Principal's News

Dear Parents,

Last Thursday, the Mini Vinnies students and parents, along with Mini Vinnies from the three Parish schools, gathered at Padua College, Tyabb for a community cook up led by our wonderful chef, Matt DeMarte. It was a wonderful show of community and working for the common good of our Parish. The food will be distributed to the three schools for use in our communities when anyone needs a helping hand.

 We are continuously striving to be the best we can be at St Mary’s and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus in our daily lives and actions. Mary Mackillop, our role model who founded our school, was always looking for any person who needed support and we strive to teach our students to look out for others and see a need and take action. Her life reflects the values that were at the heart of the Australian story - a sense of a fair go for everyone, a willingness to stand on the side of the battler, an egalitarian, a tenacity in facing difficult situations and a pragmatic approach to life - all speak to the Australian reality. 

Congratulations to our Year 6 students who participated in the Padua Academic Challenge last Thursday at Padua, Tyabb against 8 other Catholic Primary schools from the Peninsula. Our students were shining and we are so proud of all they achieved on the day.

We are continuously proud of all of the academic achievements our students are accomplishing and the opportunities we are able to provide to ensure every student in our school is shining and flourishing. Catholic Education is focused on the full flourishing of every student, based on their individual narrative or ways of knowing. Our relationship with Padua highlights the wonderful education we provide from Foundation to Year 12 and I highly encourage all our families to go for a tour of Padua, Tyabb and consider it as the school of first choice for your family.

We are beginning to focus on our transition process moving forward into 2025. Transition is a very important part of our wellbeing program. The more familiar people can become with the situation surrounding the change, and the more they can participate in managing the change, the more they can anticipate it with excitement. (Ashton, 2008b, p.5)

Our Year 6 students are preparing for the next stage in their schooling. We are also well underway with our Mini Mary’s transition program for our new little Preppies for next year.  Our Mini Mary’s students have been coming fortnightly in Terms 3 and 4 and are really becoming a wonderful part of our school community. Parents of the Mini Mary’s are partaking in parent education sessions as well.

Transition also includes preparing students moving from one class to the next and our new families transitioning into our school in 2025. We look forward to ensuring all our students are prepared for the next stage in their journey.

If you have any concerns regarding the next stage of transition for your child, or any aspect of their education, please email me on principal@smhastings.catholic.edu.au or ring the office to book an appointment.

Please support our parent night this Friday and come along and celebrate and enjoy time with our wonderful community.

This Friday, we celebrate World Teachers Day. I take this opportunity to thank our wonderful dedicated teachers for all their hard work and commitment to ensuring every student shines in their care. Please try to send in a little thank you note or something special to your child’s teacher this Friday and show them your appreciation of their wonderful work.

Yours in Partnership,

Gab