Principal's Report

A Prayer for Our Grandparents

Saint Anne and Saint Joachim,

Parents of Mary and grandparents to Jesus,

be with me and all grandparents.

That we may be wise and loving,

May share our time and stories and sense of humor,

And may enjoy and not spoil too much the grandchildren

Who are close to our hearts.

For they are the sign of God’s life to us.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

Be with our grandchildren and all other grandchildren

Amen

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a wonderful week it has been at St Margaret Mary’s! Thank you to all the grandparents and special visitors who joined us for our Grandparents Day Mass. It was a beautiful celebration of faith, family and community, and it was lovely to spend some time afterwards sharing a cuppa and a chat with those who were able to stay. We are also incredibly proud of our students who represented our school so well at the SCS Conference 1 Athletics Carnival. Their sportsmanship, determination and school spirit were outstanding. Finally, a huge congratulations to our talented debaters and Stage 3 students who hosted Round 2 of the competition here at STMM last night. They represented our school with confidence, respect and enthusiasm, and we thank the families and staff who supported the evening.  Well done to all involved!

The Power of 2: Reducing Stress Through Simpler Choices

As parents, we often give children lots of choices to encourage independence. However, too many options can actually create stress, anxiety, and decision fatigue.

Because children's decision-making skills are still developing, an overwhelming number of choices can lead to:

• Fear of missing out (FOMO) on unchosen options.

• Regret and self-blame if their choice doesn't meet expectations.

• Mental exhaustion from constantly making decisions.

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A simple solution is to offer just two options. This provides children with a sense of control while keeping decisions manageable and helping them feel secure. For example, instead of asking, "What do you want to wear today?", try, "Would you like to wear the blue shirt or the green shirt?"

It's also important to remember that children benefit from routines and clear boundaries. Not every situation requires a choice. Predictable structures around things like getting ready for school, homework and bedtime can reduce stress and prevent unnecessary conflict.

Key takeaway: Children often thrive when they have limited, age-appropriate choices within clear boundaries. Simplicity, predictability, and supportive guidance help build confidence, reduce anxiety, and create a calmer home environment.

Keeping School Pick-Ups Safe for Everyone

As we are now in full swing of Term 3, pick-up and drop-off zones become some of the busiest areas in our community. With excited children, increased traffic and limited parking, it is important that all road users take extra care during these peak times.

Parents and caregivers can help create a safer environment by slowing down in school zones, following all parking regulations, using designated pick-up areas and avoiding double parking or U-turns near school entrances. Even a moment of impatience can create a dangerous situation for children who may be difficult to see.

When using Kiss N Go - Please use your HAZARD Lights to let other drivers know that you are not turning left onto Avoca Street but are in fact stopping in the Kiss N Go Zone. And please do not use the Kiss N Go Zone when you need to come onto the playground, this is a designated area for drop off and pick up only.

By exercising patience, courtesy and caution, we can help ensure every child arrives home safely. A few extra minutes in the school pick-up line is a small price to pay for the safety and wellbeing of our students.

Kylie O'Donnell

Principal