YEAR 8
Building Strong Connections
St Mary's Catholic College
Clare Robertson
Head of Year 8
YEAR 8 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 4
Extended Pastoral Group - Year 8 Masterclass
This week during Extended Pastoral Group, we held a ‘Year 8 Masterclass’, led by our Pastoral Mentors. Students rotated through house groups and participated in eight-minute ‘mini masterclass’ sessions focused on various life skills, including resume-writing tips, how to construct an email, and essential study skills. As our Year 8 students begin their part-time job hunt, and their studies start to ramp up, we hope these mini masterclasses will equip them with important skills for success.
I would like to thank Mrs Cherise Elliot (8HU1) and Mrs Jenna Murray (8HU1) for preparing a masterclass and sharing their wisdom with our Year 8 students.
Next week during Extended Pastoral Group, students will complete a Wellio social-emotional lesson on The Limitless Internet with their Pastoral Mentor. This lesson will complement the messages about consent and respect explored in the Red Flags Box Jelly production, delivered to Year 8 students in Week 1.
Community Service Logs - Leadership Preparation
This week, Year 8 students were introduced to the 2026-2027 Community Service Logbook. Leadership at St Mary’s is about serving the community, and the logbook provides an opportunity for students to record their contributions to the College as they prepare for future leadership applications.
Examples of service that students could record include ushering at Open Night, volunteering at school arts, sports or music events, speaking at assemblies, fundraising for school mission causes, and participating in feedback lunches with Ms Manders.
Aspiring leaders can collect a logbook from Mrs Robertson in the Head of Year (HOY) office during break times.
Locker Reminder
A reminder that students must empty their school bags into their lockers each morning and store their bags above or below their lockers, or on the provided port racks.
Laptops, phones and all learning materials, including textbooks, are expected to be stored securely in locked lockers throughout the school day.
While theft is not tolerated at the College and will be addressed in accordance with our Behaviour Policy, students are also reminded of their responsibility to look after their personal belongings by ensuring they are securely stored in locked lockers throughout the day.
Leah Dewar
Assistant Principal
Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9)
On behalf of the College Leadership Team
College Leadership Team
