From the Acting Principal 

Dear Families 

This week marks Catholic Education Week, which provides an opportunity for schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne to celebrate our shared Catholic identity, recognise the important role we play within our local communities, and acknowledge the strength of Catholic education.

This year’s theme, Christ beside me: Walking in the footsteps of Saint Patrick, highlights the enduring significance of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of our local Church in Melbourne.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, proudly bears the name of the patron saint of Ireland, reminding us of the rich faith tradition that continues to guide and inspire our community today. Thank you to Mrs Borgese and our wonderful specialist staff for leading activities highlighting Catholic Education Week - and Mrs Borgese and I look forward to attending mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral tomorrow with the Faith & Social Justice and Community Leaders. 

Behind the scenes, our staff have been deeply engaged in professional learning and collaboration. Our recent Staff Conference days focused on curriculum, assessment and the continued development of our teaching practice, including work with the Sound Waves approach to spelling. Staff have also been connecting with other schools through initiatives such as the Literacy Community of Practice, strengthening our shared expertise and ensuring the best outcomes for our students.

Events such as Ride to School Day and Prayers in Pyjamas were particularly well attended and reflected the strong sense of community that exists within our school. It was wonderful to see so many families at the Junior School Mass on Sunday. Well done to the students (and parents) who read so meaningfully - Aleksander, Delilah, Ally and Evie. We thank Mrs Borgese, Mrs Perri, Ms Jacquie and Ms Tovey as well as all the families for their support in making these opportunities so meaningful for our students.

There has also been a strong focus on faith and identity, with staff recently engaging in faith formation experiences connected to our Catholic story, including reflection on the lives of two amazing Melbourne-born women - Dr Sr Mary Glowrey and St Mary MacKillop -  and time spent together in prayer and liturgy. These opportunities continue to shape the way we live out our values as a Catholic school community.

Wednesday was a fantastic day for our community, with perfect conditions for our Interhouse Athletics Carnival. Students gave their all — running, jumping and throwing with great enthusiasm — and while there were a few tumbles along the way, our athletes showed resilience, bouncing back up and continuing with determination.

A sincere thank you to Mrs Mason and Mrs Braithwaite for their organisation and preparation, ensuring such a smooth and enjoyable day. It was wonderful to see the strong spirit of sportspersonship, with students encouraging and congratulating one another throughout. A special thank you to our staff for their energy, organisation and care throughout the day. Their teamwork ensured a safe, smooth and enjoyable experience for all students.

We are also grateful to our parent community for their support in packing up and assisting across the day, and to the St Mary’s College students for their leadership and encouragement of our younger students.

We look forward to celebrating the results and recognising student achievements at assembly.

This week we have enjoyed our third open morning of the year, and I have now started interviewing families for our Prep 2027 class. It is always delightful meeting our new children and their families and welcoming them to St Mary’s. If you are a current family with a child in Prep next year, please let Erica know or fill out an application on our website as soon as possible.

Looking forward, I am eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s celebration of Harmony Day and St Patrick’s day with students encouraged to wear a “touch of green or orange” and a thank you to the P&F who are providing a special treat for students. Please note that Hot Cross Buns will not be on sale tomorrow as the Year Six leaders will be offsite in the morning.

Next week marks our first Celebrate Learning Week and will provide further opportunities to showcase student learning and strengthen connections with families. Please see Mrs Borgese’s page for more information. 

Monday (note date change) will see the Year 3-6s compete in the Interhouse Cross Country competition. I gather that we are still looking for a "hare" to run out in front of the student pack - so please get in touch if this sounds like  you!

We also welcome back Drew Lane on Thursday, who we have commissioned to write a brand new school song for St Mary's. He will be here working with the choir as the creative process continues. 

Please continue to note the date for School Photos in Week 10 (Tuesday 31 March) and the final day of Term 1 (Thursday 2 April) which will see our Year 6s present their Holy Week Paraliturgy.

Take care, and may God’s blessings and peace be with each of you as we journey through the year together.

James Millane