YEAR 8
Building Strong Connections
St Mary's Catholic College
Clare Robertson
Head of Year 8
YEAR 8 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 1
Welcome Back
A warm welcome back to our Year 8 students as we begin our final term for the year. I trust our students had a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday and are ready to hit the ground running – it is a short but jam-packed term!
Please see below some key dates for our Year 8 students this term:
- Presentation Evening – Monday, Week 7, 16 November
- Sports Awards Assembly – Tuesday, Week 7, 17 November
- Year 12 Graduation Mass (formal uniform) – Wednesday, Week 7, 18 November
- Year 8 Community Day at Sugarworld – Wednesday, Week 8, 25 November (more details to follow)
- Last day of Term 4 – Friday, Week 8, 27 November
PAT Testing
Each year, all students in Years 7 to 10 within the Diocese participate in PAT testing. PAT assessments (Progress Achievement Tests) are designed to help teachers understand the abilities, achievement, and learning needs of every student in reading and mathematics.
Parents and students should be aware that this data provides objective evidence of where students are in their learning and the progress they are making over time. As a result, any student who does not adequately engage with the assessment tasks will be asked to have a conversation with the Head of Department and may be required to re-sit the assessment.
PAT testing will occur during Week 1 of Term 4 and will take place within English and Mathematics classes for students in Years 7 to 10.
Year 7 & 8 Box Jelly – Red Flags Consent Theatre Production
This week, during Period 2 on Friday, the Year 8 cohort will watch a Box Jelly theatre production. This production addresses consent in the digital age and explores the complexities of relationships, online safety, and the impact of social media on young people.
This education is very important for our students, and we encourage families to continue these conversations at home following the production.
Reminder - Expectations
As the new term commences, I would like to provide a friendly reminder about some of our key College expectations for our Year 8 students:
- Uniform – Term 4: Please check the uniform schedule in the College Bulletin each week for the uniform of the day. Students are to wear St Mary’s socks with their sports uniform. Males must wear belts with their formal uniform, keep their shirts tucked in, and pull up their socks. Females are to wear their ties and ensure shorts and skirts are not rolled up.
- Grooming: Students are to ensure that hair longer than, or touching, the collar is tied back. Haircuts must be conventional, neat, and a natural colour, shade, and tone. Unacceptable styles include, but are not limited to, mullets, undercuts, shaved patterns, marked contrasts in length, skin fades and crew cuts shorter than a number 3 comb length.
- Jewellery: No rings or bracelets are permitted. Only a single pair of small studs or sleepers (that roll through the ear) are permitted. Necklaces are not permitted unless they carry a religious symbol on a plain chain and are tucked under the shirt.
Absences: Please continue to report all late arrivals and absences through the MyCE App or by emailing the College Office at smw.office@cns.catholic.edu.au.
Thank you in advance for supporting our high standards for uniform, grooming, and attendance. These expectations help support student learning, pride and positive outcomes.
Leah Dewar
Assistant Principal
Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9)
On behalf of the College Leadership Team
College Leadership Team
