Preps

This week we again had a number of families participating in school tours.

In 2027, we are projecting an increase in enrolments for Stella Maris.

Letters will be sent out shortly to all new Prep families outlining transition dates.

Below is a summary of the information:

2027 Prep Transition Program

Session 1:

Friday 28 August 2026

9:00am – 10:30am - Students only

Session 2:

Friday 23 October 2026

9:00am – 10:30am - Students and Parents

Information Session

During Session 2, parents and carers are invited to attend a morning tea where important information about starting school will be shared.

Session 3:

Friday 6 November 2026

9:00am – 10:30am - Students and Parents

Classroom Helper Course

Session 4:

Friday 20 November 2026

9:00am – 10:30am - Students and Parents

Extra-curricula opportunities and belonging

Date: Wednesday 2 September

2027 Prep Parent Social Night

Time: 6.00pm-7.00pm

Place: Multi Purpose Room (Off Church via Charlotte Street)

School Reports & Semester Two Student-Led Conferences

Please read the detailed letter sent home with information on the Semester One Reports and how to make a booking for Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences on July 16.

A summary of the information is provided below:

Semester One Reports will be emailed home on June 24, 2026 in the last week of Term Two.

On Thursday July 16 from 1:30pm, parents will be invited to schedule a 15-minute Student-Led Conference. 

Students can be collected from 1pm and taken home. For those unable to be collected, appropriate supervision will be provided at school until 3:15pm. 

School staff will provide supervision in the Library for students while they are not involved in meetings.

The first 5 minutes will be an opportunity for students to share and celebrate their learning. For the remaining 10 minutes, students will be invited to leave the room so that parents and teachers may discuss the Semester 1 report and any other academic or wellbeing questions. Those invited to a Term 3 Parent Support Group Meeting are not required to make a booking.

#CourageAlways

Simon Millar