Primary News

"The greatest gift parents and educators can offer is to inspire delight in learning."  Anon

Welcome to all as we embark on another fantastic school year within the Primary.  I trust you were able to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation during the holidays, even though it now feels like a distant memory.

As we commence the 2026 academic year, I'd like to express my sincere appreciation to all families for your dedication in preparing your daughters for the opportunities and experiences that await them.

Introducing Our New Team Members

Several new staff have joined our Primary staff this year, and despite only being with us a few weeks they've already begun enriching our whole College  community in meaningful ways.

Mrs Katie Duffy is in our Kindergarten, working alongside Miss Nicola Smith and Year 3 welcomes Mrs Tammy Mason.  We are also delighted to have Mr Callum Brown working in Year 6 White, Miss Gabby Donnelly who will be one of our Teaching Assistants in Prep and finally Miss Matilda Paul who is our Sport and Rec Trainee.  

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to these new colleagues.

Acknowledging Our Team's Efforts

Prior to students returning, our teachers spent considerable time creating engaging learning spaces, developing compelling programs, upskilling in a number of curriculum areas and exploring strategies to foster wellbeing within their classrooms.  My sincere thanks go to everyone on the Primary staff.

Navigating School Communications

It has been previously highlighted the importance of understanding where to find school information, something that remains crucial for parents. Managing the volume of communications, particularly at the start of the year, can feel overwhelming but it is important to note that what we are sending out is vital. 

Your primary information sources are The View (published every two weeks) and the College Facebook page. We occasionally share updates via our Instagram account as well.

Additional communications come through Edsmart (via email) regarding excursions, special events, or necessary changes. We also utilise Seesaw in the Primary for time-sensitive information and things that are less formal.  .

Parents and guardians are welcome to email classroom teachers directly. Please understand that immediate responses aren't always possible, as teachers are engaged in teaching throughout the day, duties and meetings.

Our Student Services team is an excellent resource and will gladly seek answers to any questions they cannot immediately address.

Primary Swimming Carnival

What an incredible day we had at our Primary Swimming Carnival on Tuesday.  Congratulations to all our amazing competitors who demonstrated outstanding determination and school spirit in the pool today. All showcased our College values of Contribution, Resilience, Compassion and Respect throughout the day and they should be so proud of all that was achieved , especially given the heat.  A special celebration goes to the winning house, Loreto, and their House Captains, Shanaya Prajit and Sophie Alice on their well-deserved victory. 

Thanks go to the parents at both carnivals who volunteered their time and energy to help make this event run smoothly, and to our exceptional HPE staff whose careful planning and organisation ensured a fantastic carnival for everyone. Your combined efforts created a memorable day of healthy competition and community spirit that our students will remember. 

Parent Connections Evening

All parents and guardians are warmly invited to attend Parent Connections Evening on Tuesday 24 February. This gathering allows you to meet your daughter's teacher and connect with other families. The evening features discussions around curriculum, classroom procedures, and time to ask questions or clarify things, and your attendance is highly encouraged.  Students are not permitted to attend. 

Schedules for Parent Connections Evening

Details were distributed to all Kinder to Year 6 families via EdSmart last week. Please note this coincides with Secondary Goal Setting, so coordinate your Secondary bookings accordingly.

Schedule:

• 5.30pm - 7.15pm: Drinks and Nibbles in the O’Brien Resource Centre - College Library
• 5.45pm - 6.25pm: Prep and Kinder 
• 6.30pm - 7.15pm: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 
• 7.20pm - 8.00pm: Year 5 and Year 6  

School Photo Day

Class and family portraits will take place on Thursday 26 February for all Primary students. Students should wear formal uniform with hair tied back using appropriate ribbons and accessories. No PE gear to be worn to school. 

A Fabulous Resource for Parents - SchoolTV

Parenting has never been more challenging. From navigating screen time and social media to supporting mental health and managing cyberbullying, today's parents face pressures that previous generations never encountered. The same questions keep coming: 

How do I talk to my child about anxiety? 

What are the warning signs of depression? 

How much gaming is too much? When should I be concerned about my teenager's behavior?

Finding trustworthy, expert-backed answers to these questions shouldn't require hours of research or waiting months for a specialist appointment. That's where SchoolTV comes in and as a College we have been a proud supporter as part of the initial groups of school to trial and provide feedback. 

What Is SchoolTV?

SchoolTV is a comprehensive digital resource platform designed to support parents and schools in addressing all aspects of youth mental health and wellbeing. Created in 2015 by leading youth psychologist Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg, the platform was born from a simple observation: parents desperately needed access to reliable wellbeing information.  

Today, SchoolTV reaches over one million parents monthly across Australia and New Zealand, partnering with more than 700 schools to deliver evidence-based guidance on everything from positive parenting to cybersafety.

Expert Guidance You Can Trust

What sets SchoolTV apart is the caliber of expertise behind every piece of content. The platform is led by two renowned psychologists:

• Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia's most respected psychologists, is a specialist in mental health, parenting, and adolescent wellbeing. With decades of experience and as the founder of Canteen (the world's first national teenage cancer patient support group), Dr. Carr-Gregg brings both professional expertise and real-world understanding to the platform.

• Dr. Emma Woodward, Director of The Child Psychology Service trained at the prestigious Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London. With over 25 years of experience working with young people and families, she specialises in building resilience in children.

Together, these lead psychologists curate insights from leading experts across the country, including renowned professors and specialists in youth mental health. Every piece of content is carefully vetted to ensure parents receive credible information, practical strategies, and advice from trusted sources.

Why SchoolTV Matters for Your Family

SchoolTV delivers monthly content on the issues that matter most to parents right now. Topics are organized into key areas including:

• Mental Health: Understanding anxiety, depression, stress management, and emotional regulation
• Positive Parenting: Building resilience, effective communication, discipline strategies
• School Survival: Academic pressure, exam stress, homework battles, learning difficulties
• Cybersafety: Social media, online gaming, screen time, digital citizenship, cyberbullying

The platform also responds to immediate concerns as they arise, whether it's supporting families through a pandemic, bushfire trauma, or other community crises.

Where do I find it?

Under the Community tab on the College website. I encourage all parents to familairise themselves with it. 

Upcoming Primary Events:

• Parent Connections Evening : Tuesday 24 February
• Class and Family Photos : Thursday 26 February
• NAPLAN for Years 3 and 5 : Wednesday 11 March - Friday 13 March 
• MJR Day for Year 6 : Wednesday 11 March 
• Live Life Whole Project for Year 6 : Friday 13 March 
• JSSATIS Swimming Carnival : Thursday 19 March
• Learn to Swim Program for Kinder - Year 6 : Monday 23 March - Friday 27 March 
• STCPSSA Swimming Carnival : Friday 27 March 

As you can see, we've hit the ground running with various changes and activities. Should you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your daughter’s classroom teacher as your first point of contact.